Sun-Post Article on Secret Wisdom
Brooklyn Center author looks at ‘Secret Wisdom’ of the body
By Wendy Erlien – Sun Newspapers
January 9, 2008
Listen. Your body is trying to talk to you.
Pat Samples, a Brooklyn Center resident and author, explores the messages women’s bodies are trying to tell them in her new book “The Secret Wisdom of a Woman’s Body: Freeing Yourself to Live Passionately and Age Fearlessly.”
Through the book, Samples offers ways people can learn to tap into their own body’s wisdom to help heal physical and emotional wounds of the past; constructively deal with addictions; be tuned to possible injuries, diseases or imbalances that may be hurting them; creatively express the stories and longings that live in their bodies, and make peace with the aging process.
In her 30 years as a writer, Samples has published eight books and hundreds of articles on wellness. In her new book, she looks at the emotional, spiritual and physical wisdom within women’s bodies and how to listen to the messages the body is sending.
“Everything we’ve experienced has an effect on our body,” she said. “Our body is imprinted with our life experiences, both good and bad. As we get older, our bodies are a library with rich resources. Through the book, it can help people think differently about their body and to see it is full of insight and wisdom.”
Samples said the concept for “The Secret Wisdom of a Woman’s Body: Freeing Yourself to Live Passionately and Age Fearlessly” came as she turned 50 more than a decade ago and she started to notice her body “complaining.” She asked herself how she could go from a body with “a pile of complaints” to learning what her body had to tell her.
“Our body talks to us all the time. The longer we live, the body will tell
us more about the lifestyle we are living. Through our thoughts, stress,
attitudes toward life and physical wellness,” she said. “Your body is trying
to get your attention.”
Samples said her new book offers gentle, easy-to follow exercises for
getting in touch with one’s body.
“I help people to come to appreciate their body and look at it as a friend,”
she said.
Feedback has been positive, she said, adding that people who have read the
book have commented that they are thinking about their body in a new way.
“People have moved from hating or disliking their body to having more
appreciation for what their body has to offer,” she said.
In addition to her new book, Samples is an international speaker on
conscious aging, body wisdom and creative living. She works to facilitate
and support positive personal transformation for baby boomers, caregivers
and others “wanting to generate more vibrancy, creativity and peace of mind
in their lives.”
“I have long been passionate about helping people,” said Samples.
She also leads a weekly, Friday morning Free Motion class in Golden Valley
that is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to noon at Calvary Center
Cooperative, 7600 Golden Valley Road. She said the class is basically an
improvisational movement session. To register, call 763-560-5199.
Samples is actively involved with the American Society on Aging and the
National Center for Creative Aging and coordinates a statewide network on
arts and aging in Minnesota.
Book summary: “The Secret Wisdom of a Woman’s Body: Freeing Yourself to Live Passionately and Age Fearlessly” shows midlife women how to find peace, relieve pains and stress and live happier lives by understanding the wisdomof their own bodies.
Book signing: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Borders bookstore in
Minnetonka, across from Ridgedale Mall complex.