Sometimes we lose our ability to listen - not just to what people say, but to our own body. How often have you walked into a gym and seen the fit athlete running on the treadmill, with her iPod in her ears, a magazine spread open in front of her all the while she's looking dazily at a TV screen blasting ESPN? With all of this "noise," how could she possibly hear her body asking her for a break. This scene is so common in our lifestyle these days. Not only at the gym, but at home - making dinner while talking on the phone and watching the evening news. We, westerners, call this multi-tasking. Our body calls it chaos!
When I started my yoga teacher training, I could claim I was a master of multi-tasking. I could juggle multiple projects on any given day and was proud to check off my to-do list. What I didn't realize at the time is I could only give a portion of my attention to each project, and the stress of juggling all of these tasks wore on my well-being. Too many nights I wanted to sit on the couch and stare at the TV. I tried this new approach, self-embodiment - becoming more in tune with my body, and found a happy
balance between listening and doing.
You can practice self-embodiment anytime, anywhere. On your next drive, turn off the radio, hold your calls and look out at the scenery. Notice how the landscape has changed from the blossoming spring to the ever green summer. Roll down the windows and inhale freshly mowed grass. If you listen hard enough, you'll hear your body whisper, "thank you."
