As we turn into the winter season, the Water element is primary. Emotions connected with this element are trust and fear, usually colored by our past experiences. I have been leaning into the trust-fear axis with embodied practices with amazing results.
Yesterday, I went on a trust walk with my partner. With arms linked, one of us would walk with eyes closed and the other would guide. I found that areas of common tension in my body became activated at first, and as I continued to trust and feel safe, these areas released in new and deep ways.
The yang water element is the Bladder. In our bodies, the Bladder meridian runs down the back of the head, spine, hips, and legs. This channel can store fear and doubt related to oneself: “Do I have what it takes to step forward in my life?”
When we stretch the back body in yoga, we access the Bladder meridian and have the opportunity to contact and release these emotions. The back body is also correlated with the past: what lies behind us. In poses like a seated forward fold or Janu Sirsasana, I have been feeling it like a trust-fall where I am both the one falling and the one catching, feeling supported by core strength, props, and the earth. This has brought me to new dimensions of release and trust in my body and my ability to let go on deeper levels.
Self-trust grows when you keep your word to yourself. This can happen in many ways, like following through on a commitment, spending quality time with yourself, or completing a project. It is a powerful medicine to offer yourself.
