The quality of questions I’ve been receiving has been incredible and leads me beyond the easy answers from my body knowledge into your body’s knowledge. Many of the questions cover topics found in the Table of Contents of my book, Body Knowledge System®.

Here are your questions answered:

Q. What do you mean by “practice”? Is it about communicating with your body?

A. Practice means a habit, an ongoing exchange of information between me and my body. Since my first love is dancing, one form of communication between my body and me is spontaneous motion. Moving my body quiets my brain and allows me to hear my body’s information. PLUS it brings us both JOY!

-Penny S, Newark, DE

Q. Events? Environment? And my body?

A. Those three words appear to have no association with each other—until you acknowledge the impact the first two have on the third, your body. The only control any of us has is over our self and how we respond to events in our environment. Stuff happens, and our response determines the outcome. Your body’s intelligence guarantees a successful outcome—only when you access it.

-Ella F,

Portland, OR

Q. My environment is beyond my control for now, so how can I apply your system to make it my system?

A. Your environment can support or defeat you if you are unaware of or ignore the affect it has on your body. Women particularly have environmental changes forced upon them with their various roles as professionals, homemakers, hosts, and guests. As with everything else in your personal body knowledge system, benefiting from your environment begins with communicating with your body’s intelligence.

-Gina M, Paris, IN

In order to solve a problem, first you have to identify it as a problem.

As a special invitation to you, I’m putting together a small, intimate group of 9 people and together, I’ll show you exactly how to:

• lose weight (and keep it off),
• get off your meds (for good),
• and how to enjoy every moment of every day . . .

So you lose weight, have greater esteem, feel lighter, and live where movement is part of your day

This is an exclusive invite so there’s only one way into the group. And that’s to have a conversation with me!

I’ve got a few time slots available here. This is on a first-come, first-serve basis, and I expect these slots to fill very quickly. Make your appointment now to get on your way to becoming a better you and in the meantime, take a look at what you could be learning!

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Here is a sample of more conversations I have been having with those who are experiencing the Healthy Lifestyle Resource Kit

Q.  What’s the difference between my “body brain” and my “brain brain”?

A.  When my client referred to her “body brain” on the audio, she referred to her body’s intelligence— the essence of my system.  When we respect our body’s innate intelligence; learn to access and share it; learn to communicate back and forth, we will co-create a body knowledge system that works for you.

 -Dana S, Parker Ranch, CO

Q. What do you mean by “separation”, “estrangement” between me and my body?  I can’t go anywhere without her…

A. Nor can I, however,  I am ALWAYS CONSCIOUS of her presence where ever, whenever we are, and whatever we are doing while we’re doing it. Her support, her friendship, her input creates the life we both love!

-Leslie L, Frisco, TX

Q. When you talk about personal Styles, do you mean behavior?

A. Yes, and choices, activities, decisions you make based on so many factors genetically and environmentally influenced.  Some of us are RE-ACTORS who try the latest fad diet, exercise craze, shoe style foisted upon us by the media. Others are PRO-ACTORS, the pioneers, the seekers who keep trying any and everything until they find something that works—for a while. The Styles express your natural selection, intrinsic solutions, in other words, WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!

-Mildred Q, Philadelphia, PA

My system teaches you how to identify your style in every area of your life, and then how to incorporate it into your life. One Style does NOT FIT ALL, and may not apply to every area in your life…find out which style fits each activity with Your Body Knowledge System.

Go here and get it now!

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Some of you took advantage of my no-cost offer to share my Healthier Lifestyle Resource Kit with you last week.  Unfortunately some of you missed the offer so I’m offering it here one more time so you can benefit from the information you missed.

Requests for my Healthier Lifestyle Resource Kit keep coming along with several great questions!  I wanted to share them with you so here are the three most asked questions so far:

Q.  Why does your system work, when all the others fail over time?

A.  My system works because it empowers you to stay motivated by finding what works for you by doing it YOUR way.  My system becomes your system!

-From Susan J. in Newport Beach, California:

Q. Who says it works forever?

A. My clients and their experience.  As soon as you renew your relationship with your body, you are committed to her, and she to you. You have co-created an eternal relationship that sustains itself and rewards both of you with the results you desire.

-From Jill C. in Manitoba, Canada:

Q. What’s the magic method or secret ingredient? 

A. You and your experience co-creating the relationship with your body.  The process involves working with your BFF, your body, to determine what works for BOTH of you in every area of your life. My system will give you and your body a wide variety of tools and techniques to choose from as you restore that healthy, happy, sexy person you were born to be! From fun forms of motion, food choices, attracting new and better relationships, to doing the work that expresses your way of being in the world.

-From Marie O. in Chicago, IL

I want to share all I know about our bodies, ourselves—

My Body Knowledge is Your Body Knowledge— of Your Body.

In my system, everything begins with your body.

Through experience, my system becomes your system.

My system works for me, and when you do my system your way,

It’s now yours, Your System, Your Way.

Because it’s your system, your way; your system works with you and for you, every day.

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Your Personal “Fun Factor” always guarantees a great time!

Regardless of your role at the event, put the JOY back into en-joy-ment!

FACT: You will be relaxed, happy, and enjoy any event as soon as you discover your Style and apply it to your role at the event.  Ask your body, ‘Are we having fun, yet?’  Your answer depends on your personal comfort zone…beyond the physical; your comfort zone includes your emotional, spiritual and psychological state, as well.

Your body never lies. When you listen to her answer, you learn what you feel like in your comfort zone anytime, anywhere, with anyone.  My clients check in with their BFFs, their bodies on a regular basis by asking that most important question: “Are we having fun, yet?”

Events & You

As an invited guest:       

• Wear comfortable clothes, shoes, and a smile.
• Just before entering the event, dance your practice, practice your dance
• Control your consumption of food and alcohol
• Keep your foot far from your mouth
• HAVE A GREAT TIME meeting new people and catching up with familiar friends and family

As the hostess:                

• Wear comfortable clothes, shoes, and welcoming smile.
• Dance Your Practice and Practice your Dance.
• This is YOUR party so do it YOUR way!
• Decorations, Food, Drinks, and Favors are simply a conversation away—with YOUR BODY.

• There is Magic in Motion:

  • You and your body circulate to create associations among your guests;
  • Spread your positive energy around;
  • Steer potential friends toward each other, potential enemies away from each other; and
  • Set the fun example, by having a GREAT TIME at your own party!

As the honored guest: 

• If you’re the bride, take off your Jimmy Chou’s after the ceremony and replace them with bunny slippers!
• If the attention on you creates discomfort, help the hostess with her social obligations. Helping always contributes to increasing your fun factor!
• If you LOVE being the FOCUS of everyone’s attention, DO NOT DISAPPOINT! Talk to your body and ENTERTAIN THE TROOPS with song, dance, speeches, and pictures of your last vacation! (I’m kidding about the pictures)
  

P.S.  When you “Dance your practice, practice your dance!” the whole world dances with you!

Do this to increase EVERYONE’S FUN FACTOR!

If you would like to have a conversation with me, please contact me, or if you would like to be in a free group tele-class, learn more here.

Share Tags: Body Image, Body Relationship, Life Balance, Mind Body Connection

Myth-stakes for May

MYTH: “April Showers Bring May Flowers” is a commonly accepted “myth” that creates false expectations for both months. According to the national weather service, measurable rain fall has less to do with the calendar and everything to do with climatic conditions…which vary from year to year and place to place. For instance, in Hawaii other tropical climates, every month produces ageless blossoms.

FACT: Regardless of when or where flowers appear, we appreciate their fragrance, color, and the promise of eternal youth.

My Story

“You need a lift,” said the sales person as I was shopping for a new dress for my 55^th birthday the last day in April.

After trying on several selections, I found the right one. Smiling, I emerged from the dressing room and asked for her feedback of my selection. Watching her face closely for a reaction, her expression was of stunned surprise, not smiling-not frowning, simply staring straight ahead.

“You need a lift,” she hissed, as she pointed a well-manicured index finger at my breasts.

Huh?” I responded.

“If you intend to wear that dress out in public, you need a better bra…”

‘Better’ as in ‘perky’, as in ‘uplift’, as in ‘younger’—BG, or Before Gravity.

Five years ago, B BKS, or Before Body Knowledge System®, her remarks would have reduced me to tears.

Now? No way! Today, it’s MY WAY!

BKS® identified my comfort level and provided me with the confidence to understand where she was coming from without any need or desire to react to her issues.

For a woman who resists the effects of each passing day on her appearance, this salesperson’s May flowers may never bloom.

And what a tragedy that would be…

Because if she were aware of the support her body gives her every single day, she might accept, even welcome, the comfort her body wants to provide.

Body Knowledge System® supports YOU, your way.

Her

remarks are her issue, not mine—

Her perception indicates her estrangement from her body, and the support it’s there to provide, if only she’d open herself to the BKS® option.

Learn more about the origins, the seeds of your judgments, when it applies to others…then tune in to your personal Body Knowledge and smell the flowers…

PS:

Unlike May flowers that are dependent upon the soil, sunshine, and rain,

the flower that is you is never dependent upon the weather or the environment, or

someone else’s opinion of your appearance.

Your outcome stems (pardon the pun) from your input: body, mind, spirit!

I would love to hear your comments.

To your health and happiness,

Stephanie

Share Tags: Body Image, Body Relationship, Mind Body Connection, Self Esteem

Re-invent yourself by re-connecting to your body.

This month marks more than turning a page on the calendar.  October signifies a shift in the seasons, too.  In the Fall…

1. The leaves change color
2. TV shows change time slots
3. The students change grades, and sometimes schools.

 And you change into warmer, and sometimes larger, clothes.

 Mother Nature controls the firs point, network executives control the second, and teachers control the third.

You control your clothing choices. Regardless of the season, often you achieve your body’s comfort zone with your clothing choices.

For the sun worshippers: With your last swim, you put away your bathing suit. You replace last summer’s cover-up with cable sweaters, baggy sweats, and swirling skirts. You smile in relief with the knowledge your days of exposing yourself to the scrutiny of the others on the beach or at the pool are over…for now.

For the sun avoiders: You relax in the knowledge there will be no more invitations to pool parties to regret, no more hiding in your home or office until it is “safe” to transition to another environment, no more squinting, sneezing from allergies, and no more sweating.

Fall is an ideal transition between the two extremes of summer’s and winter’s uncontrollable temperatures as it eases you from thin, light weight to thick, heavy weight clothing. Prior to covering her up, take advantage of this shift in seasons to get to know your body…before she goes into hiding on her way to hibernation for the winter.

Fall is the time to declare a truce with your body.

We practice this in the Body Knowledge System®

Here are some reminders but please feel free to add more by contacting me.

• STOP covering her up i.e. Allow her to breathe with pride
• STOP confronting her in the mirror i.e. As you see her let her know how much you love her
• STOP corrupting her with excess i.e. Practice thinking of her needs first
• STOP condemning her with every thought and word i.e. Remember she hears you, be careful

Re-invent yourself and reacquaint yourself with your body, your Buddy. Your body is there to help you, not hinder you. Your body works very well WITH you, FOR you, and always in your best interest. Getting to know her comes with body knowledge. Familiarize yourself with her as she renews her relationship with you. Teamwork, partnership, and support between you and your body accomplish miracles.

A new moon, a new month, a new season leads to a new you. Go with the flow of the calendar and change yourself with the season.

Re-invent yourself and reacquaint yourself with your body, your Buddy. Your body is there to help you, not hinder you.

Before September’s shift from summer to fall, we enjoyed that last burst of heat and sunshine present in Indian summer, the last kiss of the sun prior to the rains and snows of the upcoming seasons. Regardless of where you live, your climate, your urban or rural environment, when summertime fades into fall, the heat recedes into the past season.

Summertime heat affects you and your body in many ways. For some of you the warmth is welcome as you peel off layers of clothing to welcome the weather. Some of you peel off extra pounds from the winter hibernation, too. Others fill their days with good intentions to fit into last year’s bathing suit, then eventually give up and buy the next larger size when August fades into September. Labor Day signifies the swimming season is coming to a close, so all those good intentions fade with the colors of the leaves and you’ll lose those pounds, get in shape for next year’s swim season.

Part of your procrastination is a result of the warmer weather’s effect on your motivation. There’s a reason tropical climates are more relaxed than seasonal ones. As the sunshine warms us naturally, it also mellows us to not take ourselves so seriously. Vitamin D3 comes from the sun and is known to affect our physical and psychological well- being. In northern climates, physicians recommend supplementing our diet with D3 during the other seasons.

Increased temperatures create excessive perspiration. We need to drink more water to maintain our physical and mental health. Dehydration is not only depressing, but also dangerous to our well-being. Since your body is mostly fluid, when you lose too much you lose vital minerals as well and it weakens every aspect of you. Your immune system becomes unable to fight off infections without the minerals you’ve lost in your increased perspiration.

Increased humidity in the summer can also take a lot out of us—not just moisture. As the water content of the air increases, so does the swelling of your extremities: feet, ankles, and hands, fingers. Perhaps the number on your scale remains within 5 pounds of your desired weight, but your clothing seems to shrink as it covers moist, sticky skin. Increased humidity brings your sunny spirit into the shadows, as if you retreat in order to return to your comfort level.

Skin damage from the sun’s rays age us prematurely and is a known source for cancers. Even though the sensation of warmth on our skin elevates our spirit as it colors our skin, too much of any good thing can be toxic. Whether sun worshipping is a part of your daily summertime routine or available only over the weekend during breaks from your office work, it is one of the pleasures available to us during that cheerful season. Vacations, road trips, beach picnics, long weekend holidays, family reunions are all part of that season of expansion, growth, and relaxation for some of us.

Specifically, like flowers some of us open to welcome the rays of the sun on our skin. Others detest the results of summertime heat on the way we look, the way we feel, and the way we move. Some of you bounce from bed, climb into your bathing suit or sundress, slather yourself in sunscreen, and then skip outside with the early rays of the day. Others pull down the blinds, turn down the a/c, and reach for a cold drink to wait for the relief sunset brings.

Summertime heat and all that sunshine can energize you if you respond well to it, or it can drain and depress you by restricting you to the darkness of indoors. The seasons change and regardless of how you feel about summer, you resist change because you are a human being.

Change is the only constant; and seasonal change is as radical as the climate you live and work in. For those in the tropics the change is hardly noticeable, for those in more temperate climates, the transitions between seasons can be subtle or radical depending on the current weather patterns.

Re-invent yourself and reacquaint yourself with your body, your Buddy. Your body is there to help you, not hinder you.

Your body works very well WITH you, FOR you, and always in your best interest. Getting to know her comes with body knowledge. Familiarize yourself with her as she renews her relationship with you. Teamwork, partnership, and support between you and your body accomplish miracles.

A new moon, a new month, a new season leads to a new you.

Go with the flow of the calendar and change yourself with the season.

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Ok, you know all the benefits of moving your body regularly with fun and enjoyment…and you still are not putting exercise into your lifestyle.

So let’s experiment with moving your body with a new perception.

It’s about forming that relationship with your body…give him/her a name…just so that you see him/her as a separate identity. In this way you acknowledge and cater to her/his needs.

For example, if I came over your house as a guest for one week…and specifically told you I needed support to move my body and take her out for a walk and do some weight lifting daily…wouldn’t you make sure I moved forward with that intention? Of course you would and without any

hesitation!

So this is the same formula you can use with your body. See her as a separate identity and give her exactly what she deserves!

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The most important relationship in your life is the one you were born with: you and your body. At birth you were one with your body.

Now?

Not so much.

So as an infant when you were hungry, tired, cold, wet, gassy or grumpy you expressed yourself immediately to alert your caregivers to pay attention and “fix it”, make it better immediately!  Sometimes your body’s advocacy brought immediate and appropriate responses to fulfill your need, relieve your discomfort, and make you feel better. Other times your body’s alerts brought little or no response from your caregivers. Regardless of the response, your body’s actions always expressed your comfort level…your relationship was pure, direct and truthful. You and your body were one, a unit always acting in your best interest for mutual benefit.

As you matured, your body’s communications to you were censored by your caregivers. Part of being “socialized” meant ignoring your body’s needs in favor of what was “expected” of you and your behavior.  As the process progressed, your separation from your body increased as you learned to deny her input, ignore her physical sensations, and her “gut” feelings.  Without being aware of the immediate honest feedback from your body, your estrangement widened until your best friend became your worst enemy.

At first you focused on what you considered imperfections you saw in the mirror, and then you covered them up with clothing, make-up, hair styles—or plastic surgery. Regardless of your efforts, your feelings remained the same. Your attitude, your perception toward your body increased your dissatisfaction, your disappointment, and resentment perhaps leading to hatred for parts or all of her.  Your body’s response to the increasing abandonment by her best friend is to make the situation worse, by expressing exactly what disturbs you about her—only this time with exaggeration.

Do the words ‘yo-yo’ dieting have meaning?

Your body is as unique as you are. His or her personality is as individual as you are. Your life experiences helped mold you to become the person you are today. Your body also experienced the events, celebrations, relationships, challenges and opportunities that make up your history. Your body’s experience differed from yours as did his or her reaction to those experiences. Were you ever aware of the difference? If so, how did your body’s reaction affect you? Take a moment to remember a significant event in your life and then consider your physical reaction to it.  Did your body support you or did he or she betray you? It doesn’t matter if the experience was “positive” or “negative” only that it affected you physically as well as emotionally or psychologically. And sometimes the physical reaction was expected because of the quality of the experience, i.e. excitement and joy at your wedding. And sometimes your body reacted in an opposite way from what you expected, i.e. nausea, headache and chills at your wedding. (So the marriage ended in divorce within the year).

The Introduction…It’s never too late to get to know your body as the personality he or she is, because it’s never too late to save the relationship that began at birth.  An awareness of your connection, a willingness to risk befriending the physical self you perhaps have ignored, abused, or simply dismissed since your youth. No need to apologize for your absence, since your body has been, is, and will always be your best friend and BFFs (Best Friends Forever) accept each other for who they are with understanding, not judgment or criticism.

Become aware of your body for an hour, a day, a week. After you are comfortable with your body, that means acceptance without judgment or criticism for your body’s shape, condition, or current health, introduce yourself.

Welcome your body back into your life on a minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, every-day basis. Listen for your body’s input into your choices, decisions, and timing.  Note what happens when you return to trusting your “gut” rather than the “chatter” from your ego.

When you heed the physical input from your body, what happens?

When you ignore the message, what happens?

When your ego trumps your gut, what happens?

“Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You…” (Rogers & Hammerstein, The King and I)

Awareness is always the first step to ending the estrangement with your body.  An introduction requires a name. And like most names, it can change as your relationship changes, becomes deeper, more trusting, more reliable, more expressive. Communication continues through conversation. Part of the conversation is the dance when the magic of motion brings it all together.

This is the core concept of the Body Knowledge System®, my successful sustainable solution to every body’s life goals, desires, and achievements. I developed this over two decades of health and wellness practice and training.  My clients revealed to me my own secret: ending the estrangement with your body, as I had. Now it’s your turn to end your estrangement with your body and get what you want in life: healthy body, healthy mind, and healthy spirit in order to enjoy love and life to the fullest.

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Your Presence is a present to the world

You are unique and one of a kind

Your life can be what you want it to be

Move in your unique rhythm each day and night

Count your blessings, not your troubles

There is always light at the end of the tunnel

Allow yourself to express yourself fully

What dreams can you bring alive today

Decisions are too important to leave to chance

Reach for your peak, your goal, your prize

If you were not worrying, what would you be doing, learning or experiencing

Is a problem worth carrying in your body?

When taking yourself seriously, move, laugh and feel lighter

What is the gift in a challenge or loss?

Remember that a little love goes a long way; remember that a lot goes forever

Remember that friendship is a wise investment

Life’s treasures are people together

Realize that it is never too late to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way

Enjoy Health and Hope and Happiness

Take the time to wish upon a star

… And yes! Remember every day how very special you are!

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Share Tags: Body Image, Body Relationship, Fit Relationships, Life Balance, Mind Body Connection, movement, Teleclasses, Work Life Balance