Just as important as getting to know our minds is getting to know our bodies. Your body is the package in which your self is encased. It's the envelope in which your soul has been sent through the universe. It's very important and too many people don't pay attention to what it is trying to tell them. The body is even treated as the enemy by some people. They are ashamed of it or have made a practice of ignoring its messages.

Exploring and understanding our bodies is an extremely important part of getting to know ourselves, particularly because abuse can create a hostile relationship between victims and their bodies. They may have been attacked physically in some way, they may have had their physical appearance insulted or demeaned, they may have been physically rejected, they may have developed autoimmune illness, anxiety, depression or other stress-related reactions or disorders... all of these things can contribute to a hostile relationship between a person and their body.