It may be hard to believe but it is true; our bodies are our friends. In the face of an overload of New Years resolutions to improve our physique, little attention is being paid to the storehouse of information that our bodies hold. In an insightful book by Pat Samples entitled, The Secret Wisdom of A Women's Body, she teaches women how to listen to their bodies and draw upon the emotional and spiritual wisdom within.



The issue of listening to what our bodies have to say is a relevant one especially given the youth-oriented focus in many cultures. In the New Year, much attention will be given to being thinner or to stop smoking, to working out more or to eating better. But how about listening to the message our bodies give us from the present as well as the past? Our bodies can give us clues as to what part of ourselves need to be healed and how we can move forward and express more love to ourselves and others.

Do the following quick exercises to tap into your body's tranquility and inner peace.

1.Pay close attention - Several times a day just sit still and check in. How are you feeling? Are you energetic and hopeful or upset and discouraged? Notice your posture and feel the core of your body. Are you sitting upright, breathing deeply? Just by noticing how our body is functioning and how we are feeling, we can begin to be more mindful of our mental state.

2.Do nothing - Practice awareness but don't feel compelled to fix anything. Let your thoughts and feelings drift by without judgment. Soon you'll notice that you don't have to give your life force to solving everything right away. When you sit still, you let your inherent wisdom bring clarity.

3.Practice acceptance - Although it's good to visualize what we want to achieve, it's also important to show gratitude for where we are. You may wish for your body to look better but praise it for the highly efficient and functional machine that it is. Find things to appreciate and love about it and you'll find that those things will increase. You'll see that it is more magnificent than you ever realized.

In many cultures, an aging body isn't always appreciated but it should really be looked upon as a badge of honor. Our bodies have nurtured us, continued to work for us and housed the most precious of things; our souls as we continue along our life's journey. Start the New Year by taking some time to revel in its wonder.