It’s quite common for us to carry stuck emotional energy in the “home” of our hips if we haven’t actively sought methods of release, such as prayer, meditation, positive thinking exercises, yoga, or other forms of stress-relief. When you really think about it, it’s no wonder we often feel tight in our hips when stretching or just moving them in general.

“Breathe into any tightness you feel in your hips,” I often say to yoga students when we do the hip-opening posture, Pigeon, in class. “Then,” I continue, “on the exhale, let go of any stuck energy that’s hanging out there.” After flowing through this breathing pattern in Pigeon for several breaths, a lasting refreshment of the hips is typically felt upon releasing out of the pose. Ahh, nourishment to the hips! How good it feels when the “doors” of our hips begin opening to free us from “stuff”!

“I’m messy getting into the pose” one student shared with me, “but, once I’m there, awww, I love it. I can feel all of this being stretched,” she said while scanning the region of her hip with her hand.”

However, not everyone loves Pigeon. “I would much rather do Wheel than Pigeon,” another student said.

Like Wheel, Pigeon is so good for you,” I stated.

I know,” she replied, “but just as I don’t like to run but still do it because it’s good for me, well, that’s how I see Pigeon.”

After teaching a class about a week ago in which several students would have easily replaced Pigeon with another posture (and they certainly could have), I’ve been pondering if the varied emotional energy that Pigeon can trigger is perhaps a deeper reason why some folks would opt to leave this particular pose out of their yoga practice.

On a physical level, some Pigeon practitioners might simply feel tight in the hips, and, obviously, either enjoy or dislike the sensation of the stretch. But, wonder if during the time of holding Pigeon pose, the non-fans of Pigeon subconsciously find it simpler to also hold on to their “stuck energy” instead of letting it go and then maybe having to deal with it further a little later? So, just in case, we must remember to ask ourselves: Does hanging on to our stuck energy positively contribute to higher levels of our whole health? It is then that we may be more open to inviting, not rejecting, the blessed Pigeon.

Should stuck emotions happen to rise to the surface during Pigeon pose or any other posture, know that this “stuff” is better out than in. Simply further push this stale energy out of the body via nice, long inhalations and even longer exhalations! It is truly amazing to feel a lightness take over the body when we allow ourselves to breathe the “gook” away. I’m really thankful that my breath and I have gotten pretty chummy over the years, thanks to the process of yoga. And, I still remain in awe of the power of the breath, which I often refer to as our “natural medicine,” or “invisible soap and water”. It really does clean us up!

During my recent reflection about Pigeon pose, I found this wonderful Hip Opening = Heart Opening document on Yogster.net that gives us a closer look inside our hips in the loved — or not-so-loved — Pigeon pose.

Spread your wings…I mean hips…with Pigeon and watch the inner you rise and soar!

Penny

I often recall and repeat the words of one of my very first yoga teachers who regularly said this to her yoga students during class: “Energy is different every day!” She would use those words to help remove any expectations we might have been placing on ourselves during our yoga practice. Because of the way energy shifts from day to day, areas such as our feelings, levels of flexibility, etc., may shift, too. And, it’s all okay, because….why?

Energy is different every day! That’s why there’s that saying, a favorite of mine: “The only thing that stays the same is that everything is always changing.” Not sure where I first heard this saying or who said it, but I sure do love it — because it’s so true!

On March 11, I discussed this very subject with Michelle Shults, a Life’s Journey yoga student and friend of mine. Here is that dialogue…

Penny (me): I really enjoyed working at the studio yesterday….the energy was right. But you know that energy can be different every day!

Michelle (LJ student): The universe moves every day, so the energy is in different places all the time.

Penny: Exactly. I love how you worded that…might add that (quoting you) in my next blog entry.:-) It’s a great explanation as to why energy shifts. But the goal is that through the “universe moving,” we have to try to keep our good energy and balance, but sometimes we do get thrown off. The goal, however, is to try to line back up. I had wanted to write (blog) about the vibe at the studio yesterday. Now, after this discussion, I am clearer as to what angle I can go with.:-) Good deal…and, of course, I will quote you.:-)

Michelle: Yeah, and it really does (energy shifts). We can’t lose sight of it if we depend on it to be right there in our grasp all the time. Then, we can get discouraged, ya know? Balance is the key to even distribution of energy.

Penny: Yes!!! “Even distribution of energy”…my latest words in my yoga classes when helping people to “balance” where they feel the tightness in the stretch…
Michelle: Really?

Penny: For instance, in Forward Facing Bend posture, many want to just have straight legs when folding forward, but it often feels too tight in the legs for some, so we should bend at the knees as much as we need to…to get, as you said, that equal distribution of energy. (By the way, I have to credit Mark White at M Body Yoga for helping me more deeply understand the concept of “equal distribution of energy” in yoga postures.)

Michelle: Really tightness in any area, especially, decision-making, fighting with someone (verbally) or physically, etc. The energy works where it needs to. You are so right not to hurt the body but to go as far as the energy will allow without getting hurt. Common sense is so easy. Too bad more people can’t get it. It has to be scientific for some people to understand.

Penny: That energy just surfaces on its own (re fighting with someone), however, when we put the mental discipline behind it, we are, in fact, in control of that, too…..the mind part of yoga! There’s also an even distribution of energy that can be applied to that scenario, too…it’s just can be a little harder to listen to, because we often let emotions take over.

So, readers, are you listening to your mind, body, and spirit? How’s the energy in those areas for you today? At Sophia Dare Dentiste’s Significance back in December, during an elevator speech about Life’s Journey, I asked a group of women, by a show of hands, who felt balanced? No one raised their hand, but the grunts, chuckles and other sounds surfaced as an indicator that, boy oh boy, they needed to find more balance in their lives.

Well, folks, we have classes that FOCUS on precisely that…mind/body/spirit balance! Pleasant, nurturing classes AND other holistic services to help you restore your God-given balance. We at Life’s Journey are only a phone call (904) 276-3116 or e-mail info@lifesjourneywellness.com away.

Looking forward to helping you find your balance during this wonderful season of spring.

Spring into YOUR Balance, Penny