If there is one thing we should prioritise in daily life, or at least once a week, is practising body awareness. Do you find it strange that the one thing we ignore on top of materialist items body and mind? Perhaps it’s simply one of those things you give no meaning or thought to?
By taking the time to connect, we create awareness that brings about a flood gate of benefits.
So, by consciously…yep…consciously practising body awareness, we help bring about an internal balance by focusing on the now, instead of what the unknown future holds.
Conscious relaxation helps to release our defence mechanisms and be more present in life. It is from this contentedness that we move out of reaction and into better decision-making in all aspects of life.
I’m a big believer in intuition but this comes with the ability to connect from within through an understanding and peeling of layers of the self and being connected to the present moment and what the mind and emotions tell us.
So how does this all fit in with an active lifestyle?
Well, we exercise to improve our overall health, strength and mobility but this is heavily focused on pushing ourselves and blocking out what the body is saying… And that’s usually how we reach our goals. So use movement to incorporate both.
Even during exercise, become aware of the emotions that come up. It could be sweating, gripping or contracting parts of the body that are not required or showing tension through the face. It could be in the middle of a squat set or typically resistant time. Feel the feelings and remain in the present – don’t shy away. Research is telling us disease is stored emotions, so releasing emotions through movement is the most effective way to remain healthy.
It’s even more important for fitness lovers and athletes to spend time thoughtfully connecting to their body through breath and muscle scanning. Body appreciation flourishes. It’s our way of saying ‘thanks’ by giving it time to restore and heal.
Ways of achieving body awareness can be through
Yoga – remaining very present and in a zen-like state
Stretching through the full range of motion
Guided body scanning meditation and breathing
All these methods can help promote recovery, relaxation, stress relief and weight loss (by increasing mindfulness, cellular health).
Here are some free guided meditations for body awareness to practice and see if it’s something for you.
1. Guided meditation 17 mins – scanning attention through the body
2. Guided meditation 9 minutes – relaxing you into a state of consciousness
Make sure you can fully give yourself to this time, without disruptions it will assist with being able to really focus on the now and not what else is going on in the house.
