WELCOME TO BODIESSPEAK

At BodiesSpeak we believe that a simple and natural antidote to the overwhelming levels of stress that many of us feel, is to spend more time in our bodies and less time in our heads. This small shift in where we place our attention instantly lowers our stress levels and raises our sense of comfort and well-being.

On this site you will find exercises, videos and articles designed to help you experience the easy and solid feeling that your life begins to have when you begin to FEEL your life instead of just THINKING it.

Oh, and make sure to check back often for new practices, exercises, videos and thoughts to help you on your way to a more satisfying experience of your own life.

Your friend,

Kim Waxler

Comments (0)

GIVING SPACE TO THE THINGS WE WOULD RATHER NOT

The exercise for this month is a study in the wonderful world of paradox.  We will begin to experiment with the places in which it actually benefits us to act against our instincts.

Now, as a general sort of thing, what I advocate here at BodiesSpeak is to learn how to tune into our instincts as they are presented by our bodies as felt sensations.  So, if that basic premise were a one way street, this exercise might make you think you were going the wrong way and steering straight for a head-on collision.

Trust me though, it’s the way to go.

Find a quiet spot where you won’t be interrupted, sit comfortably, close your eyes and bring your attention to your body. Spend a few moments tuning into what each part of your body feels like, starting with your feet and working your way up to the top of your head.

When you feel like all the parts of you are here, begin to notice what calls for your attention by being achy, painful, stiff or congested. Just become aware of exactly what that sensation is like without any judgement or resistance. Or at least as little judgement and resistance as you can muster.

Is the feeling tight or is it more heavy? Sharp or dull? It starts and ends where? Does it have a particular color or colors? Be as specific as you can be.

When you feel like you have gotten to know what this unwelcome part of yourself is like pretty well, I want you to turn around and drive the wrong way. I want you to encourage that sensation to spread out and take up even more space!

Imagine spreading it out or rolling out it’s edges WAY beyond where they are now. Allow this bugger to spread out and have some real room. You could even imagine giving it the room to spread out beyond the confines of your body.

Then notice what happens.

“Oh my gosh, it just relaxed.” “It’s like someone just popped it with a pin, it deflated.” A couple of typical reactions I’ve heard from clients at this point in the process.

It’s our resistance to pain and discomfort that accounts for the biggest part of our actual pain and discomfort.

So simple yet so radical a concept, this allowing.

I could go on and on about the whys and the hows of this particular practice, but I will save it for another time and place.

I leave you to enjoy a more comfortable and peaceful you.

Your friend, Kim

Comments (0)

STRESSED OUT MAMA

My kids were telling me last night how strange they think it is that one of the main things I do is help people learn how to relax and meanwhile I’m one of the most tightly wound people they know!

Well, DUH. Why on earth would I pour so much energy into sussing out what really and truly helps us feel less torqued-up if I didn’t need that information so badly myself. That’s just the way the universe works. Like the saying goes; “necessity is the mother of invention,” and as my children can attest, in my case this info is necessary.

Take yesterday morning for example. My oldest daughter Tabby, was packing a sandwich for lunch and she dropped a little piece of lettuce on the floor. As my eyes fixed on the offending wisp, I felt my whole body stiffen just a little. 

“Tabby, you dropped a piece of lettuce.” My wide eyes imploring her to snatch it up now, now, now.

An evil smile crept across her lips and her eyes narrowed, she was going to play with me and I knew it.

“Yes Maja, I did,” she purred. Don’t ask me where “maja” comes from, all I know is that’s what she calls me.

“You are going to pick it up, right?” I laughed nervously.

“Yes Maja, I probably will in a minute…”

“My heart is starting to pound a little, Tab. Isn’t that silly?” I was laughing at myself, she was laughing at myself, I could definitely see how absurd the situations was. And, my heart was still pounding over that little piece of lettuce on the floor.

When she thought I might be on the verge of tears (I don’t think so) she finally bent over, picked it up and deposited it in my waiting hands which quickly carried it safely to the trash can.

I know you will all be glad to hear that my heart rate quickly returned to normal. 

I am telling you this story for a reason and here it is. By learning to be as aware of the sensations in my body as I am of the thoughts that go through my mind, I was able to observe my reaction rather than be swept away by it. This is key so I’ll say it again; “…I was able to observe my reaction rather than be swept away by it.”

Before BodiesSpeak I would have just gotten irritated and snapped something at her about picking up her mess. There wouldn’t have been any shared laughter or shared understanding about the trying places in my personality. This work doesn’t change who we are fundamentally, nothing short of heavy meds or a lobotomy does.

This work simply allows us the grace of experiencing exactly who we are in a much fuller way and that in turn, grants us the ease and wisdom we need to deal with ourselves with sanity and kindness. This shift in perception toward the body and away from the mind, leads to a richer and more satisfying experience of our own lives.

And there is nothing simple about that.

 

                                                     

Comments (0)

Bodies Speak

• Bodiesspeak is a simple, natural method of bringing balance to your life that works especially well in the following areas:

• STRESS REDUCTION
• PAIN MANAGEMENT
• REDUCED ANXIETY/DEPRESSION
• INCREASED SELF-CONFIDENCE

Comments (0)