Spine To Heart

Hunch and sedated posture mirrors the soul.

"Stand tall, up straight!" A command that rings of rigidity. In youth, I stooped as I was taller than most. In adulthood, desk work and screens rounds the shoulders.

Forcing the self "up" takes mechanical effort, something that will be evaded when the day brings its weight.

Over time Martial, somatic, and Alexander technique practice filters into the consciousness permitting creative insight and philosophical metaphor.

Alexander technique focuses on instilling intention into the body. Rather than "straightening my spine", I focus on bringing the spinal column toward the heart. With practice, the buckled vertebra will find its own vertical space. Lengthened spinal freedom discovering the heart gains deeper collaboration with its skeletal partner.

In his book 'The Spirit Of Aikido', Kisshomaru Ueshiba explains the tempering process of samurai blade performed by the Shinto swordsmiths. The steel is moulded to ensure the back of the blade has more strength and flexibility while the cutting edge, to prevent fragility and allow sharpening, journeys through differing tempering methods allowing acceptance of the cutting action.

After World War II, German engineers visited the Shinto swordsmiths in Japan to observe and record the methods. Every German attempt to "technically" recreate a blade failed; the steel was forged to brittle. Kisshomaru points out that the Shinto swordsmith breath their 'Heart mind' into every blow of bellows and every fold of steel. It is the infusion of 'being' that gives the tool essence.

Emotionally, physically and spiritually, Zen Buddhist Roshi Joan Halifax explains:

"All too often, our so-called strength comes from fear, not love; instead of having a strong back, many of us have a defended front shielding a weak spine. In other words, we walk around brittle and defensive, trying to conceal our lack of confidence. If we strengthen our backs, metaphorically speaking, and develop a spine that's flexible but sturdy, then we can risk having a front that's soft and open, representing choiceless compassion. The place in your body where these two meet — strong back and soft front — is the brave, tender ground in which to root our caring deeply.

How can we give and accept care with strong-back, soft front compassion, moving past fear into a place of genuine tenderness? I believe it comes about when we can be truly transparent, seeing the world clearly — and letting the world see into us." — Joan Halifax.

Discovering alignment comes from meeting the pulse of our existence, the muscle inside that is our source of the universe. Let the body's natural frame hold it front and centre. Forward, up and outward are compass points the soul desires.