Recently a client started with us and stated one of her long-term goals as ‘loving the body she has again” and feeling a sense of internal strength.I love this intention and can relate. Movement has been my daily emotional regulation/mental health/self care as early as I can recall. I was able to affirm the client’s hope as realistic. This work aligns and balances the body with natural motion/exercise to improve its function, our mind is engaged to learn new skills, and our nervous system is “charged up”.Not only do we experience an increase in our physical and mental abilities but within our human spirit, a deposit into our “good selves”-the source of being able to utilize our freedom of choice and take initiative in our lives.
Loving the body you have as a result of developing a practice in this work? Absolutely – this is possible.
The underlying component of this journey is belief and hope. Our client must truly believe that this is possible, in order for it to become tangible.Then, there is the “till the soil”, as we say in our studio. The “doing.” The showing up, the putting the effort into- even if you don’t know how it is going to turn out. The components of belief, hope, and do are timeless and apply universally.
On a physical level what does it do to improve our function? A body in disorder is not balanced in its functioning. A body in pain is uncomfortable. Dealing with physical pain on a daily basis is simply exhausting; both mentally and physically, stealing from our reserves.Movement does have an ABC’s, that is not taught anywhere in our educational system or experience for many people.
90% of the time, the studio is the first learning about physical movement in our culture, outside of mechanics for sport or performance activities.
We begin to move our skeletal system(framework of bones), joints and then deal with the soft tissue systems (muscles, fascia, organs, skin) next. If you have only learned to sense your muscles or move with an excess of muscular tension beyond the task at hand, then you may be surprised when you become stiffer and stiffer as you age. The joints of our body need to move in a variety of directions in their fullest range possible to maintain what we sense is “normal” motion. The saying of use it or lose it, does have a ring of truth for our physicality. However, it is worth stating that any good thing can be done to excess and people can over exercise for a variety of reasons. One of the coolest things about the exercise sessions we offer is how remarkably balanced they are AND quick to create order out of a jumble.
Loving the body you have is also assisted by learning new skills. It keeps you versatile( a quality in our culture associated with youth) to simply test your comfort zone and strive for quality and excellence in any endeavor. Look at any 90 year that is doing well and they will reinforce that way of thinking.If you lose your ability to stretch your comfort zone and do new things, you can lose the mental resources that are needed for change. Some of our classes require you to “know a basic routine and retain information. By improving your retention you improve your ability to recall information. It is valuable to improve memory function and mental clarity to work through challenges and learn new things.
Taking initiative- Act or be acted upon. This layer of our conversation is important to the tangible experience of loving the body you have. Every choice we make has natural consequences that follow, whether we acknowledge them or not. As humans, we all have free will. It distinguishes us differently from other living organisms. But, until the person realizes that free will only WORK if it is acknowledged and used, then we proceed through life with whatever scripts our culture, family, main relationships write around us. You can talk about leadership tools and personal success habits until you turn blue. If initiative is lacking, then the tools simply cannot be accessed. Simply claiming your CHOICE to create your life, adjust your health within the possibilities open to you, make more or less money, change a relationship or work environment, this is the stuff that is a by product of using your FREE WILL.
Exercising our Free Will is fuel for your spirit and builds a reserve of energy to overcome challenges when it is needed. To be capable to do something that was not before available brings smiles, laughter, joy and pride. Experiencing that gives you confidence to do more and try new things. It also gathers momentum and larger goals or projects become realistic and not overwhelming.
I am pleased to report that our client did indeed grow to love the body she has. It simply took time, and the willingness to show up and till the soil. Once she was honest with that, the world worked with her instead of against her to bring the once intangible goal into her reality.
I wish you well in your health and life endeavors as we look towards the change of the season. Fall brings many opportunities up, its a natural thing that occurs around us. Say yes, take the plunge into the directions you hope to build.
Lesley Davenport
