Reconnecting With Your Body

Hello.

Before we begin,

You might wish to have a pen and paper to journal a brief reflection.

So what's your longest relationship?

I hope you answered with yourself and more specifically your own body.

It's a lifelong partnership.

You can't escape it.

So ask yourself,

What's the current condition of your relationship with your body?

Are you friends?

Enemies?

Is it formal or informal?

Would you like to build a deeper and stronger connection?

You will engage with yourself more than any other person over the course of your life.

So are you aware of how you treat,

Speak to,

And hold yourself?

Do you consider your body's feelings?

Do you listen to them?

Do you trust your body?

Do you take care of it?

Are you in an abusive or respectful relationship with it?

Are your expectations realistic?

Too demanding?

Condescending?

Caring and loving?

Are you able to treat your body as a dear or true friend who you cherish and value?

Is it a partnership based on love,

Compassion,

Gratitude?

Or is it based on hatred,

Judgment,

And criticism?

What is the tone you use when speaking to yourself?

Nurturing or scolding?

Would you ever say to yourself what you say to someone else?

And do you use your own tone of voice?

Or do you use someone else's?

For example,

A parent,

A mentor,

A teacher,

Or even a pet?

We all have challenges with our bodies,

Whether the challenges be health or image,

Fitness.

No matter what negative thoughts or feelings or behaviors you may have,

Or that you demonstrate toward yourself,

This primary and unbreakable relationship can be repaired and nourished.

We can always rekindle a connection with our bodies that is loving and kind,

Gentle and grateful.

Your body wakes up every day,

Carries you through life to bring you here to this moment,

This meditation.

So let's take some time today to thank,

Care for,

And befriend your physical body,

Your BFF,

Your best friend forever.

As we begin,

Please find a quiet place to rest,

Sitting or even lying down,

And where you feel safe to close your eyes if you choose to do so.

Now let's simply check in with your body.

Acknowledge that we are pausing all external information and inputs to connect internally,

Listen deeply,

And show gratitude to our physical being.

Feel the in and out of your breath.

Notice the unique rhythm of it,

And be curious about where it currently lives in your body.

Is it in your chest or your belly?

Welcome each breath with loving awareness,

Thanking the air for nourishing your cells and body.

Now take a few deep breaths and let go of any remaining mind clutter or chatter.

Gently release yourself from any internal dialogues,

Critiques,

Or judgments.

Be here,

Alive and curious in your body.

At any time you feel your thoughts dominating your mind,

Gently let them go and wish them well as you breathe out.

Then return your focus to a calm and stable breath.

Now turn your attention to the crown of your head.

See if there is any unnoticed tension.

Imagine a golden light shining on top of your head that slowly shines down with a warm,

Soothing quality.

Now the light is moving down the back of your head and over your forehead.

Breathe in relaxation and gratitude,

And breathe out strain and stress.

Thank your brain for all of the knowledge it holds and coordinating all bodily functions.

Thank it for orchestrating all aspects of your physical and mental experience,

Allowing you to perceive,

Think,

Feel,

Move,

And interact with the world around you.

Repeating to yourself,

Thank you brain.

As the golden light travels down your body,

Consider your eyes and how important they are to you.

How they take everything in visually,

How they help you identify your family and friends,

Keep you safe,

Help you navigate the world,

And appreciate beauty.

Send them love and gratitude.

Repeating softly to yourself,

Thank you eyes.

Now let's connect with your ears.

Admire their ability to listen and hear.

How rich your life is,

Being able to hear music,

A loved one's voice,

The silence,

Birdsong,

Or the beating of your heart.

Out loud or in your mind,

Repeat thank you ears as you sit in wonder and appreciation.

As the golden light continues to travel and expand,

Connect with your nose and mouth,

Taking a nice deep breath in through the nose and out through your mouth.

Marvel how connected they are.

Express appreciation for the natural filtration system of your nose and how it allows you to smell good food,

Autumn fires,

Spring flowers,

The scent of a newborn baby,

Ozone after a rainstorm,

Salt in the beach air.

Repeating to yourself,

Thank you nose.

Offer thanks to your lips,

Your strong teeth,

Your tongue,

And thousands of taste buds that allow you to enjoy every variety of flavor and take pleasure in your unique personal palate.

Also send appreciation to your voice and throat,

Allowing you to express yourself lovingly and freely.

Repeating thank you lips,

Teeth,

Tongue,

Throat,

And mouth as you sit in appreciation.

And as the golden light continues to extend,

Release any tension you might feel in your shoulders,

Neck,

And upper back.

Thank the muscles for being strong,

Supporting your bones,

Allowing your body to move.

Send them love and healing.

Repeating to yourself,

Thank you muscles.

Moving down the spine,

Feel the strength of these important bones,

The bones that keep your body erect and moving.

Straighten your head,

Neck,

And back as you repeat,

Thank you spine,

Thank you back.

Now connect with both of your arms,

Bringing your attention all the way down to the delicate bones of the hands and to your fingertips.

Think of the value of your touch.

Holding appreciation in your awareness.

Repeat to yourself,

Thank you arms,

Thank you hands.

As the golden light continues to travel down to your chest,

Shift your attention there now,

Noticing the gentle rise and fall of your chest and abdomen as you breathe.

Feel your heart beating in harmony with the rhythm of your breath.

Acknowledge your sturdy ribs protecting your tender lungs and loving,

Life-sustaining heart.

Feel that golden light shining down from your crown to your chest,

Healing and holding.

Repeating to yourself,

Thank you lungs,

Thank you heart.

As the golden light travels down to your abdomen,

The core of your body,

Breathe in,

Considering all the organs that make up your strong core.

Remember your stomach,

Liver,

Kidneys,

And the intestines and their very diverse and important jobs and functions.

Repeating now to yourself,

Thank you core,

Thank you organs.

And as the light travels into your pelvic area,

Feel gratitude for it supporting your upper body,

Providing the ability for your body to move,

Give life,

Expel waste,

Maintain stability and balance.

Repeating to yourself,

Thank you pelvis.

The golden light extends now down your legs.

Feel the entirety of your legs now.

The strong bones of your femur,

Knee,

Lower leg bones,

And the connecting muscles that help you walk.

Connect with your feet,

Appreciating every tiny muscle and bone there.

Repeating to yourself,

Thank you legs,

Thank you feet.

The golden light now extends from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet.

Feel the warm healing glow.

Feel your own gratitude and appreciation for your entire body.

Repeating to yourself,

Thank you whole body.

Now if there was any area of your body where you noticed judgment or criticism creeping in when we stopped to give appreciation there,

Take a few moments to return to those areas with a sense of gratitude and care to support them.

Shine the golden light on them and rest in these body parts to allow any and all thoughts to surface,

Whether they be good or bad.

Hold them gently as you would a child.

Resting in the golden light,

Now behold your body for what it truly is.

A remarkable vehicle.

A true and fleeting gift.

Your body protects you.

It nourishes you.

It allows you to experience everything that this life has to offer.

Take these last few moments to treasure it,

Appreciating it for its uniqueness and divine beauty.

Feel appreciation flowing from the top of your head to the soles of your feet.

Feel your whole body glowing with gratitude as it vibrates and you repeat.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Now begin to notice your breath and allow it to return to a rhythm that is natural for you.

Easy inhales and easy exhales.

You may slowly wiggle your fingers and toes and start to open your eyes when you're ready to come back into the room.

Thank you for your practice and may your relationship with your body be healing and kind.