Self Love in the Time of Corona
I am so excited to be back at Body Elemental practicing massage. I love seeing my clients and putting my hands on people again. Doing massage safely with lots of sanitizing before and after and, of course, wearing a mask—it’s totally worth it. Hanging out with Samantha and just moving more is such a joy.
Luckily, during these months away from work, I was able to stay pretty active by teaching and taking Nia and Ageless Grace classes, walking, and biking (just got a new bike-yippee!).
Even with the above activity, the decrease in massage and increase in “dietary soothing,” I have grown a bit of extra protection in the midsection. It feels well deserved and a brief reflection of the times.
The Nia Technique teaches me to love my body and appreciate all it has to offer. The technique nurtures the body, mind, and spirit by inviting the body to move in a variety of pleasurable ways instead of forcing the body to comply with repetition and pushing.
Increased flexibility, agility, mobility, strength, stability, and tone are icing on the cake. Nia fine-tunes my ability to listen and honor my body in a variety of ways. Examples of this include activating my conscious person trainer (CPT), using three levels of intensity, and following this splendid list of thirteen tips below, which are fantastic for beginners and regulars. The tips, and more wonderful information about Nia, come from The Nia Technique book.
Train yourself. Push away all your thoughts and worries as you exercise. Talk to yourself, like a personal trainer. Use verbal guidance to remain focused on what you are doing and how you are doing it. Use self-talk to coach your physical body into moving more efficiently and sensing more pleasure.
Begin Small. At first, don’t reach out, sink, or rise too far. Build muscle strength and joint mobility slowly.
Pick up your feet. To protect your knees, don’t drag your feet. Instead, pick up your feet and place them in the direction you want to go.
Sit back. When you lower your body, sit back as if you were sitting down in a chair, moving your buttocks back behind you and away from your knees.
Dress to move. When you dance, wear anything that makes you feel free, comfortable, and excited to move. Yoga clothing, street or exercise wear, even a skirt changes the way you move and feel and work out.
Go barefooted. Unless you need shoes for medical purposes, take off your shoes and let the bottoms of your feet send information back to your brain so your body can move safely and efficiently.
Start easy. Let your body slowly acclimate and adjust to Nia movement. Allow yourself the freedom to enjoy being a beginner. Keep your interest and fascination up and criticism and judgment down. Be gentle, be patient and allow yourself to move through levels and stay on plateaus- this is the way to master and enjoy Nia.
Strive for balance. Don’t strain; listen to your body’s signals and move in a smooth, relaxed way that doesn’t make you breathless and fatigued. If your body does not relate well to a movement, adjust and move within your own comfort zone to put positive information into your muscle memory.
Find your rhythm. Get in as much nonstop movement as possible by finding your own pace. This may mean working slower and longer, rather than faster and harder.
Express yourself. Make the movements an expression of you- this is your workout. Express your own unique rhythm and body language and use your emotions to fine-tune your physical body. Be jazzy, luscious, lyrical, snappy, or sensual. Most of all, be yourself and have fun.
Belly Breathe. When you inhale, smell the moment, and feel your belly expand, then your ribs and chest filling. Exhale, placing the tip of your tongue directly behind your top teeth, which naturally supports belly breathing.
.Use your whole body. Connect with every part of your body and move as if your body were your ballroom dance partner.
Balance your fitness program. Combine a good diet with internal and external exercises. With enough sleep, proper nutrition, and exercise, you will see and feel results far beyond changing the shape of your body.
Another reason I have a soft and loving attitude towards my Corona Belly is from completing an online in-depth Integral Anatomy course with Gil Hedley. His perspective and reverence for the body are mind-blowing and heart-opening. Part of his goal is to reframe the way we view each body’s uniqueness and appreciate the function of the superficial fascia—a.k.a. adipose tissue or fat :). Here is a lovely poem he wrote and shared during the course that moved me.
Your body
is a holy book,
a scripture~
the pages
of your flesh
are marked
in exquisite detail
with the finest hand,
inscribed by spirit
with the poetry
of love,
lessons of mercy,
miracles,
angelic hosts,
and the story
of your life
perfectly told,
an illuminated manuscript
of sacred writing
epic in scope,
majesty
and grace.
Every hair
on your head
and line on your face,
every rushing tide
of wind and wave
moving you
from within
this living testament
bear witness
to the truth
layered
within you~
Study this text
with conviction then,
reflect with care
upon its meaning,
and enjoy
the divine
inspiration.
I look forward to loving my body even more by getting on the massage table myself. Can’t wait!