Knowing my truth
By · CommentsToday was a tough day as I was really tested by our painter, who, besides having a language issue, did not tell the truth….. I was so angry because there were moments where I doubted myself… maybe he was right… I really had to take a moment to stay connected to myself, to know what the truth was, and remember what he had said earlier in the day. I eventually got really really angry with him, so much so that I basically fired him, however his boss came and promised that things would be corrected…… but still. When someone doesn’t speak the truth and I know what the truth is, it is very disheartening. It not only makes me mad, it makes me sad. My body can feel when someone is not present and not speaking from an authentic place and the more I listen from my body, the harder it gets for me to embrace those who are not coming genuine or coming from their heart…. How do you feel in a situation like this?
The feminine connection
By · CommentsThe other day I was reading an article in O magazine and there was a piece written that had been taken from an interview with Marion Woodman. It was a wonderful piece about how in this present time the feminine principle is suppressed in both men and women. She says how “the feminine is difficult because few people have experienced it. The feminine is presence and relatedness, it is and a heart that can open so that when you meet another person you actually are seeing that person’s authentic self. What meaning does human life have if nobody has ever seen you?”
So often in my work with the somatic (feeling) body (usually through an area of pain) I find a part inside that is not heard or listened to and feels totally alone. This part is often missing the feminine connection of feeling loved, seen, feeling they have someone they can trust so that they can fully be themselves. This part is devoid of the feminine connection….. usually tracing back to childhood.
Marion goes onto say that “the great work of our time is to bringing the feminine into our culture. And it is not an easy path” And how it is important to “take time to listen, …. and recognise there are things that need to be felt, or said, or lived, or grieved…..Pay attention to your authentic self”
So how do we find that authentic self and heal that part of us that has lost the feminine connection? The way for me is by being more embodied in my feminine. It is the feminine self, energy system, principle within ourselves that gives us the opening to be, express, relate and love who we are and be able to be present for another.
Marion also says “when you are living your own reality, you become the sovereign of your own life. You know who you are, you speak what you believe and there is a natural pride that goes with it. So I ask you are you living your authentic life? Do you embody the feminine principle? Are you feeling connected, loved, and seen? Let me know how you feel about these questions, I would love to hear from you. I believe that it is the feminine principle that will assist in healing our world.
Want Freedom? Use Your Body As a Guide
By · CommentsFreedom is a word that comes up a lot in my world. As an integrative Physical Therapist who specializes in total mind-body healing, especially emotional & trauma release from the body, I hear statements like: “I want to be free of this pain”; “I want to be free of this issue”; “I just want to be free of this feeling.”
So what does this have to do with the body? Well, the body is like a map or a blueprint that shows us in ways both obvious and subtle where we are free or not free. If we are in acute physical pain or physical restriction, the body is giving us a pretty obvious signal as to where we are not free. Less obvious, until you learn how to tune in and ‘read’ the body, is that the body will show and tell us what we are holding on the emotional, mental & spiritual levels that is keeping us stuck or ‘not free’. Often, it is the lack of freedom on these ‘other’ levels that creates the physical restriction in the first place.
Here’s an example. Recently, a woman came to my office with pain in her neck and radiating into her eyes that was not responding to “standard” treatment. As we connected with this pain through hands-on manipulation, breath, intention and awareness, it became obvious that she was holding a tremendous amount of fear in this area. On deeper exploration, it became clear that the fear was caused by repetitive negative and catastrophic thoughts (ie, fear of being in a car crash, fear of being alone, fear of illness). As a result, she described feeling tight, contracted, disconnected, and stuck in her body. As she let herself feel these fears her body was storing, she felt herself shut down and lose feeling of her body altogether as her overactive mind took front-and-center stage.
I know how she feels. I understand the body contraction that comes when I get angry or anxious for example. The body naturally contracts and restricts when there is pain, disease, fear or judgement at the mental and emotional levels or we feel separated at a spiritual level. When we can bring in awareness, compassion, forgiveness and healing at these levels, we open the doors to gain freedom in every part of our lives, which is reflected in our physical body.
So, back to my client. What do you think happened when we moved into an expanded place of positive and loving thoughts? Try this… think of something that upsets you and FEEL into your body. How does it respond? Now think of something positive, fun, something you love… what happens in your body? (Is it easier to breathe; more relaxed; are your muscles softer?) When I asked my client to do this and speak what was present for her, the first word out of her mouth was FREEDOM!
Yes! When we connect to what is happening in our body we find the freedom we are longing for. By allowing ourselves to slow down, feel inside, embrace what is present, become aware of what is truly going on for us, we give ourselves the opportunity to feel our truth, which then flows into our life. Ah… doesn’t that feel good?!
It can be a bumpy road as we awaken ourselves to the Freedom we are longing for, and it is a process, not a quick fix. However, by sensing and feeling our world through our body we are more easily able to assess what is happening to us and how to take care of ourselves.
I have deep respect for body knowledge. When I live my life including my body, I feel the deep connection to source, and that gives me tremendous freedom. To me, true freedom can only come when we inhabit our body and live a body-mind existence.
So… what does this mean for you? How do you do this for yourself? How do you access your own body wisdom? When do you take the time to do it? And anything else for that matter… please share your thoughts!
Take a minute to sense where you are wanting more freedom in your life. Where do you hold that in your body? Once you find it, breathe into that area, or shake the area, even place your hands there. Now spend some time being fully focused on that area. Keep your awareness gently there, and pay attention for feelings, images, words… What happens? Remember, there is no right or wrong answer… only what is. Do this exercise frequently, as it is rather like strengthening a muscle. Eventually, as you spend time in the body and open to the space of it “talking” to you, you will begin to experience insights, “ahas”, and key information that will help you in every area of your life. Gradually, you will surely find the opening and Freedom you are looking for by using your body as a guide.
Breath and anxiousness
By · CommentsThis week I had a client in who suffers from feeling anxious all the time. She has had some panic attacks but mostly she feels deeply anxious about living. A lot of us do get anxious, I know I do, and definitely have much more than I do now. I know when I get anxious I tighten up, I constrict my body and my breath get’s more shallow! I get so caught up in the thing that is causing me anxiety that I forget to breath deeply into my core, I forget my body. This was a wonderful reminder of how important it is to breath into our body, into our core and deeply into our pelvis. Try it, feel the wonderful relaxation that comes from breathing deeply and caressing your body with your breath. I love to stop, sit or lie and take time to feel my breath touching me from the inside and giving me an internal massage. It is so rejuvenating and relaxing, and I feel less stressed! Let me know how you feel when you do this, I would love to hear your relationship to your breath.