When my daughter first stood up as a 10-month-old baby, I remember watching her tiny body sway with the sounds around her. It was as if she instinctively knew how to move in harmony with the world, without overthinking, without hesitation. She had a natural rhythm - effortless, free, and joyful. Now, years later, she still dances and flows around the house, her movements uninhibited and full of life. Often, I find myself mirroring her, letting her guide me back to a part of myself I had repressed connection to my femininity, to a sense of freedom and flow that I seemed to lose somewhere along the way.
Becoming a mother to such a vibrant, intuitive soul awakened something within me. For years, I had ignored my body calls, prioritizing structure over fluidity, control over creativity. But my daughter became my teacher. Watching her move so freely reminded me of what it felt like to inhabit my body without judgment, to dance through life without holding back. Her movements were an invitation to rediscover my own.
Body Consciousness: Reconnecting with the Self
Body consciousness is the practice of attuning to the body’s sensations and allowing it to guide us. It’s the realization that our bodies are always speaking to us, offering wisdom through physical sensations, tension, and flow. Yoga became my tool to nurture this awareness. Through intentional movement, breath, and stillness, I began to listen more deeply to my body’s whispers - the places where I held tension, the areas longing for softness and release.
Research in somatic psychology supports this connection between mind and body. Emotions, especially those we suppress, often manifest physically. Stress might sit heavily in the shoulders, while grief can feel like a weight on the chest (van der Kolk, 2014). Through yoga, I started to notice these patterns and release them, breath by breath.
Intuitive Movement: Tapping into Feminine Flow
My daughter’s playful dancing also inspired me to explore intuitive movement. Unlike the structured practices I had grown accustomed to, intuitive movement allowed me to move freely - guided not by external expectations but by what felt good in my body. This practice resonated deeply with the sacral chakra (Svadhisthana), the energy center linked to creativity, sensuality, and flow.
For years, I had disconnected from this feminine, fluid part of myself, but intuitive movement helped me begin to heal. The sacral chakra thrives on movement - hip circles, freeform dance, even gentle swaying. These practices loosen the physical and emotional tension we store in this area, creating space for joy, expression, and connection.
The Body as a Reflection of the Mind
Motherhood has taught me that the body and mind are deeply intertwined. The way we carry ourselves physically mirrors our inner state. When I feel overwhelmed, my shoulders hunch; when I embrace joy, my body softens. Yoga philosophy reminds us that the body is a sacred vessel, a reflection of the soul. As the Bhagavad Gita beautifully states, Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the Self.
Through body consciousness and intuitive movement, I’ve learned to let go of the perfectionism and rigidity that once defined me. Instead, I move with intention, guided by what my body needs. My daughter, in her effortless flow, continues to remind me to dance, to laugh, and to live more freely.
A Call to Move with Awareness
Whether it’s through yoga, intuitive movement, or simply swaying to music in your living room, reconnecting with the body is an act of love. It’s a way of honoring your inner world, releasing what no longer serves you, and making space for what does. The body holds our stories, and when we move with awareness, we allow it to speak, to heal, and to guide us back to our truest selves.
Blogpost copyright ©️ 2025 Susan Asha Devi
References:
W. E., et al. (2011). Body awareness: a phenomenological inquiry into the common ground of mind-body therapies. Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine, 6(1).
van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.
Easwaran, E. (2007). The Bhagavad Gita. Nilgiri Press.


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