As I said in my previous post, there are 4 steps to getting in touch with the inner wisdom of your body to become healthier. If you missed that post, go back and read it. Now, let’s find out what those wise steps are shall we?
4 Steps to Getting In Touch With Your Body
1. Slow Down
Consider that the world is not as face-paced as you think it is. By changing your belief about the world, your view of it will change. Begin to picture your world as slower and calmer. When you begin to experience stillness throughout your day, your body will thank you. Take a few moments to meditate during your daily routine. Most people avoid stopping to reflect because they are fearful of what they might discover within themselves. When you step out of your daily routine and take even just a moment for peace, you quiet the endless chatter in your head and allow your body’s wisdom to speak up. Pick two times during the day to stop what you are doing, breathe, reflect, and give thanks for your incredible body that breathes, sleeps, and operates each day.
2. Chew Your Food
If such a simple step sounds insignificant, think again! If you come to the table in a rush, your body will remain in the stressful state of the fight or flight response. Imagine your body as it tries to digest food, thinking that it is going to fight a war. It’s impossible! Your body will choose to store the food for later. (Huh – so that’s how all of those extra pounds got packed on!) Chewing your food allows your digestive juices to do their job by helping you properly assimilate food and absorb nutrients. And also, chewing your food and experiencing the taste, texture and smell of each bite will lead to a more enjoyable experience. You can be eating the best food money can buy, but if you are disconnected from the process of experiencing your food, you will never be truly satisfied. When you relate with your food in this way, you will be less likely to go looking for something else in the pantry an hour later.
3. Eat and Listen
Now, this is not your everyday food journal. Keep a log of what you eat everyday and how you feel two hours after eating it. Are you still hungry? Are you too full? Are you satisfied? Is your stomach settled? What are you craving? By listing not only what you are eating but also how it makes you feel, you will begin making a connection to what you eat and how it affects your digestion, your energy levels and your mood. You are learning to turn on your inner radar so that you can listen to what your body is telling you. Most importantly, you will create the mind-body connection that is often missing in today’s dining experience.
4. Honour Your Body
Start by making your health and your body a priority. Try a new exercise routine, go for a brisk walk, or participate in a yoga class. When you take time for your health and well being, you send positive messages to your body, such as, “I honor you and my health. I am in touch with you, so that you can be in touch with me.” Begin to talk to your body as the home of your soul. Eliminate the negative messages that you subconsciously send to your physical body. Try this exercise: Begin by standing in front of the mirror naked. (Yes, in the buff, that’s right.) Stand there for five minutes and notice what you love about your body now, not what you used to love about it. Then state it out loud. Repeat this several times a week until you feel connected to both your physical and emotional self. Concentrate on your inner beauty and your outer beauty will start to follow suit.
When you slow down, chew your food, eat and listen, and honour your body, you will reconnect with that inner voice that tells you each day all you need to know about what to eat, when to eat and how much to eat. There is no one, single miracle diet that will tell you what your own body needs in order to be happy, fulfilled and healthy. You are your own guide for healthy eating and living.
Live Inspired,
Sonja
