"My knees are bad," "My shoulders are misaligned," "This area feels cold"...
When discomfort beckons you to a specialist, many often receive diagnoses like "this part of your body is flawed" or "that part is misaligned." Is it not common to accept these pronouncements as absolute truth?
Yet, does our body truly harbor such concepts as "flaws" or "misalignments"? I contend that this is not the case.
Your Body Is Not "Bad," It Is Merely "Adapting"
While you might experience "pain in your foot," your foot does not inherently "become bad" of its own accord. What, fundamentally, does it signify for our bodies to deteriorate on their own?
The body is in a perpetual state of "earnest striving to live." Your unique environment, your patterns of thought, and the tapestry of your life experiences... Can we not perceive that your body sculpts its present form as the optimal adaptation at each moment, in response to all of these?
Viewed through this lens, it feels profoundly regrettable that the body, simply adapting to its environment, is subjected to external judgment (evaluation) as "good," "bad," or "misaligned." And yet, it is astonishing how many individuals become fixated on "seeking imperfections" within their own physical being.
"Is There Anything Wrong?" The Pitfall of That Question
In this profession, the most frequent inquiry I encounter is, "Is there anything amiss with me?" In response, I gently pose the question back: "How do you perceive it?"
Most often, the replies are echoes of others' voices: "Dr. So-and-so declared my △△ is problematic," "My acupuncturist noted a chill in my ○○," "The osteopath informed me my ○○ is misaligned"...
Then, I ask once more: "How do you truly feel within yourself?"
The answer is, "...I don't know."
Despite having no personal somatic experience, they blindly accept and internalize what another has pronounced as absolute truth. When conveying anything to clients using "words," even if factually accurate, extreme caution is imperative. This is because, quite unconsciously, one can cultivate such entrenched thought patterns (limiting beliefs). Regrettably, some establishments appear to deliberately instill these beliefs to foster ongoing patronage.
Do Not Entrust Your Life to the Judgment of Others
And the conversation continues thus:
Me: "What do you intend to do by knowing what's 'wrong'?" Client: "I want to fix it." Me: "Even though you don't feel it yourself?"
While it may seem peculiar when transcribed, such dialogues are remarkably common. I observe this frequently in diligent and highly responsible individuals, where the priorities of external thoughts and values eclipse their own inherent sensations. Indeed, some may find it more comfortable to cede their power of judgment to others rather than discerning for themselves.
Yet, those to whom you surrender your judgment can never carry the weight of your life, nor can they, regrettably, assume its responsibility. The values (judgments) of others are distinctly not your own. Even if you manage to ingest something that does not belong to you, its true assimilation will prove challenging.
I earnestly wish that one could trust a little more deeply in the intrinsic sensations of their body and its inherent self-healing wisdom.
"Dialogue with the Body": A Core Value at Unfolding Bodywork
At Unfolding Bodywork, we do not embark on a "search for flaws." Instead of "judging" your body, we hold paramount the principle of embracing it as the optimal expression in this present moment and attuning to the authentic messages it conveys.
Through our sessions, we empower you to turn your awareness inward to "what your body is feeling in this very moment," fostering a profound connection with these sensations, uninfluenced by external narratives.
By embracing the premise that "your body is not inherently flawed," trusting its innate power, and vitalizing its life energy, your body will naturally recalibrate its harmony, guiding you towards your most authentic and comfortable state of being.
Your body requires no external validation or judgment. Unfolding Bodywork journeys alongside you as you reclaim your intrinsic sensations, commune with the true wisdom of your body, and step into a future radiant with your authentic self.