What does listening to your body mean - By our expert Pauline Mauduit

What does listen to your body mean?

“Listen to your body”, everyone says it all the time! For some, it seems easy to feel in tune with their bodies, while others can feel unbalanced or disconnected.

It can be so easy to get caught up in our busy day-to-day lives, that we often forget to pause and reflect on how we are actually feeling.

I often ask my clients, "where do you feel that in your body?" It's a simple question, but can be difficult to answer. It is time to get everything in line and back to the way it is supposed to be, listening to what our body is trying to say and acting upon that. "What am I feeling in my body? Where do I feel it?" Emotions, pain, beliefs, stiffness, passion...they all dwell in the body!

Our bodies are the best sources of information on understanding what is going on in our lives and what needs to be changed. It may be a tension in your leg, a sore shoulder, recurrent migraine or anything else that is uncomfortable at this moment. These feelings are there for a reason, and it’s essential to learn how to recognize these traits and to acknowledge when it’s time to take a rest day, eat, meditate, go for a walk or see your Mind Body Therapist.

Here are some techniques you can use to connect with your body in a way that helps you feel, hear, and then honour its needs. Try them all and see what works for you.

Make a strong connection between Body and Mind: Combine breath exercise and sense of touch. Notice how your heart beats under your palm and how your chest rises and falls, your muscles relax, your spine lengthens, your brain thinks more clearly. Then, listen to what else your body is telling you.

Keep a journal: Keeping a journal helps you to become aware of how your body is feeling and identify what you can do to help feel your best. Write down what you want to do to take care of yourself today.

Getting a massage or energy work: While you lay on the massage table, you can focus on the rhythm of your own breath, quieting your mind and letting your thoughts pass by. You are truly engaging in the moment, that mindfulness brings your attention to the present situation and helps regulate emotions and activate body awareness.

Honour and respect your body: Think and speak about your body with love and respect. Make a commitment to replace all negative thoughts about your body and actions with gratitude for how well your body serves you every day.

Rather than going through the motions of daily life, try just asking yourself: “What do I truly feel like doing right now?” If the answer is to hang out on the couch and to watch a movie for an evening, then do that, and do it without guilt. You are doing it because your body calls for it.

The meaning of love lies in loving yourself, regardless of anything. As soon as you start showing love and care to your body, it will immediately thank you.

“There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsch

How do you stay in tune with your body? Share your tips in the comments below!