Hello Hips

Namaste

Avoidance can suffice for only so long.
Warning signs,  physical problems,  imbalances and painful twinges come and go. For me so often now that I know exactly what will happen next.

Lower back, hip socket, weak knee, shakey leg, limp.

Token asana, chiropractor, massage, acupuncture, rest.

Short period of reprieve.

Little white lie to myself.

Average time span for complete cycle - 3 months.

It would be nice to break this cycle. Or at the very least adopt a yoga practise that focuses on my weaknesses more than (or at least as much as) my strengths. I have the tools, the books, the belief and commitment to a regular practise of Hatha yoga. And after my recent soak in a week of practise I also have been introduced to a specific set of asana to work thoroughly into my knees and hips.

A fellow yogi has been working daily for the past two years on a practise that has worked deeply into her hips and knees; mainly with the intention to relieve the discomfort of  arthritis. 

At first she was concerned that such a focus on specific asana may compromise other areas of her devotion to the system of yoga.  However she has been rewarded with more ease in the specific areas, increased strength and flexibility through her core, muscles and ligaments coming to her attention that she was not aware of, a real sense of release on the lower chakras, and an essence of expansion across her chest and opening of the heart area and Anahata chakra.

Inspired by her commitment and story I too have begun the very same practise.

While taking me into postures that I find difficult I can sense some patience pervading my practise. A sense of gentleness and acceptance toward my challenging tight hips, flexors and adductors.

It's early days yet but I  am noticing a shift into a positive and loving practise.
I am aware of a focus/will that before I have not allowed.
My energy went into supporting avoidance instead of flooding action.

After the first 3 days of the daily practise I was lying in bed at night, relaxing myself into sleep and I could feel the energy of my sacral chakra - Svadhisthana -   unwinding itself across my tummy.  I could feel and see with my inner eye gentle lines of energy moving through and massaging the insides of my hip girdle and traveling down, engaging with the base chakra - Muladhara - through my thighs, knees, calves and feet. Confirmation.

I can feel the work deep in my hips as I walk and sit more mindfully.

Another pattern of avoidance exposed and accepted.
A new pattern of self love imposed.

Hello my darling hips and knees.

Hari Om Tat Sat

Dawn