Being in Your Body as Movement, Rest, and Self-Care
As we get in contact today through this blog post, I invite you to first move into your own body and space. This is an invitation so you can always decline if that doesn’t feel right for you in this moment and scroll down to the next few paragraphs where there is **
If you have decided that it feels like a “yes” to be in your body for a moment, go ahead and move away from my words and notice your own body and space. Even as you begin, see if there are thoughts or feelings or sensations that react towards noticing your body. See if you can allow those thoughts to exist without judgment, in letting them be there without needing to like or not like them.
One way to do that might be like this example: first notice that your body feels tired and heavy, then you have some thoughts that say, “ugh I hate when I feel tired and I have things to get done.” Then saying to yourself, “Yep, I see you and ok, I am aware you are there. It’s hard for me to hate myself or be so harsh because I know I shouldn’t but to be honest, I do.”
If that seems difficult and it is more natural to want to judge your reaction, let the judgment come and notice the need of judging, how come that might be important for you to judge your reaction of noticing your own body. Or see if you can get curious about why that is coming in through the language of hate and wants to be harsh. Believe that there is a reason your body is responding the way it is and see if you can sit in that belief, trusting in the signals your body is giving you. Give yourself a moment or two to connect in this way, allowing the body to breathe as it needs to and notice that without changing or doing anything to control the breath. Take in this observation, thank your body system if that feels right to do so.
** Now that you have had a moment to check inwards, I welcome you back to my words.
I know for me, any invitation that brings me closer towards my bodymind system can sometimes be easier and harder to do, depending on the day and what I’m already sitting with. So whether that check-in was hard or easy for you to do, know that I’m here with you and am so glad you have made it to this post.
As we enter into the season of October and all things Autumn, the world seems to shift into a sense of brisk air, chillier weather, orange and brown and golden leaves, cloudy skies, sweaters and socks, and apple cider being mulled slowly on the stove. The scent of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg seem to fill my kitchen with all things FALL. And as I’m feeling the sense of comfort outside, it brings me to an inner comfort. A way to be with the earth, the ground, the trees, the roots. The need for slowing down and finding comfort is a way of the earth calling our souls into the harvest season. I hear the earth calling me back towards the ground, to the connections of what roots me to myself and others. And I’m wildly connected to the changing brisk season and the need to find a steady sense of safety that anchors me. Calling in the intentions of rest, self-care, and intentional movement are ways to ground in your body and have the felt sense of feeling your roots connected to the earth. And to help better see and bring to awareness of what makes it hard for you to feel rooted and grounded.
For me, for many many years I often judged my body as my suffering. So trying to ground in my body felt nearly impossible. When I was 15 years old, I began to control my body through denying the hunger signal and starving my body of thriving. At that time I thought I had caused it and I was intentionally harming myself. Now that I am close to 40, I finally have had the necessary healing to see how that relationship was protecting me from the trauma of my childhood. But for 20 years I deeply struggled living in my body and understanding what was happening inside my bodymind system. I thought and believed I just needed to be fixed and that my body/mind was the problem.
A consistent yoga applied practice and Internal Family Systems and strong guides/healers have helped me to better be with and understand the relationship that existed between me and my body. Though those were big steps and continue to be necessary in my journey, I often found that it was the little steps that led me to those big revelations. It was the noticing when I was tired and allowing myself to take a nap in the middle of the day moments. It was the feeling cold in my hands and making a warm cup of tea to warm them moments. It was the taking a gentle yoga class and feeling joy and pleasure in stretching and moving my body moments. All those “little” moments led me to connect more and more with what hunger actually feels like internally and with what nourishment actually feels like and allowing those things to exist without feeling a need to control, deny, or manage.
With that said, in this season, see if you hear your own call to connect to the earth and it’s gift of holding you during this time. If you desire to feel more ground, safe, secure in your own body see if some of these invitations and prompts can help support your nervous system. And as always feel free to reach out if you want more individual support.
Intention for being in your body as MOVEMENT:
I will engage in regular joyful movement, whether it’s through daily walks, yoga, or another form of exercise that nourishes my body and mind.
Questions to consider:
Do joy and movement come together for me or are they separate?
What makes it hard to find joy in movement?
What would that be like for me to feel joy as I move my body?
Intention for being in your body as REST:
I will honor my body’s signals for rest, including sleeping enough at night, pacing myself during the day, and finding stillness when needed.
Questions to consider:
What physical sensations indicate to you that your body needs a break and relaxation?
When your body asks for rest, how do you initially respond, and what adjustments do you make to honor your body’s needs for rest?
Intention for being in your body as self-care:
I will pay attention to the physical sensations and cues my body provides, responding with care and self-compassion to its needs for relaxation, hydration, and self-care.
Questions to consider:
What is your favorite self-care activity?
Pay attention to the somatic language your body sends after this activity, what is your body saying?
When does your body ask for self-care the most (i.e- after a stressful even, when you haven’t rested, etc.)?
