The Wisdom of Your Body: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Connection through Embodied Living

Many of us grapple with a complex relationship with our bodies.

Perhaps you've endured feelings of shame or inadequacy imposed upon your body. It could be that your body bears the burdens of stress, pain, or the aftermath of trauma. Maybe you perceive your body merely as an accessory to your perceived true self—your mind. Experiences with racism, sexism, ableism, heterosexism, ageism, or sizeism might have led you to believe that your body doesn't conform to societal expectations. Whatever the cause, a significant number of us find ourselves feeling disconnected from our bodies. Yet, this disconnection means being estranged from genuine living and from the interwoven fabric that connects us all.

Psychologist and esteemed researcher Hillary McBride delves into the flawed and unhealthy concepts surrounding our bodies. Embodiment, the way we exist in the world, is profoundly influenced by the roles we've been permitted to assume. McBride contends that many of us experience a sense of disembodiment due to the impacts of colonization, racism, sexism, and patriarchy—destructive systems that assign unequal value, beauty, or humanity to certain bodies. Liberating ourselves from these systems involves embracing our embodiment. As we grasp the intricacies of the world and the narratives we've been fed, we realize that our limited perspective on reality hinders our understanding and experience of ourselves, others, and what we hold as Sacred. Rather than viewing the body as an obstacle, McBride suggests that our bodies can become the very locus where we feel most alive—a source of spirituality and wisdom.

"The Wisdom of Your Body" provides a compassionate, wholesome, and holistic outlook on embodied living. McBride interlaces enlightening research, anecdotes from her therapeutic work, and profoundly personal stories of recovery from a life-threatening eating disorder, a near-fatal car accident, and chronic pain. She beckons us to reclaim the innate wisdom of our bodies and rediscover the completeness that has always resided within. The book incorporates reflective questions and practices at the end of each chapter, encouraging readers to engage with and apply the insights offered.