Our bodies are incredible. They're always replenishing through a complex interplay of cell death & new cells.
For me, having had a total of 10.5 years on dialysis, 7 of those as a teenager & two kidney transplants, there are so many ways to integrate, heal & remember our inner strength.
Yoga is one cohesive system that I love. There are so many ways in. Ways in to remember who we are. What lights us up. What truly matters. All of them braid and weave so beautifully. Nutrition, movement, breath, sacred living.
For 2022, one of my key recalibration tools is reconnecting with flotation pods. Ever tried one? 115/69 - was the blood pressure reading a few hours after last float. Feeling weightless, deep relaxation to tune up para-sympathetic mode, the magnesium in the water...a whole hour of simply being. Deep, deep medicine. Especially key for the whole health of my second #kidneytransplant. I share this as kidneys and blood pressure have an important relationship. And I've had many periods in my life where blood pressure has been very high. Many variables play into that. Including the emotional rollercoasters of sometimes very frequent trips to renal clinic, the anxiety of waiting for blood results e.g the first year post kidney transplant surgery is a very important time. Healing happens in a spiral. It is not a linear process. Only you can know what makes those meaningful changes for you.
The bio-medical model has its place. However it is also very limited, especially for those walking with a long term condition. Using kidneys as an example here, health innovation must embrace i) nutrition - key in managing oxidative stress, inflammatory processes. electrolyte depletion, ii) breath techniques for self regulation, esp useful in hyper-tension/migraines/restless legs/pain) iii) movement - brain/heart/bone health and much more.
This however has such universal application. Nutrition, breath and movement help in all matters. It's about the context, the frequency, the duration. and much more. We are always fine tuning this complex bodymind system.
For those of you in this community, you are drawn at some level to yoga. So keep exploring all the different ways in. The poses that are challenging. The ones you love. That sometimes our practise is coming to the mat to just lie down and curl up. Weep. Laugh. Our mat is the magic carpet of adventure and discovery.
Sometimes we simply focus on our breath and meditation. Or complete a 40 day mantra cycle. There are so many ways in. to truly celebrate the sacred container of the human body. To feel all that asks to be felt. And then express it. This goes way beyond words. Although words are helpful. They carry their own energy.
Keep exploring. Adventure your inner world.
Wishing you all a connected, sacred and honouring 2022.