Feeling the Inner Body, Again…
Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth, Chapter 2 Section 10
Somehow, back in May, I released this only to my paid subscribers. So, here goes again, for everyone this time.
Oh my, how long it has been. Thank you for your patience! Life has been happening…a couple of weeks with family, a couple of weeks with some family having Covid, then me having Covid and yes, well, life keeps on happening. And it’s good. I’ll take it all. The ups and downs, the illness that leads to a re-found appreciation of wellness. So without further ado…
This section of Chapter 2 is short, sweet, and dear to my heart. In a world obsessed with the body, how it looks, performs, ages, etc., these words connect me to my priorities regarding my body; to be strong, flexible and resilient and to foster my health to live life fully.
We tend to be identified with our bodies; I am too fat, thin, weak, stiff, old, wrinkly, etc. We make these statements as if they define who we are. But here Eckhart offers a wonderful option for shifting away from being identified with our bodies; focus instead on how we feel.
…close your eyes for a moment and find out if there is life inside your hands. Don’t ask your mind. It will say, “I can’t feel anything.” Probably it will also say, “Give me something more interesting to think about.”
So instead of asking your mind, go to the hands directly…become aware of the subtle feeling of aliveness inside them.
Eckhart Tolle - A New Earth
Connecting to this aliveness within our bodies not only shifts us away from judging, it also connects us to a wisdom that is available within the body. When I feel from within (rather than judging the package) I find guidance. I pause and check in, sometimes realizing I am tired or that I have been overthinking. Sometimes I notice pain, and understand that my body is asking for me to do something differently.
The message I get most often is to breathe a bit more slowly and slow down. Immediately I feel just a little bit calmer, no matter what is happening in my head and around me. My shoulders release just a bit, and I realize that I can handle whatever is here.1
When we connect to the feeling of aliveness, we are feeling our “life energy.”
It almost seems like a paradox: When you are in touch with the inner body, you are not identified with your body anymore, nor are you identified with your mind.
Body awareness not only anchors you in the present moment, it is a doorway out of the prison that is the ego.
Eckhart Tolle - A New Earth
So connecting with the body not only brings us into the present, but also keeps us aware and listening in which is a healthy choice.
(Body awareness) also strengthens the immune system and the body’s ability to heal itself.
As I was going through Covid again recently, I was able to recognize that I felt pretty crappy, and that this too would pass. I remembered that the achiness, fever and other symptoms were being created by my body to foster healing. Being connected to my body and going with it rather than resisting and doing frustration seemed kinder, and who knows? Maybe it even helped me heal a bit more quickly. While I can’t say that is true, I like the thought, so I’ll keep it. シ
I believe so strongly in connecting with the body which is why I teach yoga and mindfulness; to practice inner body awareness and invite others to do the same.
How do you connect to your inner body? Or do you? Would you like to try? You could start right now… シ
I teach yoga and mindfulness online and in Basel, Switzerland.
If you would like to be in closer contact, know that I offer a couple of free online yoga classes each week on a donation basis.
Paid subscribers also have access to Monday Mindfulness, a weekly online gathering where we talk about living mindfully and do a brief meditation together. I’d be honored to have you join any or all of the above. Get in touch anyway you like. シ
Pausing and checking in is one of my favorite ways to meditate; I do mini-meditations throughout the day. Am I breathing shallowly? Try a deep breath. Am I tight, constricted? Let everything go for a moment. Ahhhhhh….
A friend of mine came up the idea that not only do we need to use SPF (Sunscreen with a numbered Sun Protection Factor) on the outside of our bodies, we need to to apply SPF inside too.
Slow down
Pause
Feel
What a great way to remember to care for ourselves and our health, on the outside and inside! Thanks dear Jan. シ