I Am More Than My Body: The Body Neutral Journey

by Bethany C. Meyers

Next time you do a movement session, try this mindful exercise: Am I . . . ? Feeling connected to my body? Enjoying the release of emotion? Appreciating the functions of my body without criticism? Able to identify areas of tightness, flexibility, pain, and strength? Listening to and honoring my body’s needs? Moving without judgment or set expectations? When we are able to answer yes to these questions, we are on track for participating in neutral movement. On the flip side you may notice that your mindset is less than neutral. Ask yourself these questions: Am I . . . ? Focused on my body’s failings? Concentrating on the amount of time spent in movement rather than how my body feels? Disappointed/hard on myself when I cannot achieve a certain position variation? Comparing myself to others? Labeling my movement as “good” vs. “bad”? Pushing my body dangerously past its limits for the sake of hitting a certain goal/target? If you find yourself answering yes to second set of questions, taking a step back could prove beneficial. Over time, this way of thinking can be detrimental not only to your physical health (injuries and pain), but also to your mental outlook (body dysmorphia, exercise abuse).

Questions to ask yourself pre-movement Why am I choosing to move today? Is it based on changing my physical form? If yes, can I reframe my motive for this movement session to focus on my mental, spiritual, or emotional self? How are my energy levels? Am I in need of restorative movement or energetic movement? Where am I experiencing tightness? Would stretching my back/neck/legs/hips serve me? What can I do during my movement session to promote healing? What is one thing I’m grateful for that my body can do? How do I want this movement session to serve me? Questions to ask yourself post-movement In what ways did I listen to my body in this movement session? How can I better listen to my body in future movement sessions? How did my movement affect my mood today? How are my energy levels? Do I feel more tired or more energized? Where am I experiencing tightness in my body? Do I need to do any restorative practices today such as taking a bath, icing, or stretching? In what ways did my body show up for me in this session? Did I enjoy the movement I just did? Why or why not? Is this a type of movement I will show up to again?

Getting curious about the workouts we engage in, the exercises we do, and the movement we choose to participate in can help us inject more joy into our lives. That may sound like a lofty promise, but it’s the truth. Maybe you truly love strength-training classes and enjoy lifting a kettlebell over your head. But maybe you don’t enjoy it at all. Maybe you have always hated lifting weights but you put yourself through it because you’ve been told you have to in order to look/feel/be a certain way. It’s only when you take the time to question yourself deeply and without judgment that you’re able to discover your own answers. And why spend precious moments of your life doing something you hate? There are endless ways to move and explore your body, and life is too short to be grinding through a fitness class that brings you zero joy. It’s time to recalibrate and let your body be in charge.

What makes you a better person is treating others with kindness and giving all people—regardless of looks, status, race, gender, wealth, ability—appreciation and respect. Maybe this feels obvious to you, but fear-based messaging follows us throughout our lives. Read any pregnancy advice platform, and they’ll make you feel like the worst parent-to-be if you’re not exercising for thirty minutes every single day.

A more helpful form of motivation is one that asks us to get curious about our bodies: “What does it feel like if you get lower in your squat? Do you feel it more in your butt or less?” If you heard this in class, you might be tempted to test your range of motion and determine what squat height is right for you.

I think what I like about PT is that I’m focusing on what muscles I’m using and constantly checking in to make sure I’m feeling things in the right body parts. Because if I’m supposed to be working on my abs but my legs feel like they’re burning, that usually means I’m doing something wrong or the exercise itself needs to be modified.