Thomas Edison is quoted as saying that “The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are hard work, stick-to-itiveness, and common sense.”
I’m all for stick-to-itiveness when it comes to your health goals.
Our culture is chock full of quick fixes, but the reality is that staying steady and consistent with whatever you are trying to achieve is the way to go.
When I lived and worked at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, I often heard this story…
Someone asked Bapuji (Swami Kripalvanandji – Kripalu was named after him) “What is the best practice? Is it Hatha Yoga? Meditation? Chanting?”
Bapuji responded “The most powerful practice is the one that you do”
Ain’t that the truth!
What we do everyday has the most impact on us.
So, when it comes to self-care and eating well, what’s the one practice you actually do?
Where is your stick-to-itivness?
What self-care practice of yours has become a habit…it’s just what you do. You just show up.
- Is it drinking water?
- Maybe you have an exercise class or routine you always do?
- Perhaps you always sit down when you eat?
I have a boat load of wellness practices – I’ve been practicing and teaching yoga, health and wellness for over 20 years – this is what I’m passionate about. I have no shortage of self-care rituals and routines. But I’m not always consistent with my practices, some things come and go. But what do I always do? What’s my stick-to-itiveness practice?
I listen deeply to what my body needs and do my very best to respond to that need.
And that’s what I’d like you to think about when it comes to having a consistent, stick-to-itiveness practice.
Whatever your healthy living practice is or isn’t, I encourage you to develop the habit of deeply listening to your body.
I know this may seem a bit elusive and woo-woo, but really finding a way to tune into your body is a super powerful wellness practice. It’s really what Yoga is all about, but I know you are a busy mom and can’t live in a yoga class!
I’d like you to take your body-listening practice off the mat, and into your busy life. I want you to be able to tune into your body and your needs whether you are at the playground with the kids or at the dinner table.
Here’s why listening to your body is so important. When you pay attention to your body you can:
- feel when you are truly hungry.
- get a sense of what food would really nourish you – beyond the craving.
- tell the difference between thirsty and hungry – many busy moms reach for a snack when they are actually dehydrated.
- you can notice when you are tired, which allows you to make a more restorative choice versus another cup of coffee.
- you can choose self-care in a way that feels nourishing and supportive, versus deprivational and cumbersome.
You may be thinking “but Nina, what about the water and the exercise class and sitting down when I eat.” Yup, those are important, but this listening to your body thing…it’s at the base of all of this.
So, how do you listen to your body?
- SLOW DOWN: stop what you are doing for a moment and tune in.
- BREATHE: take a few gentle, complete breaths.
- BE CURIOUS: focus on your body and feel what’s happening.
- ALLOW: don’t try to change what’s happening, just notice and listen.
- RESPECT: don’t override your bodies messages, it’s how your body communicates.
Stick to deeply listening and respecting your body,
it’s your guide to feeling your best!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nina Manolson, MA, CHC, LMT is the Smokin’ Hot Mom Mentor and Family Wellness Expert. She’s the founder of SmokinHotMom.com and HealthyYummyKids.com. She helps busy moms look and feel their best, and helps them feed their kids well in a world that doesn’t.
Nina Manolson, MA, is the founder of Body-Peace®.She helps women end the war with food and body and finally feel truly at home in their body—as it is.
She is known for her deeply feminist, anti-diet, body-peace® approach. She brings her 30 years of experience as a therapist, Body-Trust® Guide and Psychology of Eating Teacher to helping women create a respectful and trusting relationship with their food and body.
Nina’s Body-Peace® work is all in service of helping people get off the diet roller-coaster, and into a compassionate and powerful way of eating & living which creates a positive long-lasting change in and with their bodies. Her courses, coaching, poems and Body-Peace APP positively change the conversation that women are having with their body.
Start your Body-Peace® journey with this free masterclass that will help you understand and shift your relationship with your body.
