We teach pregnant women how to breathe.
We teach runners how to “feel their natural pace.”
We teach chefs how to cook using all of their senses.
Who else do we teach how to breathe so they can cope with where they are at in life?
How do we encourage others to feel their natural pace every day?
What if we could teach others to live with all of their senses?
“Have an open mind” is an invitation to learn by first engaging the body.
We often teach definition and fact without making that knowledge make sense in our bodies. What does stress, happiness, curiosity, and love feel like? Do my knees tighten? Does my chest sink down? Do I smile? If I know this, can I apply this awareness of my body when taking a certification exam, asking someone out, or while watching my students solve long division problems?
“But how does one start with body when teaching math?” First, revisit the definition of what we teach. A correct mathematical answer comes from curiousity, tenacity, and confidence. Those are experiences that happen elsewhere in life as well. Translating fractions is yet another opportunity for students to get to know how their body responds under different circumstances. Start from there.
As Susanne says in her podcast, our bodies are innately intelligent. And they they always tell the truth. Mainly because they don’t know how to lie to us.
When we teach people how to listen to their bodies, we teach them how to listen to the truth.
Pick of the Post: Tracy Chapman – Change
(hat tip to Cindy and your Integral Coaching session for this one)