On my way home after having spent 10 days at RK nature
cure centre. This has been the first of its kind for me and also hugely
inspired by my dear friend Bhanu who has such commitment to her health.
While the first three days, I kept thinking of my decision
as a huge step towards self care and self love, over the 10 days, I feel like I
have developed a new relationship with my body. The first three days were
really tough given the tea deprivation headaches I got, as were the last two
days when I just craved for my normal routine back home. Despite these tough
times, I feel this was one of those rare times when my body led the day and not
my mind.
The most significant insight for me at the end of this
period has been: To eat food based on what my stomach needs and not allowing my
head or even my heart to take that call - The generous portions of fruits,
steamed veggies, juices - none that the head or the heart would have chosen -
left my body feeling healthy and energetic. It helped me get a sense of the amount
of food my body needs to work well through the day. It was also interesting to
experience the body go through specific breaks between different meals. To
actually create a gap of 14 hours
between dinner and breakfast was surprisingly easy ( when done the right way).
It was after the longest time that I was having every single meal at the table,
sometimes alone, sometimes with a friend, and not in front of the screen.
This helped me get a more real sense of how my body was
experiencing the food.
The other interesting learning was slowing down in
exercise. And in each stretch, each aasan to pay attention to the breath. The
slowing down while it got me more aware of how much addicted I am to multitasking or act with a sense of urgency, it also helped me notice my body in a different
way. There were things I noticed that I didn't like - the flab, the loss of
flexibility, and yet despite that to pamper the body with the daily massage,
was an act of deep acceptance.
I am leaving the place with a new relationship with my
body and with food. I am also inspired
to live life with a focus on wellness. Hoping to sustain this once I am back in
the much missed home and routine!
