THE WISDOM OF YOUR BODY by Hillary McBride is that rarest of books -- accessible, wise, and so powerfully expressed it stays with you. Versus powerful, lifelong messages and rules that keep us small and isolated, McBride reminds us that we hold the power in our own hands for who we are, how we express ourselves, and how we live well. Gently, compassionately, and lyrically, she reveals the false narratives that are so ubiquitous, unexamined, and seductive that we fail to see them as the limiting, self-serving stories that drive so many to despise themselves and their bodies, to do themselves harm in large and small ways, and to fail to hear that small, still voice within that never ceases imploring us to listen to our own wisdom and act in alignment with our overall, long-term wellbeing. I felt like I'd shared tea and conversation with a wise, witty, funny, and well-spoken friend. I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

Thank you NetGalley and Brazos for an advanced copy of The Wisdom of Your Body.

Embodiment is a relatively new concept for me, having grown up in a faith tradition that emphatically teaches the body is bad. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I started reading, but as I read I could feel this book helping me change. There were times I could feel the stories and thoughts Hilary shared affecting my body, and that made it hard for me to read in those moments. But the permission is there to take your time. This is not a book to rush through, and certainly it will need to be read again as I can feel my body is still processing. I can see how I am already starting to think differently about the stress response in my body, how I view the role emotions play in giving me guidance, and, how my body is connected to spirituality.

The truths and concepts Hilary shares are incredibly important for anyone who feels the messages (feelings are bad, there is an ideal body, bodies are impure to name a few) we have been given about our bodies continue to cause harm to them. Bodies are good, sacred, and hold so much wisdom. Hilary shows us how we can return to that truth.

The premise of this book was promising, and the introduction had me nodding along "ok, I'd like to see where you take this." But I honestly couldn't finish it. The book tries to relate seemingly every problem to disembodiment and its just very hard to follow. The scope seems too wide and random. Furthermore, when the book touches on areas with which I am very familar (purity culture, evangelical narratives, church rhetoric, etc.) the information presented is at best over simplied and at worst blatantly untrue. If you're interested in what this book tries to cover, it's probably covered better elsewhere. Try "The Body Keeps the Score," and any good work on yoga or the body positive movement.

Drawing on her doctoral research and clinical work, McBride invites her reader to learn the deep value and embrace the vital practice of embodiment. She lays out, in terms that are easily understandable, how the impact that embodiment or the lack thereof has on all aspects of our health - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. She offers an enormous amount of compassion as she explains how our socio-cultural history has led so may of us (perhaps nearly all of us) to be disembodied, often without even realizing it. Each chapter concludes with "things to think about" and "things to try", inviting the reader to a posture of curiosity and experimentation, to listen to our bodies and learn what helps us to listen to them and settle into them. Overall, a very helpful book.