This book is beautifully written and a fascinating read. One of the reviewers puts it best: ‘The Faraway Nearby is a masterpiece, about nothing less than the story (the myth, the fairy tale) we are living, about how we can step out of that story to become who we are, who we are meant to be. This book is a gift- it will make your life larger.’ Nick Flynn
I love this quote from the book:
‘The leprosy specialist Paul Brand wrote, “Pain, along with its cousin touch, is distributed universally on the body, providing a sort of boundary of self”, but empathy, solidarity, allegiance- the nerves that run out into the world- expand the self beyond its physical bounds.’
‘As women, we have an omnipresent GPS-like system wired into our beings that offers daily mental, physical, and spiritual guidance. It’s called the menstrual cycle, and it affects us all month long, not just during the few days of actual menstruation. Yet, all fitness and diet programs ignore it, as our culture pretty much pretends it isn’t there.’ From the 28 days Lighter Diet
I’ve just finished reading this book and would recommend it for anyone wanting a healthier approach to, and better understanding of their monthly cycle. Whether you want to lose weight or not, this book gives practical advice and plans on diet and exercise which work with, and not against what is going on in your body at each stage of your cycle.
‘In the West we tend to be more attentive to the superficial muscular layer of the body, a prejudicial awareness that leaves us largely “internally illiterate.” We don’t usually notice what’s happening inside us until we have a serious health problem or disease.’ Judith Lasater, The Breathing Book
This is next on my reading list: ‘The key to living a happier, healthier life is inside us. Our gut is almost as important to us as our brain or our heart, yet we know very little about how it works. In Gut, Giulia Enders shows that rather than the utilitarian and let’s be honest somewhat embarrassing body part we imagine it to be, it is one of the most complex, important, and even miraculous parts of our anatomy.’ From here.
The gut and squatting
‘…sitting, rather than crouching while doing your business unnecessarily prolongs the process and may explain why haemorrhoids and bowel diseases like diverticulitis are more common in Europe than in Asia. Placing a little stool in front of the toilet could help us all pass our stool, says Enders – and we’d no longer need that pile of books in the bathroom.’ From here.
This video is also pretty good and giving an overview on the benefits of making squatting a regular part of your day:
And here’s Katy Bowman’s article again on prepping the body for squatting.
‘Touch is a reciprocal action, a gesture of exchange with the world. To make an impression is also to receive one, and the soles of our feet, shaped by the surfaces they press upon, are landscapes themselves with their own worn channels and roving lines. They perhaps most closely resemble the patterns of ridge and swirl revealed when a tide has ebbed over flat sand.’ Robert Macfarlane The Old Ways
Such a beautifully written book meditating on, among many things, the landscapes, tracks, and paths we hold within the body and mind, and those that the body physically travels by foot.
‘Move playfully, experimentally and curiously, with full attention on what you are doing and what you are trying to accomplish.
Focus on movements that are the foundation for your movement health, and have a lot of carryover to many activities, as opposed to movements that are specific and don’t have carryover.
Move as much as you can without injury, pain or excess threat, wait for the body to adapt, and then move more next time.’
Todd Hargrove on how to ‘move better and feel better’ from A Guide to Better Movement.
I’ve just finished reading What the Foot by Gary Ward. If you’re interested in a new approach to human movement- looking at the body as a whole and the often overlooked feet- then I thoroughly recommend this book. You can get an idea of what to expect by downloading free chapters from the website here: www.whatthefoot.co.uk/
