Body Talk – Self Exploration Exercise
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I am full and curvy... I'm all about moving...
How do you feel about your body – or how is your body feeling? This little exercise is meant to answer that question. Body acceptance is tied to the root chakra, located at the base of your spine, associated with the color red and a four petaled flower.
An exercise that Anoeda Judith recommends is to write from your body’s point of view. For example, close your eyes and imagine that you are your feet – what would your feet say to you? You are supposed to let the answers flow freely, uncensored. Statements should be experiential and not judgmental. Doing this exercise will help you get a glimpse into the strength and challenges stored in your root chakra.
After you are done with the exercise:
Read your list. Do you notice any patterns? What are they? THEN – Rewrite your statements into one long paragraph, without the names of the body parts. Read this out loud as a statement about how you feel about yourself. What do you notice?
Below is an example of the completed exercise.
MY BODY TALKS
- Feet – I take you where you want to go… on walks, hikes, runs and more. I’m your friend.
- Ankles – I feel under appreciated. Do you know how important I am? Just ask your many female relatives who have suffered fractured and broken ankles.
- Calves – I’m smooth and curved. When you bounce and engage in ballistic movements stresses me out, so please be kind.
- Knees – I know I’m sort of funny looking, with my fleshy, wrinkled covering. But, without me walking and sitting would be a real challenge. Worship my wrinkled self!
- Thighs – Full and curvy I’m all about moving. I like to move it, shake it and feel alive.
- Buttocks – You better love me because not only am I the power in your strut, I also am shaped like a heart…. A big heart
- Hips – Wide and strong I am a baby bearing machine. Girl you are darn lucky I helped you carry two strong and healthy babies. And, I give you kickin’ curves.
- Genitals – Oh my, you want me to say something? I’m kind of shy and sensitive. But get me with the right person and I open right up. Oh, did I say that?
- Belly – I’m smooth, soft and have flawless skin. Would you quit hatin’ on me? So, I’ve gotten a little bigger as I’ve aged. I’m still standing guard – shielding of some of your most vital organs from the outside world.
- Low Back – I feel old for my age. Please take care of me.
- Stomach – I’m heard but never seen. Felt but never touched. Listen to me, for I’ll let you know when you are hungry AND when you are full.
- Mid Back – I’m crooked and bent like a winding snake. Thank goodness for my friends, the back and core muscles, who provide me with much needed support.
- Chest – Hey man, I’m here right underneath your boobs. Don’t forget about me. I give you strength.
- Breasts – I fed your kids, give you shape and am easily stimulated.
- Shoulders – When I’m happy I like to strut. When I’m sad or scared I sometimes fall in to myself. Please notice my moods and, as needed, help me to stay open and receptive.
- Arms – I swing, reach, hug, hold. Yes, my life is good.
- Neck – I’m long and lean; strong and delicate; plain and beautiful. When I get tense please give me some love.
- Face – I’m changing, becoming more lax with age. But I’m still here, ready to meet the world head on.
- Mouth – I happily serve your hunger, thirst and desire to talk.
- Lips – I am soft and smooth. Sometimes moist, other times dry. I like to smile.
- Eyes – I see so much. Once in awhile take the time to notice all that I see. And don’t forget about my cousin, the third eye, she sees even more than I.
- Ears – I hear voices, nature, animals, sounds. I hear subtle inflections, garish yells and more. I’m always hearing. Are you listening?
- Head – I am big and round. I have great treasures inside of me.
PATTERNS
I notice a playful, cheekiness in the answers provided by my various body parts.
PARAGRAPH
I take you where you want to go… on walks, hikes, runs and more. I’m your friend. I feel under appreciated. Do you know how important I am? Just ask your many female relatives who have suffered fractured and broken ankles. I’m smooth and curved. When you bounce and engage in ballistic movements it stresses me out, so please be kind. I know I’m sort of funny looking, with my fleshy, wrinkled covering. But, without me walking and sitting would be a real challenge. Worship my wrinkled self! Full and curvy I’m all about moving. I like to move it, shake it and feel alive. You better love me because not only am I the power in your strut, I also am shaped like a heart…. A big heart .Wide and strong I am a baby bearing machine. Girl you are darn lucky I helped you carry two strong and healthy babies. And, I give you kickin’ curves. Oh my, you want me to say something? I’m kind of shy and sensitive. But get me with the right person and I open right up. Oh, did I say that? I’m smooth, soft and have flawless skin. Would you quit hatin’ on me? So, I’ve gotten a little bigger as I’ve aged. I’m still standing guard – shielding of some of your most vital organs from the outside world. I feel old for my age. Please take care of me. I’m heard but never seen. Felt but never touched. Listen to me, for I’ll let you know when you are hungry AND when you are full. I’m crooked and bent like a winding snake. Thank goodness for my friends, the back and core muscles, who provide me with much needed support. Hey man, I’m here right underneath your boobs. Don’t forget about me. I give you strength. I fed your kids, give you shape and am easily stimulated. When I’m happy I like to strut. When I’m sad or scared I sometimes fall in to myself. Please notice my moods and, as needed, help me to stay open and receptive. I swing, reach, hug, hold. Yes, my life is good. I’m long and lean; strong and delicate; plain and beautiful. When I get tense please give me some love. I’m changing, becoming more lax with age. But I’m still here, ready to meet the world head on. I happily serve your hunger, thirst and desire to talk. I am soft and smooth. Sometimes moist, other times dry. I like to smile. I see so much. Once in awhile take the time to notice all that I see. And don’t forget about my cousin, the third eye, she sees even more than I. I hear voices, nature, animals, sounds. I hear subtle inflections, garish yells and more. I’m always hearing. Are you listening? I am big and round. I have great treasures inside of me.
