Sacred Space Embodied
It has been a long and incredible journey of healing to find comfort, space, and easeful movement in a body that has had 13 spinal vertebrae fused for correction of severe scoliosis. For years following my spine surgery, I definitely did not feel spacious. My body felt far from sacred. In many ways I felt invaded, ripped apart, rewired, and tightened back into place from an extensive spine surgery.
I discovered yoga 15 years after my spinal surgery for scoliosis. In those initial few years of exploring my practice, my body did not feel sacred OR spacious. I felt tight, fearful, angry, restricted, and doubtful. I sought out teachers, workshops, books, and anything else I could get my hands on to learn HOW to move with a spine that was 90% fused and immobilized in order to prevent further aggressive curvatures.
Over time the fear dissipated. Slowly. I began to trust myself, my surgeon, my body, and the choices that were made to manage this condition. Through diligent yoga practice and intentional healing, Sacred Space now resides in MY body.
This space of honor is what I’ve found through guided yogic study, expansive breath, and purposeful movement. It is what I’ve created through daily practices, disciplined self-care, and skillful listening. It is what I feel when I’m fully connected, present, and mindfully embodied.
Holding sacred space in the body is a powerful way to feel at home anywhere. It has also been my greatest challenge and in full disclosure does not come easily to me. Disconnect is my habitual pattern, and I believe it is what allowed me to get through a very painful time in my life as a twelve year old just coming into her own body, then having her body completely realigned surgically.
Now, as an almost 40 year old woman, I check in daily to my body-mind system. I feel. I practice the highest art of self care, and stay committed to my breath, my Practice, and my spiritual Self.
This gift of embodiment is an important one, although not always easy. We have a choice each day to wake up and connect or disconnect. We have a choice each day to create sacred space to live our lives in. We have a choice. I choose intention, connection, and sacred spacious embodiment. Will you?