In my last post, I introduced the concept of Body Intelligence (BQ)—your body’s innate wisdom that helps you make better decisions, reduce stress, and live in alignment with your authentic self. In this blog I promised to show you some actionable steps you can take to start building your BQ on your own. Let's dive right in.
How to Start Developing BQ (Body Intelligence)
The best news is that everything you need is already within you. You don’t need a fancy app or years of training to boost your BQ. Here are a few simple ways to start:
Pause and Check In: Set a timer every 2 hours, to pause during your day. Ask yourself: How does my body feel right now? What is it DOING right now?
For example: Am I holding tension anywhere in my body or breath? Is my eye twitching, is my back rounded, is my face scrunched in concentration, am I taking full or shallow breaths? Am I feel anxious, rushed, or at ease? What else is going on right now?
Alternatively, if that flow doesn't work for you, consider stacking a body check-in right before or after events throughout your day (eg. meetings, emailing, commuting, lunch breaks, bathroom breaks). Work towards making it a habit several times throughout your day.
Breathing reset: After you've taken a moment to notice, give your body the gift of a reset. Slow, deep breaths with a straight spine can calm your nervous system and bring you back into your body, out of your head and into the present moment. Try a 4-4-4-4 breath: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and pause for 4. There are many types of breathing routines, feel free to experiment with your own.
Notice Patterns: Start tracking how your body reacts to certain situations. Do your shoulders tense up before meetings? Does your energy drop around certain people? Do you grind your teeth during compliance emails? These patterns are clues which can be used to help your undo the conditioned embodied responses.
NEXT LEVEL BONUS: Move with Awareness: IF you are ready for extra awareness, pay attention to how your body engages as it moves. Do you walk quickly & with purpose, on a mission and tuning out the world around you? Do you enter a room early, arriving slowly, steadily and with precision, careful to follow instructions & the expected order? Whether you’re walking, dancing, conversing or learning- how you do one thing is how you do everything. If you can pay attention to how your body typically moves & interacts, this can shed light onto how your embodiment interacts with others, how they perceive you and how you can impact your relationships (for better & worse).
Want a quick way to experience your BQ (Body Intelligence) in action right now? Try this:
1. Close your eyes and take three slow breaths to clear some space.
2. Think about something you’re excited about. Notice how your body responds. Do you feel lighter, more open, or energized? Does your heart flutter or your face soften or smile?
3. Now think about something that stresses you out. How does your body shift? Do you feel tension, heaviness, or discomfort? Does your posture change? Do you lean forward or back?
This simple exercise shows how your body reacts differently to thoughts and emotions, they are inextricably linked, and THIS is the gold that informs our Body Intelligence.
If you’d like to develop this skill further, be sure to download my FREE “Body Intelligence 101” resource,
Receive a list of sensory descriptor words to start building your sensory vocabulary.
If you’ve never practiced noticing physical sensations, having language to point you in the right direction is a key first step to expanding your awareness. It is the precursor to decoding it's message and using it as legit intelligence.
With this download, you will also receive a tracking sheet to start documenting the patterns you notice.
The Real Magic of BQ in Action
Developing your BQ isn’t about which form of intelligence is better, and I certainly don’t mean it as a replacement your logical brain. It’s about integrating your amazing trifecta - head, heart, and body - into a super-aligned decision-making team. Imagine confidently saying yes to opportunities that feel deeply right because you know that tingling behind your heart, or saying no with ease because you can immediately sense that throbbing stone in your solar plexus, telling you when something doesn’t align with your values.
THAT'S the magic of BQ. And the very first step is being able to feel IT and name IT!
Ready to Boost Your BQ?
Body intelligence isn’t just a skill; it’s a superpower that helps you live in alignment with your values, goals, and authentic self. The best part? You already have everything you need within you. Your body has been speaking to you all along—now it’s time to pause & listen!
Don't forget to grab your free "Body Intelligence 101" PDF to get you started:
If this type of practice sounds appealing to you and you’re ready to stop overanalyzing and start feeling, embodied coaching might be the magic you’ve been looking for. Why not experience it for yourself?
Book your complimentary Jumpstart session to experience how this approach can bring rapid change and empowerment, as well as a deep sense of centeredness to your daily life.
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