By Pat Samples, Aging with Gusto coordinator
Check in with your body for a moment. Are you experiencing more aches than usual? It’s possible you have the coronavirus, of course. Yet, it’s also possible that distress related to the virus may be what is worsening your body aches, and even adding new ones.
Our bodies are top-notch reporters, making an accurate, detailed record of whatever is happening in our minds and emotions. When intense, uncomfortable feelings arise, our bodies take notes like crazy. They quickly gear up to signal us that something’s wrong and needs our attention. When unsettling feelings (or thoughts) continue over a longer period, our bodies try even harder to get us to notice that something is off kilter. The pain may intensify. Older bodies tend to have an accumulation of these painful messengers.
While there are treatments of all sorts that may ease these body pains, the easiest and least expensive one often gets neglected. That “treatment” is to pay very close attention to the body’s signal with curiosity, patience, and compassion – and then give the body what it’s asking for.
Yesterday, I was sitting much of the day, due largely to being confined at home, and my mind was whirling with worry thoughts over the latest virus headlines. A friend and I decided to take a “safe distance” walk together, and I found myself quickly agitated as we got started. The usual aches in my back and leg muscles, accumulated from years of misuse, accidents, and falls, seemed to be multiplying. I tried to ignore their surging pain, but they were letting me know emphatically that something was amiss and had to change if I were going to enjoy this precious time with my friend. My first thought was that I’ll just have to tough this out, and then I tried another common remedy; I took a few deep breaths. I quickly discovered that neither toughness nor relaxation attempts were going to do the trick. No, my body was crying out like a wounded child, and it would not settle for a Band-Aid approach.
As compassionately and patiently as I could, I decided to pause and deeply listen to what my body was asking for. Just a few moments of genuine, patient attention revealed the message my aches were sending me – get moving! It became clear to me that I had lots of pent-up energy and had come to this walk ready for high-speed movement, while my friend was worn out from being on the go all day and required a very slow pace. My pain was coming from trying to make my legs and back restrain my compelling impulse to speed. I was at war with myself. That’s always painful, and thank goodness, my body, as usual, was assertively clueing me in.
My good friend was very understanding when I told her of my discovery. She supported my sprinting off down the trail and then sprinting back to her so I could release the pent-up energy and then join her in her leisurely pace. We had a great walk the rest of the way.
Are you listening for what your body is aching for? Here is a simple exercise you can do to tune in and tend to your body’s messages:
Sit down with a pen and paper, relax as much as you can, and quiet your mind. Put your pen in the “hands” of your hurting body part, and ask that part to write or draw the message for you. Let your mind and heart be open. Take all the time you need. Welcome whatever comes, even if it’s just a tiny nudge you feel inside yourself or a simple phrase. Sit with the message you receive and take it in. Thank the body part for what it offers you, and extend compassion to the hurting part of your body with your own message or image or action that may provide relief. Once your body gets used to your listening attentively and compassionately, the messages you receive will come more quickly and clearly.
Your body is your best friend. Let it teach and comfort you.
Pat Samples coordinates the Aging with Gusto program. She also teaches somatic awareness practices to reveal your body’s hidden messages. Her TEDx talk last April on this topic is titled:
“Your Aging Body Is a Great Read.”