Over the past four decades, people have asked me to help them with body issues. They want to be comfortable, healthy, happy, and successful and they wonder if some bodywork might be a good place to start. A Guide to Body Wisdom represents the experience and learning of all the people who’ve come into my studio. Now, I have written it down with you in mind, as if you just walked in my door.
As with any new client, we’ll begin at the confluence of interest, need, and opportunity. Something inspired you to pick up this book, so let’s keep going as we invite your body to wake up and take the lead. This will be easy if you imagine that your mind is the seeker, the book is the personal trainer, and your body is the master guide. Together, we’ll systematically dismantle unproductive behaviors, attitudes, and assumptions, and find ways to assemble the building blocks for healthy living. Your learning will be tailored to your personal interest, reinforced through a multitude of examples and exercises, and paced at your own tempo. In this way, your insights can lead to new ways of seeing and being. As the gridlocked tension and habitual patterns let go, stored emotions move on and new truths appear on the horizon. A Guide to Body Wisdom is an invaluable resource to help you systematically release restrictions, integrate new information, and find comfort in the present moment.
Although each person’s experience will be different, there are some basic truths and reliable pathways to unlock your body-voice, access your body-intelligence, and cultivate your body-wisdom. It begins and ends with how you live in your body. Chapter by chapter, as you unravel the history and personal mythology stored in your sentient body, you’ll have a clearer picture of where you stand and where you’re going. Along the way, you’ll discover ways to cultivate and enjoy your body’s great potential.
Overview
To get a scope of the journey ahead, let’s take an overview of where you’re going. A Guide to Body Wisdom is designed as both a teaching and therapeutic experience with a multitude of ways to help you begin to live consciously in your body. Just like someone coming to my studio for help, it works best to approach the book with an open mind and proceed at your own pace. Throughout the book, I typically use first person pronouns, because I am writing this for you, the reader/seeker. I have included intriguing scientific, psychological, and personal stories to help your mind understand what we’re up to. Throughout, you’ll be encouraged to participate in the various experiential exercises to clarify concepts, illustrate new ideas, and solidify your learning. Remember, it takes practice to change old habits, embrace new attitudes, and establish new routines. Once you awaken your sentient, intelligent body, you can access its profound wisdom anytime you need it.
Each chapter is a sequential increment in a therapeutic progression. For this reason, even if you hunt and peck at the beginning, you’ll want to eventually read the book cover to cover. Skipping to the troubleshooting index at the back of the book or skimming over topics that don’t seem pertinent to your life right now is one way to personalize your experience, but don’t miss out on the various exercises and activities! The on-the-spot check-ins (Try This) are a fun and informative way to experience some of the concepts firsthand. The more extensive processes (Explore) are included to help you find deeper understanding and do some self-healing. As you explore, keeping a separate Body Wisdom journal will help you reflect on your discoveries and record your insights. As with all new learning, the important stuff will stick and the rest will fade away for now.
No matter what reason brings you, this book will introduce you to your most valuable asset—your wise body. In these times of extraordinary change and challenge, having some body wisdom is a good way to manage stress, stay resilient, and make accurate decisions. Reading this book will help you use all your resources, be responsive to the world around you, and remain true to yourself. How reassuring it is to be able to trust your own body as a guide and ally.
Getting Started
What if you opened this book for a reason? To find the answer to this question, simply ask your body: “What do you need?” Then tune in, create a bit of open space, and the answer will pop into your head. Perhaps you:
Listen to your body and honor what you hear. A Guide to Body Wisdom will help you help yourself.
To begin, you’ll want to read the chapter entitled Waking Up to change your mind and get aligned with your intelligent body. Then, you may want to address some specific concerns. For instance, if you’re dealing with chronic pain, check out the chapter on healing; if you’re dealing with hypertension or sleep problems, check out the chapter on stress and relaxation. Be sure to review the troubleshooting index at the back of the book where I’ve highlighted common issues and concerns that bring people to my therapy practice. Each situation has a precise recipe of readings and exercises to personalize your learning. Like many people, however, you may have been intrigued by the title of this book and want to know about more body wisdom. In that case, simply start at the beginning, read chapter to chapter, and enjoy your sequential journey to transformation and healing.
Truthfully, this book is so chock-full of gems and tidbits that you could open it at random in the morning, read a paragraph, and have something to ponder all day long. Once you get started, you’ll learn a lot of fascinating things and begin to see your body from a different viewpoint. From this new perspective, you can see what’s missing, what’s off-track, and what needs to heal. A Guide to Body Wisdom gives you the information, tools, and perspective to help you find the health, fulfillment, and body wisdom you’ve been looking for. This is the beginning of a fun, enlightening, and rewarding adventure.
And, Afterward
Reading this book will help you find yourself anew and embrace your wise body at last. Long after you’ve finished reading, it’ll be one of your most valuable reference books. Whenever you find yourself in a time of question, challenge, or change, pick it up to refresh your knowledge, learn new things, and do some personal body-oriented therapy. No matter how unhooked or unhinged you feel, you can trust this book to lead you back to your steady source—your body wisdom.