Be in my body? Aren't I already there?

Last week I wrote here that I prefer principles to rules; I like to use them a filter or lens through which to view a situation, and then choose an action or response.

I have a list of nine principles that have evolved over the past ten years or so. They started out as principles of movement - when I realized that rigid rules for movement often made chronic pain worse, and decided that I needed a more flexible framework to help people get out of pain.

At some point, I noticed that the same principles could be applied to other parts of life to create more ease. (For more about ease, see last week's post!) I describe them in my book, and I'd like to share a bit more about each of them here in the coming weeks.

"Be in your Body"

Being in your body simply means paying attention to sensations. Our minds are wonderful and powerful. We can know something intellectually, but real knowing arises from that deeper connection to all parts of our selves - mind, body, spirit.

And when we value the experience of our minds over the experience of being in our bodies, we miss a lot.

From a movement perspective, paying attention to sensations allows you to observe whether a movement is causing pain or not, and then empowers you to make choices about range of movement, speed, complexity, intensity, and repetition.

Beyond the movement realm, paying attention to sensations helps you to regulate your nervous system in stressful situations, check in with your values, and connect to and trust your intuition. Trust your gut.

• What keeps you from being in your body?

• What do you love about being in your body?

• Is it easy for you to trust your gut?

• Where do you want to use the principle of "be in your body" this week?

Want to learn how to be in your body more often, more effectively? Start with this 5-minute body sensing exercise - you can do it right now!

Want to learn more about using the Pause to be in your body? Get a copy of my book - if you're local to the Hamilton area, you can buy it from me directly or at King West Books. If you're further afield, you can find it here on Amazon.

Being in body helps coaching clients connect with their values as they make choices about life, work and relationships - if this sounds like it might be helpful to you, reach out and let's talk. Book your conversation here: