Connect with Your Body

The present era brings enormous technological development. Everything around us is constantly being upgraded, updated, integrated, modernized, and above all, accelerated. We encounter this almost everywhere: at work, in transport, education, government offices, healthcare, construction… This dynamic development brings many global positives. However, there are also downsides.

Our attention is often focused on adapting to all these constant changes. We follow the motto, “He who stood still for a moment is left behind.” The result is packed diaries, calendars, and most of all, our minds. Suddenly, a person lives in a world of completing tasks, while the needs of the soul and body are pushed aside. At this point, our body may begin to protest.

When our control system (the brain) is overloaded with excessive external or internal stimuli, it subconsciously starts sending signals to the musculoskeletal system. It wants to tell us either to slow down or to switch off completely. Why? To prevent a “blackout”—a system collapse.

At first, there may be stiffness or increased sensitivity of muscles in the neck and head, between the shoulder blades, or in the lower back. Everyone “stores” stress somewhere different. If we ignore the first signals, mild pain appears, which we may not even fully notice in the rush of the day. However, if the mental strain lasts for weeks or months despite these signals, an intense response comes from the subconscious control center.

If it doesn’t work the easy way, it’ll happen the hard way. Someone from the general staff in our brain pulls the emergency brake. Muscles go into spasm, blockages form between vertebrae, and we can’t move—let alone fulfill our tasks. Blackout. Pain has interrupted all our targeted mental and physical activities.

This phenomenon appears with both mental and physical overload, often in combination. Long-term muscle overload triggers a similar process. Overworked body parts often try to tell us they need a break, but we rarely listen. Unpleasant sensations start to appear during exertion and can eventually lead to the dysfunction of a muscle or joint. The combination of long-term psychological stress and chronic muscle overload brings a person closer to a painful collapse, which may require a lengthy recovery.

Although it may seem difficult in today’s fast-paced world, we need to live in connection with our bodies, to live within our bodies. If we want to avoid bigger problems that could put us out of normal functioning, we need to notice the first physical signals.

Try to pause several times a day, close your eyes, and listen to your body’s signals. Is there any area that is stiff or overly sensitive? Does anything hurt? If you notice more discomfort somewhere, try to slow down or switch off for a while. Exercise, or just rest calmly. I believe this will help you reconnect with your body and return to balance. 🙂

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