Microdosing and Movement: 4 movement types to amplify the benefits of microdosing

One of the ways I am personally interested in using microdosing is by coupling it with movement and asking, “can this help facilitate a somatic healing process?”

The area that I’ve been drawn to the most is how we may be able to use movement with plant medicine/psychedelics to facilitate a process of re-embodiment. Can this help us return to the body and find safety in it again?

For the last 8 years I’ve been working with clients to help expand their plant medicine ceremonies with the use of targeted movement practices. I believe that using somatic techniques can help work with trauma in the body so we can learn to expand our boundaries around those experiences. This might sound daunting to some people, but the reality is that it doesn’t have to be.

Instead of reliving the trauma, we can learn to come back to the body as a way of finding safety. That safety can then turn into expanding our boundaries to make the trauma less impactful in our daily lives.

Instead of taking up 70% of our emotional energy we may be able to get it to take up 20% over time. That opens up a significant portion of energy that can be used to foster relationships, bring joy to our lives, or open up pathways to creativity.

Microdosing and Movement: A Unique Combination 

The beauty of microdosing and movement is that it is unlikely someone will have a re-traumatizing event. If the dose is sub-perceptual, it’s realistic to assume that the boundaries will be present versus the boundary shattering event of a large dose.

Finding ways to expand those boundaries slowly will allow us to pendulate and titrate within the experience. We can push to where we feel comfortable then scale back when necessary. From there we can pendulate between safety and boundary expansion.

Microdosing and Movement: Four Types of Movement

When working with clients, I tend to break down movements into four categories:

1. Opening or expanding movements
2. Closing or sheltering movements
3. Twisting movements
4. Other

Opening and expanding movements are exercises that allow us to stretch out, expand, and accept potential possibilities. These can look like back bends, jumps, or bird dogs. They are movements meant to allow the body to accept the outside world as not only safe, but welcoming.

Closing or sheltering movements allow us to pull energy in, to create boundaries, and to find safety and security within. Movements like squatting with your arms wrapped around you, bear hugging a sandbag, and even the child’s pose are all good examples of closing movements. When performing these we are looking to see if they bring a sense of safety and comfort back to the body. We are shielding from the outside to allow a bit of rest on the inside.

Twisting movements are great to utilize when both opening and closing movements have been re-embodied. We are now linking safety with expansion and contraction. From here we can learn to release stored energy, reconnect the body, and push our boundaries even further.

Other movements like throwing, side bending, and even sprinting all amplify power. They allow us to use the ground and gravity along with our muscles, tendons, and bones to generate more energy than they could on their own.

Microdosing and Movement: Create a Routine

I recommend creating a routine, if possible, where you incorporate relevant movement types from above about 30 minutes after you take your microdose (in countries where it is legal). Movements can be used as warmups for a workout or as stand alone exercises. Test them out and see how it feels.

Other times that work well are:

• As a morning routine
• Before meditation or breathwork
• At night right before bed

Waking up and getting right into light movement can help open pathways for the microdose to do its work. Before meditation or breathwork will help remove some of the stickiness of the day that gets captured in the body. Just before bed will loosen you up and wind you down as long as you move slowly with intention. The most important thing is to work at a pace that makes sense for the needs of the day.

Cautions and recognizing where we are at in any healing process

When working with movement, we always have to prepare ourselves for the possibility that a movement pattern can have the opposite response intended or no response at all. That is completely normal. If this happens, there are options.

You can always stop, slow down, or take a break. You can recognize the difference and adjust the expectations. Lastly, you can keep working through it and see if it moves you from one emotional state to another. All of it is perfectly fine. It’s more about feeling your body and allowing it to release.

Even though I feel these techniques have wonderful possibilities for healing, I do have to recognize that not everyone is capable of performing some movements, have the proper safety nets to handle whatever changes come up, or have the ability to “feel” into their bodies.

Things like disabilities, chronic illness, chronic pain, a serious trauma history, or a lack of safety in their personal environments are all things that can inhibit or stymie this process. If this is the case, it’s ok to stop and not continue. Your safety and healing process is your own. Find what is best for you because that is the perfect solution.

Ready to learn more about microdosing and movement?

Join Tim Glowik on Sunday, May 15 for a virtual workshop on Movement and Microdosing.

This workshop will focus on a few different movements that are meant to facilitate the re-embodiment process. The process will be accessible to everyone at every fitness level. People with disabilities or those suffering with chronic pain/illness are welcome and encouraged to participate. Tim will provide variations that will work within your boundaries.

For those with financial need, low income or located in different economies of scale, please use the code ‘LOWHALF’ for 50% off the admission price.