Embodied Prayer

What if our bodies weren’t distractions in prayer, but doorways into God’s presence?

Jesus prayed with his whole being, and Scripture gives us a vision of personhood where body, mind and heart belong together. Yet in much of our discipleship, the body is overlooked. Many of us are left unsure how to pray with and through the bodies God has given us.

Embodied prayer is a way of praying that helps us listen to God by becoming present to our own breath, movement and physical being. It is an approach that nurtures compassion for ourselves as beloved creatures in whom God delights, and invites us to delight in the sheer gift of being alive.

The videos below were taken from an embodied prayer workshop led by Rachel Michael. Following the themes of our Diocesan Lent course: Treasures of Darkness: discipleship in times of uncertainty and unknowing, this workshop explored how embodied approaches to prayer, shared in community, can support us during periods of anxiety, vulnerability, and hardship.

‘I have calmed and quieted my soul.
Like a child quieted at its mother’s breast’ Psalm 131:2

Anxiety often persists even when we understand, rationally or spiritually, that we shouldn’t be afraid. This is because the emotional centres of the brain respond more strongly to non-verbal, body-based practices than to words alone. As a result, traditional approaches like reading or speaking Scripture, while valuable, may not fully address deep anxiety.

Embodied prayer helps bridge this gap by integrating mind, body, and spirit, offering ways to “calm and quiet the soul” through practices that regulate the nervous system. These methods align both with Christian spirituality and modern therapeutic insights, and can help restore peace, especially when words or conventional prayer feel insufficient.

The videos below lead us through two separate practices. The first – a grounding practice to help us come alive and attentive to the present moment. The second – a practice of letting go, releasing and moving into the quality and attribute of strength.

Participants commented:

“I found the grounding section very helpful and it was simple enough that I could easily join in.”

“The words ‘The Lord has compassion on me’ moved me to tears and that was completely unexpected.”

“To be present and try not to think about the past or the future. I had never thought of the past or future as being anxiety triggers, particularly the past, and that was enlightening.”

“A very valuable session – I would like to use the videos on a regular basis to quiet my soul and receive strength.”

This offering is part of our wider discipleship support in London Diocese, please do check our web pages at www.wayoflife.london for other resources.