Honoring Our Earth Bodies
As we move into this month of April, I invite you to guide your attention to the sacred chemistry and intelligence that makes up the human body. As we celebrate the earth and all that it offers us, let us also celebrate and honor the physical body, our earth body.
Beautiful. Attractive. Radiant. Strong. Vital. Healthy. Vibrant.
These are words used to describe a physical body that many people strive to have or work hard to maintain. Body image is how you see yourself, what you believe about your physical appearance and how you present yourself. Many of us have had points in our lives where we may have felt awkward, uncomfortable, unattractive, insecure or different within our own bodies. A snappy remark or a rude comment on someone’s physical appearance or physical capacity can leave imprints on the heart that may take many years to heal.
My love for Ayurveda grew from this space of wanting to understand how to feel positive, healthy and radiant inside my own skin. How from a radiant heart, I could glow with confidence, stand tall and honor my physical body while remaining true to who I am. I felt that relating to my appearance had to be a deeper experience than trying to look like someone else.
How could I relate to myself with love and care?
When I began to study Ayurveda I learned first and foremost that the body is a temple. Like a temple we want to honor and respect it with intention and attention.
“Take away the pressure of being someone else and start being you!”
These words made so much sense to me and I practice this wisdom as best as I can, it has helped me see myself beyond the limits of expectations. Expectations not only from others but mostly from myself.
I am passionate about helping people relate to their bodies in a deeper way; and to understand that the physical body in all its capacity strives to work for us and not against us. When we understand how to work with our bodies, we are able to relate to it on a deeper level.
When we don’t feel vibrant or balanced, it is a sign to tune in, look at what may be causing dis-harmony and allow healing to take place. This “allowing” is an act of self-awareness and requires complete participation and courage. The physical body is in direct relationship with the subtlest parts of ourselves and when we begin to unwind unhealthy patterns, shed years of pain and change habits it is much like being born into a new life. Even simple changes like drinking more water, going for a walk every day or taking three minutes to breathe deep will begin to change the structure of your inner and outer appearance. Why does this happen? Because proper self-maintenance and care help release stress and when we are able to let go of stress on a daily basis, we can maintain a youthful glow that comes from deep within.
We are much more than skin and bone, we are an intricate and highly sophisticated play of moving energies, and within everybody there is a unique and special life being lived.
We are all different, there is not one human being on this earth made exactly the same. Just as every tree, flower, shrub and plant knows what it needs to feel vibrant and strong through every seasonal change and circumstance, we must reflect nature and get to know ourselves to be able to do the same. This personal relationship it is the most important of all!
In honor of mother nature and in Sprit of Earth Day on Friday, April 22nd, let us honor our earth bodies and relate to the divine play within and around every being.
This was originally published on Hari Simran’s Blog, http://www.harisimranayurveda.com.