Opening is a true art form and spiritual practice. The more you master the discipline of relaxing into your animal body with lithe presence, suppleness and ease, the more you open as a channel of love. Who knew? In school I never took, "Relaxation 101" or "Opening to Love 101"... so now as an adult I am called to re-create the basic training required around having a human body. This is about allowing flesh, muscles and bones to fully feel without judgement~ be it anger, sadness, joy, frustration or fear ~ and then beginning the slow craft of softening into it.
How quickly can you unclench your jaw when you are angry? How habitual is it for you to relax your belly, soften your face, uncurl your hands and unlock your shoulders back and down and your heart forward? How delicious and generous does your breathing become? How instinctual is it for you to consciously melt your heart open as a source of compassion and nurturing? To literally "switch on" feelings of caring deeply for another, when your entire physiology actually wants to tense up into a little ball and roll away?
This devotion to being soft and supple is informing everything about how I am doing yoga. When I am in a pose which I think I can no longer tolerate, with shaking thighs and ragged breath, I remember my holy service, my personal vow to softening. I give my pose over to a higher service of being open and let go into it fully. When I am in a conversation and I feel a judgement or critical thought tightening my muscles, I extend my breathing and focus on feeling yummy, tender and flowing even while I feel the critical thoughts. When I feel like emotionally closing down and retreating to introversion, I stay. I stay instead of leaving, change my posture to unfurl my body open like a ripe blossom on a delicious fruit. I think of being warm all over and allow myself to feel vulnerable. Being open is a very active practice!
Become a genius at opening. Become a guru of softening. Be such a walking, taking, languid pulse sensual presence that you generate a forcefield of letting go all around you. Let your body be flexible and graceful. Seek yielding and pliability. Hone the ability to instantly refashion your posture and emotions so that you are a lighthouse of love.
xoxo,
Christabel
ps. Learn more about David Deida here.
YES! Wow. What a divine message so beautifully expressed! And I adore the call to be a "lighthouse of love" . . . that really resonates with me. Thanks again, girlfriend!
Posted by: Sarah H. | October 20, 2010 at 09:07 AM