Reconnect to Your Body + Intuitive Healing Powers
All of us have within us the innate knowledge and ability to make the right choices for the health of our body, mind and spirit.
But often busy modern life interferes. We don’t want to face our true feelings + emotions so we create busy and materialistic ways to numb ourselves.
We have been taught by society/our peers to ignore our needs and emotions.
When we are struggling with big emotions, problems, or things in life aren't going well or really resonating with you as a person, it is often our response to block or numb ourselves to the problem, instead of facing it.
Personally, for me, I lost my way. I fell into a job in my 20's that wasn't 'me', a series of terrible relationships the last of which was terribly toxic yet I couldn't see it (hindsight is a beautiful thing!)... and my coping mechanism for all of this was to mindlessly shop, and spend my nights partying.
Ironically, it’s times when things are the worst we often neglect self-care practices (if they were even there to start with), when these are the times we need them most!
Needless to say, ignoring what was really going on back fired on me. My body was trying to warn me - I was constantly ill, with one chest infection or bout of tonsillitis after the other, but I kept going until I collapsed. Literally.
The Universe had to give me a big ol' smack round the head as a wake up call!... and then I was forced to listen! I ended up with adrenal fatigue, a chronic illness, and fibromyalgia..
I had to stop dead in my tracks, my body forced me to because I didn't have the energy for anything, and I had to completely relearn who I was.
It may not be illness for you as everyone is different. But your body can have the same reaction to a number of triggers.
Whatever the 'thing' is for you; that has brought things to a breaking point, that has forced you to re-evaluate, know it is for a reason; ITS TIME TO START MAKING SOME CHANGES!!
What is a Connection to Your Body?
A connection with your body is, in essence, the ability to recognise physical, emotional and mental feelings and ‘messages’ from your body then process and respond to them in a healthy way that supports your health + wellbeing.
(Instead of undermining, ignoring or worsening it!)
Connection is about having an open and accepting two-way relationship between your mind and your body, strengthening the link between a person's thoughts, senses, emotions, and behaviours, and their physical health + wellbeing.
Intuition is the quiet whisper of inner knowing that says “this is the best thing for me…” or “this feeling means X…” And being able to act on it or make choices without questioning yourself and your needs.
As babies we innately know what our body needs. In fact that is all we are focused on. We cry when we’re hungry and want to be fed, we sleep when we need to and we make sure we have love and attention when we need it!
But as we grow up various influences can make us forget this basic wisdom until we cannot remember ever having it at all.
In many instances of cfs and chronic fatigue I frequently see humans who have been ignoring the cues and signals of their body’s for so long that they have a body pushed beyond its limits to the brink of exhaustion and no longer understand what their body needs or how to fix it!
Similarly, Stress can also negatively affect the mind-body connection. When the nervous system is heightened and your mind + body on edge the last thing you are able to do is find the peace and stillness to tune inwards.
How to Reconnect With Your Body + Intuition
The good news is there Are ways for you to begin relearning this body wisdom. But it isn’t going to happen overnight.
This is a process and it takes time for that mind-body connection to become a conscious and frequent habit again.
Because all of our bodies are unique and individual this journey will look different for everyone, what works will be different for everyone.
No two people have the same body or the same reactions, so this process takes patience and a lot of (re)learning about yourself and your body.
But it’s a process worth pursuing. Connecting with your body can be a deeply relaxing and healing experience.
That being said here are a number of tools and practices you can start using to rebuild your body connection:
1.Mindful Eating
Eating without distractions. Listening to your hunger cues and eating when you feel hungry / stopping when you are full. Learning to spot the difference between emotional eating and actual hunger. Asking your body what it wants/needs in that moment. All of these things are mindful eating + a mindful approach to food.
Paying attention to how your body responds to the foods your eating when you eat + how they make you feel afterwards ie. Energised, satiated, sluggish, nauseous, bloated + gassy etc…. Is SO important for our health and understanding + supporting our body.
To help with this you may find that tracking your health each day is useful.
It can be a slow process to learn what does and doesn't work. What your body is telling you.
This can be done by checking your skin and your energy levels the day after you eat something. If it makes you feel bloated after eating, or sluggish and exhausted the day after, then it's a big indicator that you should eat less of that thing or cut it out altogether.
Keeping a written account of what you are eating, how you are doing, what you’re doing and how you are feeling each day will help you to connect the dots and work at removing the foods that don't work with your body. Or at least eating less of them. Adjusting your routine and the things you do, sometimes doing less or sleeping more. Tweaking your morning routines, your wake up times and bedtimes.
Eventually, you will work out a diet that you are happy with and makes you feel good as well as nourishing your body and helping to give you sustained energy levels. You will work out a routine and habits that support your health and happiness, your wellbeing, instead of worsening it.
2.Yoga
Breath is the connection between mind and body. Practices such as yoga and Pilates focus on movement in connection with the breath.
For me yoga is a practice that connects mind, body, soul, and breath. As well as having the added benefits of increasing strength and flexibility and reducing a lot of the stiffness and pain that often comes with chronic fatigue conditions.
Other forms of gentle movement or exercise such as walking, especially in nature) can work too if you are focusing on your breathing and how it makes your body feel!
Ps. Despite popular belief you do not have to be flexible to start yoga. Yoga will improve and increase your flexibility as you go.
3.Meditation
Similar to yoga meditation is a practice that focuses on breathwork and the mind-body connection.
Meditation helps you to slow your breathing, relax the body and create space in the mind.
Just 10-20 minutes daily makes a world of difference to your mental state, your emotions, and how you tackle and deal with things in your life.
Meditation not only gives you a beautiful sense of peace and calm. But it also gives your mind clarity, it sets the mood and intention of the rest of your day, and it means that you start each day focused and ready. Being able to focus on your breath, your physical body and ground yourself at the start of each day helps clear the clutter from your mind, keeps you focused on the present moment, and is a refreshing break from everything that is running through your mind.
That space in your mind and ability to be present helps you to tune in and “hear” those small cues from your body. Tuning out all the outside noise and overwhelm…
If you wanted to incorporate a meditation for both morning and evening it is also a great way to release everything from your day to help you have a peaceful nights sleep too.
4.Processing Thoughts + Feelings
The mind-body connection is the intertwining of both your body and mind. When your mind thinks something, your body may experience a physical response. For example, you might catch yourself crying after thinking a sad thought. Or you might have a physical gut feeling to subconscious thought.
We like to distract ourselves from the more negative feelings that come up instead of just letting ourselves feel and process them.
And we can think negative thoughts about ourselves and others/the world around us without really being consciously aware of them or the damage they can cause.
It is also important to process and be aware of your mental + emotional ‘nudges’ and overall wellbeing.
Journaling. Just writing things out to get them out of your head can be a helpful + cathartic way to help you process. You don't even have to ever read what you've written. It doesn't have to make sense. It is just releasing whatever is pent up.
When you can sit with your feelings, identify them, let them wash over you and not resist them, hold on to them, and NOT let them define your day, to cry if you need to, find healthy ways to release anger and frustration, and not forget to appreciate the moments of happiness, playfulness, peace and joy; then you are processing your thoughts and emotions in a healthy way.
5.Being Present
Mindfulness is being aware of how you think and act throughout the day. It’s the practice of being in the present, noticing each moment and not falling into bad habits or patterns.
I've written a more in depth post on mindfulness and small mindful practices you can use throughout the day, you can read it here.
But when you are aware of your thoughts, feelings, surroundings and body you become more able to connect with your body, with loved ones and notice the moments that matter.
It encourages you to pay attention + process the information coming to you from your body + your environment in that present moment and process those in a healthy way.
You can be aware of your thoughts and emotions before feeling overwhelmed by them through signs that your body or physical health provides.
By taking some time to be mindful of your thoughts, you can prevent a physical response. You’ll become more aware of when and why negative thoughts begin to surface and prevent their escalation by giving yourself a chance to stop the rumination of thoughts.
6.The Five Senses
Our senses; what we can touch, taste, hear, and see are our connection to our physical body. At times when we are too much in our thoughts and emotions, feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stressed etc. using the five senses can be a simple and effective way of helping us tune back into the physical body and stay grounded.
Using your five senses in this way is something between mindfulness and a meditation practice. A tool which you can use throughout your day to help you re-balance and find a moment of peace and calm.
Your five senses connect to your mental functions, so you improve your mind-body connection by engaging with them. When you smell something good, your senses are why endorphins and dopamine enter your brain, which are both hormones responsible for feeling good about yourself.
Don’t hesitate to engage with your senses to feel connected with your body because each one of your senses is just as important when it comes to your mind-body connection. It’s the primary reason why aromatherapy and eating chocolate makes you feel good and happy about yourself – because of that connection with your brain.
Take a short moment to notice your senses and meditate on them. What do you see? What do you smell? Is there a taste in your mouth? Do you hear any sounds? Touch something; how does it feel?
Remember to trust yourself as you go. Learn to trust your intuition and that quiet voice within. As you reconnect with your body and deepen that connection + trust your intuition will become louder and easier to follow.
And try not to get too frustrated if things don’t happen straight away. Just keep working at it and you’ll get there.
xo Emily
