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Writer's pictureKylie Clarke

The Power of Embodied Movement: Reconnecting to Your Body and True Self

You know that feeling when you’ve been running around all day, juggling work, kids, relationships, and somehow trying to keep your life from falling apart? Then, at the end of the day, you realise you’ve barely had a moment to breathe, let alone truly feel yourself?


We’ve all been there.


For many women, life’s demands often disconnect us from our own bodies. The world tells us to keep going, to push harder, to do more - but paradoxically, the answer to feeling more aligned and accomplished isn’t in doing more, but in being more?... Being more connected, more present, and more embodied. An the key to this lies in something beautifully simple: embodied movement.

I want to take you on a dive deep into the magic of embodied movement, why reconnecting with your body is the secret to reconnecting with the blueprint of your true self, and how this powerful practice can transform your life from the inside out.



Woman contemplating, What Is Embodied Movement?

What Is Embodied Movement?


Let’s start with the basics: What is embodied movement, and why should you care about it?

Embodied movement isn’t about following rigid workout routines or punishing your body to achieve some ideal image. It's not about perfect posture or hitting a certain number of steps on your fitness tracker. Embodied movement is about tuning into your body and allowing it to lead the way. It’s about moving in a way that feels good, natural, and intuitive. It's about taking time for self to sink into a moment of purely feeling and experiencing - without expectation.

In essence, embodied movement is the practice of connecting deeply to your physical sensations, emotions, and energy as you move. It's in noticing on a deeper than surface level, what your body is wanting to say to you. Whether through stretching, dancing, walking, or simple embodied breathing, the only goal is to be present in your body and honour what it needs at that moment.



Embodied In The Science


Embodied movement isn’t just some woo-woo idea (though I do love a little magick!). There’s science to back it up. Research shows that moving your body mindfully can reduce stress, increase emotional resilience, and improve overall well-being. When you practice embodied movement, you're shifting your focus from the external world to the internal - listening to your body’s natural rhythm and signals. This shift allows your nervous system to regulate, calming the stress response and promoting feelings of safety and relaxation.

In other words, embodied movement is a way to get out of your head and into your body - where real healing and transformation begin.



Why We’ve Become Disconnected from Our Bodies


It makes sense to wonder; "If embodied movement is so natural, why have we lost touch with it?"

There's no denying that we live in a culture that primarily values doing over being. We’re constantly bombarded with messages telling us to hustle harder, do more, and strive for perfection. Social media shows us perfectly curated images of people with their lives all figured out (spoiler: no-one really has this), and we feel pressured to keep up - especially for us women when it comes to family life and our careers. But hustle culture comes at a super expensive cost - our connection to ourselves.


When we’re so focused on external achievements, we stop listening to our bodies. We push through pain, ignore exhaustion, and suppress our emotions, all in the name of productivity. Over time, this disconnect can lead to burnout, anxiety, and even physical illness. It’s like driving a car with the gas light on and pretending you’re not running on fumes. You can only go so far before you break down.


I remember my hustle days (and don't miss them AT ALL) - balancing work, motherhood, and trying to grow my businesses. I was constantly 'on' - determined not to drop a ball, or miss an opportunity - fuelled by caffeine during the day, and wine in the evening. I didn’t even realise how disconnected I’d become from my own body until I hit a wall and felt completely lost to myself - mentally, emotionally, and physically. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and felt an "all or nothing" stuckness.

Holistic Embodiment was my grace and my way back to myself.




Woman Stretching, Practicing Embodiment

The Benefits of Reconnecting with Your Body

So why is it so important to not find, but MAKE time to reconnect with your body through embodied movement? The benefits go far beyond just physical well-being (though that’s a big part of it, too). When you reconnect with your body, you reconnect with your true self. You become more attuned to your needs, desires, and emotions, and you begin to live in a way that honours your unique rhythm. What does that mean? Well;

1. Emotional Regulation: When you’re connected to your body, you become more aware of your emotional landscape. Instead of suppressing or ignoring difficult emotions that are all a part of who you are and your experience, you learn to feel them in your body and process them through expression. This can be as simple as taking a few deep breaths when you’re feeling anxious, dancing around your living room to shake off a bad mood, or go deep into somatic healing and uncovering supressed layers of trauma.

2. Increased Confidence: There’s something powerful about being fully present in your body. When you’re embodied, you’re grounded in your own power. You’re not as easily swayed by external pressures or the opinions of others. You know yourself on a deep level, and that self-knowing breeds confidence. I know myself, there is no-way I would have been able to teach these kinds of classes 5 or 10 years ago - as they require a rawness, vulnerability and sureness of self that I hadn't yet reached back then.

3. Enhanced Creativity: Embodied movement taps into your creative energy. When you allow your body to move freely, without judgment or restriction, you open yourself up to new ideas, insights, and inspiration. This is why so many people find that they have their best ideas during or after movement or in other moments connected to the elements. Movement frees up mental space and allows flow. Creativity is the action of doing anything with passion and joy!

4. Healing and Self-Care: Your body holds onto emotions and experiences - both positive and negative. Embodied movement helps release what’s been stored, allowing you to heal old wounds and make space for new energy. It’s a form of deep self-care that nurtures your body, mind, and spirit and opens the gateway to experiencing pleasure in all forms.



How to Start an Embodied Movement Practice


I'm a big believer in that what nourishes us most is actually the most accessible to us - because we are nature, and nature provides. The beauty of embodied movement is that it doesn’t require any fancy equipment or a gym membership. You can practice it anytime, anywhere, and in whatever way feels good to you or whatever way you are ready for.

  • Start Small: You don’t need to overhaul your life to begin an embodied movement practice. Start with small, simple movements. Take five minutes in the morning to stretch and tune into your body. Notice where there’s tension - move gently through it, Notice where there’s ease - enjoy it. Trust how your body wants to move. Trust that your body knows what it needs.

  • Incorporate Breath: Breath is a powerful tool for embodiment. Practice breathing deeply and fully, paying attention to how it feels in your body. Let your breath guide your movements like continuous waves. If you’re feeling stressed, try pairing deep breathing with slow, gentle movements to calm your nervous system. If you are seeking aliveness, practice pumping the belly while breathing rapidly through the nose for a minute or so.

  • Let Go of Judgment: This can be a tough one when beginning embodiment, because there’s no right or wrong way to practice embodied movement. It’s not about looking a certain way or achieving a specific outcome. It’s about being present in your body and honouring what feels good. Let go of any judgments or expectations you have about how you should move, (or if you're in a class - what you look like or what others might be doing,) and just let yourself be.

  • Make It a Ritual: The more you practice embodied movement, the more you’ll feel its benefits because it is a beautiful, un-containerised, feminine means of un-layering. And the more you practice it, the deeper you go. Try to make it a regular part of your routine - whether it’s a few minutes of stretching in the morning, a dance break in the afternoon, or a mindful walk in the evening. Make it a ritual that nourishes you.



Woman in teal dress walking her own path down a river


Touching on the Archetypal Energy of Embodied Movement


In my work, I connect embodied movement with not just the elements - but there's opportunities to move deeply with the alchemised feminine archetypes. Each archetype embodies different energies that we can tap into through movement - from the Wise Woman who leads us into our spaciousness, the Embodied Woman who connects us to self-love, the Curious Woman who explores Her fringes of potential, the Wild Woman who deepens our pleasure and playfulness through expression, or the Nourished Woman who holds power, peace and presence in Her being - when you move in a way that aligns with a specific archetype, you call forth Her energy and wisdom and strengthen your connection to yourself and the elements, inviting wholeness.



The Power of Embodied Movement: Reconnecting to Your Body and True Self


Embodied movement is so much more than just physical exercise - it’s a way to reconnect with your body, your soul, and the world around you in ways that deeply honour who you are. When you practice embodied movement, you tap into the wisdom of your body and the power of the feminine archetypes, allowing you to live with more presence, confidence, and joy.


So the next time you’re feeling disconnected or overwhelmed, take a moment to move. Feel your feet on the ground, the breath fill your lungs, and the energy flowing through your body. This is where your power lies - not in doing more, but in being more connected to yourself.


If you’re ready to dive deeper into embodied movement and reconnect with your body, I invite you to jump on a waitlist for upcoming online classes, leave a note that you are "interested in online", and you will be first to know when this exploration into the elements and feminine archetypes can transform you through holistic, embodied movement. Join the journey back to yourself.



Kylie xx

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