Don't Listen To Your Body

We often hear the phrase, “listen to your body.” It’s a common mantra in yoga classes, wellness discussions, and even in general advice about health. But what does it really mean to listen to your body, and can our body always be trusted to guide us?

I Said It

It's just ever so easy to say something, flinging a phrase out or you know, send a client off with a very fluffy advice, such as "just listen to yours body".

Let’s start with the idea that we say certain things without truly questioning them. For example, in a yoga class, we might hear cues like “breathe deep”—but how deep? Slowly deep? Fully deep? Or the instruction to "place your feet parallel", is that always necessary, and if so, why? Or “feet under your hips” - what part of the hips? These phrases are often delivered as universal truths, but perhaps it’s worth asking whether they hold up in every situation.

This brings us to the popular advice: “listen to your body.” On the surface, it seems like a great guideline. But what if your body is sending mixed signals? For instance, my body often “tells” me it wants chocolate and sweets. Does that mean I should always give in? Probably not, as those cravings don’t necessarily align with what my body actually needs to thrive. This is an easy one to say, ya, obviously this isn't a signal to act on. But what if it things like "stay on the sofa", "eat an extra slice of cake, its okay, its Friday", "go for another run", "workout. harder", "skip a meal and you'll be back to slim". We all know, from reading, that these are rarely the best advices, but in the moment, for us and the person, these advices feels valuable. 

Consider Bryan Johnson, the well-known biohacker who tests everything meticulously. Along his path, he’s had moments where he followed his intuition and listened to his body’s signals, only to find later through data and testing that those weren’t the best decisions for his health. So, how do we navigate this balance between intuition and knowledge?

The Body and Its Bias for Comfort

Our body often seeks comfort and familiarity, even if that’s not what’s best for us. Take the example of someone battling alcoholism. If you were to ask them what they feel is best for them in the moment, the answer might be alcohol. Similarly, when we wake up early in the morning, it’s usually not our body that eagerly wants to get out of bed. Or when we’re sitting on the sofa before a workout, it’s not the body that craves movement,—it craves staying in the comfort of the sofa.

The body has a tendency to seek the status quo because it feels safe there. But just because it feels safe doesn’t mean it’s the best we could feel. Sometimes, the body doesn’t know the “right” answer simply because it hasn’t experienced it yet. For example, I didn’t realise how much better I could feel by eating less gluten. Or how shifting from ice cream cravings during my period to drinking warm tea under a blanket could be more nourishing and supportive for my body. It’s as if the body needs a gentle nudge to discover its true potential.

The Mind-Body Connection: Emotional Signals

It’s important to remember that the body doesn’t only communicate through physical signals; it also sends emotional messages. Stress, anxiety, and sadness often manifest physically. For example, emotional stress can lead to tightness in the shoulders or headaches. By learning to recognise these signals, we can better understand the interplay between our emotions and physical health.

The mind-body connection is powerful, and tuning into our emotions can help us understand when we need rest, movement, or nourishment. However, it’s still essential to take a holistic approach, combining intuition with knowledge to respond to these emotional and physical cues.

Practical Tips for Balancing Body Signals with Knowledge

So, how can we combine intuition with knowledge to make the best decisions for our health and well-being?

1. Keep a Health Journal: Tracking your energy levels, cravings, moods, and physical symptoms can help you see patterns. Over time, this will allow you to better understand what your body truly needs, and when it’s sending a signal that needs to be addressed.
2. Consult Experts: While intuition is valuable, consulting with nutritionists, fitness experts, and doctors can provide insights that complement what your body is telling you. Don’t be afraid to seek help when you’re unsure.
3. Test and Learn: The more you experiment with your diet, exercise routine, and wellness habits, the better you’ll understand how your body responds to different inputs. You may find that certain foods or practices work better than others.

When Listening to the Body Falls Short

The advice to “eat whatever you feel like” is often given to people who are ill or recovering from the flu. But over time, I’ve learned that eating less during certain illnesses can actually be beneficial (depending on the illness and individual circumstances, of course). Drinking simple sips of water or tea might be enough without forcing heavy meals or indulging in chips, sweets, or lemonade just because it’s what “feels good” at the time. This is a pattern I’ve noticed with children, too. When they’re ill, they’re often allowed to eat only what they crave, which may not always be the most nourishing option.

This isn’t to say we should ignore our body’s signals entirely. The body’s cues can be a valuable source of information. But decisions about our health should also come from a place of knowledge, considering what we’ve learned, what science tells us, and what data reveals. Our bodies can tell us when we’re tired, sore, or in pain. But they might not be able to calculate the grams of protein we need or determine which vitamins we’re deficient in. This is where knowledge and awareness come in to complement intuition.

The Balance Between Listening and Leading

Sometimes, the body’s signals should be heeded immediately. A 10-minute rest when we’re tired might save us from a cascade of soreness, stiffness, or even pain later. But we live in a culture of “more is more,” where we tend to overwork, over-stress, under-move, and under-sleep. This leads to a cycle of exhaustion and burnout, where we’ve neglected to listen to the body’s need for rest.

At other times, however, the body’s resistance to change or discomfort might need to be gently overridden. The craving for sugar might be masking the body’s need for nourishment. The hesitation to work out might fade once we begin moving. And the desire to stay comfortable might be preventing us from feeling our best.

So, should we listen to our body? Perhaps the answer lies not in blindly obeying its signals but in asking deeper questions. What is my body trying to tell me? Is this a signal of true need, or is it a craving for comfort? How can I combine intuition with knowledge to make the best decision for my health and wellbeing? The conversation between body and mind is ongoing, and the answers are rarely simple. But by asking these questions, we open the door to living with greater awareness, balance, and vitality.

In the end, the key to health and vitality is not in blindly following our bodies’ signals but in understanding them. Trusting your intuition is important, but it must be balanced with knowledge. Your body can tell you when you’re tired, when you’re in pain, or when you need rest, but it might not always know what’s best in terms of nutrition or long-term health. By combining your intuition with the information available to you, you can make decisions that truly serve your well-being.

So, what is your body telling you to do?