Mindfulness Of Thirst: Being With Your Body

This meditation can help you connect with your body and your sense of thirst. Embodiment is emphasized and perfection is softened. Embodiment is a way of being in which being is understood as residing in and manifesting from the body. Awareness of thirst can be a pathway toward Embodiment. From Cook-Cottone, C. P. (2020) Embodiment and The Treatment of Wating Disorders: The body as a resource in recovery. New York, NY: W. W. Norton.

Transcript

Hi, My name is Catherine Kukatong and welcome to the meditation titled Mindfulness of My Thirst, Being with the Body. This meditation is about being with your sense of thirst. It is one of the ways in which you can partner with your body. Sometimes we can lose our sense of embodiment of being in and of and with our bodies. Paying attention to your sense of thirst can be a pathway toward being more connected with your body and its needs. In this way, Paying attention to your thirst can be a way of valuing your body, Of honoring your body's worth, Of honoring your worth. Before I start, Be sure you are seated in a comfortable position and feel well grounded. Take a few deep breaths, Allow your mind to settle and open up to listening. Open up to the inquiry, The I wonder of the meditation. Breathing in, I know I am breathing in and breathing out, I know I am breathing out. Breathing in, I know I am breathing in and breathing out, I know I am breathing out. Here's a reminder. It can be so easy to want to get meditation right, To be perfectly mindful, To be present without resistance or struggle. Let's allow for that. Breathe in and allow for the need to get meditation right, To be perfectly mindful, To be present without resistance or struggle. Breathe into that wish and now breathe out a wish for relief for yourself and all who struggle in this way. Breathe in the need to get it all right all of the time and breathe out a wish for relief for all who struggle in this way. One more time, Breathe in the need to get it all right all of the time and breathe out a wish for relief for all who struggle in this way. Good. Now let's focus on thirst. Without water, Most of the processes within the body will seize up and in humans, We can become very sick in a short number of days. You should drink about six to eight glasses of water or hydrating fluids each day. Your sensation of thirst is related to your need for water. Your thirst is your body's way of telling you that it's running low on water. You might feel thirsty if it's hot outside or if you just completed a sweaty workout or a long walk. Researchers tell us that about 75% of us are falling short of the recommended six to eight glasses of water per day. That's substantial. So what does thirst feel like? Thirst sometimes feels like your mouth is dry or it could be a simple craving for water or fluid. Sometimes you feel hungry, Abnormally hungry or extra hungry when you might be thirsty and your body is mistaking thirst for hunger. Sometimes when you're thirsty, You feel tired and you're not sure why. When you are depleted of fluids, Your body craves fluids and then it gets tired because it simply can't function properly. Sometimes when we're thirsty, We even get irritable or cranky. These are all signs of thirst. Bring your awareness to your body and your sensation of thirst. Do you notice anything? What happens if you ask your body, Am I thirsty? Would I like a drink of water or a hydrating fluid? Breathe and just listen to your body. Listen for its answer. Now as you breathe, Keep your awareness turned inward toward your body. The sensations in your belly and your throat. Breathe here and consider that your whole body, Belly, Your throat, Your mouth can send you messages when it's thirsty and breathe here. Perhaps you say to your body, I promise to listen. Perhaps you say to your body, I promise to nourish you with water. I promise to listen. Remember the journey to a better relationship with your body begins with attending to its needs to listening for what it's telling you, Right? You might be saying I'm thirsty in ways that you didn't think of. You're tired, You're cranky, Your mouth is dry and then give your body water. Your relationship with your body begins with being present to it, In it and for it and truly connecting with your body by responding to its needs, Taking really, Really good care of it. Bring your awareness to your breath. Breathing in, I know I am breathing in and breathing out, I know I am breathing out. Breathing in, I know I am breathing in and breathing out, I know I am breathing out. Take a few breaths here. Allow this meditation to settle. You might want to take a few more moments just breathing, Considering what this meditation means to you and for you. You may even want to take some time and write in your journal. Thank yourself for taking a few moments to listen, To wonder and to learn. And thank you so much for listening.