Water takes the shape of whatever container it’s in. It’s colorless and odorless. For humans, it takes up 70% of our bodies and for the earth, 71%.
I just learned that there are not only 3 states of water, but 4 in a class I’m taking on trauma. The 4th state is actually viscus, like a gel and that’s the type of water we have in our bodies. We know the other 3 states are solid/ice, liquid/water and steam/gas. This 4th state allows water to transport what our body needs easier.
The element of water is connected to the sacral chakra which is in the pelvis and the second of seven energetic centers in the body. When this chakra has low energy, you can feel disconnected from your creativity, sexual self, and intuition. In Chinese medicine the water element rules the bladder and kidney meridians and is connected to willpower, intelligence and wisdom. To support the system it’s helpful to eat in season foods, rest when you’re tired and avoid cold liquids.
Some people refer to the pelvis as a bowl because it looks like a container. Thinking about water and relating it to your pelvis, you can visualize what the water is like. I’ve had images of a dripping faucet, a calm lake, waves in the ocean, and an infinity pool with the water flowing over the sides.
I’ve found that there’s something very grounding about working with the sacrum and because of that, it’s where I begin all of my sessions. It’s not the bottom of the spine, (that’s the coccyx or the pelvic floor depending on how you’re looking at the body) but it’s close.
It’s soothing for the nervous system to have support behind the sacral bone. I find a hand feels best like what happens in session, but a yoga block is a good substitute in supported bridge. The block needs to be on the lowest setting in order to have a calming effect.
There are a bunch of attachments on the 3 bones of the pelvis that allow for our legs to have more range of motion than our torso but less than our shoulders. When our pelvis is imbalanced, it can offset everything above and everything below. If you’ve ever had one sided knee, shoulder, foot, neck, or spine pain, it’s very likely that something was off in your pelvis.
In this video I share an exercise that uses your body and a wall. A mirror is helpful to keep your hips even, especially if you’re feeling less connected to your body or have a hard time understanding where things are in space.
Supporting your pelvis is great if you’re having a hard time feeling grounded or stable in any way, shape or form in your life. It could be a relationship, your work, your family dynamic, friendships, your living space or location. For me it feels like it’s my connection to myself and prioritizing my needs first.