Our internal state of mind affects our health and our health affects our emotional well-being.
By Mary Boutieller
Often, we think of the body in terms of its separate parts: a leg versus an arm, our face versus our feet. And when we have an injury or an illness, we tend to compartmentalize the area, as if that part were the only thing affected by what we are going through. Yet, the more I learn about the body and yoga, the more I realize that it is ALL connected. The body doesn’t start or stop depending on its anatomical position; it is a continuous and beautifully crafted flow of lines, cells, muscles and tendons, each intertwined with the other to form a complete whole. When we have a tight muscle in one part of the body, it will often be relieved by stretching another part of the body. It’s as if we give the entire web a chance to release simply by attending to one part of it.
Life, love, relationships, our overall health are the same, I think. Our internal state of mind affects our health and our health affects our emotional well-being. When we’re angry at one person, it feels like the world is in trouble. When we gossip or cheat or steal, the wholeness of who we are suffers, and that ripples out in unseen waves of despair and distrust.
The opposite, gratefully, is also true. When we eat well, our bodies feel nourished, our minds are clearer, our hearts seem more open. When we shift our focus from negative to positive emotions, the world suddenly seems more hopeful, more possible. When we listen to our inner voices, our intuition strengthens. When we travel, we see that 99.9 percent of the world is kind, that people are helpful and curious, that we are safe.
Luckily, we almost always have a choice. We get to choose how we use our words, what we feed our bodies and our minds, how we engage in the world on a day-to-day, minute-by-minute basis.
I know I make it sound easy. Trust me, it isn’t. When I catch myself talking unkindly about another, I FEEL it in my body. I know it even as I’m doing it. When I eat or drink things my body doesn’t appreciate, the impact is often noticeable within hours.
And, just to complicate things, there is another element too—the idea that our attitudes make all the difference. Someone once said that it matters less what we eat than the attitude with which we eat. Are we eating a meal while watching the evening news or doing so while listening to music or talking with someone we love?
Sally Kempton said: “Your actions count. In the end, who you are is the result of what you do. Actions matter not only in your relationships and in your personal and spiritual journeys, but also in the great Karmic interweaving that is life on this planet. Every choice you make for compassion and every moment you pause to consider how the consequences of your actions affect the greater whole, actually does affect the greater whole.”
It is not about trying to be perfect. It’s not about judging ourselves or feeling bad because we’ve engaged in some juicy gossip or ate those homemade brownies. It is about aligning with who we are and who we want to be. It is about being human, being flawed, making amends, trying again, and finding the humor in the journey.
Even when we are suffering, perhaps we can find a bright spot somewhere that will soften the pain and marshal us on to the very next moment. Maybe it is as simple as seeing a beautiful red cardinal land outside the window. Maybe it is in finding forgiveness, letting go of the past, releasing expectation and moving toward joy and possibility. Maybe it is in finding the strand that connects it all.
Each day, may we know that the journey is worth the ride; that the choices we make are ours to make. May we learn to trust our instincts, embrace our connections and understand that we are nothing less than a magnificent galaxy of chaotic beauty!
I’ll leave you with this lovely quote by Mark Nepo: “No matter where we think we’re going, the journey of every life is to find its home in the moment where everything touches everything else.”
Mary Boutieller is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. She has been teaching yoga since 2005. Her work experience includes 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic and 10 years as a Licensed Massage Therapist. Mary’s knowledge and experience give her a well-rounded understanding of anatomy, alignment, health and movement in the body. She is passionate about the benefits of yoga and the ability to heal at all levels through awareness, compassion, and a willingness to explore. She can be reached at: SimplyogaOm@gmail.com.
