One way you can get past fears of authentic expression is to move the resistance from your mind to your body. Physical resistance and mental resistance are just resistance from a body perspective. So when someone is facing mental resistance, you can provide physical resistance to help clear the path in their mind.

I first learned how to do this from Celia Kutz. We were in a workshop, learning about conflict and I was resisting expressing my anger. Celia saw my frustration and offered herself as a resource.

“Matthew, come push both of your hands into mind hands, and I’ll push back to give you some resistance.”

When I started pushing, Celia felt me holding back and invited me to push harder. Soon I pushed hard enough to move forward and tears started falling from my eyes.

Behind my anger were waves of sadness. Pressure against my hands, gave me something I trust is there. Because I felt the my hands moving past the pressure, I could also feel my emotions rush forward past my resistance.

For many facilitators working in the body channel is unfamiliar territory. Living in societies where the mind is highly valued, you may avoid the body channel. And the body is one of your greatest resource. But to move past internal resistance to your full expression, you need motion, and physical motion can help.