First your body whispers, then it talks- and when all else fails, your body will speak loudly.

A few weeks back- we mentioned in this blog post:

Through the Kaiut practice,  you are learning a new language- the language of the body. As students of the method, this takes time, patience, and a great deal of kindness. Because- the body speaks through the beauty of sensation. 

Your body does not speak plain English. The body’s language is based on sensation and feedback.

Culturally, this is a big deal for us. We have been trained to avoid, dull, and dismiss discomfort so that we can go along with our busy, productive days. 

In fact, estimates suggest that about 15% of the US population takes an NSAID regularly (including those that are over the counter and prescription strength). Along with sporadic users, more than 30 billion doses are taken each year.¹

Your body isn’t new at this. It’s been speaking this language for hundreds of thousands of years. We’re the ones that need the help. 

This is perhaps one of the keystones of your Kaiut practice; becoming acquainted with your body.

So when you’ve been told for years, “no pain, no gain”, how do you start to develop a relationship and be in communication with your whole self, body and mind.

1. Practice with Consistency – Learning a new language takes time and practice. Consistency will help you shift towards an improved relationship with your body. Schedule your classes ahead of time, meet a friend, make a plan so that you have it already scheduled in your day or week to show up and learn.
2. Go Slow – When it comes to your body, you gotta go slow to get to where you want to go. Likely, your whole day is on supercharge. We generally move from one thing to the next in a rush to get through the day. By the end of the day, we’re either so exhausted that we pass out or we’re so revved up that it’s hard to fall asleep. Take your time, get to know this body. It’s taken a long time to get your body to where it is today, so it’ll take some time to feel better. The key is to be curious about the entire unfolding process. 
3. Listen for the Subtleties – For the most part, we all need to learn how to listen (and pay attention) a little bit better. Listen without reacting, responding, or judging. Note: In the beginning, it is generally more accessible to hear and feel stronger sensations. Those sensations are an entryway. Over time and as you gain experience, you’ll eventually be able to feel more subtle sensations, pressure changes and circulatory shifts.
4. Be an Observer, not a Judge – Being an observer goes hand-in-hand with refining listening skills. Your body will speak to you through sensations. Sometimes the sensations are strong and sometimes those sensations are lighter. Neither are good or bad. Both are likely a part of your journey. Let’s be clear here- we’re not suggesting that anyone should dig into pain. We can, however, learn neutrality and hold off on labeling our body’s experience as bad or good.  Remember, that whole range of sensation are just different letters in your body’s semantics.

¹ Shmerling RH. Are you taking too much anti-inflammatory medication? – Harvard Health. Harvard Health. Published April 2, 2018. Accessed January 17, 2022. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/are-you-taking-too-much-anti-inflammatory-medication-2018040213540