In the upcoming weeks, many of us will gather with family and friends, possibly for the first time since the pandemic. The joke during quarantine was that we would enter it one way, but exit as either “a hunk, a drunk, or a chunk.” It’s possible that we spent our stay-at-home time working out, but, in retrospect, not as much as we wish. Are there a few extra pounds? Some flaccid muscles? (Oh, the word ‘flaccid’ is so hateful sounding….) Perhaps more than ever, it’s all too easy to fall prey to body loathing. As we prepare to meet and greet, how do we regard the image we see in the mirror? Do we find ourselves grateful for this body that carries us throughout a busy life, or do we scowl at perceived imperfections? In our Zoom yoga classes, do we enjoy movement, or do we find our focus on comparing our bodies to what we see on the screen?
It’s long past time to begin to change all of this! A friend always reminds me of this adage: ‘compare and despair.’ When we criticize ourselves for not being pretty/strong/skinny/what-have you enough, we lose track of the miracle of the present moment. Why live in self-flagellation when you can live in love? Isn’t it time to work on the relationship we have with our one and only body, the one that allows us to experience life?
Note, by the way, that I am not suggesting a retreat into toxic positivity. Maybe there are habits that need to be changed, weight that needs to be lost, exercise that would help our mood – but does the judgment and condemnation help? My experience shows me that when I can accept where I am, I find the courage to change. The following meditation is one I use when I need to find acceptance and self-love. May it be a beneficial experience for you!
Take a comfortable seat, and settle into the cushion. Make sure your back is supported, perhaps by sitting against a wall. Take a deep breath, and let it out, repeating this a few times. Then bring your attention to where the breath enters the body, at the tip of the nose. Follow the breath as it moves down the back of the throat and to the lungs. But don’t stop there – watch the oxygen as it enters the bloodstream and moves to the different parts of the body.
From here, take yourself through a full body scan, starting with your feet. You’re just checking in to see what’s going on, and there’s no reason to hurry. Take the time to fully experience your feet, knees, thighs, belly, and so on. Ask each part of your body how it feels today, and thank it for adding to your ability to experience the world. When you reach the top of your head, imagine your body surrounded by an egg of pure light and energy that bathes every cell in protection and peace.
From here, why not spend some time with the areas that you aren’t terribly fond of? Maybe that belly fat needs some attention, or perhaps you should send your cellulite some love. Bestow your attention the way you would for a friend who’s hurting. Allow these difficult parts of your body to experience the peace of acceptance.
This might be a good time to ask how each ‘problem area’ is in fact serving you. Can you find acceptance, or even gratitude, for these perceived imperfections that make you unique? Can you physically touch or hold the areas that you usually revile, in the same way you would soothe a crying baby? Are you willing to send soothing thoughts, and allow your body to speak? What secrets are revealed when you take the time to understand and appreciate all of you, even the parts that don’t seem as positive?
Finally, take a moment to sense the connection between your body, the bodies of your parents, and those of the generations before them. Your present body connects you to ages past, to an entire lineage of people who walked the earth much like we do now. It’s also a conduit between you and the other people who presently inhabit the planet, one that allows you to connect with the world. Feel these connections, and be grateful to experience them. Truly, the sacred in your own body is what allows you to experience sanctity in your life!
When you finish the meditation, be gentle with yourself. Perhaps have a cup of tea or take a slow walk. See how your mindset and your life changes each time you honor your own experience and the body that allows you to do so.
Yoga Cielo Stellato 