Some of you know that I’m training for my first ever 50k.
I tried to do something different during my training and since I’m currently tapering, I’m especially focusing on it now.
It’s body compassion
What is body compassion??
It is self-compassion focused specifically on the body.
If you asked me if I hated my body I would tell you “no.” But after becoming more aware of my self-talk regarding my body you would really question that answer because I realized I don’t say anything positive to my body and have been pretty demanding toward it. I’m sure if I never said anything positive to you and only negative and demanding things, you probably would think that I wouldn’t like you. I realized my body must feel that I don’t like her.
How do you be nice to your body?
Compliment it, thank it, recognize its achievements and accomplishments.
Now, I’m going to be completely honest with you guys, having a baby really helped me to start my body compassion journey.
I think it was the first time ever in my life I was able to say, “wow body, you’re freaking amazing. You just made a baby and you continue to sustain its life by providing all the nourishment it needs.”
You don’t have to have a baby to practice body compassion, it helped bring my awareness for me personally that it was something I needed to work on.
Endurance sports or any sport or physical activity is a great means to practice body compassion. I think if you do engage in sports it is beneficial or I would say even necessary to practice body compassion! It has really helped me to enjoy the sport better and sit in the positives rather than getting caught up on the negatives.
Compliment it, thank it, recognize its achievements and accomplishments….
I do a weekly workout called FIT1, an outside boot camp of sorts with this super awesome instructor named Gustavo.
I often struggle with body compassion during FIT1. Because I am asking my body to do difficult things, it is easy to be MAD at my body for not performing to expectations. For WANTING and EXPECTING it to do more.
DON’T BULLY YOUR WAY INTO IMPROVEMENT
I have realized that when it comes to working out, I have constantly been bullying my body into becoming a better athlete. And let me tell you this, IT DOESN’T WORK. At least not for me
What does work? How are you coming a better athlete?
Body compassion.
I know when I think of working out I think of PUSHING HARDER.
GO PAST YOUR LIMITS
DO MORE
DIE AND KEEP GOING
Society somehow taught me this. No one specifically told me to do this.
I pushed…..for years….. and as I did I experienced Injury after Injury….
Which just increased the body shaming……“You piece of shit body, you can’t do anything, you can’t even RUN and that requires no skill”
Body shaming was at its peak and I was in a downward spiral of injury and negativity.
Compliment it, thank it, recognize its achievements and accomplishments….
The difficult part is that improvement takes time. It took me a couple years to finally say to my body, “great work on consistently performing double bunny hops; you couldn’t do them for so long. I understand it was hard for you to do and I’m grateful you can do them now, even at the end of class when you’re tired.”
You don’t have to be making improvements to be compassionate.
“Thanks for getting me through my workout today, I noticed you were struggling more than normal, WHAT DO YOU NEED?”
Instead of berating your body for not meeting your expectations, be compassionate and find out what it needs in order to perform better.
Is it rest? attention? love? nutrition? relaxation? Who knows, talk to your body and listen for the answer.
Stacey, my body can’t talk, you’re crazy.
I disagree.
Your body is talking to you all.the.time.
Listen to your body. What does it need? What is it telling you?
Might seem weird, or “hippie” like but really, listen to it, watch it, notice it, get to know it so when something is wrong you are more aware of it and can respond to it appropriately.
I have to do this with my daughter. Being pre-verbal it is difficult to communicate and understand what she needs. So I have to learn her, know her, and be in tune with her body in order to respond appropriately. Even as her verbal skills are emerging, it is my job as parent to help her connect within herself so she can best communicate her needs.
Children need this – you need it too.
When you connect with your body and give it what it needs it will reward you by performing better and it will be happier. A happy body helps promote a happy mind and a happy mind promotes a happy body!
So next time you notice yourself start to berate your body for not meeting your expectations I challenge you to be nice and compassionate to it. Thank it for the hard work it expelled. I’d be interested to know how this changes the dynamics of your workouts and your relationship with your body and yourself.