Welcome to Physical Awareness April! For week one we are going to check in with our body by doing a body scan. This requires nothing but a little time and focus but can be quite eye opening if done correctly.
How to do a body scan
First, grab a journal or notebook to take notes.
Then, find a quiet, comfortable place to sit alone with your thoughts for a few minutes.
Take a few deep breaths.
Once you feel more relaxed, start at your feet and note how they feel. Is anything tingling? Is there any pain? If there is, take note of the sensation.
Next move up to the ankles and do the same thing. Continue to move up the body until you reach the top (crown) of the head.
Once you are done scanning, take note of all the areas that did not feel so good? What could it be linked to? Did you forget that you nearly twisted an ankle, or did you just argue with a toddler and that inspired a headache? What could be the source of the discomfort and what can you do now to alleviate that discomfort? Is the source something that you can avoid in the future? Can doing stretches or eliminating some things in your diet help?
Why I recommend body scans
I used to have terrible stomach pains every night that would keep me awake. I started to pay more attention to my diet. My husband was a journey to stop eating meat so I followed and after a month my stomach pain went away completely. I also gave up energy drinks because I noticed that every time I had one, I got headaches shortly after. I slowed down on fast food, soda, and alcohol. I’m not saying that you have to give up on your food indulges but I suggest doing it in moderation. I promise you will start to feel better in no time!
Obviously, the purpose of the body scan is to become more aware of your body. How it feels, and how you want it to feel. This is meant to be a positive experience. Not a body shaming experience. If you are experiencing a lot of pain and discomfort, we absolutely recommend seeing a doctor. *We are not health providers so check with your doctors before making any sudden or drastic changes.
You can do this body scan whenever you feel the need. There will be a print out available with a human body outline where you can keep track of your notes or even highlight areas of discomfort. The print out can be found below (select button below or click on image for PDF version)!
That’s it for this week loves! Stay tuned for next week’s post!
Love The Tribe!