Just one week after my abdominal surgery I contracted an intestinal flu that had me knocked down and out for four full days! Thanks to anti-diarrheal products and probiotics I am on the mend today and the abdominal cramping has subsided. (That means I can almost concentrate totally on writing this blog.) During the most intense cramping my husband tempted me to take pain medications that had been prescribed for my post-surgery recovery, but I bravely refused because I don't like to disguise the pain (my body's physical messages to me) unless it becomes unbearable---for example, when passing a kidney stone! My husband suggested that it might be at the unbearable stage (for him) but I insisted that my audible groans were simply bhamari pranayama---large black bee humming exhalations. These soft humming exhalations were a great relief, although admittedly they moved into high-pitched bee humming at times.
Regardless of our life situation, we are guaranteed to experience pain and discomfort in some form---physical, mental or emotional. The good news/bad news is that the pain changes. It gets better or worse; it rises and falls. All we have to do is endure. Some people choose to disguise the pain with drugs or alcohol, but that does not fix or heal the real problem. Sometimes it adds a new one, such as liver, kidney and heart damage, etc.! It makes no sense to exchange one set of problems for another. Pull yourself up by the boot straps (as the tough guys say) and just ride out the pain or discomfort as a surfer rides whatever size waves come his way.
When we're temporarily "knocked down and out" because our external world is out of whack, it's admittedly difficult to find a still, quiet place within where we can connect to the suffering with quiet acceptance. (I'm still working on the quiet part.) However, I have found that by practicing deep ujjayi pranayama (three-dimensional breath control), and occasionally adding the bhamari bee-sounding exhalations, we can prevent ourselves from focusing on the pain or discomfort, but rather on the life-giving force that comes to us in each deep breath. As we exhale we can quietly accept this pain or discomfort as a temporary but assured part of life. This week if you're physically able to stand in any variation of the last two week's postures ("Goddess Pose" and "Revolved Goddess Pose") for at least five breaths, try adding the hip-opening "Surfer Pose" to stay grounded in peace while riding out your waves.
- Physically---After warming muscles and joints in 2-3 "Salutations to the Son," (described in the April 27th through May 11, 2009 blogs) stop to remain in "Downward-Facing Dog Pose" for 3-5 deep and smooth breaths while grounding into both hands and feet during exhalations. Then inhale, draw the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles up and inward (the "locks" or bandhas) and exhale the right foot forward between the hands as the back foot pivots externally away from center and the right foot turns slightly to the right. Both feet are now turned away from center about 45 degrees and the hands can move to the inner knees in order to encourage and stabilize the external rotation of both hips in this assisted "Goddess Pose."
- From "Goddess Pose" inhale to ground firmly into both feet, drawing up the "locks", and then exhale the torso forward slightly as the left leg and arm extend away center and the right arm bends with the elbow extending out to the right. Inhale deeply, flexing both wrists back as the gaze follows the left hand for hastagrai drishti or gaze point, and the right fingers point toward the right ear. Hold this "Surfer Pose" for 3-5 breaths with the right knee aligned directly over the right ankle and the right thigh and bent arm extending parallel to the ground. To switch sides, inhale back to center and then extend the right leg and arm straight to look forward over the right hand (called "goofy-footed" by surfers) as the left arm bends to bring the left hand by the ear. Remain in this goofy-footed "Surfer Pose" for 3-5 deep and smooth breaths before relaxing in "Corpse Pose" for at least five minutes. (See the January 24, 2009 blog.)
- Mentally---Focus all attention on bringing strength and stamina into the body with each deep inhalation as you extend through the crown of the head, and ground down through your center (called the hara) as you release into "Surfer Pose" to allow the hips to open away from center.
- Spiritually---Allow your suffering to refine your attitude about pain as you commit yourself to your loving and faithful Creator, riding out the waves of pain or discomfort in His peaceful presence, even in the midst of chaos. While holding "Surfer Pose" breathe in healing and strength and let go of fear and frustration. Let your faith be encouraged by the words of Peter:
"Cast all your care upon Him; for He careth for you....resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
(I Peter 5: 7, 9-10, KJV)
