One way to think about health and wellness is to consider the relationship between our minds and our bodies. Our bodies are constantly sensing our environment and sending messages to the brain in the form of sensations. Are we able to receive and act upon these messages?

The body– when we know how to interpret its messages and trust its innate wisdom– is a reliable source of truth. It can sense and inform us of our authentic desire to say YES or NO to any given situation. We are born knowing how to decode these messages.

Painful life experiences that are too overwhelming to process and integrate can interrupt the natural flow of information between mind and body, leaving us cut off from this important source of inner knowing.

Various organs, tissues, and systems in the body “hold” the unprocessed emotions in a frozen state, and lose their natural rhythm of contraction and expansion. Autoimmune disorders and syndromal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, asthma, hypertension, and heart disease can be the result. Chronic anxiety and depression are the result of the nervous system getting stuck in an unhealthy state.

Repairing the mind-body relationship can help restore health and vitality and support us in living a more authentic and joyful life. What would it be like to feel at home in your body and to trust your sensations?

Connecting with Nature, playing music, receiving mindful bodywork, and working with a body-oriented counsellor are all ways to help reconnect the mind and body and restore the natural flow and rhythm of life.