The one thing that I have observed after 25 years of being in practice is that your body will do its very best to make sure that you can do what you set out to do. The only time that it fails you is when you persistently keep overriding your inner guidance and alignment.
Your body is extremely patient and gives you a lot of leeway, all the while giving you subtle hints such as muscle tightness, restricted breathing, decreased range of motion, and maybe even some gastrointestinal issues – upset stomach, diarrhea, or constipation. Like anything in life there is always a tipping point, which starts a cascade of occurrences and experiences. This is where taking the time to connect with your body and recognizing the signs that your body pays off – it is getting you to identify your inner truth to potentially avoid any health ailments or challenging life experiences.
Body truths is what I like to label the symptoms or signs that your body expresses in those moments that warrant you to reflect and reassess what you are doing or not doing. The hardest thing is to understand and be able to accept that when your body does something that is awry, it’s not that your body failed or is trying to punish you, but rather, it reached its final straw in getting you to pivot and address whatever you need to. The first step in connecting with your body is to not get angry at it when you are in pain or you cannot do what you used to do prior. Our body spoils us in the fact that it will do its very best to make sure we can do what we desire, but once we are heading down a path that it knows will cause more problems than good in the long run, it begins to put its proverbially foot down.
Diabetes is when the sugar in your blood measures 126 mg/dl or higher and there is an A1C level that goes higher than 5.7%. I learned several years back that when your blood sugar goes above 126 mg/dl, it didn’t just happen overnight, but rather several years in the making. Your pancreas was working overtime for several years to produce enough insulin to help your body bring the sugar (glucose) from your blood into the cells and tissues to be used for fuel. Overtime your cells and tissues become insulin resistant, which blocks the absorption of sugar to be used as fuel. So, with this added challenge, the pancreas gets weary and worn down resulting in the spiking of sugar and diabetes mellitus diagnosis. Your body did its very best to accommodate your lifestyle, eating habits, and life choices until it reached its tipping point.
Another health condition that has lately been on the upswing is perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms, which range from intermittent hot flashes, irregular periods, mood changes, night sweats, breast soreness, vaginal dryness, bloating, thinning hair, and more. In the past, physicians prescribed HRT (hormone replacement therapy), but this therapy was typically supposed to be for short-term use, due to possible health side effects of prolonged usage.
Christiane Northrup, M.D.’s book, The Wisdom of Menopause, gives a different perspective of the causes and treatment of menopause and what a woman can do to navigate this transitional period in her life. I came across her book over 20 ago, and the one insightful thing that I remembered was how menopause was a transition time for a woman. Women, since their first menses had a monthly cycle, which gave her body the opportunity to prepare for a possible pregnancy, and if not, she would have a period around every 28 days. I am no expert on this topic, however the one thing she mentioned is that if a woman addresses and brings into balance, all the experiences in her life, then the perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms are mild to none. Throughout the years I have observed this with several female members, which substantiates the validity of her statement. For whatever it’s worth, bringing balance via the mind body connection can be a powerful tool.
Another suggestion I have is that when a particular symptom such as knee pain, neck pain, headache, back pain, or a gastrointestinal issue persists, is to reflect on what was going on in your life at the time this symptom showed up as well as the things you do that amplify the symptom. If the symptoms bother you when you are moving or transitioning from a seated to a standing, then check in where are you judging what actions you are taking or not taking. If the symptom amplifies when you aren’t doing anything, and are just resting, then it may be due to a judgment of not doing what you feel you should. Do your very best to suspend your irritation and disappointment in your body failing you. You have the ability to develop a stronger connection with your mind body and find a way to self-heal.
In conclusion, as we move into 2025, I challenge my members to make an effort to build a stronger relationship with your mind body. Learn to listen when your body speaks so that you can hear the whispers versus waiting for the loud shouts. In doing so, will allow you to be proactive in your healing and wellness journey.
