Step #1 to Body Bonding!

Zipping out of the Body Wetsuit...Step #1

Your first step to body bonding is to decide what brought you to this place?

How did you get to a place that allowed you to open the door to body disconnection, loathing or both?

Where in your life did you walk away from yourself, body and all?

What caused you to be pushed out or shoved out of your body?

Did you move out on your own or have a little help?

If you are curious about Body Bonding and making the connection once and for all, than this is your first step. Next week I will tell you my story of trying to get to my own body union and where the personal, body disconnects first started. It's quite a personal story and I'm hoping you come back next week and read it.

But right now, let's get back to you!

Most people find they move away from their body, I call it "Zipping out of the body wetsuit" because of one of these three categories, read each one and see if any of them fit you:

1. "Pushed out"

Something happened in your walk of life to make you feel unloved, less than or rejected. Maybe this was caused by a parent, friend or lover. But, somewhere you picked up the "I'm not worth it Sign" and have been caring it around with you for too long. At that same time on some very private level you made the decision to pull the plug on your own body union. You no longer loved or cared for your body and you're not quite sure how to plug back in.

2. "Shoved out"

Neglect, verbal or physical abuse or abandonment by a parent figure or other. It's exceptionally unfortunate how this works, but we are neglected or abused and instead of doing all we can do to give ourselves the love we so need, we do the opposite; we detach from ourselves. Some move away to a far off land emotionally, others leave the body behind. And some do both. If this is you, the question to ask yourself; Are you ready to move home?

3. "I moved out on my own"

The last is maybe you were born with a birth defect, physical disability or had an accident that caused you to have some-body changes along the way. Whether you were born with a challenge you just can't or don't want to create a union with or you have some other reason for not liking your body. Which ever it is, somewhere you made the unconscious decision to just pack up and move out.

Read through these a time or two and find you. Each one of these categories comes with the same moving home instructions to Body Bonding. But, if you fit in the first two categories' you had help moving out of your body and that sometimes comes with a tiny bit of extra effort. But, whether you were pushed, shoved out or moved out, you still can shift to a loving bond, find your body joy and travel back to your loving home.

So the bonding exercise for this week is easy...

Pick the category that you fit in to! It's just that easy, take a few minutes and think about this.

Next week we will start packing the U-haul to move you back in and I will share my Body Bonding move out story too!

Until then...Much Body Bonding Love,

Cynthia Sharp

P.S. If you know someone who could use a little of my help, please forward this to them. These next four weeks are going to be Body Bonding Powerful!

How will I know?

How will you know?

I often have new clients ask me this question-

"Cynthia, How will I know that I am bonding to my body?"

I will never forget the first time someone asked me this as a new coach. I answered them with "You will no longer feel heavy" Oh, boy did they snap back at me! It went something like this "what do you mean heavy? - I weigh, 132 pounds and that is just right, for someone my size and I work out five times a week!" I must say, we are just a bit sensitive when it comes to our waist lines. But, this was a perfect lesson for me as a new coach and for the client asking the question. I can now put in to words a much better answer and my client has learned to release her fears of feeling not connected to her body. Why, else would she take such an innocent statement so personally?

Today I had some one ask me the same question-

"How will I know when I am bonded to my body?"
Here was my answer "You will know when you feel the lightness in your body" really the same answer - Right?

(Maybe, just said a little better)

What people want when it comes to their bodies is a feeling of love and light and you get that when you release the heaviness that you carry around with you daily. When you no longer feel your body where ever you go - it no longer is part of everything you do. You stop making decisions based on how you feel about your body; you make decisions on what you are going to do, based on one thing and one thing only. Is this something I want to do? If you want to jump in the pool dressed in a hot little bathing suit just you do it, if you want to go to the cocktail party you go, if you want to accept that date with the cute guy or girl you go and have a great time. No longer are you holding yourself back because of some old body thoughts that you have held on to for years.

Body Bonding is about allowing yourself the freedom to go where ever your body can take you and enjoying the ride as you go. It's about feeling connected to the loving, perfectness of your body. It's also about letting go of the ugly connections that no longer serve you. After you have truly integrated it in your life, Body Bonding, will give you such a feeling of freedom that any steps you had to take to get you there will be worth it.

Oh, so worth it.
Because once you have allowed, in the deepest part of you, to feel the connection and love for your body, going back to the past status quo would be intolerable.
Are you tired of caring around the heaviness?

Are wishing to re-connect to the real you?

Try a Body Bonding "FREE" coaching session today!

Start living in the freedom of the Lighter you!

Try a free session today!

Much Body Bonding Love,


Cynthia Sharp


http://www.bodybonding.com/

Get Crazy About Your Body!!

• Think of your body as the vehicle to your dreams. Honor it. Respect it. Fuel it.

• Create a list of all the things your body lets you do. Read it and add to it often.

• Become aware of what your body can do each day. Remember it is the instrument of your life, not just an ornament.

• Walk with your head held high, supported by pride and confidence in yourself as a person.

• Don’t let your weight or shape keep you from activities that you enjoy.

• Wear comfortable clothes that you like, that express your personal style, and that feel good to your body. Get out there and have some fun!

• Count your blessings, not your blemishes.

• Think about all the things you could accomplish with the time and energy you currently spend
• worrying about your body and appearance. Try one!

• Be your body’s friend and supporter, not its enemy.

• Every morning when you wake up, thank your body for resting and rejuvenating itself so you can enjoy the day.

• Find a method of exercise that you enjoy and do it regularly. Don’t exercise to lose weight or to fight your body. Do it to make your body healthy and strong and because it makes you feel good.
• Exercise for the Three F’s: Fun, Fitness, and Friendship.

• Think back to a time in your life when you felt good about your body. Tell yourself you can feel like that again, even in this body at this age.

• Keep a list of 10 positive things about yourself--without mentioning your appearance. Add to it!
• Put a sign on each of your mirrors saying, “I’m beautiful inside and out.”

• Start right now.


Much Body bonding Love,

Cynthia
www.bodybonding.com

Ask yourself these questions!

Wondering if you’re doing a decent job of taking care of yourself — or how your self-care strategies could be improved? Review the following questions, and reflect on your answers. Chances are you’re struggling in at least a few of the realms where self-care is most important: a balanced body, a healthy spirit and personal reflection.

Healthy Body

 Do you struggle to find time for exercise? Sleep? Outdoor time? How often do you stretch?
 When was the last time you had a massage or took a long bath?
 What kind of movement makes you truly happy? How regularly do you do it?
 How often do you have time to revel in and appreciate the aesthetic and sensory pleasures of your meals?


Healthy Spirit

 Do you often find yourself saying “yes” when you’d like to say “no”?
 What activity gives you the most pleasure in life? How often do you get to participate in that activity?
 How often do you feel overwhelmed?
 When do you feel most at peace? How can you be there, doing that, more of the time?

Ask yourself this, when was the last time I did these things for me? Don’t you deserve a day of self refection, body connection and spirit renewal?
One of the best ways to get yourself back on track and give to yourself what you are longing for is a day of rejuvenation.

A day dedicated to you and only you.

A day “Honoring your Sacred Spirit”…

http://www.randrretreats.com/


Much body Bonding Love,

Cynthia Sharp

http://www.bodybonding.com/

Cynthia's Mud Wrestler Career...

My husband moved the horse feeder across the pasture, up on top of a hill to keep “Normie” the blind and lame old man of a horse, out of the mud. Good, idea? Well when I first heard of it, I thought NOT! This is where a woman should just follow her first instinct. To feed him you must walk through knee deep mud in muck boots, down a hill (sliding all the way), through a stream and back up a hill to his feeder. (Keep in mind he, “Norman” is going blind and following you, with reckless abandon wanting his dinner)

As I pondered to look at the pasture this morning, I see the feeder on the hill and I stop and think about the conversation I had with my husband over this…it went something like this “Honey, I think this is dangerous, I could get stuck in the mud, plus it’s a long way for Normie to go” My hubby says…”It’s easy, no problem” So as I look across the pasture to the hill with the feeder, I still am thinking…”not so easy, maybe a problem” But I do see that the place the feeder is placed, is right under a tree and that there is no mud. I think OK, maybe my hubby is right and it would be better for my horse. (This is where I went very, very wrong.)

So as I start down the hill, Norman, the 17 hand, pushy old man…is following right on my heels. I see a small tree has gone down due to the storms; I’m trying to guide Norman around it, but with the mud and his need for his food RIGHT NOW, we both just climb over it. At this point I know one thing for sure, why did I not listen to my womanly instincts? I keep going and the next obstacle on my course is the stream…I pause and think I should try and jump it, but I’m too stuck in the mud, so I just start to wallow through. My left boot get’s fully stuck, Norman who is right on my tail, barrels in to me and we (the hay and I) go flying, face first in to the mud of death. I with some luck my face lands on the hay I was holding and I’m only covered in this Alaska cold mud from the neck down. Norman now thinks this is where I’m feeding him and is trying to climb over me to get his food. I try and push him back, I try to get up,I try and move, I try and push him back. But both boots are now fully taken over by the wet, icy cold thick quick sand. I’m fully stuck…Norman pushes me with his head, to move me out of the way and lets out a not so gentle, NAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Purely he was stating, “OK, mom this was fun, but give me my dam food” As hard as I could I fought to get out of that mud, wet and cold to the bone, out of breath from mud wrestling with a one ton, hungry horse… I surrender to the mud, Norman and the total situation. My horse is now standing over me in the middle of the stream, happy as a clam, eating his alfalfa. I’m black from head to toe, both boots and now my pants stuck in the mud and I do what any genteel lady farmer would do. I pull my boots off with the pants still in them. Climb, through the mud, on my hands and knees to move away from my horse….in nothing but my undies, Mickey Mouse sweat shirt and bare feet. Let me add here I had mud in every nook and cranny and grumpily head for the house. Cussing, my husband out all the way. Thank god, the neighbors cannot hear what I’m saying! With that said…they really don’t need to hear a thing, because at this point there crazy half naked neighbor in walking to her house covered with mud. I’m quite sure that was enough!!

By the time I get to the house, I’m totally out of breath and at this moment I new for sure, this body was not made for mud wrestling.

As I climbed in the warm hot shower, all I could think was…next time my gut says “NO” and my hubby says “no problem, it’s easy” I will run like hell!!

Just for fun!!

Cynthia Sharp

Body Bonding Coach

http://www.bodybonding.com/

Big Body Bonding messages!

What comes to you first, thoughts or feelings?

I don’t know about you but I find I often get a feeling before I get a thought. Let me explain, many times, when I eat something that really is just not right for me I just feel “awful”. Remember food is one of the big messages we get sent loud and clear from the body!

So if you were listening in on my radio show last week you heard me tell this story…

I was not feeling well after I ate for some time, I was not sure what this was all about but the first thing I did was put up my Body Bonding radar and started to listen. Now for those of you that do not know me personally, I’m a vegetarian. So when I’m saying I did not feel well after eating, I’m talking about eating a veggie sandwich on whole wheat. So you can see nothing to make you feel bad there! It’s not like I was downing a double cheese burger, large fries and a coke, right? But still I did not feel up to snuff, very tired, heart palpations and so on. This went on for a while, of course I went to the Doctor, but she said all was well. So as I started listening to the messages my body was telling me and I saw that there was a theme going, remember…feeling first….thought second. It went like this every time I ate wheat I did not feel well. After I felt the body message, my thoughts kicked in and connected with those messages.

Ah, ha! I know what to do now and wheat is gone!

This is a simple story to let you know a little bit about listening first to your body and let the thoughts come when they do. Many times the body will tell you what you need before a thought can catch up.

Last week we covered BIG Body Bonding messages on the radio show. Tune in this week 1/30/2010 at 9:00am for the smaller messages, to help you understand why you get funny feeling around certain people, find out if you are on the correct career path and much, much, more.
Bond to the life you desire in 2010 using the Body Bonding principals.

To listen in to the BB radio show...

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bodybond

Much Body Bonding Love,

Cynthia

Bond to the life you want in 2010!

Was 2009 all that you wanted?

Are you leaving this year wanting more?

More love, more passion, more time, more of the life you desire.

Think back on this past year what was it you could just not quite get your hands on? Sometimes we just miss our mark because we are not sure how to bond to the things we want the most. Bond? Cynthia, what are you talking about? Body bonding is all about, learning to accept the things in life you want the most and grab them and keep them when they get in arms reach. Often we get close to our goal and let it slip away, because we don’t know how to grab it, bond to it and keep it. Your body has the hidden code that is the key to your deepest desires. But how do we unlock that code? Many people have asked me how can I take the body bonding principals use them to start the New Year.

Start 2010 with these steps to bond to the life you yearn for;

1. Get a piece paper and break it in to three sections, label one section “what’s working”, another, “what’s not working” and the last “I’m willing to take a look at this”

2. Take a deep breath and just start writing, filling up the two sections, “what is working” and “what is not working.” Leaving the “I’m willing to take a look at this” blank.

3. Now take a look at that list and do the Bonding Double Check. It works like this; take a look at each thing on your list with a relaxed view (relax and allow). As you read each thing out loud on the list, really allow your body to get involved in the process. As you read each one, stop after and check in with your body. How does it feel, what messages does it send you? Let’s just say that on your list in the section, what is working, you wrote”I have career that I like”. You read that out loud and you notice you feel a small pit building in your solar plexus (abdomen area). Maybe it’s time to take a closer look at that job or your career. Maybe, you love what you do, but don’t enjoy the environment you work in or wish you could have more input with company decisions. Whatever the case this maybe something you may want to look a closer look at. If that feels right to you, move that idem to the section “I’m willing to take a look at this” Please keep in mind that the purpose of this exercise is to release what is no longer needed in your life and Bond to what you want the most. At the beginning of a year is the perfect time to do a little closet cleaning and leave room for more to come to you, thus, creating the space in our minds and hearts to receive greater gifts.

4. So you should have everything in its place, but if you have a few things you’re not sure about, no need to worry, do your best and the things that are ready to be released will fall in the area of “not working for you” and the things that you want to bond to and expand will fall in to the “what’s working for me”.

5. Take a good look at what is not working for you; make a plan of how you can move these out of your life in early 2010. Now look at what is working for you, do you have a loving relationship or a wonderful friend on that list, maybe a child or family member you enjoy spending time with? Maybe it’s as simple as your garden that brings you joy. Think of ways you can expand and bond your life closer to these things that are really working for you. Look at 2010 and say “how can I have more of these things and less of the things that are not working for me anymore?” Remember this as you walk though your year, check back with your body, listen to its messages, hear what it has to say to you and be open to its guidance.

6. You still have an area you have not looked at and that is the “I’m willing to take a look at this” As the year goes by check back on these and see if they may need a little of your attention, if so start working on them as the time feels right.

This simple, but profound, time that you spend with self and your body, may just be the best way to get you bonding to the life you want. What a wonderful way to spend a new afternoon in 2010. Drawing your life intention closer to what you want to bond with and releasing what no longer works. Giving room in your life for more love, more passion, better relationships and more time for you and bonding to your greatest year yet!


Much Body Bonding Love,
Cynthia Sharp
Your Body Bonding Coach

Thanksgiving Gratitude Games from Cynthia

If you are part of my family or have ever come over to a holiday get together at my house, you know one thing for sure; Cindy is going to get everyone to play a holiday game! My favorite holiday has been Thanksgiving for many years and getting my children and other family members to find gratitude is such a gift. With that said I think I am looked at as the “weird” aunt, mom or bonus mom, because I always end up, with a tad bit of arm twisting to get everyone involved in the gratitude games I come up with. I always hear the moans, groans and “here she goes again”. But every year I do it again and every year the group is pleased to be a part of it. Matter of fact I often here them saying “I can’t wait to see what she comes up with this year”


Some of these games, have made us cry, some have made us laugh, some have us holding hands, doing scavenger hunts and one even has you throwing yarn at your most loved relative. What they do, do for sure, is bring you closer together, with the knowledge that we all have things to be thankful for when it comes to family and friends.

So here are a few for you to try this year:


 A Basket Full of Gratitude;


This one is very easy, get a basket and cut up paper in nice size pieces, or fill full of index cards, sticky notes or whatever you have. Fill basket with paper and pens and as the day goes on pass the basket around and have everyone write what they are most thankful or on the paper. (Make sure they do not write their name.) After dinner don’t jump up to clean off table, stay put and pass the basket and have each person read one card or thankful note. See if you can guess who wrote it? This get’s everyone talking and it’s amazing to find out what others are grateful for.


 Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt;


Come up with a short and fun list of things that kids and adults alike can find around the house or yard. Keep it simple, yellow leaf, blade of grass and so on. (You can also do this with things around the house, if it’s too chilly to go outside.) Break everyone in to teams; give them the list and a bag to put their goodies in. Before they start tell them to keep in mind that this game is about gratitude, so every time they find something, say “I’m thankful for this blade of grass” or whatever it is, they are adding to their bag. When they come back ask “when was the last time you were thankful for a blade of grass?” or something else they have picked up. This is a great way to get kids and adults looking at gratitude for the little things in life.


 The Web of Gratitude;


Get a LARGE ball of thick yarn. Have everyone stand in a circle. The first person holds the end of the yarn and throws the ball of yarn to another person in the circle. (So there is now a piece of yarn going from the first person to the person with the yarn ball) The person that threw the yarn, tells the person with the ball of yarn, something they are thankful for about them. Now that person holds a piece of the yarn and throws the ball to the next person and again says what he or she is thankful about that person. This goes on back and forth until you have a huge web of yarn holding you all together. Keep in mind you are not passing around the yarn, you are randomly throwing it to a person across the circle. Keep this up, until you have used all the yarn or have a nice web holding you all together. (Have everyone keep holding on to it) One person, take a pair of scissors and cut the middle of the web until it starts to unravel. If you are the person cutting the web say “Remember, that gratitude and love is the web that holds a family and friends together.”


Enjoy your thanksgiving holiday and remember;


“Gratitude is the Best Attitude”




Much Body Bonding Love,
Cynthia Sharp
Body Bonding Coach
http://www.bodybonding.com/

H1N1 and Body Bonding? Can I do it?

This past month we have had many family members come down with this new bout of flu. From my grandchildren to my Oregon family it seems to have really made the rounds. Two of the people that fell ill, were my grandson André and my granddaughter Melia. I took care of both of them as they fought a 103 temp and an ugly cough, which lasted a full week. As I was seeing them feel so miserable, I of course thought; hope I don’t catch this bug! Trying to keep my mind focusing in a positive direction and filling myself full of vitamin C, I hoped to have missed the H1N1 flu boat. But, I could not stop wondering how do you love and bond with your body, while feeling downright miserable?

Body Bonding is about gratitude for our body, positive body movement and personal acceptance. How do you do all that when you’re felling like Do Icky? Well, I thought a good place to start would be to think of all the good things about having the flu; that’s right I actully found a few good things.

Here is my list:

• You can sleep as long as you want and no one will say anything.
• You can live off of ginger ale. (my fav)
• You can watch, catch up on all those day time shows, like Oprah.
• And if you’re real lucky, you may even get waited on by your spouse, kids or a maybe stranger, just as long as they are bringing hot soup; who cares right?

So can you love and bond with your body when you are not feeling your best? Nothing like putting it to the pesonal test! I’m going to find out, because I can feel the creepy crawler flu, catching up with me and I will let you know how I make it though.

In the mean time, “Honey, where is my soup and ginger ale?”

Much Body Love,
Cynthia Sharp
www.bodybonding.com

A Recipe for Lightening Up!

At times we all feel that we are carrying around a 50 pound weight on our shoulders for one reason or another. Have you had a day like that lately? You know you are moving along and things are going fine, but it just seems a tad bit harder to walk down the path. The load seems heavy and we are struggling to power up the hill of life. The first thing I want you to remember is that everyone has had a day or two like this, that’s right everyone. I’m sure mother Teresa, Jesus, Gandhi and the Dali Llama have all had a heavy day. But just like them we too all have the command of our day to “Lighten the Load”

You will be surprised at how easy or hard it can be to do!

Are you wondering what in the world is Cynthia talking about today? That’s right you heard me correctly, “you will be surprised at how EASY or HARD it can be”

To lighten your cargo, liberate your mind, body and soul, you need to do one simple thing…allow yourself permission to release the burden. Easy right?? Well guess what it is if you know how, but here is where the hard part can come. We as humans just love to make things harder than they are; we love to over analyze and take the easy recipe for life and turn it in to a flambé.

So here is the easy recipe, with just four easy steps:

1) 1 Cup of Listening
2) 7 ½ Cups Willingness
3) 5 Cups Breathing
4) A Pinch of Releasing

Sit and listen for at least 1 full cup (as long as it takes to feel you are ready to cook up a great day), stir in 7 ½ Cups of willingness (willingness is the best ingredient for all GREAT cooks) Take a few deep breaths (5 is a good place to start), stir in a pinch of releasing and bake in the oven of light and self love for the reminder of the day!

Hope your day is as light as you are!

Join Cynthia On her Radio Show on Oct 17th at 9:00am pst as chat about about "Lighten up"

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bodybond

Much Body Love,

Cynthia Sharp
http://www.bodybonding.com/