Hips and a spine – Everybody’s got ‘em.

When I realized that I had support for myself down deeper into my body it was a game-changer. I had no idea how little I was using my legs and hips to ground and connect into the earth. My “roots” were weak and spindly because my neck and shoulders were running the show – hence the constant tension, stiffness, and frequent headaches I’d experienced most of my adult life. I learned that I could stop carrying all of my loads on my shoulders and drop them down into my legs for greater support; that I could actually stand into the ground that was underneath me rather than hovering anxiously above it. Gravity, it turns out, is a friend. While it’s there for you to use and lean into, it’s also there to let you know when things have gone askew. The pelvis is the connecting hub of our bodies down and into the earth. If we want things to run smoothly in and out of that hub (I like to think of it as a busy airport with lots of flights, travelers, packages, and information coming in and going out) we need to make sure all pathways are open, all hinges, wheels, and cogs, are greased and well functioning, and that there is a strong network of brains and braun working to keep things moving along. So, I began doing work to stabilize my pelvis in ways I had never been taught before. As a result of stabilizing my hips, my legs became stronger. I felt more grounded, steady, and more at-ease in my body – especially in my jaw, necks and shoulders. I was also able to access greater strength in my upper body as the twists and turns of my spine began to iron out. And – wouldn’t you know it – the intestinal pipes started clearing out a ‘lil easier too, if ya’ know what I mean *wink*. Eventually, I started weaving in pelvic floor work, which led to direct relief from my pelvic floor tension AND strength in parts of mula bandha (yogic pelvic floor lock AKA pelvic floor contractions) that I’d never before felt. The connection was clear: When my hips could support the rest of my body, my pelvic floor muscles weren’t under duress. Therefore, my pelvic floor had the ability to relax when needed, contract when necessary, and flow with the rhythm of my breath.