Building BQ Muscle
In building resilience, what’s come into my awareness over the past year really, is the intelligence of the physical body. On my own journey of self-mastery to live life purposefully and as my best self, through the guidance of my soul-sister and Life Coach, Michelle Ashen, I have discovered the wonders of Body Intelligence and Embodied Wisdom. My focus on it is quite recent so we’ll learn together shall we.
Unpacking Body Intelligence
Body Intelligence is simply how aware you are of your body, what you understand about it and what you do for your body and with it. This is what health science also refers to as Somatic Awareness.
Growing into deeper awareness means knowing yourself more. Getting to grips with Body Intelligence starts with knowing yourself and practicing what you’re learning as you grow. Many people know, but don’t do...that’s the key sisterhood. So how do we start with the “doing?”
In my own experience, a good place to start moving into action is by employing certain tools like Enneagram and Insights to get to know yourself better. I understand now why I gravitate towards certain ways of working and why I would have procrastinated in other areas. I understand why I engage in relationships the way that I do. It hasn’t been haphazard at all. I capitalise on my strengths and have become aware of my weaknesses, embracing them and transforming to the point where I can work through them and even these now work to my advantage to help me show up when I need to. Understanding who I am has built a rock solid foundation for me to observe my own engagement with the world within and around me.
Understanding Body Intelligence
We have been conditioned to be absent. The reason we’re absent is because there is a disconnect between self and the earth, self and the others and of course self and within. Again, taking a note from Michelle, she highlights that “how you close that gap is through becoming familiar with Body Intelligence and a topic for another day, Embodied Wisdom.”
We need to get to the point where once we recognise the body as a source of vital intelligence, we’re able to effectively interpret what our bodies are telling us. You’ll get to the point where you will pick up the signs about how to take care of your health. As Michelle highlights; “It’s not just about presence and awareness but also about empowerment.
Understanding Body Intelligence means understanding the sensations in your body and then responding in a way that honours your body. A high BQ level empowers you to know when something is “off” and then respond accordingly.
My experience? I’ve had an intense longing for blood oranges for a few years. I merely put it down to a craving. This year, April 2021, I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistance. Relaying my craving to my Doctor, he laughed and said, “Your body has been speaking to you for years. Blood oranges are one of the best foods for people with Metabolic Diseases.”
I also know that when I am really anxious, this translates as slight nausea and I feel intensely light-headed, with a buzzing sensation behind my eyes. Instead of dismissing it, I breathe through it for a minute or so and then observe my thoughts, my reaction and the situation without judgement. I approach it with curiosity instead, knowing that it’s not too big to overcome. As Thea O’Connor shares: “notice what’s happening rather than disconnect and listen rather than dismiss what’s happening in your body.”
My suggestion is to ask yourself the following questions to start tuning in to what your body is saying:
When do I feel good? When doesn’t my body feel good?
Sit with this and sis, I mean sit with it. Take time to really tune into what your body is saying.
“Stop and notice.”
Be intentional about checking in to stop and notice how your body feels in various scenarios throughout the day.
Build your Body Knowledge
Dr Caroline leaf puts it beautifully:: “The mind is moving through the brain and body and impacting physiology and neurophysiology right down to the DNA’
I was working out, lost 15kg and then just couldn't keep the weight off. I felt defeated. But once I simply took the step of learning about healthy functioning of the body, taking feedback from my trainer and a friend who believed there was “something “more”, that’s when I became vulnerable enough to seek help. That’s when I received my diagnosis and to be honest, it was such an empowering moment for me (strange as that may seem). I now know how best to serve the body that works so hard for me.
To build your own health literacy, think about and then respond to the following questions:
Do I do a full health check up at least annually?
How do I physically recharge and decompress?
What’s my relationship with medications or alcohol personally?
What are my eating habits like? Do I know what’s essentially good for my body? Do I act on that?
Sisterhood, I believe this is a great introduction. In my next article, I’ll cover ways to enhance your body intelligence! So excited about that.
By Kim Jnsen
Instagram: @KimJansen777