befriending the body

I have worked out with the same personal trainer for ten years. When I began going to him, I suffered with back pain. Through the years, he’s helped me correct imbalances, and most days I awaken pain-free, and I have enough strength to lift my son and carry my groceries and do my work in the world.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been dealing with some back pain again, which happens from time to time with all that I carry. And, he’s encouraged me over and over to do an epsom salt bath. We have a joke that’s not really a joke that 99% of what’s wrong can be solved with an epsom salt bath. But, it’s hot outside, and I’m tired at night, and my tub leaves much to be desired, so I have lots of excuses about why I don’t want to do the thing that could perhaps help relieve my pain.

What he said to me last week landed deep inside:

“Stop approaching it like ‘I’ve gotta get in there and fix this.’ Make it tranquil,” he said.

I see this with my clients all of the time. They come in for sessions, and they’ve got something they’re looking to fix. They see themselves as a problem that needs solving. And, honestly, I’m wired to see myself that way, too. Something is wrong with me Syndrome.

The body, however, is simply begging for attention. The body is intelligent in the way it communicates with us.

So, I’ve been in the bath several times this week. Without an agenda. No ultimatums. Just lying in the water at the end of the day and being curious about what’s there. The pain. The absence of pain. The tension. The freedom of movement. The story I’m telling myself about the sensation. When I widen the lens through which I see and sense my body, the way I experience my body changes.

Rupi Kaur