5 Ways to Tune Into Your Body

Tuning into your body is the absolute best way to tap into your present power. It is the ultimate way to get out of your own head. Why do you want to get out of your own head? You know you are stuck in your head if you feel yourself overthinking everything, feeding a lot of anxiety-based thoughts, and being stuck in the what if’s.

Your mind and body want to work together, but when you feed into the evidence your mind provides for fear-based thoughts, you create a massive resistance in your body. Have you ever experienced getting really physically ill after a super stressful week? Or being physically exhausted for seemingly no reason?

That’s because you are listening to the demands of your mind instead of the commands from your body. So, your body has to then basically SCREAM at you to listen up, pay attention, and slow down. Wouldn’t life feel a lot easier if you could save yourself the trouble of working yourself to the point of sickness or exhaustion? Good news is… YOU CAN! It starts with practice and then thrives off of repetition.

What does it even mean to ‘tune into your body?’

“Sounds super woo-woo…. And do I even have time for this!?”

I know right… between doing all of the things and your laundry when is there time for this body stuff?!

Alright so here is the most basic breakdown of tuning into your body. Your mind has been on cruise control for a few [several] years. Just going with the old stories that you have stored in your subconscious mind. You don’t stop to check in, aka: bring the thought to the forefront, you are just going on auto programming. Your body is trying it’s best to hit you with hints here and there, but it starts to feel like the only time you listen to it is when it screams at you, aka: getting sick. Your mind is your auto-programming, your body is your truth.

What are the benefits of tuning into your body?

> You’ll get more of what you want. When you can start to listen to your body instead of just your mind, you can feel when something is a no because of fear and resistance or just a no.

> You allow yourself to slow your day. You create space for you. When you start to listen to your body, you will know when you need to slow down and take a break. Meaning… less chance of being stress sick or people-pleaser-exhausted

> You’ll trust yourself more. When you start to listen to your inner knowing and see the good that comes when you listen to it, you will begin to trust you decisions more.

Doesn’t that sound amazing?! I’m here to tell you… IT IS! Time to step into it all…

5 ways to start tuning into this magical power within your body:

1 | A group fitness class

Really any movement will start to allow you to get back into your body but the reason I recommend a group fitness class is because you have to allow yourself to get out of your mind times two. First to push yourself in the workout and second to realize the whole room isn’t paying attention to you and your workout. At my favorite spin class they always say this one quote that resonates so powerfully with me; “your legs can do this, it’s your mind that doesn’t want to.” This is SO TRUE. You get so in your head during a workout playing the “I can’t…. this is too hard” game with yourself. But when you get out of there and let your body take over, you can truly push yourself.

2 | Morning stillness

Oh stillness… how the resistance sets in with this simple word. Stillness is one of the key ways to hop back into your body. Why? Because you have been on auto-programming for so long that you forgot what it’s like to simply listen to your thoughts. Do you even know what’s going on up there in your head? If you want to maybe ease into meditation and not dive in head first with blinders on, simply start in the mornings with asking yourself what’s going on and grabbing a journal to write what comes up. These are the things your body is begging you to pay attention to.

3 | Asking a obvious ‘yes’ and then an obvious ‘no’

People always ask me, “how do you know the difference between a fear no and just a flat out no?”

Start practicing your feelings… stop right now ask yourself an obvious yes question [i.e. Me asking myself, “Is your name Megan?”] And an obvious no question [i.e. You asking yourself, “Is your name Megan?” Unless you’re a Megan… you get the point]. Feel how that yes feels and feel how the no feels inside when you answer. Try it a few times next time you have some space to think.

And then the next time a fear pops up for you, see how that feels. Practice feeling into each message your body is sending you.

4 | Stop explaining your “no’s”

Oh please!!! Stop explaining why you say no to something! Just say no and leave it at that!!! A no means no to you. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Allow yourself to trust the no.

Simple as that.

5 | When you feel overwhelmed start with one question:

What do you need?

When is the last time you asked yourself something like that? Maybe you’ve asked everyone else around you what they need? Allowing them to tune into their body for a second, now it’s your turn.

So what do you need? Is it love, care, a glass of water, some quiet time? Ask yourself what you need in that moment AND give it to yourself. If the answer doesn’t come right away, ask again. Until you pull back the resistance away from your answer. When you are feeling like you are overwhelmed with all of the questions… turn inward for you answer. Give yourself permission to answer your needs.