Trusting the wisdom of your own body.
Inspired by the work of Philip Shepherd
We've been inculcated to spend so much of life in our heads — planning, analyzing, rushing through to-do lists, trying to “manage” our bodies as if they were machines.
But as Philip Shepherd teaches in his radical work on embodiment, the body is not a vehicle we steer.
It is a living intelligence — a sensing, responsive ecosystem designed to guide us into balance, vitality, and authentic wellbeing. It speaks.
When we remember how to inhabit our bodies, everything changes.
The Body Knows Before the Mind Understands
Your body speaks in subtle cues long before fatigue becomes burnout, long before tension becomes pain, long before the immune system waves a white flag.
But we learn to override those signals:
- Push through the tiredness.
- Sit still even when the body wants to move.
- Eat on autopilot instead of listening to hunger and satiation.
- Numb discomfort rather than explore what it’s asking of us.
Radical embodiment turns this around.
It asks: What if the body is the wisest part of us?
Inhabiting vs. Controlling the Body
Philip Shepherd describes embodiment as a shift from “commanding” the body to participating with it.
Instead of living from the tight forward focus of the mind, you descend into the deeper field of sensation — the place where breath, intuition, and instinct meet.
From here:
- Your breath becomes a guide, not an afterthought.
- Rest becomes a renewal, not a reward.
- Movement becomes expression, not obligation.
- Nourishment becomes a dialogue, not a diet.
And all of wellness becomes simpler: What does my body need right now?
It will always answer — if you give it space.
The Three Core Conversations: Rest, Movement, Nutrition
1. Rest: The Deep Reset
Your nervous system thrives on oscillation — effort and ease, activity and recovery.
Radical embodiment teaches us to honour pauses. When you drop awareness into your body, you know immediately when your system needs:
- Silence
- Stillness
- A slower pace
- Sleep or simply softness
Rest is not withdrawal. It is recalibration.
2. Movement: The Body’s Native Language
The body needs to move in order to feel alive, emotionally clear, and mentally grounded.
Whether it’s:
- A mindful walk
- Dance
- Gentle stretching
- Yoga
- Or simply the unfurling of the spine after too many hours at a desk…
Movement is how the body expresses freedom.
When you’re embodied, movement arises naturally rather than from force.
3. Nutrition: Listening to What Fuels Vitality
Nutrition is where embodiment becomes deeply practical.
Instead of following external rules, you tune in:
- What foods energize me?
- What foods cloud my mind?
- What rhythms of eating help me feel steady?
This is where supportive daily rituals matter.
Small, consistent signals remind the body that you are caring for it.
A Daily Ritual of Embodied Nourishment
Featuring Aristoleo+ MicroDosing HP EVOO
Microdosing with High Phenolic (HP) EVOO is a simple but profound way to return nourishment to its rightful place — a conversation between you and your body.
Just a small daily dose:
- Calms oxidative stress
- Supports cellular resilience
- Reduces inflammatory burden
- Enhances vitality from the inside out
People often say they feel the difference — sometimes within days.
Not because it is a miracle, but because the body immediately responds to real nourishment.
MicroDosing becomes:
- A through-the day check-in
- A pause to listen
- A reminder that your wellbeing begins with your attention
It’s a deeply embodied act: “Here, body. I’m supporting you.”
Embodiment is the Foundation of Wellbeing
Radical embodiment invites us out of autopilot and back into partnership with ourselves.
It restores the truth that health is not something we chase — it is something we cultivate through presence, patience, and daily care.
Your body is always speaking.
The question is simply: Are you listening?
Note: Philip is a dear friend and we heartily endorse his work. If you are fortunate to live in a city where he is doing a workshop, do plan to attend.
Learn More About Philip Shepherd & Embodiment