Get out of your mind and into your body

 

Health Month is here, and so is your annual reminder that stress isn’t a personality trait, it’s a full-body assault. Have you ever felt like life is happening to you rather than through you? Like you’re just a passenger on a runaway train fueled by caffeine and deadlines? The truth is, you’re not a victim of your circumstances; you’re the one driving. Time to grab the wheel.

The bodymind connection

We don’t exist in a fixed state, our experiences are shaped by our thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and memories. These signals are continuously processed by the subconscious mind and relayed throughout the body via the central nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve. In other words, your stress-induced jaw clenching and shoulder knots aren’t random, they’re your body waving a red flag.

For too long, we’ve been taught to treat the mind and body as separate, but science proves otherwise. The bodymind, our thoughts, beliefs, memories, and energy, is a single operating system influenced by both internal perception and external reality. The good news? That means you can rewire it.

Our bodies are designed to heal, yet unresolved emotions, mental chatter, and Netflix binges spent marinating in existential dread create dissonance, leading to chronic stress and illness. The field of epigenetics has even revealed that we’re not doomed by our genes; our perception of reality literally changes our biology. Translation? Your thoughts might actually be making you sick. Fun, right?

Awareness: The first step to change

Healing isn’t about buying another supplement you’ll forget to take. It’s about shifting awareness, breaking free from emotional loops, and tuning into your body’s intelligence. But you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge. (Kind of like how that pile of laundry doesn’t magically fold itself.)

By integrating practices like deep breathing, somatic work, and yoga, you can bridge the gap between mind and body, releasing stored tension, regulating your nervous system, and restoring balance. These tools aren’t just for yogis on mountaintops; they’re simple, science-backed ways to stop operating in constant survival mode.

Take charge of your well-being

Rather than reacting to life’s stressors like a malfunctioning Roomba, start making conscious choices that align with your highest good. Identify what actually matters and let go of the rest. Health isn’t just about fixing what’s broken, it’s about creating a relationship with yourself that fosters lifelong vitality. And maybe even a little joy. ;)

3 ways to reconnect with your bodymind

1. Breathe with awareness – Your breath is free. Use it. Inhale for four counts, hold for four, and exhale for six. Congratulations, you just tricked your nervous system into calming down. Repeat.

2. Move with intention – Your body is not a storage unit for stress. Yoga, walking, dancing in your kitchen - just move.

3. Shift your perception – Next time you’re about to spiral, pause. Ask: Is this situation actually a threat, or am I just reacting out of habit? Boom. Instant clarity.

Your body and mind are in constant conversation. Listen closely, move intentionally, and make choices that support your well-being. This Health Month, commit to getting out of your mind and into your body. Your future self, the one with less tension and more energy, will thank you. Love & Light, Emma