Bringing in Movement; Building Body Trust and Body Love

If you’re in pain, or in the depths of depression, or in weight restoration, the body can feel like a flesh prison, and to move it much takes the heroic resolve of Hercules, which we may or may not have at any given moment.

Surely, at times, it is absolutely right and good and true to say IT’S REST TIME, this is what I need. I’m not moving! At these times it is a luscious joy of life, even in depression, to luxuriate in your rest.

But then at times, the kind thing to do is take small loving action to provide relief to the body that can only come through loving movement.

Wisdom is listening and learning to discern between these times. Gentle experimentation, judgment free, is the only way to develop this wisdom and loving trust with the body.

Here are some fave ways to experiment with bringing in more movement:

• Breathing – just some get it moving, or more structured practice like the Wim Hof Method, or pranayama
• Kundalini Exercises – sitting cross-legged, coordinating movements and breath (guided video to come!)
• Mindful Natural Movement – Kellen fun on the floor
• Seated Ballet Workouts – for arms, neck, back– Alessia!
• Tai Chi Warm Up – David Bao
• Body Work – Fascia Release (like a very specific massage technique for serious pain relief), Nutritious movement

Now, like I did, you may see movement as just a method to force the body into a desired shape or functionality. For me, this was a reflection of my general attitude toward life at the time (DON’T TRUST IT!), and,

This attitude changed naturally as I grew to care for and trust my body through all its fluctuating energy levels and appearances.

So as you begin to play with movement, let love be your motivation and compassion be your response to what happens and a natural outflowing of trust will spring up to water your life, and the body will begin to heal and trust again.