Pendulation to Work with Discomfort

Meditation Library - LoveYourBrain

Led by Jenni Foltz

Pendulation offers us a skillful way to work with intense or difficult sensations in the body. It was developed by Peter Levine who founded the trauma therapy modality, Somatic Experiencing. First, we find a place in our bodies that feels open, spacious, or resourced--we will call it our home base. Once we’ve identified this place, we pause and rest our attention there, giving ourselves time to settle and nourish in sensations that feel good. When we are ready, we gently move our attention towards an area of discomfort or pain, making sure to stop at a comfortable distance from the outer edge of the pain, so that we can be in safe relationship to it rather than overwhelmed by it. We pause and then move our attention back to home base and let our minds rest. We continue to alternate our attention back and forth--to pendulate--between home base and the place of tension or pain to allow the difficult sensations to disarm and release. Many people have found that with repetition a sense of confidence grows in having a way to be with uncomfortable experiences.

Jennifer Foltz (she/her) is devoted to kindness, compassion, and fostering a deep sense of connection, inspiration and joy for herself and others. In her career she serves as a biodynamic craniosacral therapist, yoga teacher, and compassion-centered coach. Having traversed her own recovery from traumatic brain injury, she genuinely understands the importance of slowing down, deep listening and opening to one's inner resilience and health. At the same time, she feels it is essential to nurture creativity, playfulness, and joy. Her teaching and private practice are richly informed by her work with animals (horses & dogs), various dance, sound, singing, breath & movement practices, as well as meditation rooted in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Many of her clients are neurodivergent and may be recovering from concussions, traumatic brain injuries, or strokes. She also works with people who are feeling anxious, depressed, and sick of feeling out of sorts in their body.