Is Your Body Trying to Tell You Something?

I'm slightly embarrassed and ashamed to say this, and I know it might be strange for some to read, but I wasn’t really aware that I had a body. Yes, yes, I know—it’s absolutely insane and mind-blowing to admit that, considering I walk on my legs, reach with my arms, and obviously feel hot and cold, pain and pleasure. But my body? I had been living so much UP in my mind that I believed my body is BELOW me.

When I first started practicing yoga—and the reason I want to teach it now—I began learning that my body is not only below me. I am my body. It’s not just some inconvenient vessel that reacts when I’m unwell, gets me from point A to B, works hard to make money, or follows societal expectations to look a certain way. Yes, those are clichés, but that’s a topic for another time. Staying on track is one of my biggest challenges, and though I might be straying, I’m proud of myself for trying.

Anyway, yoga taught me something profound: the body isn’t just an afterthought. The body is intelligent. Not just in the way it moves, adapts, or learns, but in the way it works with the mind. Your body wants you to be well. It regenerates. It asks for what it needs. It signals when something is off—whether that’s through pain, fatigue, or an intuitive gut feeling.

The body takes on pain when the heart can’t hold it. That gut feeling when something isn't quite right? That tightening in your throat when your voice is silenced? That tension in your neck and head when you're constantly worrying? Those aren’t just coincidences. They’re messages. Just like a broken bone needs healing, so does emotional and energetic distress. Studies in somatic therapy suggest that trauma and unprocessed emotions get stored in the body, which is why practices like yoga, breathwork, and meditation have been proven to help regulate the nervous system.

Science backs this up. Studies have shown that the gut and brain are directly connected through the vagus nerve, forming the gut-brain axis. Research from Harvard Medical School highlights that stress and anxiety can manifest as digestive issues, headaches, and even chronic pain. In a 2021 study, 86% of participants with high stress levels reported physical symptoms, proving that emotional well-being and bodily health are inseparable.

I’ve talked about this with friends so many times. I’m not a doctor, and I don’t have all the clinical terminology to explain it, but I’ve experienced it firsthand. And what I’ve noticed is that the way we experience the external world has shifted. Or maybe, it’s just that my body and mind are finally in sync, allowing me to truly listen.

For example, I never used to have heartburn. Ever. I used to believe stress only lived in my mind. And trust me, I eat well. Yet, I dealt with gut issues for years—physical symptoms that no medicine ever helped. Yoga? Helped. Meditation? Helped. Physical psychotherapy? Not only helped me, but so many others I know. In a 2019 study, mindfulness-based therapy reduced symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by 38%, showing that mental practices can directly affect our physical well-being.

Do I occasionally question my sanity? Absolutely. Yet, for the first time, I feel like I'm on the right path. This doesn't imply disregarding medical science. Both conventional and holistic methods offer valuable insights, and ongoing research continues to reveal the deep connection between our bodies and minds.

We’re learning new ways to exist. It feels unfamiliar, and I won’t pretend to have all the answers. But I try my best to speak my truth, and with an open heart, I invite you to do the same. Listen to yourself. Listen to your body. What is it asking for? Some things will take time to figure out. Some things won’t work at all. But trust the process. Build a relationship with yourself—just like you would with another person. Because at the end of the day, your body is not separate from you. It is you. And it has been speaking all along. It’s just a matter of learning how to listen.