Something strange has been happening for me lately. The more that I stay on the path of joy the more my body has begun speaking to me about staying on the path of joy (or the better I am at listening to what my body has been saying for years).

When my mind (ego) thinks that I am going to do something that is good for me, but it isn’t something that lifts my spirits and brings me joy, my body says “NO!” in a big way (or at least it seems so).

 “What matters is how quickly you do what your soul directs.”
― Rumi

What’s with this? Is it just a coincidence? Or is my body really speaking to me???   Loudly!

I hold both possibilities as truth—lightly—since it is impossible to know for certain. As humans we are meaning-making creatures. We create stories that explain what we experience. Perhaps I am creating a story around a series of coincidences. Perhaps not.

Body Wisdom

But I do know for certain that my body has wisdom to share with me if I am willing to listen to it.

I wanted to start doing a yoga class last fall.  I set up to attend a vigorous yoga class someone had recommended to me. Each time I planned to attend the more vigorous class, I got sick or had a sore back—my body prevented me from attending the class. After 3 times planning and then cancelling, I decided to listen to my body as it seemed to be saying a big “NO.”

Then I discovered a gentle yoga class at a studio that I had read about years ago (MindBody Solutions). When I went to the gentle yoga class there, everything went smoothly. I love the class and my body loves the class! It is perfect for me.

I (my ego) decided if once a week was good, twice a week would be better. Again, the first time I planned to attend the second weekly class, something prevented me from going. This time I listened and let go of my mind’s plans. My body knows what it needs.

This careful listening is so counter to our culture’s norms. We’re taught, “No pain, no gain,” or to push through and work hard. Instead of befriending our bodies we discipline them.

I must admit that I am a slow learner. Instead of asking my body what is wants to do, I often make plans, carry them out, and then suffer the consequences.

“Mr. Duffy lived a short distance from his body.”

― James Joyce, Dubliners

 

Last week I started doing some easy walking aerobics. The first couple of times went well and felt so good that this week I decided to try doing the workout on 2 consecutive days. I was a little sore the evening of the second day but I felt OK. It still felt good moving my body actively. Then I pushed and did a third day in a row along with a more aggressive workout with lunges and weights.

That workout was too aggressive or three days in a row were too much. Yesterday my knees and hips hurt. It hurts to move. Today they still hurt. I am especially aware of it because lately I’ve been reveling in how it feels good to move my body (this is a relatively new experience for me after years of chronic pain). What a difference it makes in my overall feeling of well-being.

The difference between feeling good, strong, vibrant and moving with joy versus feeling old, slow, and in pain is huge. Instead of getting out of my chair with ease, it hurts to move

Once again I am reminding myself about the importance of being present in the body.

“These pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them.”
― Rumi, The Essential Rumi

Listening to the body

Listening to the body and listening to joy are presencing practices, not thinking or figuring out practices. They require getting out of the head and into the present moment and the entire space of the body.

The first step is noticing without judgment or trying to change anything.

The second step is to notice when tell-tale words like “should” or “ought to” creep into your language. They are sure signs of your ego speaking, not your body.

Noticing joy, listening to the body are a little bit like body whispering. The felt sense is more important than your thoughts. It is a process of unlearning what we’ve spent a lifetime learning.

When was the last time you listened to your body? What did it say?

May you walk in beauty.

Beauty in the grocery store

More grocery store beauty

A tiny Buddha statue and silk flowers = hours of photo play

Move with Joy