I have a happy announcement! After almost three years of hiatus, the time, space, and opportunity to teach sensually embodied movement in the burlesque style has presented itself to me once more. Woo! Pre-pandemic, teaching weekly was an enriching and healthy anchor of my schedule, and I am delighted to be in a position to do so again, here in Vietnam.

That said, I thought it would be a great time to share the following practices with you, which I’ve found immensely helpful while exploring sensual embodiment for myself. Cheers!

What is Sensuality?

It is the ability to connect to the experience of your senses - smell, touch, taste, sight and hearing. Sensuality functions in part through the process of drawing yourself into the present moment through your sensual experience.

What is Embodiment?

It is the process of giving concrete form to an abstract concept. In this case, it is the whole-self offering of sensual attention, explored through the expression of burlesque movement to music.

Here are some concepts that I have found deeply helpful, for you to hold with loving kindness as you explore sensual embodiment for yourself:

• Convey and play with your desire. Give yourself permission to experiment with your expression. Desire is a complex notion that is more fluid and evolving than we give it credit for (i.e. you are not defined by your chosen expression in this moment)

• Practice being present when exploring sensations with your body in the moment. (i.e. stay ‘here’ and ‘now’ in your thoughts, not ‘there’ or ‘then’). Hot tip: Use sensory triggers to help you re-center (touch yourself, and anchor into the feeling of your own touch).

• Allow this presence, curiosity, and connection deepening energy to permeate your experience without reservation or judgment. No one can rob you of your fullest experience quicker than you can – vulnerability is powerful, and is nothing to run from.

• Trust yourself and trust your body. Your body wisdom exists. Open your awareness to your mind and body connection, and you will find the space for greater personal confidence, freedom and sense of sensual playfulness already available within you.

• You really don’t know anything until you try, and then probably keep trying some more.

• Negative self talk is a killer, so commit to cutting that shit out right here and now. Pushing through fear and uncertainty is part of this. Telling yourself (and believing) that you will accept and celebrate any version of you that exists on the other side is a great start.

• Embrace that the path is not going to be linear, and that your relationship to self is the only one that truly lasts a lifetime. Acknowledge that self discovery is a big and broad process that will continually surprise you, then let it!

Intentional Sensual Embodiment

All this sounds great, sure, but how do you actually put intentional sensual embodiment into practice?

First off, there are many correct answers to that question. In fact, I hope through some courageous experimentation, you are able to come up with uniquely specific answers of your own.

For me, putting sensual embodiment into intentional practice looks like:

The process of drawing specific pieces of my sensory self-awareness (how I ‘am’ when ignited in different situations) into the present moment.

It’s sort of like an exercise in trying on different parts of myself, and really, really, living through the lens that aspect of me brings to my present experience.

An effective method that I use to build this embodiment muscle is scene-based sensory meditation (part 1), followed by an embodiment movement meditation (part 2).

Part 1. Here’s how it works:

1. Think about the energy you wish to embody – however you designate that in your mind is great.

   Some good ones for me include: come on, let’s go!, come get it, if you're lucky…, curiosity, confidence, anticipation/tease, electrified/turned on, mischievous/knowing/sly, energetic/enthusiastic/open, focussed/serious/seductive/I know what I want and it’s you, playful/light, warm/nurturing/accepting.

2. Pick one, close your eyes, and focus on a specific situation or experience that deeply ignites that energy for you. Imagine it through your sensory experience (the experience of your 5 senses) in as much detail and realism in your mind as possible.

   Just a simple scene – the closeness of your body to another, warm breeze on your naked body at night, rubbing freshly shaved and oiled legs together under the water of a perfectly warm bath by candlelight – whatever works for you! It doesn’t matter if it is fabricated or based on lived experience, as long as you can visualize it in detail.

3. Release yourself to this thought exercise, and without judgment allow the ignition of that energy to reflect in your breath, posture, subtle muscular movements maintaining your balance, etc. Let it all wash over you, and become as ‘real’ as possible to your senses.

Open your eyes, and try to hold onto that energy and its physical indicators while allowing the image to begin fading from your mind, and let your present reality fill your consciousness, now experienced through the lens of sensory experience you just delivered yourself to.

Feels amazing, right?!?!

And now for part 2:

Hold your chosen energetic focus from Part 1 at the top of your mind’s eye for Part 2, as you will now experiment with embodying that energy in your physical expression.

1. Set up the video camera on your smartphone, so you can’t see the screen while you are recording.

2. Hit shuffle on your most sizzling playlist, or turn on a song that always makes you want to move your hips.

3. Slowly activate yourself to the music - begin by tracing your fingers along your skin, offering your eyes to the camera, allowing your body to intuitively build rhythmic movement. Start with your hips, then let that energy move to your torso, shoulders, wrists, etc. Move without judgment, allowing your body’s natural rhythm to adapt to this energy, and seeing how your body continues to embody that as the song plays.

4. Keep going for as long as you want (at least one song!). Remember that the goal is to remain in the moment – if you find your mind straying to the past or future, thought-stop yourself and return to step 1.

5. Try this on for size first with your outer camera (so you can’t see the screen). Then, throw that selfie camera on for a second round, and see if seeing yourself see yourself in this process changes the experience for you at all.

Does your playful, seductive and performative nature become easier to embody when you are making eye contact with yourself in the camera’s reflection, or when you can’t see what’s going on screen as you are recording? Take a moment to reflect upon how and why.

When you are ready, watch it back without judgment, appreciating your unique, beautiful, vulnerable, sensual presence, and imagine how good it must feel to be on the receiving end of that presentation and energy. I know it isn’t always comfortable to watch at first, but what we practice grows stronger.

Hot Tip: You do not need to see your entire body, head to feet, for this – try this practice from a vantage that allows for an emotional connection with yourself and the screen).

And this, for me, is how embodiment muscles are built!

A couple of notes: This isn't about 'dancing' necessarily, either (release that pressure right now!) – it's about intuitive movement, self touch, and getting comfortable emoting our inner space through physical expression.

There is no right or wrong way to go about this, but do make sure to have fun with it. Explore and savor and smile!

Take some risks, allow yourself some connection and liberty with your body. Sensual embodiment, especially as it relates to intimacy, usually plays out equal parts sexy and funny, so let loose, get a little weird, and see what your big embodiment energy can convey!

Xoxo,

Jay

P.S. If you are feeling the vibe after reading this post, you might also enjoy: SHAME IS BULLS**T: THE POWER OF SENSUAL EMBODIMENT