“Listen to your body whispering before it starts to yell.” I was participating in a Parkinson’s Foundation Mindfulness session the other day and the presenter shared this with us. She was introducing the session for the day and shared that taking time to check in and listen to our bodies can sometimes help us avoid mental burnout. It was an interesting “aha” moment for me as I realized that she was right. If I don’t listen to my body and make sure its properly supported, how can I possibly expect to find the emotional support I need on this journey?

Getting in touch with my body is not an easy thing for me to do. Ask me about my husband and I’ll tell you all about his medical complaints from a sore knee or shoulder to stiffness and swallowing issues. Ask me how I’m doing and I reply “Fine”. It was so nice when the instructor asked us to think about our feet and how they were connecting with the floor. We worked our way up considering all the parts of our bodies and how they were supported, relating to them without judgement. We were passively listening for messages about tension, tightness, stress or pain.

My emotional state is absolutely tied to how I am feeling physically. Relaxing my body releases my mind to let go, even if just for a few minutes. This is also why I enjoy yoga. When I’m focused on my physical state, my mental state can take a break. But, and this is a big one, my body needs to be properly cared for in order for me to be able to truly surrender. That’s why I must find time to listen for the whispers and act appropriately to support not only my body, but also my spirit and my soul.

You can find the Parkinson’s Foundation’s Mindfulness Monday series on their U-Tube channel by clicking here.