The Body Never Lies
In “Breathing Under Water” by Richard Rohr, he says “To keep our bodies less defended — to live in our bodies right now, to be present to others in a cellular way — is also the work of healing past hurts and the many memories that seem to store themselves in the body. For the body never seems to stop sending its messages. Fortunately, the body never lies, even though the mind will deceive us constantly.”
It’s been a few years since I first read “Breathing Under Water,” and when I re-read the paragraph above, I felt an exhale of confirmation for what I am creating and building through Inna Body. While we are transcendent beings who are magnificent and, I believe, more than flesh and bones moving about the world, every story of our lives and the lives before us is experienced in and through our bodies. Our memories live in our bodies, being pushed down for present survival, only to come rushing up in many different moments with different faces. In my life this has often posed the question “why does this keep happening,” “Why does this feel so familiar,” and thoughts like “I’m so tired of this.” All of which are efforts to push the story, the pain, the thing that I want to change back into the dungeons of my consciousness in hopes to never see it again. At some point in my journey I realized that that way of thinking and reacting were the very culprits keeping me trapped in lovelessness, a scarcity mindset, in a constant state of protection, and ultimately, without freedom and agency over my own life.
For much of my life I experienced panic attacks, constant anxiety, and a pursuit of perfection. A lot of the time, this looked like not breathing or fighting for breath that actually filled my lungs, but it was often shallow and unsatisfying. When I began to intentionally take control of my life and create the life of my dreams, I realized that much of, what I might call “my health,” was due to my life as an athlete. When I was running on the soccer field, stretching to prepare my muscles, ice bathing for recovery, I was connecting to my body. There were parts of that process that also actively led me to ignore my body to perform, but I think the goodness was there, in many parts of my life to ultimately lead me back to myself.
“The body never seems to stop sending its messages” — this is a gift from our bodies that gives us permission to listen when we’re ready. Some messages might be sent for years like Noah sending letters to Allie in The Notebook. Eventually, the body might demand attention. This can manifest itself in disease. This lack of ease, dis ease, in the body could look like a low immune system and consistent sickness, auto-immune diseases (the body turning on itself), and can range from mild to chronic and extreme. More and more, this connection is being made, with the popularity of books like “The Body Keeps the Score” and “My Grandmother’s Hands.” More research and explorations have brought light on how stories and trauma in the body are passed from one generation to the next. As receivers of this wisdom, we get to go back to what has been lost and broken, to heal and restore our connection to our bodies, each other, and the earth.
Richard Rohr says “the body never lies,” and I recognize this statement as one that can come with an array of responses. Maybe you feel betrayed by your body. Maybe you are a stranger to your body. Who would trust a stranger? Maybe you have had to object to your body’s messages to survive. And all of your experiences are real and true, and deserve to be acknowledged as part of your path to wholeness. Now that you are reading this, I would venture to guess that you might be a little more open and a little more curious about what it even means to be “embodied,” and I would just like to say thank you for being here!
My intention is to hold space for you on your journey, offer tools and insights to connect with your body, to heal past hurts and memories, so that you can live in your body right now and be present with others in a cellular way. This is a space for listening, for curiosity, and for connection. As I go through my own reflections and healing, I will share my process with you, share what I’m learning through expanding and deepening my education, and share offerings to heal as a community where my body currently exists in Austin, TX through yoga, connection circles, herbal workshops, meditation, journaling groups and whatever else comes to light.
Journal Reflection Questions:
What do you notice in your body when you read the statement “the body never lies”? (tightness, twitching, lightness, shallow breathing, slow or fast heart beat, relaxed or tense shoulders…)
How does it change the way you relate to your story when you believe that “the body never lies”?
Today, what do you believe about your body and its messages? Do you trust them? Are you curious about them? Have you truly listened to them before? Write everything that comes to mins… without judgement (easy right ;)
