The human body

From Subhan's Desk

What if beings from another galaxy came to Earth, and inquired about the human body and its natural, healthy acts? asks Subhan

yawning

Yes, what if beings from another galaxy came to Earth, and inquired about the human body and its natural, healthy acts? They’d probably be shocked by how negatively we treat it, and its functions!

A personal inquiry has revealed a deep conditioning (in the form of what can be called “etiquette”) around natural, healthy acts of the body. Many of us have been educated to consider most bodily activities as improper social behavior, rude and repulsive, that should be stifled, concealed or avoided.

It’s clear to me that this is a deep misunderstanding that regularly gets passed along to children!! Here are some examples:

A burp – or belch – is a completely natural way to get rid of air swallowed during eating and drinking. And, burping keeps the stomach from expanding too much from swallowed air.

But etiquette teaches us that it is improper and offensive. So, we are taught to stifle burps.

A yawn stretches the muscles and joints, increases the heart rate, and may prepare the body for an increased level of alertness. And, yawning helps control the body’s oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. Etiquette teaches us that a yawn shows boredom, disinterest – and rudeness! So, we are taught to stifle our yawns.

A sigh physically reinflates alveoli (the tiny air sacs of the lungs) that have deflated during normal breathing. This helps to maintain lung function. Sighs also help regulate arousal states, from fear to relaxation, for instance, or from sleep to wakefulness. But etiquette teaches us that sighs show disappointment or frustration or being defeated. And so, we are taught to stifle sighs!

Passing gas (or flatulence, or just plain farting!) is a natural bodily function. Its benefits include: reducing bloating; is good for your colon health; can be an excellent early warning system around major health issues; and can indicate healthy, happy gut bacteria. But etiquette demands that we stifle flatulence.

And, just about anything that comes out of the nose, mouth, ears, underarms, genitals and anus have usually been considered disgusting and repulsive; and some, if not many, young children are taught to regard these things as being “dirty”.

Of course, there are bacteria and viruses that can be carried in some of these. But children needn’t be taught that the body produces “ugly” and “dirty” things! All of these things are amazing, natural functions of a healthy body, and can be taught to children that way. This avoids the psychological misunderstanding and pain it produces that we should be ashamed of our body and what it produces.

In fact, shame is usually taught about the entire body itself, as well as anything to do with sex. One of the biggest taboos we’ve been taught is the naked body!

This is just a reminder that we’re all naked under our clothes!

And once that “secret” is revealed… and lived, maybe we’ll start deconstructing the way we teach the child to see nudity as something to be hidden, or used, or judged.

And with that, perhaps much of our neurosis around the body – and all its wondrous, miraculous activities – will slowly be seen in a different light.

Don’t forget, it is the body, and all its natural functions, that keep us alive on planet Earth! Maybe treating it as a temple, instead of an object that is often scorned, would help us find gratefulness for its untiring ways of miraculously giving us the gift of life!

Photo (detail) by Elias Ficavontade from pexels.com

Subhan

Subhan is a certified counselor in Seattle, WA, USA and facilitates many different workshops. worldofmeditation.com

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