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Dana Leigh Lyons's avatar

I love this topic so much, Vicki. Until I began practicing yoga in my mid-late-20s, I walked around bent in on myself. Would literally walk around with head nodded down. Yoga changed that for me, but when I’m around my family (only once a year or so), I feel as though I’m standing too straight, putting on airs, making myself too visible. I have this same experience when I’m interacting with (most) men, but in that case I can often notice my reaction and still maintain my posture. With my family, I feel guilty and bad for them - as though, by standing upright, I’m shaming them.

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Jules's avatar

I have become more aware of my posture since taking up yoga many moons ago. However, it wasn't until recently, that my intermittent lower back pain began to be more persistent. My hips and pelvis were sore all the time, my knee would give way unexpectedly, I couldn't sit for long..I realised all was not well with my core. Somehow, my brain had lost contact with my core. I sought the help of an osteopath. I was also processing some personal issues.

I am even more aware now how important that part of my body is, and how a misaligned pelvis, diagnosed by my osteopath, affects how I stand, walk, sit and move. It is the cause of my knee problem. I had also become depressed, trying to process birth family issues ...something I've struggled with since childhood.

Looking into it more deeply and spiritually, I discovered that area of the body is where unprocessed negative emotions are stored. For a woman that part of the body holds onto the trauma of childbirth. I'm intrigued by the influence of the chakras and meridians on the human body. In my case the second chakra.

Discovering this about my 5 feet self has empowered me to stand tall, and shed psychic weight. Realigning my pelvis has enabled a huge emotional release and has been extremely powerful in terms of how I now stand up for myself and not crumple. I'm a true believer in the interconnectedness of the mind, body, spirit and what is in the macro is in the micro. In the end, life is about becoming whole.

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