The Embodied Path: Telling the Story of Your Body for Healing and Wholeness

by Ellie Roscher

Our bodies have a story to tell. When we turn toward our bodies with curiosity and reverence, we honor those stories, embrace our inner dignity, and make space for more agency. Sharing our bodies' stories helps us feel seen so that, little by little, society's limiting master narratives can shift so that more bodies feel safe and beautiful and have a sense of belonging. The Embodied Path tells more than twenty body stories, woven together with Ellie Roscher's own body story and insights, to do the essential work of resistance and repair at the individual and communal level. The book includes the story of a woman who sees her hijab as an extension of her body, a front man in a funk band who views his entire body as his instrument, a quadriplegic woman who became a lawyer to advocate for herself, and a transgender man who underwent a gender transition after birthing two children. It also includes profoundly simple, beautiful stories of broken bones, motherhood, sickness, and healing toward wholeness. For anyone interested in creating more capacity for compassion for themselves and others by doing the internal work to contend with privilege and trauma, The Embodied Path invites readers to join in the process with discussion questions, writing prompts, and breath and body practices. The work is simple but not easy, yet the benefits are lasting and profound. Our bodies are always talking to us, trying to get our attention. Our work is to unfold, to listen, and to claim the truth about our beautiful, storied bodies.

Genres: Nonfiction, Personal Development, Health, Psychology

255 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2022

About the author

Ellie Roscher is the author of Fair Game, Remarkable Rose, The Embodied Path, 12 Tiny Things, Play Like a Girl and How Coffee Saved My Life and the host of the Unlikely Conversations podcast. She teaches writing and yoga in Minneapolis. Her writing can be found in the Baltimore Review, Inscape Magazine and elsewhere. She edits the Keeping the Faith series: Keeping the Faith in Seminary, Keeping Faith in Rabbis and Keeping the Faith in Education. Ellie holds a master's degree in Theology/Urban Ministry from Luther Seminary and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and is a certified yoga teacher.

Reviews

[Chloe Kinsel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Roscher was a teacher at my high school and although I never had her I always respected her vibe. I had been wanting to read it since I saw that she released it so when I saw it at my chiropractors office I knew it was time. A book full of her own plus other people’s embodiment stories. No two stories the same, none superior than the other, equally important to the story teller, and their own to tell. Each one giving light to how our bodies seem to carry us wherever life takes us no matter the circumstance. We all owe love and respect to what they have done and gone through and continue to do and go through. I too have stories and the scars, internal or external, to remember and appreciate where and what my body has carried me through. I will practice embodying myself more. Who are we without the house of our heart, mind, and soul nor the vessel that allows us to move through life?

[Tessa Lasswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Embodied Path is a brilliant work of art. It is easy to tell how intentional Ellie was in sitting and listening deeply to body stories. The reflection questions following each body story felt as if they were tailored exactly to what was coming up in my body - I felt some of my own, long buried stories exhale and rise to the surface, ready to be told. I went slow in my reading, remembering, as Ellie encourages readers to do throughout the book, there is no need to rush when there is no arriving. Healing is hard, but so is not healing.

[Jennichole Arnold Arbucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me the this was mediocre. I liked the way the author made you question your feelings and beliefs about yourself. I also like the assignments to work through. This book really makes you think and dig deep down and inside out.
But the thing that annoyed me about this self help book, is that, I felt the author should have left her story out and just made it about others, not her. I felt she came across whiney and had to somehow make it about her.
But I would recommend reading this book. Just look over her self pity and you can I much out of it.

[Aly Haugen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are constantly telling ourselves stories. Stories about ourselves and about the bodies we inhabit. Sometimes those stories are positive, and sometimes they aren't.

Ellie Roscher encourages her readers to think about the stories we've told ourselves about our bodies in the past, then teaches us how to recenter our body stories to acknowledge and celebrate the bodies we inhabit as we examine why we are so often limiting ourselves.

The act of embodiment isn't a one-time thing, and the process of becoming entuned with your body isn't smooth, but Roscher's book is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to hear stories about other people, and learn more about their own body.

[Jacquelyn Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a thoughtfully-curated collection of diverse and powerful body stories. As the author shares her own body stories and those of others, she also invites you to consider your own body story through reflection questions and writing prompts, as well as breathing exercises that will encourage you to get out of your head and into your body. This book has definitely inspired me to reflect on my own body story and to return to writing it to gain healing.

[Jennifer]

In one respect, this was a fast, easy read. It’s a different type of academic read: it made me think, but it didn’t tax my brain.

On the other hand, because I’m working to be more mindful, more present, and more embodied, this was a tough read for me. I did come away with some excellent bits to sprinkle through the 3rd chapter of my dissertation. And the stories were all beautiful in their vulnerability and honesty. I glad I stumbled across this book and finally remembered to read it.

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have a body story. This book gives an insightful look into many different body stories. The struggles, beauty and brave discoveries shared in this book opened my eyes and heart to greater understanding and a desire to continue examining my own story. There is something in here for everyone to learn, to feel comforted by and to gain better understanding.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so helpful in dismantling the mind over body principal my culture promotes by the repeated mind-body connections made in the beautiful stories shared. I am inspired to reconstruct my identity to include my body and am grateful for Ellie’s wisdom and suggested practices about how to do this.

[Molly McGurran · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!! This book is filled with nuggets of wisdom and so much contemplation. You are able to dig deep into YOUR body and lived experience through the brave folks who shared and the author, Ellie. what a JOY to read this book. it’s the kind you want to hug to your heart upon finishing.

[Reader1657]

Admittedly, this isn't one I'd normally gravitate towards. It was one I read for a book club with friends and I greatly benefited from discussing the themes with trusted friends. I'm a better more aware person for having read this.

[Cari Dice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a library book and I plan to buy it and make notes in the margins. Ellie Roscher celebrated individuals with this book. She wrote in a non-judgmental way and honored everyone's story. A novel of humanity.

[Heidi Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

For everyone with a body. Highly recommended.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely collection of body stories. I purchased this one for the prompts and practices at the end of each chapters

[Ahnika Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a year to read and worth it, such beauty within.