We ought to listen to our bodies more. Yet, we rarely make time for this, even though it is completely fundamental to our well-being. But being in tune with our bodies, not just our brains, is exactly what Dr Estanislao Bachrach, who holds a PhD in molecular biology specialising in neuroscience, encourages us to do.
The scientist and author invites us to reconnect with ourselves and truly get to know our body, because it’s what actually provides the brain with vital information for everything it decides to do, feel and think.
The aim? To use the body as a tool for self-knowledge to achieve a major goal: strengthening our sensory intelligence to help us with anxiety, decision-making and even empathising with people we don’t like.
We caught up with the expert to find out more in an in-depth Q&A.
You highlight a fascinating idea: ‘Let your body be your brain’. Why should we make this our goal?
Well, it’s not so much a goal we must set ourselves. My job is simply to share a wealth of ancient wisdom that today, thanks to technological advances, science can finally understand and confirm.
© Getty ImagesIn recent years, we’ve been flooded with scientific data on how the brain functions, but very little on the body. We tend to forget that there are actually neurons in the body, too…. The aim is to observe and feel the body a little more, rather than focusing entirely on what’s happening in our heads. After all, the brain doesn’t stop at the neck – it is distributed through nervous systems across the entire body.
Should we be working harder on our sensory self-knowledge?
I don’t think it’s about ‘work’, and I don’t think the word is ‘should’. It’s simply an opportunity. The exciting part is showing people that through this bodily, somatic or sensory self-knowledge, you can discover and rediscover so much about yourself.
“There’s a sense that is rarely studied or taught in schools or formal education: our internal sense, known as interoception”
By strengthening this awareness, you give yourself more tools to make changes and better choices, and you’ll also experience a greater sense of well-being in both your personal and professional life.
It’s like an inward journey where you realise that you don’t need to own more things to feel good; you just need to learn how to feel, and understand how to change those feelings for the better.
Could it be that we actually underestimate some of our senses?
Absolutely. Perhaps they are underestimated simply because we aren’t aware of them or don’t understand how they work.
How do you define sensory intelligence?
Sensory intelligence is, quite simply, the intelligence of the body. It is the ability of our various nervous systems and neurons – which are distributed throughout our organs and tissues – to gather internal data and feed it back to the brain, the central hub of the nervous system.
“I’m asking: What information does the body feed back to the brain to help us make better decisions? Is it something we can learn to listen to, interpret, discern and feel? And does it serve a practical purpose in everyday life, whether for decision-making or simply feeling better? The answer is a resounding yes”
What exactly is it tracking? Things like energy levels, breathing patterns, tension and temperature. By tuning into and becoming conscious of this data, we can make different choices, adapt and handle various situations much more intentionally.
And how can we develop this skill?
The most powerful tool for developing it is meditation. It is through mindfulness and meditation that we strengthen the interoceptive regions of the brain – the specific areas where the body sends second-by-second updates about what is happening inside us. As these areas become more developed and interconnected, we begin to cultivate a far deeper self-knowledge; in this case, of our own body, our tissues, our organs and our internal systems.
© Getty ImagesWhy do you think it is so difficult for us to tune into our own bodies?
It’s not so much that it’s difficult; it’s simply that we don’t know how. No one taught us, and no one has ever really spoken to us about why it matters. Once you adopt a methodology, a technique or a routine to start listening to your body, it stops feeling like a chore. Like any form of self-discovery, it just requires a bit of discipline, structure, and consistency until it becomes second nature.
Does self-knowledge carry a hint of selfishness, or do you see it differently?
I completely disagree. It has nothing to do with selfishness; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. When you begin to develop different types of self-knowledge – both conceptual and sensory – you actually cultivate much more empathy, understanding and awareness of others. This applies to the people we love, where empathy comes naturally because we care for them, but also to those we don’t get along with or particularly like.
We see this happen all the time in the workplace, where we have to collaborate with people we might not naturally warm to, disagree with, or who don’t share our goals and priorities.
Is lack of time one of the main barriers to listening to our bodies?
I think time can often be used as an excuse for not tuning in… You don’t need to be sitting in a perfectly serene environment to practice sensory self-knowledge; you can do it while sitting in traffic, waiting for the lift or the moment you wake up in the morning.
© Getty ImagesDo you think we still have a lot to learn about the brain? It seems it still holds so many mysteries.
Without a doubt. There is an enormous amount left to discover, and honestly, I think it’s far more interesting if we don’t actually manage to solve or understand absolutely everything.
About the expert:
Dr Estanislao Bachrach is a leading molecular biologist, neuroscientist, and bestselling author who has transitioned from a prestigious career in academic research, including teaching at Harvard Medical School, to global renown as an expert in using cognitive tools and sensory intelligence to drive personal growth and change. He explores this concept in his Spanish language book sensory mindfulness book, ZensorialMente.
