Are you a good listener?

For many years, I've been saying that the most important thing I can teach people is how to listen to their bodies, how to feel. And even as my work continues to evolve, I still believe that's true.

It may seem a bit counterintuitive at first - of course there are feelings we enjoy and want more of - but the feelings that are difficult, challenging, painful? Why would you want to pay attention to them. How could that possibly make anything better?

Our bodies are ALWAYS talking to us, always giving us information. Feelings, emotions, sensations - are all a product of your nervous system trying to keep you safe. Are you listening?

In my yoga therapy training, we had a maxim:

"When you learn to listen to your body whisper, you don't have to hear it scream."

When you push away feelings, sensations and emotions that are not enjoyable or comfortable, you're ignoring the information your nervous system is providing. And your body won't stop communicating with you just because you've decided you don't like what you're hearing. It will turn up the volume.

(Believe me, I've tested this exhaustively)

Learning to listen to your body can be like learning a new language. At first, all the words don't make sense, and it can take a lot of trial and error to understand what is being said. But with time and practice (and acknowledging mistakes are part of the learning process, no matter how smart you are), you gain fluency.

You understand what your body is telling you, and even more importantly, you know how to respond.

Think about the most important relationships in your life.

How important is listening?
Listening for what's spoken and what's not being said?
Listening attentively without interrupting?
How does listening affect your ability to respond?
How good are you at listening? (How would your partner/kid/best friend answer that for you?)

I believe that the relationship you have with yourself is the most important relationship in your life. Your relationships with others are a reflection of your relationship to yourself. Making changes in relationships means changing the way you listen, the way you respond, the way you communicate.

When it comes to making changes in how our bodies move and feel, whether that's decreasing pain, improving mobility or strength, listening is the first step, and part of each subsequent step.

Can you pause for a moment right now and let yourself simply listen?
And without interrupting, listen a bit more?
And love your body for communicating with you?

That last one can feel like the hardest thing to do. If it sounds both compelling and scary to try, I can support you in a few different ways.

Embodiment Coaching - if you feel like you're hanging on for dear life, desperately need self-care, but don't know where to begin, reach out for a conversation. You're not broken. Together we can help you find your way back to calm, peace, control.

If becoming more fluent in feeling sounds like it would be a helpful way of working towards your fitness goals, join me for the Summer Session of Mindful Movement Classes.

My students tell me they feel better after each class - stronger, more energetic, more limber - and feeling much less pain.

The Summer Session starts on July 2. The fee of $175 includes 7 weeks of live online classes and 8 weeks of unlimited access to a library of over 400 recorded classes. Hit reply to register and we'll take it from there!

More info here.

If a self-guided approach to learning to feel is more your style, I happen to know of a great resource!

"The Power of the Pause", written by (ahem!) yours truly, is a 10-week course in growing resilience through the mind-body connection. You'll be taken through a step-by-step journey of learning how to feel, how your nervous system supports you, and choosing how you want to support yourself.

If you're in the Hamilton are, you can purchase the book from me; if not, you can find it here.

(If you already have it, but have been waiting for the right time to get into it, consider this a sign.)