Body Sense: The Science and Practice of Embodied Self-Awareness

Fogel (psychology, U. of Utah) offers a straightforward introduction to the scientific research that figures into what he calls embodied self-awareness, as well as a psychoanalytic-cum-spiritual analysis of the pathologies of embodied self-awareness. He intelligently blends a commonsense appreciation of technical scientific information with examples accessible to a general audience. He begins with several chapters describing in lucid detail the scientific phenomenology of bodily sensations, our sense of movement, and our awareness of our body's schema. In the middle of the book, he turns to themes of expression and repression, exploring normal and pathological forms of absorption in a bodily state. Later chapters examine movement and touching, spending time on the interpersonal aspect, and the biomechanics of respiration and vocalization. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
When we are first born, before we can speak or use language to express ourselves, we use our physical sensations, our “body sense,” to guide us toward what makes us feel safe and fulfilled and away from what makes us feel bad. As we develop into adults, it becomes easy to lose touch with these crucial mind-body communication channels, but they are essential to our ability to navigate social interactions and deal with psychological stress, physical injury, and trauma. Combining a ground-up explanation of the anatomical and neurological sources of embodied self-awareness with practical exercises in touch and movement, Body Sense provides therapists and their clients with the tools to attain mind-body equilibrium and cultivate healthy body sense throughout their lives.
The science and practice of feeling our movements, sensations, and emotions.