The Woman Who Lost Her Body?: Proprioceptive Awareness
In Oliver Sacks’ remarkable book The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, there is a powerful story titled The Woman Who Lost Her Body. Sacks, one of the most influential neurologists of the 20th century, had a unique gift for blending science with poetry. He summarizes with examples and the stories of his patients how our entire world will change as our sensory perception changes; It makes us feel, through original narratives, how we are actually a conductive network pattern that gives meaning to “things”.
In the story of The Woman Who Lost Her Body, Christina wakes up one morning to discover she can no longer feel her body. Outwardly, she appears healthy, but internally, she cannot sense her body’s position, movement, or posture. She has lost her proprioception—the ability to perceive her body in space. When she closes her eyes, she loses complete control because, without visual input, she has no awareness of where she is or how she is moving. While she can still navigate to some degree by using her vision, without it, even standing becomes a challenge.
Instead of diving into theoretical explanations about the importance of proprioception, Sacks provides a visceral understanding through Christina’s story. It’s a tale that invites us to internalize the profound impact of losing this essential sense, which allows us to move through space and interact with the world without conscious thought. Proprioception tells us where we are—whether sitting or standing, how we balance our head, and the distance between ourselves and others.
Proprioception governs the relationship between our bodies, the space we occupy, and the people and objects around us. Often referred to as the "sixth sense," it operates independently of but in harmony with sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. Unlike interoception, which is about internal sensations, and exteroception, which is about external stimuli, proprioception is what helps us understand where we are within three-dimensional space—it is the key to our embodiment in the world.
The Connection Between Proprioception and Dance
If, while dancing, we rely on mirrors to understand our movements, it might indicate that our proprioceptive sense needs development. We have the innate capacity to perceive the reach of our movements, the space we take up, and how we are positioned within that space. Receptors in our joints and muscles constantly send information to the brain about what our bodies are doing.
When this communication network weakens, we might find ourselves bumping into objects, tripping, or feeling disconnected from our body. We might also struggle to mimic movements demonstrated to us, unsure of how to translate visual input into physical action.
Common expressions from people experiencing this disconnect are, “I don’t feel present in my body,” or “It’s as if I’m not really here,” or even, “I can’t ground myself.”
In our visually-dominated world, this reliance on sight can lead to a weakening of proprioception. As I often mention in dance classes, we tend to mistake what we see for the whole truth, losing our sense of balance, depth, and multidimensionality. This can manifest in physical ways, such as a tendency to collapse forward, experience tightness in the abdominal area, or struggle to maintain the natural alignment of the spine.
How Can We Strengthen Proprioception?
The common answer you’ll hear is: to exercise. But not all exercises are created equal when it comes to enhancing proprioception. While almost any movement can contribute to some extent, the following approaches may be more targeted:
1) Balance exercises compel us to become more aware of our body’s position. Exercises done on one leg, balance boards, or using equipment that mimics unstable surfaces can activate and enhance proprioception.
2) Performing movements with eyes open, then with eyes closed forces us to rely on proprioception rather than vision. Performancing with eyes closed, the body must tap into its proprioceptive network to gauge its movements and surroundings.
3) Balanced practice in dance coordination on both the left and right sides of the body supports proprioception. We often favor one side when we move, but practicing movements from both sides helps us develop a more even command over our body.
4) Partnered activities—whether in dance, sports, or any form of interaction—also stimulate proprioception. When we need to respond quickly to the movements of another body, our proprioceptive sense keeps us alert and connected. For instance, catching a ball that suddenly comes from the right requires immediate proprioceptive awareness to react appropriately.
5) Slow movement practices in dance can be particularly beneficial. Moving slowly allows us to pass through every part of the body, waking up sensations in areas we might typically overlook. Proprioception gives us a sense of the body as a whole, so awakening dormant areas helps us cultivate a more integrated sense of ourselves.
6) Body scanning exercises, where we quietly sense and observe the state of our body, can sharpen proprioception. We now know that even imagining a movement can engage this sense. Try visualizing a movement and notice the sensations that arise in your body.
People who don’t engage in embodied practices that focus on "listening" to and "integrating" the body often experience a weakening of proprioception over time. This can lead to chronic pain, injuries, dysfunction in daily movements, disconnection from the body, difficulty sensing the body’s needs, an inability to detect physical danger, and trouble mobilizing or calming the body when necessary.
Thus, to remain present in this place, in this body, and in our relationships with the people and objects around us, it’s a good idea to work with our proprioception in a gentle, non-forceful way. You don't need to approach it like "Now I'm going to improve my proprioception!" But by engaging in simple, enjoyable exercises without the pressure of “improving” and by weaving these practices into everyday life, we can cultivate a deeper connection to our body.
Instead of losing our body, let’s move toward a future where we feel it more deeply every day.