Part One
Shall We Dance?

As individuals, when our relationships with our bodies are not joyful and easy, that uneasiness permeates every level of life. It affects us every day, even though we may suppress it…furthering the estrangement between ourselves and our bodies.

My experience indicated that instead of returning to the source of our strength, our own bodies, we look for answers outside of ourselves…and what do we come up with?

Other people’s answers to our questions.

Those answers work for the other people, but they probably won’t work for us…they won’t work for you, any more than your answers work for them.

Instead of seeking the solution within, we seek the plug-in solution—the super-whiz diet, the next late-great fitness program or expensive piece of equipment, nip/tuck or suck, or the call-out-all-stops rehabilitation program—when what we are really seeking is harmony.

Our discontent is our dissonance.
We are not fully listening to our bodies, and their wisdom.
You are not listening to your body, and your body’s wisdom.
Our bodies are magnificent.
Your body is magnificent.

It’s that simple.

“Movement creates energy and energy breathes life into your soul.”
≈Stephanie Wood

~ Shall We Dance? ~

In this section, you rediscover a joyful dance with your life by tuning into an authentic relationship with your body. Begin to communicate with her, teach her and learn from her with movement easing the dialogue between you. Once you begin your practice, your dance, you will find it so satisfying you will make it a regular part of your day, a habit, a requirement for achieving the happiness you deserve in every area of your life. By accepting your body’s invitation to dance together you will build a partnership with your body that allows you to meet every challenge that life presents you…with ease and grace.

You already have the answers—the answers lie in the conscious relationship you have with your body. She has an awesome intelligence. I help you tap into the knowledge your body wants to share with you. Once you access her knowledge, you join her in the dance of a lifetime. This joyful dance has been my whole life experience.

Want to read more?

Shall we dance?
© 2000- 2010 Stephanie Wood
All Rights Reserved.

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Have you ever wondered how the foods in your fridge and cabinets do not metabolize in your body in a way that benefits both of you?

Your body will tell you right away if a food feels good within her. If she is dissatisfied she will show you by gaining weight. It is that simple.

So why not take her inside the grocery store and the two of you can shop together.

Keep this in mind while shopping: “With my partner, I imagine the flavors of various combination’s before preparing our meals. Sometimes a familiar spice will be used in an unusual way. Sometimes I rely on my tried and true meals. The dance we do determines “what’s for dinner”. And I keep my family happy and healthy by preparing our meals my way!” (Know Thyself, Know Thy Style, Chapter 5 from the Body Knowledge System® An Awesome Intelligence Playbook)

Now this is where the Body Knowledge System ® conversation comes into practice.
As you both are walking down each aisle of the store…stop and listen and ask…what the two of you want that will be satisfying to both.

From experience you both already know what foods metabolize better than others….and again this will change over time and change with the seasons.

So what happens when you and your body craves a certain food?…again go into the Body Knowledge System® conversation mode and listen, negotiate and compromise.

Next week we will talk about how your eating style will help make the grocery store experience even simpler.

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I recently attended a wedding and although I communicate well with my body I was slightly anxious about going and also having my parents stay in my home for 5 days. My body and me picked out this gorgeous pink, chiffon cocktail dress; from that moment on, I was very conscious with my body with what I ate and how I moved with her during the weeks preceding this event.

Events give us a challenge to be more with our bodies and hear what she really wants.

Let’s face it events form the moments of our lives. We look forward to them with excitement and joy (usually). We cherish the times when we can all get together, when we deepen the bonds with family and friends. That’s because events are something that usually involves a hug! The warmth we feel when we share our lives with others, it illuminates our experience and creates the fabric of our life’s story.

Let me define events. They are anything that takes you out of your routine – they can be happy moments, or they can be transitions – all joyful, all full of movement. (You can go more in depth with my book Body Knowledge System ).

That’s why it’s important to get in touch with your body’s first response to the news of the event. This will guide you in sorting out where your expectations and those of others meet.

As you practice being more clear about your relationship with your body, you can adapt to any event. The secret is preparation.
Caution: Some events can take us out of our comfort Zone and this is when you are susceptible to slipping out of your relationship with your body.

So let me give you 3 Body Knowledge Steps that will make all the difference in the world:

#1 Prepare with your Body Knowledge Style©

When you prepare for an event, you want to move with it. Ask your body how she feels about this event, and move with your body. Take her for a walk, do movement, clean out the garage, weed the garden, walk the dog. Whatever feels natural to you, do it. Stretch – or run. Go to the place where you can ask your body – in movement – to tell you how you want to negotiate this event.

The days, weeks and months of your life leading up to an event are inflated with expectations—
yours and those of others. Your body has expectations, too.

#2 Create a Game Plan

Think of an upcoming event. Prepare (as much as you can) ahead of time with how you can compromise with your body so she feels as comfortable as possible.

#3 Get Practical

Expectations of others may challenge our relationship with our body. Some of these are spoken (perhaps in the invitation when the hours and attire of the event are announced), or perhaps by family members or loved ones who will attend with us. Very likely, the reason we’re going to the event is to experience it with these people. So, remember to bring your body with you to the event.

Sidebar: Enjoy yourself with your body so that both of you have an enjoyable time with everyone around you.

Remember movement creates energy and energy breathes life into your soul©.

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Hi my name is Stephanie Wood and I would like to welcome you to my blog. I will be posting about your body. Not just the physical, but about self care, listening to your inner voice, making great decisions, and how your body works with you in your work, life, and play.

When we practice Body Knowledge, we dance! That’s right, we practice our dance…and we dance our practice! Body Knowledge(r) is all about you and your partner for life, your body.

Your body is your partner for life. Whether fat, thin, chubby, lean, lumpy, dumpy, plumpy, baby fat, rolly polly, or skinny minny—regardless of the shape you are in, regardless of the shape she is in—you are in it together.

From the day you were born, from the first scream in the delivery room, you had a partner for life. She is also your partner in the practice of Body Knowledge(R). In fact, she is your perfect partner in the dance of life, and the dance of Body Knowledge System(R).

And when, as partners, you move together, you dance.

And when you dance with your body as your partner, you communicate with each other.

And when you communicate with each other, you dance through your life.

The final step in your dance, is applying what you’ve learned to your daily activities.

Body Knowledge is not restricted to eating and exercise. Body Knowledge is relevant to your work, play, daily routine, your environment, health, and the events that take you out of your routine.

Do you have a question that you would like to ask about this post or your body? Go ahead. All questions and comments are welcome.

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