Coaches are trained to ask questions to explore thoughts and sometimes emotions. At the advanced level, some learn to explore ontologically, still using a conversational framework of thinking. Is there a better way? In this blog, let’s explore sensory awareness coaching and how it creates a deeper level of awareness for holistic healing.
Neuroscience now knows that the mind-body is one entity, with intelligence spread over a hundred trillion cells in the human body. It tells us that the first impressions created in our mind-body intelligence system are through our sensory apparatus of the five senses. Receptors capture These in various parts of the brain, skin, nose, and tongue. They are our primary data points. What they collect is metadata. We also have techniques today to analyze such metadata through brain-computer interface devices. They measure through voice and facial expressions and interpret these as emotions and thoughts.
In the brain, the sensory inputs travel through neural pathways to the limbic brain. The hippocampus analyses them with stored memories. The analyzed data is transferred to the hypothalamus and amygdala to be identified as emotions. Emotions are secondary derived data.
Emotions are transferred to the frontal cortex, where the left and right brain interpret them as cognitive thoughts. Thoughts are third-level derived data. This information is acted upon by the pituitary and other glands.
When we inquire into and explore thoughts and emotions, we work with tertiary and secondary derived data. If we can work with sensory impressions, we can work with far more authentic metadata. This is the simple logic of sensory awareness coaching.
Sensory Awareness coaching is not merely somatic coaching, as some understand it. It’s holistic coaching using somatic and ontological expressions of the metadata through sensations, emotions, and thoughts. The process becomes systemic when applied to our interactions with others, which often creates stress and sometimes trauma. When done with compassion and skill, the exploration allows the client to decipher the data and the process heals spiritually. With traumas threatening survival, we have experienced the movement of awareness to spiritual self-actualization.
In Vedic psychology, our awareness levels as energy levels are 7. These can be aligned with the awareness levels described above as-
- Survival
- Cognitive
- Emotional
- Ontological
- Sensory
- Systemic
- Spiritual
All that coach needs to do is rephrase questions of ‘What are your thoughts?’ and What are your emotions?’ to ‘What is your body experiencing now?’This can be followed up with ‘how’, ‘what’s emerging,’ etc to create greater awareness.
Our most powerful experience of such coaching is its healing power. The internal sensory reflection is a cathartic process of self-healing. It is spiritual. The coach does not have to know any details. The client knows. This is the ultimate client-centric process.
Try for yourself. Witness the miracles.
