Coin for Thought: The Coin Scarf Increases Interoception and Proprioception

by: Brittany Capozzi (“BellaBianca”) The Value of the Coins Most of us are familiar with the coin scarf as being part of the belly dance costume. What is not more widely known about the scarf is that it’s also a learning tool. The weight of the coins allows the dancer to build muscle while shimmying, kicking, and drawing shapes with the hips. I’ve always loved that the coins have another layer of value to them. As a lifelong learner, I explore different ways in which the scarf can teach us about the felt-sense in our body – and about the space our body moves in. The Value of the Breath: It was during a period of wellness training when I noticed how out of breath I was while sharing some personal connections I had made with the material. “I need to remember to take a belly breath before talking,” I thought upon feeling a bit light-headed. The words “remember to breathe slow on a more consistent basis” followed me after. By breathing slower, it’d also take me away from the shallow breathing I’d find myself with while at the dinner table or on the couch reading. Logically, a mental notice of “just remember your breath” seemed to offer a solution but as times before proved, I couldn’t just remember. I needed something tangible to visit the breath with besides the timer on a smart device telling me to pause. Getting to the “Core” Solution of the Coins: As most of my energy is used in the morning, I decided to play with a coin belt before exercising and eating breakfast. From seated, I’d wrap the fabric over my ribcage and practice inhaling and exhaling through the nose. I’d inhale for 4 seconds and then exhale for 4 seconds. After about a minute, I set a timer to 5 minutes. For those 5 minutes I felt the muscles below my stomach engage and release. To me, this is the “core” of corework – when abdominal muscles are being used as the phases of breath ebb and flow. No pushing, no holding the breath. It did take me a few minutes to admit to myself that there was the slightest tension at the top of the inhale. Once I revealed this to myself, I only inhaled as far as there was no tension. I was in front of the mirror watching the material and listening for coins moving, but I didn’t see too much happening in the reflection and the coins stayed quiet. This information didn’t lend itself to judgmental thoughts such as “I’m not breathing enough if I can’t see anything” or “I should be hearing or seeing something.” I stayed curious. Next, I added a coin scarf between me and the chair. This served as a reminder to feel into my pelvic floor. Something I’ve always struggled with. I’ve laughed at this a bit over the years, given how much I love belly dancing and practicing yoga. But I’m human. The truth is, so many of us – men and women - don’t feel into the pelvic area for whatever reason(s). I didn’t expect to notice anything. But I found myself surprised to feel areas of the pelvic girdle move toward and away from the surface of the chair. Through this early morning, I was gaining interoception -internal awareness – and proprioception – external awareness, how I was moving through space. Lastly, I came into a reclined position and placed the scarf vertically from the clavicle to the belly so I could sense not only the belly breathing, but also, chest breathing. Upon starting my coherent rhythm, it felt natural to be aware of the phases of breath while reclined because I do this before bed on most nights. The habit was already in my body. I saw the coins rise and barely heard anything in the room, including the layer of glimmers. Since beginning to explore with the coin scarf in the mornings, I’ve had better breath control while speaking, and even singing when I prepare for voice lessons. My pelvic floor finds complete ease more often, too, without having to consciously think about doing so. When this happens, not only is there more freedom in vocalization, but there’s also freedom in dancing, walking, and rowing. Not to mention more clarity and enjoyment within the biomechanics of these activities. If different systems within my body were benefitting from playing with the coin scarf, I knew that my clients could benefit from exploring their own sensory awareness with the same tool. The thought “I need to breathe (slower/deeper…)” is ubiquitous among society’s mental pattern, and the challenge is how to get creative in a way that allows us to feel motivated, as well as safe enough to show up for ourselves. It’s not enough to say “I need to…” or want to do something. Thinking outside the box can fuel our needs and goals. (129) Brittany Capozzi-Writer and Yoga Therapist - YouTube

Brittany Capozzi (“BellaBianca”) is a belly dancer, yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and creator of Trust Fall Writing.™ She supports women hiding their bodies from the effects of pain and trauma. She believes that every woman deserves to express who she is without pain and trauma leading her body – and her life. Brittany lives in Massachusetts with her husband and 2 Halloween cats. Feel free to check out her “Coin for Thought” videos on social media and say hello/sign up for her newsletter at https://www.understoryyogatherapy.com/ Social Media: TikTok brittany_capozzi TherapistBellaB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnderstoryYogaTherapy/playlists