This week I received eleven emails titled: Banish Your Belly.

Banish Your Belly? Hogwash! Whatever system, product or exercise they are selling, banishing your belly is not the way to do it!

Yes, we've all read that current research shows the fat that settles around our midsections is the most dangerous fat, the kind most indicative of heart problems, inflammation, diabetes and many other scary problems.

You may have found, as I have, that toning - or even finding! - your waist can be a struggle, especially as you get into and past your forties. And most of us want to feel beautiful, sexy and youthful for - well, forever, right?

This is all true and banishing your belly is a terrible way to deal with it.

Let's start a radical movement to befriend our bellies. Join me! By befriending your body, including your belly, you can create positive, healthy changes that last.

Why befriend your belly?

- First of all, it feels good and you'll be happier. And feeling good and being happy are sure paths to real lifelong health and beauty.

- Your body responds more quickly and easily when you work with it rather than against it.

- Your belly deserves your friendship!

5 Great Reasons Your Belly Deserves Your Friendship

1. Your belly is a power center.

- It is your energetic core.

- Sucking in your belly and belting your waistline is an oddly modern and Western approach to beauty.

- Eastern and Oceanic cultures respect the belly as your power center.

- Connecting with the power center of your belly allows you to move, relate to others and live with ease, strength and vitality.

- Connecting with the belly as your power center gives you a sense of purpose, a source of stamina and the ability to manifest your intention.

- Your yin and yang energies reside together in the power center of your belly.

2. Your belly is a source of deep body wisdom.

- Your belly is the center of your gut knowing. You know things in your belly that your head doesn't know. You know things in your belly without knowing why.

- Remember a time you knew in your belly someone was lying.

- Remember a time you knew in your belly something wasn't right.

- Remember a time you knew in your belly you needed to take an action.

- Remember a time you felt drawn from your belly toward something you needed.

- This in-the-belly wisdom is with you for a reason.

- Ignore your belly wisdom at your own peril!

3. Your belly is a center for many vital organs and functions.

- Your belly houses your digestive organs.

- Your belly houses your reproductive organs.

- What would happen if you banished these?!

4. Your belly is your feminine center of creativity.

- Male or female, you have a feminine creative aspect. The center of this is the womb, nestled right in your belly.

- We are all able to be metaphorically pregnant and we are all able to conceive and bear creative ideas, art and projects.

5. Your belly is your center for balance and posture.

- Breathe into your belly and feel it strong and full of vitality and breath.

- From your belly center you root into the earth and rise up toward the heavens.

- From your belly center you build your natural posture: tall, aligned, strong and comfortable.

- When you connect to your belly with breath, awareness and sensation you feel grounded, calm and at home in yourself.

Banish your belly, in your way of speaking, thinking, eating and exercising and you banish your power center, your body intuition and digestive and reproductive processes.

Befriend your belly today and reclaim your deep source of power, creativity, body wisdom, balance and alignment.