Wisdom of the Body Moving: An Introduction to Body-Mind Centering

by Linda Hartley

This comprehensive guide introduces Body-Mind Centering, the internationally recognized field pioneered by dancer and occupational therapist Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. Devoting thirty-five years to a systematic investigation of the relations between bodily experience and the anatomical maps of science, Bainbridge Cohen independently discovered many of the principles that underlie Feldenkrais work, cranial osteopathy, Rolfing, dance therapy, and Zero Balancing. Experienced BMC practitioner Linda Hartley demonstrates the basic philosophy and key elements of Body-Mind Centering. Drawing on animal and infant movements, she takes readers through the wondrous realms of Bainbridge Cohen’s pantheon—from the 'minds' of the skeletal and muscular systems to the quite different inner lives of digestive, lymphatic, urinary, respiratory, vocal, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive organs. Her choreography ultimately brings us into the states of consciousness of skins, cells, blood, fat, cerebrospinal fluid, nervous system, and brain. Hartley’s explorations of the images, feelings, sensations, and intuitions of the diverse organs and cells lead to exercises that gently guide students in ways of discovering and integrating their bodies’ multidimensional aspects.

Genres: Nonfiction, Neuroscience

384 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 1995

Reviews

[Silvio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I've found my second god. The first one was Christopher Wallis' study of Nondual Shaiva Tantra, the second one being the work of Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen, Body-Mind-Centering. And they are so wonderfully coherent yet complementary, and I am beyond grateful that these (NST & BMC) are kind of the basis of my mind- (and body-)bending yoga teacher training by Satu (another goddess).

It is remarkable how even only the premises (just the introduction) of this endlessly expansive work relate to books I have recently read, especially:
- Alan Watts, Adyashanti, and Ram Dass and "the non-resisting, not-knowing openness to what's happening here & now (direct experience) as the doorway to Wisdom (and Peace/Stillness, and Love)" (also famously expressed by Shunryu Suzuki as "Beginner's Mind");
- Gregory Bateson and "the mind as a network/interconnection of parts/patterns of a whole" (I love Thich Nhat Hanh's famous word "Interbeing");
- HeartMath Institute's notion of "Coherence" as a harmony between these parts (or "cells") allowing for flow and intuition (the flow of intuition, or creative intuition - "Pratibha" in Indian philosophy, elsewhere called "Divine Intelligence", or just, again, "Wisdom" with a capital "W");
- Chuang Tzu (and others) and the concept of "actionless action", or "not-doing" as a merging of the apparent polarity of being and doing, or stillness and movement (again, the flow of "Pratibha": stillness dancing)
... And many more

But these are just the philosophical premises. Then the book goes into the body: this is where the whole story begins (and ends), and this is where the wisdom lies.
One of the most important paradigms in embodiment is this:

Inside-out.

Direct experience. Observe the patterns inside and then let them flow and follow them outside. Learn from direct experience (of the body), not from preconceived ideas, and from there unfold your wisdom (and movement/activity) outside into the world. The less ideas and the more awareness, the more Truth and Wisdom are touched. Knowledge is relative, but Wisdom is unitive.
This is so important.
So important.

Look, the body is our instrument for experiencing this world. Yes, there are out-of-body experiences, and we are not the body, but without the body THIS world doesn't exist. This world is literally shaped by the body and its perceptions. Let that sink in. And then, please, fucking honor your body.

Honestly, all this is just the basic 1% of the book. The rest is amazing and sometimea crazy body stuff. "The developmental process underlying movement" (from cell to walking on two feet), "movement repatterning" (embodied shadow work?), "the body systems" (skin, bones, muscles, connective tissue, organs, glands, the nervous system & all the fluid systems)... What a Bible (heard that from multiple people now)!!

[Tracey Agnew · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some interesting concepts explored in this book (particularly the development en utero and early childhood development), but also a number of concepts that I struggled with (for instance the 'mind'of the various body systems)

[Lynn Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The material is really in dept, and I like the progression of the topics. It's also one of those books you read and re-read, as a reference and for deeper understanding.

[Fala Moves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feeds the movement soul. It helps us see our bodies as beautiful and intelligent creations.

[Greta Avalaseviciute · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book makes you reflect to the depths of your very cells. The human body is a magnificent creation.