Everyone has a body. It is through our body that we each have a direct experience of life. The more in tune we are with our physical body, the more connected we are with life.
Our bodies communicate with us. They tell us when we are hungry, cold, angry, sad, or happy. They tell us when we are in pain, injured, ill or feeling free, energized and active. Learning to decipher the messages of our body helps maintain our health, direct our happiness and contributes to our sense of wholeness.
Our thoughts, feelings and emotions also affect our health and well being. We have all experienced, at one time or another, the overwhelm of life. We over react or perhaps shut down. Bodies do that. Both responses affect our being - all of our being - our mind, body, and our spirit.
As we tend and nuture our selves, the body's nervous system automatically calm and stabilizes. Our breath deepens and our thoughts slow down. We think and act more clearly. Whether we have over reacted or shut down, the relaxation process corrects both. Our body collects itself, gathers it overwhelm and releases its stored tension. We relax. We open. We feel whole.
Having a body opens us to the cycle and flow of life, our joys and sorrows. Learning the nuances of our body, the habits of our thoughts, and the joys of our spirit go hand in hand this time of the year. Acknowledging and engaging that process benefits the body and enhances our direct experience of life. The gratitude that flows naturally as a result is the root of our shared humanity - the joy of our collective spirit. May we all experience joy in body and spirit this season.
