How to connect with your own body.
Although we are living in an era of extreme self-image worship, we have never been so disconnected from our own bodies. We identify with the image we project rather than with our physical reality. The filters offered by various digital platforms to customize our image on demand are a clear example of the growing chasm between our self-image and the reality of our bodies.
HOW CAN WE CONNECT WITH OUR BODIES?
Antonio Rivadeneyra, director of HAMMAM AL ÁNDALUS In Málaga, it emphasizes the need to connect consciously and responsibly with our bodies’ needs; the Hammam is the place where that connection with each person’s “inner nature” is at the heart of its philosophy of care:
“To feel well, the absence of illness is not enough. Often we don’t feel well, but there is no one who can accurately diagnose what is not working in our body. Today, in a culture of immediacy, the prevailing tendency is to immediately satisfy any impulse that arises, regardless of whether it is healthy or not, and then treat the symptoms that appear in the body.”
That “not feeling well” often has to do with living a life disconnected from what the body truly needs; to restore balance, it is essential to observe carefully and recognize what our body is “telling” us.
If we look at our Al-Andalus legacy, we will find a wisdom of body-mind balance that, were we unaware of its antiquity, would seem entirely contemporary: always seeking “harmony” or the perfect connection between body and spirit; Averroes himself, the most famous physician of Al-Andalus, wrote several treatises on preventive medicine, hygiene, and well-being to achieve that balance between body and spirit. His main prescriptions? Diet, bathing, exercise, and connection with nature. If it had been written by a
BODY-MIND BALANCE IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Manuals are great, but without practice, there’s no change. Almost everyone knows what to do, but not many people actually do it—and in the end, it’s not that complicated; it just requires turning some habits into routines and some routines into rituals.
- The mental walk through the body: there’s nothing better than taking a moment to mentally scan your entire body, paying close attention, from head to toe, observing sensations—whether pleasant or unpleasant—including pain or the absence of any sensation. Start by focusing on your feet and gradually move upward, slowly and with full attention, all the way to your head. This simple meditation exercise can be done while sitting or lying down, and we recommend it to those who visit the Hammam when they relax in the hot spring. To fully focus on your body, it’s best to avoid other distractions such as music, scents, etc., and, of course, not to fall asleep.
- A bath or shower can be the perfect time to take care of your body in a slightly more active way. With your skin still wet, apply Black Soap Cream or your usual soap or gel, use your hands—without gloves or a sponge—to slowly run them over your entire body, checking for tension, inflammation, hard spots, lumps, or any other abnormalities. It is essential to focus your full attention on the tactile sensations of your hands on different areas of the body, especially the upper body, but also the legs and arms, and finish with the head. This exercise is not only a fantastic way to connect with your own body, but it also allows you to perform a check-up to detect any abnormalities and consult a healthcare professional later.
- A “meditative” walk in any nearby garden or park is the best practice for those who need, above all, to move. It involves walking slowly, aimlessly and without a specific purpose, simply paying full attention to the movements of your feet, arms, and torso, feeling and observing each joint—ankles, knees, hips, shoulders… The atmosphere of the garden provides its own energy to help us fully connect with our bodies and their movements. Half an hour of this type of mindful walk in a natural setting is equivalent to many hours of psychotherapy.
Fully connecting with one’s own body is a practice of health and well-being, a form of preventive medicine that helps us live in a more balanced way, more in tune with our physical and mental nature.