We need to drop into the body to be free from its bondage.
I used to think that my body was in the way of experiencing my most serene and spiritual self. It felt like a limitation — something I needed to get away from.
I'm recognising that the ability to accept, drop into, and be with the body is a fundamental ingredient to lasting healing. Now, this may sound scary. If you are here, it probably means you don't have the best relationship with your body, and the idea of simply being with it — in all its essence and presence — probably feels terrifying.
But when you allow yourself to ease into this space, so much can transform from within you.
So how do you be with the body? How do you sit in its tangible matter without falling apart? The journey is different for everyone, but some things that have helped me:
1. Voice. My voice is the most important part of accepting my body. It is only when I can authentically express my feelings, thoughts, and fears to those closest to me that my body seems like a more manageable place to be in. When I accept my truth and share it with another human being without fear or judgement, my psyche starts to feel more accepting of my physical self too.
2. Senses. When I engage my physical senses through mindful movement, breathwork, dance, music, candlelight, or scent, something makes me feel calmer. We tend to store anxiety in physical areas of the body and often are disconnected from the present moment because of fear. When I can make myself as physically here as possible through my senses, that fear dissolves.
3. Stillness. Sometimes I drop everything to be still. Even if "dropping everything" simply means dropping the way I'm thinking about something.
4. Support. I have found that supplements supporting cortisol regulation can help me feel more capable of handling my stressors. Some of these include Ashwagandha, Magnesium Citrate, Zinc, L-Theanine, and a good probiotic. (Always consult a healthcare professional before adding supplements.)
5. Intention. I make intentional time to be with my body even if it's uncomfortable. I ask myself what I am trying to feel more in control of, what the underlying fear is, and what solution I can move toward.
Making stillness and time to be with the body is just like any relationship — it takes intention, time, and patience. You may not love the process, but spending quality time with the body is a fundamental element in developing a better relationship with it.
See what comes up. Your body is not the enemy. It is time to start moving into it with grace.