The Relationship of a Lifetime

To many people the most important relationships they have are with their spouses, children, lovers, parents or the like, and that's understandable. To me the most important relationship is the one I have with my body because often my attitude with others begins where that relationship leaves off. For all intents and purposes the way I treat my body and handle my health is a good representation of how I engage with the people in my life. Our bodies are the soldiers to our minds will - unless we consciously put our body in the drivers seat of our lives. That's what I attempt to do and I'll tell you what that looks like.

Over the years I have worked on hearing the voice of my body. It all started with responding to it as soon as I felt it asking for attention. The big issues were all I felt in the beginning; ribs out, strains, injuries and tendinitis were big red spinning alarms. There was a time when the issues might have caused a rift between my body and my mind. I see this in my clients on a regular basis and although I understand where they're coming from, it is detrimental to rehab and recovery to make an enemy out of your body. "Just cut the arm off" or "Just give me a new rib" are common statements I've heard and it makes me cringe knowing that their body is receiving that information in its own way as well. I am on the same team as my body, indeed I am the leader of the light brigade, my body charging forward into reckless abandon at the rate and velocity at which I send it. As any good leader is aware you must know the needs of the people you lead in order to lead them well and this is no different. As I tended to the needs of my body on a more frequent basis and changed my perspective to a same-side mentality the voice became easier to hear. Instead of my body having to scream at me it could talk or even whisper and I'd be right there with it. Now, this ability does mirror conscious awareness in a way. In Yogic philosophy there is a disturbance in the force - or our magnetic field - three days before showing up in our bodies. At times that whisper is the body warning me that something is hovering. Other times it could be my hyper awareness of that rib that just slipped out, that left untreated could potentially cause serious pain down the line but I can head it off at the pass. The messages are infinite and valuable.

Here's a suggestion on beginning this process of forming a relationship with your body: imagine your body as its own entity. In fact, imagine it as your child. It comes to you for guidance and instruction, and it requires compassion and support to succeed. When a child is taught that no one listens when they speak they will find other ways to communicate; perhaps it's acting out or becoming angry or even shutting down entirely. This is our body. Approach it with care, compassion and commitment and it will respond with service, devotion and protection. The body is an amazing being, beloved. Truly, it houses more than we know.