The Importance of Body Awareness
What do I mean by body awareness? I am speaking of the internal awareness that will all carry with us in one way or another. It is a level of information fed to us by our sensory system on a consistent basis. This information holds a wealth of knowledge about our body, it can point us toward areas that need attention and maintenance. It can also tell us things we don’t want to hear.
Like that ache that crops up every time you go to the gym or on your daily jog. There are ways to get away from these signals that can impede functioning on a day to day basis. You can take a pain pill that provides temporary relief from this signals that are there for a reason. There certainly is a place for anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication. They are very helpful as a temporary tool for getting our nervous system out of the pain cycle. But those pain signals that they squelch are messages that should be heeded, it is a sign that your body needs attention in one way or another.
This is the perfect time to get bodywork, before whatever condition you are in becomes a big problem. Acting at the first signs of distress is a great way to be pro-active with your health and it usually means that whatever issue it is can be alleviated with a lot less work. Coming in for bodywork is a good way to help restore function to your body and maintain a good level of awareness in your body. But there are many other ways to be pro-active. Yoga, Pilates, Chiropractic or just stretching on a more regular basis works well. Even dancing can have amazing restorative effects on the body. But for many people just taking the time to slow down and make time for yourself can be the most powerful thing. Taking the time to do something just for you, reading a book or indulging in your favorite tea are great relaxing rituals.
Often times these signs of distress are just the body’s way of asking for us to slow down. It’s such a fast paced world we live in that it is easy to get caught up in what comes next. What about now? This is a great time to just sit with yourself and take some personal inventory, are you giving yourself enough personal time? What would it be like to take that time once a day, even if it is only for 20 minutes?
