Here’s a good question: What does it look like when your mind and body are working in sync?

We spend a lot of time talking about having an ideal mind-body relationship, but what does that actually mean? For a long time, I simply wanted health and emotional well-being. That seemed like a good enough definition! It was the goal, right?

Wrong!

Actually, health and emotional (and spiritual, and mental) well-being are side-effects of an optimal mind-body relationship. In fact, the more you focus on trying to achieve those things, the harder it is to have them. If you focus on having a great mind-body connection, you’ll start feeling really, really good even before you arrive at your health goals.

I see the mind and body working in sync like this:

1)     You are able to feel the body’s guidance from moment to moment as it gives you sensory clues to lead you to well-being.

2)     You are inspired to follow that guidance – it feels right, fun, good, and on target.

3)     The mind agrees with what the body wants, and when it doesn’t, you are able to use your tools to help the mind relax its desire to control.

4)     The mind translates many of the sensory clues into verbal insight, giving you clearer direction in your daily life.

5)     You feel creative, inspired, and alive, and when you don’t, you realize your body needs rest and stillness.

6)     You embrace the cyclical nature of daily life – you don’t let the mind push past the body’s guidance or override it. And when you do, you notice, practice self-kindness, and address your needs. You allow the in-sync moments and the out-of-sync moments, because they are all valid.

7)     You tune in to listen to your body’s needs, your emotional needs, your spiritual needs, and your mental needs.

8)     You trust the guidance you hear from your inner intuitive voice.

9)     You let emotions flow, let yourself express them (to yourself and to trusted friends), and you get clarity around how to both communicate your needs and take care of your needs.

10)  You observe the mind and gently release identification with it so that you can hear the intuitive guidance more clearly.

I was pondering all of this today as I headed out the door for a walk/run combo. My body said it wanted to move, and it felt like doing bursts of jogging interspersed in a walk. My mind said, “Totally! That feels so great!” They were on the same page. My mind didn’t say, “You should run more/longer/faster/harder/etc.” I felt relaxed and in-sync with myself. I knew my need was to feel my body move, to drink some water, and to feel the fresh air outside as I took in the view of the mountains.

As I jogged, I checked in with my body. I noticed I was not hungry. In the past, I’ve had much trouble with over-eating. Recently, during my daily mind-body practice, my stomach explained just how much it hates being over-stuffed. Strangely, I had never understood that simple message from my body. My mind was too busy thinking, “I shouldn’t be eating this/that, but I want to eat this/that, OMG, I need to eat this RIGHT NOW, and A LOT OF IT. I had a hard day, I need a treat. I should get to eat tons of food. It’s not fair. I just want to enjoy food! What is wrong with me that I can’t just have a good relationship with food? I look terrible. Oh God, I’m getting fatter!” And on and on.

Ever since that message from my stomach, I’ve noticed my mind has quieted a great deal around food. It’s very aware now of how my stomach feels when I eat, and it’s taken to slowing down at meals and really loving the taste of every bite. It knows I can eat whatever, but it’s also really aware of what my body wants to eat. There’s just no…argument.

Today’s run/walk was so simple and straightforward. I moved because it was what my body wanted. I didn’t have a snack when I got home, because I wasn’t hungry. I was still digesting my delicious breakfast, which my mind and body had enjoyed immensely. I drank water because I was thirsty.

I came back home to write this blog post, because it was what my inner guidance was asking me to do. When I’m hungry again, I’ll eat lunch. I’ll ask my body what it wants. I can already feel how much my body and mind want to play with my daughter when I’m done writing. If I have a strong emotion arise today, I’ll allow it to be here and let it inform me.

Not every day is like this, of course. I still have days when the mind tries to take control and it ignores my body. Or when it argues ferociously with my inner truth. Or it actively obscures my inner truth. But I find that my years of mind-body practice are really starting to add up to a lot of in-sync moments, now. And when I’m out of sync, I know I have the tools to return to myself.

The side-effects – health, well-being, and spiritual growth – are really fabulous. But this in-sync feeling? It’s where it’s at.

Stay tuned for the next post, where I’ll talk about HOW to get in-sync!