The human body is a complex network of sensation, emotion, and movement. Tuning in to the various physical sensations that arise in the body allows individuals to gain insight into their emotional state, stress levels, and overall well-being. This list includes a variety of body sensations that may be experienced, ranging from the familiar to the unfamiliar. By identifying and labeling these sensations, individuals can develop a deeper understanding of their own body and gain access to a broader range of coping strategies.
Overview
The body sensations listed below are a valuable tool for self-reflection and can serve as a starting point for exploring how different situations affect the body. These sensations can be categorized into several types, including tender, sensitive, bruised, achy, sore, tense, tight, nauseous, shaky, Trembly, throbbing, pounding, fluttery, shivery, queasy, wobbly, bubbly, dizzy, spacey, breathless, prickly, electric, tingling, nervous, twitching, burning, radiating, referring, blurry, itchy, wooden, congested, dull, dense, frozen, icy, disconnected, thick, blocked, contracted, heavy, suffocated, cold, numb, closed, dark, hollow, empty, calm, energized, smooth, streaming, warm, cool, relaxed, open, light, spacious, airy, releasing, expanded, expansive, flowing, floating, fluid, draining.
Instructions
Use the below list to identify sensations that are pleasant or unpleasant. Click or tap once on a sensation to mark it as pleasant and twice to mark it as unpleasant. A third click or tap will reset that item. At the bottom of the page are links which you can use to return to your body sensation selections later. (Nothing is stored on the website—the links simply recreate your selections.) Note: The ability to save a link recreating your selections is currently disabled while I fix some bugs. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Selectable Sensations
- achy
-airy
-bloated
-blocked
-breathless
-bubbly
-burning
-buzzy
-chills
-churning
-clammy
-clenched
-congested
-constricted
-cold
-damp
-dense
-dizzy
-dull
-electric
-empty
-energized
-faint
-flaccid
-flushed
-fluid
-fluttery
-fuzzy
-goose-bumps
-heavy
-hollow
-hot
-itchy
-jerky
-jumbly
-knotted
-light
-moist
-nauseous
-numb
-paralyzed
-pins and needles
-prickly
-puffy
-quaking
-quivery
-radiating
-sharp
-shivery
-shuddering
-sore
-stiff
-suffocated
-sweaty
-tense
-thick
-tight
-tickley
-tingly
-trembling
-twitchy
-vibrating
-warm
-weak
-wobbly
Other Options
If you would like to practice using this list or incorporate it into a mindfulness practice, consider checking out The Sacred Self-Care Guidebook. The guidebook is designed to help individuals cultivate moment-to-moment awareness, listen deeply to their body and to their self, and take positive, concrete action towards what they need and desire.