You know that third drawer down in the kitchen that you throw all your junk in? Rubber band whatsit-holders, lumps of gloopy blue tac, last month's Yoga Journal and those endlessly entertaining school notes. Sound familiar?
Turns out we have a little inbuilt storage unit of our own located in the pelvis often metaphorically known as the basket.
All manner of 'stuff' is chucked into this ready receptacle- that snide comment your partner made before he left for work, the tiny kiss on your cheek as your daughter said goodbye, that old mother issue that threatened to unleash a torrent of tears as she criticised your new hair. Unfortunately we are less than discerning when we throw it all in and unless we sort through it, it can become a tangle of trash.
All this detritus tends to mess with our sacral chakra (swadisthana) located below the naval. Physically it tends to leave us with a sore lower back, digestive issues, kidney complaints (particularly UTI's in women) and menstrual issues. Emotionally it leaves us feeling overwhelmed, with a lack of confidence and clarity.
So how do we clear out the... ahem crap?
Self care is a big issue for most people, for all sorts of reasons, but tuning into your needs can really help to thin out the flotsam and jetsam. Here's a few pointers for keeping the energy flowing and your basket beautiful.
*Eat properly with lots of water and fibrous vegetables that help keep this area...moving :).
*A few minutes of belly breathing.
*Self massage-google Mayan belly massage. Simple and nurturing with the addition of sesame oil. Does wonders for menstrual problems.
*Active feet. Tuning into the feet with awareness tends to ground the emotions and lead to greater stability both physically and mentally.
*In a prone position, lie over a rolled towel. Place the towel roll under the naval and breathe into the pressure. Notice a sensation of opening with the breath in the lower back. Lovely!
*Hip openers, hip openers, hip openers. Then some more hip openers.
*Regularly turning into your emotional needs and finding some form of therapy/modality that supports your self awareness. (might I suggest yoga??)
It can be difficult to manage our busy lives and still have time for introspection. I get it. There is always a wolf at the door and a list that needs ticking. But a life with time made for mindful contemplation makes you a better human being. When you sort through what you have, you also consciously decide what you're giving out to everyone around you.
Who knew that your mum was right? (No. Not about the hair.) Keep your third drawers, baskets and sacral chakras tidy people. Or "a sparkly pelvis makes for a happy human." said nobody's grandma ever.
M xx
This week we will be focusing on the second chakra Swadisthana, tuning into our emotions and delving into the deliciousness that is hip openers. This, my friends, is my favourite kind of class! Nourishing and introspective - book into to receive the gift of a little you time. Classes can be booked at www.wholesoulyoga.net