Being Comfortable In Your Body
March 9, 2016
Recently, I went to a class on social networking and website management for small business. One of the first things the instructor asked was if we attendees had a “brand.” Up until that time, I had thought that a brand was a logo, a product or, sorry to say, a gimmick, that was easily marketed. I find the whole marketing response to every little mental ort someone comes up with a bit vulgar with the trademark, the diet plan and of course the online certification program.
But then the instructor said that the brand is who you are and what you believe you do better than anyone else. That got my attention. But I was stumped. What was my brand?
After brainstorming with my husband, I found that it was this simple sentence:
I help people become comfortable in their bodies.
Yes, I teach Classical Yoga. Yes, I teach Classical Pilates. I also teach a variety of somatics-based movement techniques. I have a strong anatomy and kinesiology background that helps. I am somewhat skilled in psychology from the Yogic and Buddhist perspectives and an avid student of neuroscience. It all fits with my work.
I do have people who are very specific about what it is that they want to do but most of the time, they tell me what they are feeling and what they want and I take it from there. Sometimes, clients will come in with one goal and once we’ve started working, a whole new objective presents itself – something that may catch us both by surprise.
Many people are uncomfortable with their bodies and this discomfort can arise from one or more of the following reasons:
1. Physical – Pain, stiffness or weight problems.
2. Mental – Stress, anxiety, depression and/or addictive mentality.
3. Emotional – Disconnection from the real Self, toxic beliefs about the Self.
Discomfort in the body is different than discomfort with the body. A person can be a healthy weight and have a six-pack but if they think they see someone who needs to be picked apart every time they look in the mirror, that healthy weight and six-pack won’t mean a thing.
Some people don’t seem to like themselves but they think they will if they could just be the perfect weight. They can’t see that they have it backward.
Others can feel pain in their bodies that is simply brought about by a strong resistance to change. Their body is saying what their mind refuses to acknowledge.
Moving toward health and wellness requires that we move toward integration. As long as there is no integration, there will not be wellness.
Knowledge is power but, unfortunately, it doesn’t give me the power to fix people. The fixing must come from the client. I can help, coach, motivate, provide exercise prescriptions and ideas but I can’t fix and, while I wish I could say I have a 100% success rate, I can’t say that either. In fact, I can’t even tell you the number of times I’ve had people just quit because they’re not having “fun,” or their feelings are hurt because they feel I am too hard on them. If I am considered too hard because I asked them if they did their home exercises, then yes, I am guilty of being too hard on them. The bottom line is that there needs to be a change to their lifestyles or behaviors and it’s simply too hard to implement change. A lot of people don’t have the fortitude to follow through. It can get me feeling a little down.
But then I remember the success cases and that’s what keeps me going. There is nothing sweeter than watching the process of someone becoming stronger, happier and more confident. This – this feeling of vibrancy, of feeling connected within and without is being comfortable in your body.
