Drawing Health: Listening Now

DHPOD Episode 2: Listening Now (body awareness practice and guided meditation)If you’re just starting to listen to your body, it’s gonna hurt. Why? Because your body has been trying to get your attention, crying out in pain or numbing out in helplessness. The first thing you’ll hear, when you start listening, might be aaaaaaaallll that pain at once. It takes strength and patience to face that pain, and hear it, and feel it, and keep coming back. So this is a practice to build your strength, to start with acknowledging the pain, and to not shame yourself for how hard it all is.Join me for a gentle, guided meditation to connect with your body, tune in to what it needs, and tend to those needs as best you can. This practice is all about expanding your awareness and beginning to cultivate a kinder relationship with your body.As with any Drawing Health practice, get comfortable, take what feels good and supportive for you, and leave what doesn't. Reflection questions:- What is one small action you can take, in this moment, to tend to your physical needs?- How does it feel to tune in to your body's signals? - Did you notice any changes—physical, mental, emotional—while listening to this meditation, or after?Get comfortable. Really, really cozy. Don’t hold back on comfort now — it’s your first resource of strength to face the discomfort of feeling.=If you loved listening to this episode, or if it stirred something new in you, I'd love you to leave us a review. Sharing your experiences is a gift to yourself and others, and definitely me. I love learning how my offerings land in other people, and it really helps the show to find those who need it. If you want to connect with myself and others who are practicing Drawing Health in community every Saturday, just go to drawinghealth.com and sign up for the weekly live class.This is the Drawing Health podcast, a resource for your well-being and inspiration. I’m offering you ways to connect your creativity and your body, so that your health is never at odds with your art. Every Sunday, a new episode, alternating between graphic medicine interviews and guided audio practices. Listen, subscribe, and most of all: give feedback. Tell your stories, and experiences, by leaving a review or comment or sending an email. What I say doesn’t matter nearly as much as what you hear, feel, and learn about yourself. Your story matters, and sharing is a gift! =Music acknowledgementOur theme music is Magic Hours by Aaron Comeau made for the Main St. Music Library. The Main St. Music Library hosts instrumental music created with simple parameters, with scores and instructions for listeners to recreate the music themselves . Musicians, artists, & listeners are encouraged to borrow freely from the library and return the materials in a different form than they found them. Find out more at mainstmusiclibrary.com.DisclaimerThis podcast is for information and exploration purposes only and is never intended as medical advice. Every viewer and listener is encouraged to seek medical attention at their own discretion. This podcast and the guided practices are tools for listeners to support their whole health, and should be used with care. Get full access to How to Make a Graphic Novel at sawcomics.substack.com/subscribe