Remember that women's book from the 70's called Our Bodies, Ourselves? I think it's now in multiple editions. It's still a resource for information about birth control, female anatomy and even emotions, hormones, women's rights. I'm writing about it today because the title really says something I've thought to be true for a long time: our bodies ARE ourselves. How we relate to them, treat them and even think about them affects us and shapes us. And yet most of us treat them as objects, to be whipped into submission. We want to get them into the best shape possible, push them to do the best work possible, or drive them around, travel them around, sleep them around. Our bodies quietly accompany us in our lives while we do all these things. Most of the time they don't say a word.
But sometimes they do. They may show up from the silence in the form of a disease that no one can diagnose; or those extra ten pounds that don't seem to go anywhere; or the fact that we can't orgasm when we want to. Our bodies don't lie. After awhile, when we don't listen, they begin to get more clever about trying to communicate. They begin to inconvenience us.
I write this because I think acknowledging and working with our bodies before they get to this point is essential. I'm writing and creating this blog because I believe there's another way. The new road is one of listening to and respecting our bodies as the living, breathing beings they are. As we become conscious of the relationship we're already participating in with our bodies, healing on all kinds of levels becomes possible: the undoing of disease, letting go of weight and even gaining of energy.
I'll share with you my thoughts and stories, and I welcome yours.
Anna
Hi Anna. I have first hand experience with having a conscious relationship with my body. This is my first time on your blog and I can attest to what you say. I know it's because of my connection with my body that i don't fall ill. As a teenager, i was weight and health-conscious and tried all sorts of eating habits and exercise regimes to keep the body in good shape. But whatever diet i tried, I wouldn't sustain my ideal weight with ease. When i started listening to my body, i learnt how to eat how it wanted to eat. I have maintained my ideal weight for years since- effortlessly! Recently, I got a heartburn from eating very fast I think. Instead of running for painkillers or writhing in pain, I relaxed into my body and connected with it. The pain left in seconds! I found this astounding for i had never done it consciously before! It just deepened my intrigue with the body-mind connection! I have a lot to say about this connection seeing it has been my way of life for the whole of my life albeit an unconscious one for the early years due to the conditioning of our mind-based schools and society. It's becoming increasingly conscious now and what a journey!! Astounding indeed! Evelyn
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