In a world that constantly encourages us to push harder, hustle more, and look outside ourselves for answers, it’s easy to lose touch with the most important guide we have—our own body. If you’ve ever felt disconnected, exhausted, or numb, your body may be trying to tell you something. But are you listening? I’ve created a simple expressive art exercise to help you explore what your body is feeling without words.
Expressive Art Exercise: Body Listening Through Color and Shape
Purpose: To create a visual representation of what your body is feeling and trying to communicate, allowing you to listen to its wisdom without words.
Materials:
- A blank sheet of paper
- Colored pencils, markers, or crayons
- A quiet, comfortable space
Instructions:
- Create a Quiet Space: Find a place where you won’t be disturbed. Sit comfortably and take a few deep breaths to ground yourself. Close your eyes and take a moment to tune into your body. Notice any sensations—tightness, warmth, discomfort, or ease.
- Scan Your Body: Slowly, bring your attention to different parts of your body—from your toes to your head. As you move your awareness, ask each area, What are you feeling right now? and What do you need?
- Express with Color: Once you’ve scanned your body, open your eyes and pick up your art materials. Choose a color that represents how you feel in a specific area of your body. It could be tension in your shoulders, calmness in your chest, or heaviness in your feet. There’s no right or wrong—just let the colors reflect what’s present in you right now.
- Use Shapes or Symbols: Draw shapes or symbols that represent what your body is telling you. Is there a swirling feeling in your stomach? Maybe a spiral can capture that. Is your heart feeling tender? Perhaps soft, rounded shapes reflect that. Trust your intuition.
- Reflection: After you’ve completed your drawing, sit with it for a moment. What did you learn? What is your body telling you through these colors and shapes? Jot down any thoughts or insights that arise.
- Close with Gratitude: Before ending the exercise, thank your body for communicating with you. It’s the first step toward rebuilding that connection.
This exercise is a simple but powerful way to begin listening to your body’s language. Join us in the Back to the Body program, where we’ll explore more creative ways to tune into your body’s wisdom.