Do we have a religious duty to take care of our bodies?

[Forest Lady]

Still, after reading everyone's responses, I believe we sell ourselves short.
I don't think I sell myself short; nor do others who posted that I can tell.
I believe this life and this body are incarnations of God.
Ok. But that doesn't mean I sell myself short.
I berate myself on how I've mistreated myself and my body.... I wouldn't intentionally do some of these things to anyone, human or beast.  Why do I hurt myself when I wouldn't dream of doing similar things to any other living being?
I don't do this. I take care of my body. Good nutrition, exercise, and managing stress are important to me. I am in good health and value that.
Why do we take ourselves for granted?  Why don't we nurture and cherish ourselves and our bodies?
I do.
I don't have an answer except that we do take ourselves for granted.  "Familiarity breeds contempt." (Aesop)
Okay. That would be you, not the rest of us.
I've started trying to take care of my Self as I take care of others, and it's a weird thing.  I can forgive others easier than I can forgive myself.  I can overlook weaknesses in others easier than I can myself.  Etc. and so forth.

It really is a weird sensation when you step outside of yourself and try to nurture yourself as you would someone else.

I just find it intriguing that we somehow don't feel worthy of our own self.  Go figure. It sounds like you are learning positive and new things about about yourself. But these are your experiences. Perhaps you are using "we" to explain "you".

Since you quoted my original post in reply to your question, it was unnerving for me to read your reply to our responses. Suggesting that "we" all sell ourselves short was not the impression I was getting from the thread replies. Certainly not my own post.

Perhaps you were using "we" as a general way to address your own feelings.

Just to be clear, I don't see your comments as applying in my case.

[dionysiandame]

Do we have a religious duty to take care of our bodies?  Are our bodies our temple?

That actually brings up another question.  Do you consider yourself attached to your body?

I am very much attached to my body insomuch as it allows me to get about in life and do the things I want/need/love to do. And while it's not a 'religious' duty of mine, I consider taking care of my body to be pretty important. For me, this includes diet, relaxation, pampering, and exercise. So I totally sympathize with what you are saying.

Growing up I was always the "skinny minny" and during the past few years I have yo-yoed between a size 6 and a size 10. Now I'm sitting at an 8 and just want to get toned and fit, with a sustainable lifestyle, so I can start participating in obstacle courses (I'm doing the Spartan Race this year and am dedicating it to Ares.)

So my body is my temple because when I feel good, I look good and when I have a veggie smoothie pumping through my veins after a quick jog in the cold, I feel even better. The gods won't do everything for me, but this is one thing I can do for myself that is a direct "thanks" for the chance at life I have been given. But this is just me and I don't propose to speak for anyone else.

[benvarry]

Do you consider yourself attached to your body?

 
Yes - so much so that it's really what has brought me back to my religious practice after several months, with much more discipline and curiosity than in my younger years.

It started this past summer - when I decided I'd had enough of only exercising when I felt like it, or sticking with an exercise program and then getting bored of it after a few months.  I'm already slender and vegan, and so it was very easy to justify my sloth.  However, I finally got it together with the exercise around July, and then tacked on some more positive dietary restrictions in October.

Showing myself that I could make these changes successfully motivated me to become a more spiritually disciplined person.  I now do about 20 minutes of yoga every morning (often more), and go for a run before the sun is up more often than not - but I also am able to sit better with discomfort, whether this is literally sitting (in meditation) or investigating my practice more deeply, even if it fails to bring instant gratification.  I am able to make choices about my life that are guided by my spirituality, rather than my cravings.

So, no, I don't think we are obligated by our religion to be in touch with our bodies, but I do think living a healthy lifestyle can have real benefits that go well beyond the physical.

[millergrls]

Do we have a religious duty to take care of our bodies?  Are our bodies our temple?

The last couple years of my life I've gone rather sedentary--don't know why--when I used to be very active.

I feel very guilty, lately, that I'm not treating my body as the gift it is.  I consider my body as basically a living vehicle that I get to use while I'm toodling around this incarnation.

My odometer is getting up there and I really am feeling like an ingrate that I haven't done more to take care of this amazing vessel I've been allowed to use.


That actually brings up another question.  Do you consider yourself attached to your body?

 
I think that it is important.  What you experience after activity, (working out ect.) your spirit feels better.  It allows you to be more open, to feel more release.  I love working out.  I always feels as if my spirit is thanking me when I am done, not just my body.