People who first encounter the Body Scan practice, often give this foundational practice very different reviews:

Some love it, as it gives them the opportunity to ‘finally relax’ .. while others find it difficult, sometimes even frustrating to keep themselves anchored in the body.

I often tell those that fall under ‘camp 1’ that relaxation is not the intention. While this is often met with disappointment, they eventually develop a deeper sense for the practice and start waking up to the intricate liveliness of their bodies (and minds!).

So the true intention behind the practice is to strengthen body awareness. The fancy word is: interoceptive awareness.

What I tell ‘camp 2’ supporters is (ironically) to relax into the practice and simply let be, without attaching any specific goals. This subtle dropping into ‘being mode’ requires some practice, though, as we try to meet whatever experiences (felt sensations, thoughts, emotions) with curiosity and without the need to change them.

One of the reasons the Body Scan is foundational in mindfulness practice is that we can learn to relate to the body as a sensitive barometer for how we are feeling - physically, mentally and emotionally. We learn how this body/mind/heart system is remarkably intertwined and can act based on this grounded reality.

In the busyness of our days, we often lose this connection and become habituated to perceive reality with a lens, that is often coloured by judgement, negativity and pre-set beliefs. We are also less able to detect stress signals in the body, which if left unattended, can lead to health issues over time.