Understanding Body Language

Most of what we communicate to others is non-verbal which means people receive our communication through subconscious messages we are sending through our body movement..

Body language is non-verbal messages communicated through our body movement.  It is not what you say, it’s how you say it that matters.

Basically body Language includes what we do with our body besides speaking. We tend to recognize this instinctively, without having to be told the meaning. 

Examples of body language include

•    Eye contact
•   Gestures with hands and arms
•   Our posture
•    Facial expression
•    Fidgeting

Just like dressing, body language demands addressing cultural habits, profession, circumstances surrounding one at that particular moment and personality types. This is because there are times that body language will represent learned behaviours or one's culture. For instance:
Culture: In most African cultures it will be deemed rude if a child was looking an adult straight into the eyes while they are conversing while in Western cultures if there is no eye contact the child will be said to be lying. 
Circumstance: maybe the person you are reading is cold and has crossed their arms in response.
Proffesion: military people tend to have learned body language
Personality types: Some personality types, such as shyness or autistic need their own descriptions instead of just listing general rules with reams of exceptions. 

All in all body language is a vey important skill for one to learn and can also be used not only to understand what the other person is saying but also to show that you are in agreement-like nodding or are to show that you are in the same wavelength as the other person.