Many people in the west talk about the need to find one's self. Every year, Americans spend big bucks on shrinks and self improvement books to help track down this elusive self. Most of these so-called solutions look for the answers in our heads.
But what about the body?
In his important, must-read book Holding The Center, Richard Strozzi Heckler writes about learning from the wisdom of the body: “I developed practices that revealed how attitudes and moods were bodily, not mental phenomena. I helped them become observers of their bodies, and others’ bodies in order to gain control over their automatic and often destructive moods and emotions.”
Having a daily practice - like yoga, martial arts, dance, running - is an important way to tap into the wisdom of the body.
Yes, they keep us physically fit, but they also offer something much more important: self-awareness. In times of uncertainty, a daily practice can keep us grounded and rooted in our bodies.
Find a practice and give it a try. I promise you will be glad you did!
No comments:
Post a Comment