Your Body Is Talking. Are You Listening?
Heather Otterbine
July 13, 2026
Most of us were taught how to exercise. Very few of us were taught how to understand our bodies.
Have you ever noticed how one part of your body keeps hurting…but treating that spot never seems to solve the problem?
Maybe you’ve stretched your shoulders for weeks only to realize the tightness keeps returning.
Maybe your knees complain every time you walk downstairs.
Maybe you wake up feeling stiff one morning and surprisingly energetic the next.
Our first instinct is often to ask:
“How do I fix this?”
But what if there’s a better question?
“What is my body trying to tell me?”
That question is where Body Literacy begins.
What Is Body Literacy?
Body Literacy is the ability to notice patterns, understand what your body is communicating, and make thoughtful decisions based on that information.
It’s not about becoming an anatomy expert.
You don’t need to memorize every muscle, ligament, or bone.
Instead, it’s about becoming more fluent in the language your body has been speaking all along.
Your body is constantly providing feedback.
It tells you when you’re recovering well.
It tells you when you’ve been sitting too long.
It tells you when stress is affecting the way you move.
It tells you when something deserves a little more attention.
The challenge isn’t that our bodies are silent.
The challenge is that most of us have never learned how to listen.
Becoming Curious Instead of Critical
One of the biggest shifts that happens as you develop Body Literacy is changing your internal dialogue.
Instead of saying:
“My back is bad.”
You begin asking:
“I wonder why my back is talking to me today?”
That single question changes everything.
Curiosity opens the door to understanding.
Judgment usually closes it.
Your Body Works as One Connected System
Imagine your shoulder hurts.
It’s tempting to assume the shoulder is the problem.
Sometimes it is.
But sometimes your shoulder is simply the place that’s asking for help.
Maybe your upper back has become stiff.
Maybe your rib cage isn’t moving well.
Maybe you’ve been sitting at your computer more than usual.
Maybe stress has left your muscles working overtime.
Maybe you’ve changed the way you’ve been sleeping.
The shoulder isn’t isolated from the rest of you.
Neither is your low back.
Neither are your knees.
Our bodies are remarkably interconnected.
That’s why simply chasing symptoms doesn’t always lead to lasting change.
Your Body Is Always Giving You Information
Pain is information.
Fatigue is information.
Balance is information.
Recovery is information.
Energy is information.
None of these signals are good or bad.
They’re simply messages.
Learning to recognize those messages early allows us to make small adjustments before little problems become much bigger ones.
Why Body Literacy Matters More As We Age
As we grow older, our bodies continue communicating with us.
A little hesitation getting off the floor.
A slight decrease in confidence walking on uneven ground.
A bit more stiffness after gardening.
Needing a little longer to recover after a busy weekend.
These aren’t reasons to panic.
They’re opportunities to pay attention.
The earlier we notice changes, the more options we usually have for responding.
That’s one of the reasons I believe healthy aging isn’t about trying to stop aging.
It’s about learning to work with your body instead of constantly fighting against it.
The Beginning of a Different Conversation
One of the reasons I created The EveryDay Athlete is because I believe every one of us deserves to better understand the body we live in.
Body Literacy isn’t about perfection.
It’s about paying attention.
It’s about asking better questions.
It’s about recognizing patterns before they become problems.
And perhaps most importantly…
It’s about replacing fear with understanding.
Because once you begin listening to your body, you’ll never think about movement in quite the same way again.
Watch the Video
In this week’s YouTube video, we explore what Body Literacy is, why it matters, and how learning to recognize your body’s signals can completely change the way you move and age.
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