Body Love

When struggling with depression or any of its adjacent mental struggles, not taking care of your body is often one of the first signs of trouble. Whether it's falling off your workout routine, binge eating, or flat-out disliking your body, our mental state influences our physical well-being and habits. Good news - it works in reverse as well. Taking care of your body is taking care of your brain. 

I don’t know where you are, how able-bodied you feel/are right now, or what you can physically do, but you can show your body love and be grateful for it every day. This gratefulness has helped me through times of insecurity, injury, and simply not feeling good about myself. 

A friend once told me her fitness instructor would begin each class saying, “How lucky are we that we get to do this? How lucky are we that we get to move our body like this, there are people that would pay millions of dollars to be able to do what we are doing” and it has stuck with me.

This especially rings true, after going through months of limping as each step brought throbbing pain to my right knee. It took rounds of acupuncture, two doctors, and months of physical therapy to get back to normal. In this case, body love meant putting all my resources and shifting my life around caring for my body. During that time, my daily practice involved a 15-minute rehabilitation routine and recuperating. This also helped my spirit by giving me a sense of control and hope.

Once you change your mindset of it being a “chore” your life will change. It becomes such a privilege. Each day I move for so many reasons! For my physical health, my mental health, and to show others how important and impactful fitness can be for overall health and well-being.

It feels obvious, but your body is where your brain lives. Its health and activity rely directly on your body's health and balance. I want you to know that loving your body and knowing you can create a better life with it is so powerful. So what is stopping you?