WHAT??? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!?!: Learning to Listen to Your Body

"Your body and mind are meant to be a whole, and to ensure that they are, your whole existence is based on feedback loops. Body listens to mind; mind listens to body. Awareness is the link. Make no mistake: Every cell knows when you are unhappy, anxious or stressed. A cell's awareness is expressed in chemical reactions instead of words. No matter. The message comes through loud and clear." -Deepak Chopra

Of all of the lessons that yoga has taught me, one of the most valuable has been learning how to listen to my body. It's amazing how yoga not only enables you to do this, but at times, forces you to do this, and makes you a better person for doing so. Until I started practicing yoga, I was the absolute WORST at this. I ran so much and so hard (when exhausted, when sick, when hungover, late at night, early in the morning, nothing would stop me!) that it took my body breaking (literally!) to get me to stop and listen to it. I would go non-stop, filling my ever-expanding schedule until I got sick just so that I would be forced to slow down. Sound fun? Yeah, I know.

Looking back on those days now, I feel so lucky that yoga came into my life when it did. I still struggle with slowing down, of course, but I have gotten SO much better at saying no when my body says no, at going home or stopping when I'm tired, and at politely bowing out of plans when my schedule just can't take anymore. And wow, is it ever freeing! I've also noticed that saying "no" has become a lot easier (especially when it's for the sake of health!), which is an added bonus :)

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This past Tuesday, I was reminded of how yoga has taught me to listen to what I truly need. We have CrossFit on Tuesday nights, and because the classes are only offered 3 times per week, I always try to make it when I am able to. Right after I teach my last class of the day, I typically hop on the metro and make it over there just in time for class. But, because I had taught 7 classes over the course of two days (Monday and Tuesday), and had taken a yoga class earlier in the day, I was feeling EXHAUSTED when the time came around to rush off to CrossFit...I went back and forth in my head, feeling guilty for backing out of my own mental plans, and finally, made the decision to give my bedraggled body a rest.  And boy, did it feel good to just go home and relax a bit! I was proud of myself, and it was a  great reminder of how smart it is to give yourself a break--and not push yourself when you just don't have the energy to do so. I believe that most injuries and sicknesses come from people pushing past their limit (or as we speak about in yoga, past their edge), so I have become a big believer in stopping to notice how you're feeling  and then doing what your body is craving, not what your mind says it's craving.

With that being said, I'm off to paint for the day! My mind is ready for a bit of painting, and my body says it's fine, so I'm feeling good :) My challenge to you? Tune into your body today and see what it needs. Maybe more water, maybe some yummy, fresh fruit, maybe a yoga class or a run after work, or maybe it just needs sleep, and if that's the case--give your body some much-needed rest this evening. Listen...it really does speak!

Namaste!
Mary Catherine

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