Interoception
Interoception, what is it, and how can it help me?
Have you ever gotten a massage and spent the whole time talking, or worse yet, your therapist was the one doing the talking? While some people have their own ways of unwinding, this can feel counterproductive. A massage is your time to relax, and constant conversation can detract from that experience.
One way to enhance your massage is by focusing on your inner world. This is called interoception—the awareness of your body's internal signals. Interoception involves paying attention to sensations like your heartbeat, breathing, muscle tension, and how your body feels under the therapist's hands, or feet. This focus helps deepen relaxation by tuning into your body’s needs and responses.
In ancient practices like yoga, this inward focus is called Pratyahara, or withdrawal of the senses. Rather than being distracted by external factors, you draw your attention inward, allowing your mind and body to connect more fully with the present moment.
Yoga philosophy, as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, presents an eightfold path of disciplines aimed at achieving balance and self-awareness.
These steps, while rooted in yoga, offer principles that can be applied in modern wellness practices:
- Yamas – Ethical practices like non-violence and truthfulness.
- Niyamas – Personal observances, including cleanliness and self-discipline.
- Asana – Physical postures, which in yoga promote balance and well-being.
- Pranayama – Breath control, a technique that can reduce stress and improve mental and physical health.
- Pratyahara – Withdrawal of the senses, or focusing inward.
- Dharana – Concentration, which prepares the mind for deeper focus.
- Dhyana – Meditation, where one becomes absorbed in quiet reflection.
- Samadhi – A state of bliss or enlightenment.
Whether you refer to it as interoception, mindfulness or something else, the practice of turning your attention inward during a massage can significantly enhance the overall experience. By focusing on your body’s internal sensations and disengaging from external distractions, you allow for deeper relaxation and more profound therapeutic benefits, making your massage not only physically restorative but mentally rejuvenating as well.
