Our Bodies are our Greatest Teachers

For the past 20+ years, I've been deeply immersed in the physical and movement aspects of the body, not only teaching it to others in several modalities - Pilates, Yoga, Strength Training to name a few, but also as a participant myself. Actually, I've been physically active since I was a child, in sports and dance. Over the years, I've developed an attunement to the general quality of my being, frequently pausing to check in.  

These frequent check ins have spilled over into my emotional well-being as I've become more embodied. They go hand in hand. Physical aches and pains tell me a lot about my emotional state, and vice versa. 

Our bodies regularly signal us in times of physical and emotional distress, asking to be met and attended to. When we’re aware of and tuned in to our physical body, we're able to notice any imbalances, and can take steps to restore symmetry back into our lives. 

Signals of physical and emotional distress can look like:

• Fatigue, lethargy

• Muscle tension, especially in the neck, shoulders, and jaw

• Racing thoughts or difficulty concentrating

• Procrastination or avoiding responsibilities

• Nervous habits like pacing or nail biting

Our emotions get embedded in, and live in our bodies. For example, constantly clenching the neck, shoulders, jaw and, even the pelvic floor, may signal our need to be in control. Asking what we are afraid to let go of, is a starting point to begin to find ease in the this area.

Lower back pain can be related to an unsettling, unsure or unresolved situation in your life. Our spine is the "Spiritual Backbone" of our body representing strength, integrity, one's values and truths. If we are not living in alignment with our soul's inherent design, or have not fully embraced it, we may experience soreness, or tenderness near the tailbone and lumbar regions of the spine.

Slowly scan your body, check in, notice the twinges, aches or pains. Where are they? Is this typical? Is this new or ongoing?

Then pause and reflect...is there a situation, event or person in your life that is disconcerting to you in some way.

This is your invitation! To meet the causal layer of your hurts and traumas that live in your physical being. They are revealing the themes of what's beneath them. Pause here, feel, without needing to change anything. Take your time, simply stay in the feeling of what's opening to you. It will metabolize and dissipate the longer you stay.

This is the level of healing that allows our souls to feel fuller, lighter, for our bodies to move with grace, ease and pleasure.