Body Mandala

An experiential guide to using your body as the focus of contemplative practice. Our physical structure, often known simply as posture, is shaped by the balance of tension between our bones and soft tissuesfasciae, tendons, muscles, and ligamentsas well as by the mental, emotional, and physical stresses we experience. This tensional integrity, or tensegrity, along with our sensory experiences, movements, and physical expressions all offer access points for developing fully embodied presencethat is, for engaging the bodys capacity for perception, expanded awareness, and even spiritual presence. Exploring the profound connections between tensegrity and inner perceptions and awareness, Mary Bond teaches you to unlock your bodys inner guidanceits somatic wisdomthrough a journey of embodiment that will improve your posture in the process. Integrating movement theory, philosophy, neuroscience, fascia research, polyvagal theory, and personal story, Bond reveals how the human body organizes and expresses movement through perception. She looks in depth at the role of the fascial system in transmitting bodily perception, showing how fascia functions as the preeminent organ of embodiment and mind-body connection. She explains the process of internal perception, or interoception, the body-minds ability to identify, access, understand, and respond appropriately to its internal signals. Offering an experiential understanding of the structural foundation of the human body in motion and in stillness, Bond presents more than 50 self-explorations that allow you to transform your sensory experience, expand your awareness, and make embodimentyour own complex bodythe focus of contemplative practice. The author also includes streaming audio and video links for each practice. Inviting you to awaken to the grace and wisdom of your body as a personal mandala that is always available for meditative focus, the author shows how conscious embodiment can help us become more perceptive and more humane beings.