Verticalness
You are the center of your own universe.
To best relate your center to life you must align with the vertical axis of gravity. The pull of gravity is vertical, from sky to earth. The free fall of life is unlikely to change any time soon. The law of gravitation is a convenient truth because it is a constant that you can align with. The normal tendency is to hold the body up against gravity…shapeshift happens when you allow gravity to hold you up. Relating the vertical pull of gravity to a horizontal plane is what posture, functional movement and being human is all about.
It is easy to put verticalness into practice: Stand upright and then drop everything but remain standing. To drop everything start by releasing the shoulders and balance the head with the least amount of muscle tension.
Next unlock the hips, knees, ankles and elbows…no holding of any muscle.
Sense your center just below your naval and imagine a gyroscope there helping you to maintain equilibrium and prop you up with the invisible support of gravity.
Why is it that a sleep walker looks as if they are floating in space and sometimes people that are totally awake look like walking robots? The sleep walker uses gravity for support and a minimal amount of muscle tension. Muscle tension blocks flow and sensory awareness. The release of muscle tension allows free movement and a greater connection with the earth. Many times muscle tension is caused by pain (physical and/or emotional) and is difficult to let go of. Many people choose to leave pain under wraps rightly knowing that if they choose to begin to unwrap it would be a long journey. Every journey is an adventure. If you do choose to take the trip you are sure to make some new discoveries and have a thrill!
The heart is a vital organ, a pump that maintains life in the body. The heart also provides a sense of purpose and direction as we move through life.
If you have attended a Yoga class or two you may have heard the teacher say “connect with your heart” or “open your heart”. A voice teacher may have said “sing from the heart”. During a love squabble a friend may have said “what does your heart tell you?” When we speak from the heart, move from the heart and express our heart’s will the body naturally aligns vertically. We are either expressing or protecting. Protecting rounds the body into itself,creates muscle tension and fights gravity. To reach your true vertical alignment listen to what your heart is saying and let it lead the way.
Verticalness is an expression of your Self, it can take many shapes and is different in every Body. We have all crawled around on four legs in the early stages of life. It’s hard to find a crawling baby that does not look as happy as can be. Having four feet on the ground and the heart facing down creates a strong connection with the earth. As upright two legged beings we are far away from this strong connection. It is a challenge to maintain a relaxed posture while walking on two legs. Often times the manner of walking evolves into a perpetual falling forward and catching. To walk with a smooth flow and coordinated breath it is necessary to be able to balance all of one’s weight on one leg and then transition to the other leg while maintaining a relaxed lower back. A natural relaxed walk lubricates the joints of the body without stressing them.
Use a third eye view to observe yourself as you walk. Before you begin your walk align vertically and drop any muscle tension. Have an awareness of your whole body from the bottom of your feet to the top of your head. As you walk keep continually dropping muscle tension and feel the transition from one leg to the other. Let your slow stride be a walking massage as your joints hinge, swivel and rotate happily.
Enjoy your verticality!
RM