The Body in Whole Self Coaching

For as long as I can remember and like so many others, I had a very confusing, and difficult relationship with my body. I was always unhappy with it, fixated on it, thinking about it and my overall appearance constantly. It didn’t feel like a part of me. It didn’t seem like my own, and I didn’t like the human costume I was stuck with. My body never seemed good enough for others, or for me. And even though my body had done many truly amazing things over the years (dance, competitive Tae-Kwon Do, classical singing, movement for stage to name a few), I honestly didn’t appreciate or understand that…at all. Moving to NYC only magnified these problems for me, and I ignored them until I couldn’t any longer.

Then in my mid-20s, when my body literally shut down from stress, my boss and mentor turned me on to indoor cycling. I was hooked and started doing it several times a week, eventually graduating to weight training, a healthier diet, and a number of other things in the Body realm, that together with many other facets, led to a much more stable, confident, happier, and healthier version of me. Ultimately, I started focusing more so on “the feeling” than on my external image.

Our bodies are vital to our freedom. Our bodies give us autonomy. They are meant for far more than keeping us alive, getting us from place to place, being critiqued, or regulated by others. Our bodies are ours, and ours alone. With a deeper understanding of our bodies, more creative uses of our bodies, and an appreciation for our bodies, we improve more than our physical health; we improve our emotional and mental health, and our whole selves.

Here are some of the key components of the Body we hone in on during our coaching work.

Physical Health

This may sound obvious, but basic physical health often goes ignored. How often do we prioritize everyone and everything else ahead of our own blood tests, and physicals? How often do we wait until something gets really bad before scheduling an appointment? Layer on the stress of navigating the healthcare system. But taking a more proactive, and deeper look at your physical health is vital in building a foundation of well-being, as well as understanding the connection points to the other facets of your life.

Movement

On top of the basic health benefits of exercise that we all know, finding activities we enjoy and can develop routines around, as well as communities of people that support us in those efforts, improve presence, create sustainable habits, and build accountability, confidence, energy, cognitive function, and improves sleep with consistency. Plus…staying still is boring 🚴🏼‍♀️

Nutrition

I still forget to take my vitamins or eat enough myself sometimes, and I feel it when I do. Understanding our thoughts, cultural beliefs/rituals around food, and our dynamic with food is as important as developing mindfulness, and consistent habits around eating enough of the right foods. We need to understand our thoughts and narratives before we can change our behaviors. We’re also more productive, and more patient with others when nutrition is on point.

Body Awareness

Too often we miss or disregard signals our body is telling us. Intuition and listening to our bodies keep us safe and tell us a lot about how we’re feeling, and what we should be doing in all aspects of life. Strong body awareness + exercise + intuition has actually saved my life - most notably post-surgery when I was wrongly sent home from urgent care (subsequently rushed to the ER). There are a number of great ways to build these skills in coaching work.

Sex & Autonomy

Rarely if ever does sex get discussed openly as a factor in one’s mental health in spite of its link to happiness, mood, cultivating confidence, and stronger relationships. Your bodily autonomy and how society views and dictates it, has a major affect on your emotional and physical wellness. For years, I took my own reproductive rights for granted. And, I myself avoided digging directly into my relationship with sex until my late 30s - so you’re not alone if sex has been embarrassing, traumatic, or taboo for you. Articulating where you stand on these topics is empowering. Sex can be liberating, fun, joyful, and it also builds strong communication skills among other things once you focus on them. Understanding your relationship with sex and your thoughts and feelings on bodily autonomy is a solid jumping-off point in knowing yourself, relating to others, and in improving your wellness.

Body Image

How we think about, view, talk about, and take care of our bodies shapes more than how we’re viewed by others. Our body image shapes how we move in the world, and how we feel about ourselves, and it’s constantly tested by media and societal standards. Things like personal hygiene and how we dress instills pride. It’s an act of self-expression, and communicates elements of culture, values, and who we are externally. How we talk about our bodies to ourselves and to others, influences their views on their own. Having two young daughters is a constant reminder of the importance of these things.

Are you ready to dive into matters of your body? Click the link below to setup your free discovery call to learn how I can help!