Courage, Connection, Compassion, Chi and Co-regulation
When your body is in flow, your Chi—your life force—is activated, forming a connection between your physical form and inner essence. Through co-regulation and alignment, this connection deepens, guiding you closer to the life you truly desire.
Self-awareness might not be as much of a mental process as you think
I’ll never forget the day I walked into C-House Pilates, hoping to fix my posture. I needed more courage and confidence to overcome an existential crisis. During the demo class, held entirely in front of a mirror, I saw myself as I was—out of shape, with a computer neck, disconnected from my body. Looking at my reflection, it hit me: I had denied the reality of living inside and through my body and hadn’t taken good care of it.
As if sensing my thoughts, my teacher, Pedro, told me with compassion, "You have a nice body; you just need to connect with it." That single, kind statement gave me the courage to continue.
You can’t solve problems you don’t know exist
As I progressed through the classes, I gained surprising insights into my body awareness—or lack thereof. I began to recognize how my life experiences were imprinted on my body. What’s more, I realized that masking could make you appear functional while functioning at only a fraction of your potential.
Can you be self-aware without body awareness? I don’t think so. And can you fulfill your potential without proper self-awareness? Definitely not.
Your journey to self-knowledge requires others
My journey led me to ask: How do I move out of a freeze state? According to Polyvagal Theory, you can regulate yourself out of fight or flight, but to come out of freeze, you need co-regulators—others who help you reconnect.
In my case, I had five co-regulators: my psychiatrist, my pilates teacher, my yoga teacher, my singing teacher, and a dear connection who is a reiki master and art therapist. It truly takes a village, not just to raise a child but also to facilitate somatic release. This nonlinear and deeply personal process calls for a holistic approach, distinct from the support we receive from true friends in everyday life.
One thing led to another, and during my first assisted Shirsasana (headstand) after a decade-long break, I understood why it’s called the 'King of Asanas.' As my feet returned to the mat, I felt a profound shift—I knew the freeze was over. That experience marked the planting of a powerful seed in my journey.
Your journey to self-knowledge starts with planting seeds.
How did I begin to reconnect with myself and find flow after years of disconnection that can be traced back to childhood patterns? The idea was sparked by a trusted mind: Rick Rubin. His chapter on 'Seeds' in The Creative Act: A Way of Being profoundly shifted my perspective and became a catalyst for my journey. Here’s a direct quote that shaped my process:
“In the first phase of the creative process, we are to be completely open, collecting anything we find of interest.
We can call this the Seed phase. We’re searching for potential starting points that, with love and care, can grow into something beautiful. At this stage, we are not comparing them to find the best seed. We simply gather them.”
Rubin goes on to emphasize:
“As the seeds arrive, forming conclusions about their value or fate can get in the way of their natural potential. In this phase, the artist’s work is to collect seeds, plant them, water them with attention, and see if they take root.”
This mindset transformed how I approached both personal challenges and creative growth. Whether you’re trying to solve a problem or create more life for yourself, I wholeheartedly suggest giving this method a try.