Tuesday Truth: Taking Care of Your Body

My husband, Ben, in a restorative yoga pose. Part of his preparation for last week's CrossFit workout (13.4).

First, understand your body, which is the vehicle for your journey towards liberation, maintain it carefully, and then look on it with love and respect." 
-Swami Muktananda

If there is one thing that yoga has taught me, it's this: you must get to know, respect, and accept your body just as it is, inside and out. Because I'm a huge fan of the quote above and everything that it stands for, I think we should take a moment to break it down and truly think about what it is saying:

1. First, understand your body: How do you begin to understand your body? Listen to it. Do yoga, meditate, take a bath, relax. When you first wake up in the morning or lie down in bed at night, pause to pay attention to how you're feeling. Get up from your desk and walk around, relaxing your shoulders and noticing where you're holding tension or stress in the body. Pay attention and begin to notice the patterns in your body! It's that simple--start paying attention.

2. Maintain it carefully: Take care of your body and do everything that you know you should be doing--not because you should, but because you want to. Exercise, eat nourishing foods, go to the doctor and dentist regularly, get massages, get lots of sleep, drink water (all. day. long.). Treat your body like you have to live in it for 100 years--because you just might get to! It's important to remember that this is the only body we get, and how we treat it will play a big part in how well it functions, now and in the future.

3. Then look on it with love and respect: Love your body just as you love your friends and family. It is a part of you and deserves all of the respect and care that you show for others. You cannot give yourself to the world unless you first give back to yourself, and that includes your body. Don't push it past your edge, don't expect it to keep going nonstop without breaking down, don't put it in unhealthy environments, don't abuse it. Treat it the way you would treat anyone or anything else you love--with complete love, respect, care, and honor.

Your body deserves nothing less. YOU deserve nothing less!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine