The Art of Nourishment
by Amy Woods, founder of Creative Mental Health & Yoga
Nourishment comes in many forms. Through food, hydration, movement, love, connection, study and more. When we spend time nourishing a part of the self, we give it attention and care to allow growth, development. Often in life we get our nourishment wrong, we prioritise achievement, completion and perceived success over quality connectedness. Imagine you adopt a rescue dog, you need to create a relationship with understanding and trust, this takes dedicated time. You need to give purposeful attention and use a gentle approach. There is trial and error. Each moment pursuing connection is led with kindness and compassion. For some reason when it comes to connecting with ourselves, we forgo such allowances. We push too hard, rush through it, and allow self-abuse to seep into the internal dialogue.
Nourishing the physical body through movement can become rigid, punishment based and demand evidence of physical change as the pinnacle of success. We stop listening to what we need, we stop that gentle enquiry that we would give anyone else, but ourselves. We exhaust ourselves, get injuries and see rest as a weakness or failure.
The same can happen when we nourish ourselves through food and hydration. We limit our choices, we limit our quantities, and guard the times that we are allowed to eat as if they were strict laws. This pushes against the cues within us that communicate hunger, fullness, desire and craving. We stop listening. We stop caring.
An attempt to nourish the soul through meditation can too become a forced activity, that must be done. If it is not, then a barrage of self-abuse is allowed to take place, because you “can’t even do self-care right”.
Each time we force this misguided nourishment on ourselves, we disconnect a little more from who we are and what we need. We stop enquiring within the self and begin to make assumptions about our needs and what is good for us. We stop working on creating trust and understanding.
Nourishment is not necessarily easy. It is not always going to feel good either. Nourishing the self includes allowing emotions to be expressed, bigger portions to be eaten and days spent on the couch. Nourishment is often allowing ourselves to do absolutely nothing, even when the need to achieve and impress is overwhelming.
Whether we take our place on the yoga mat, or our place at the table, we make a determined decision to nourish the self. It is a golden opportunity to gently ask within, what it is we want or need in that moment? It is a chance nourish the self well, rather than engage in pseudo self-care. So think of yourself as that cute little rescue dog, excited and ready for a connection. Ready to be cared for, heard and understood. Eat the food you want, move joyfully, rest often and enjoy cuddles. Be gentle with yourself and others.
Amy Woods is a PACFA registered Counsellor living in Melbourne, Victoria. She offers counseling and therapy for a variety of clientele and currently is the Wellbeing Program Coordinator for Eating Disorders Victoria. Amy is also certified Yoga teacher who offers yoga classes for individuals recovering from an Eating Disorder through her business Creative Mental Health & Yoga. Lastly, and something very important to know, Amy loves all things glitter, sparkles, fun earrings, and cats. We can’t wait to host Amy at our first Mat & Table in Daylesford.
