May 10th 1998
"RELEASE THE BLOCKED ENERGY IN THIGHS, CALVES AND KNEES"
The first workshop in this series was about the feet and how to ground the body through the feet.
Footmassage, especially deep massage on the bones is the most basic massage we usually need. Thus I would recommend to everybody to read the chapter about the feet first before they come to this chapter.
Once the feet have been massaged properly it is time to concentrate on the other bits of the leg. The toes are the main exits for the energy from the whole body and especially from legs, genitals, belly and lower back.
We often "walk over our ankle" and thus loose our grounding. We cannot "stand on our own feet", we are unable to move with our own individual pace. Kicking mainly with the right leg can express anger and release tension in calves and knees. Often therapists use kicking a cushion or having a temper tantrum with both feet while lying on the back with bent knees for their clients to let off steam from repressed feelings.
If you cycle too fast uphill or run with your calves and knees tensed up you can build up a residue of fluid in the calves which might block the energy flow down the leg. The fluid can cause swellings which are often painful.
Synthetic tights, socks and trousers and pointed shoes or shoes with high heels can hinder the flow of energy. It is important to always dress warmly enough especially around the genitals, the belly and the feet. Cold bums and feet do not allow much blood or energy flow.
The calves can usually contain suppressed anger whereas the thighs hold more ressentment and bitterness. I usually warn my clients after I have worked deeply on their thighs or calves that they might get very tired or feel heavy and remember old feelings of frustration from the past.
If we don't express those feelings the suppressed energy can easily attract fluid and settle down in the body as a fluid cushion, muscle tension or calcification around the bones.
If the calves are full of fluid it is important to put them up on a chair to allow the fluid to flow down towards the intestines. Only then the freed energy can move out via the toes.
Visualize the legs as roads with traffic. The knees are situated on the "arc of the road" and thus get most of the accidents and traffic jams. Therefore we have loads of "waste products" around the knee. Above the knee, on the inner side and underneath the knee we usually find areas of collected fluid which needs to be released through massage or dancing.
It is good to sit as much with bent knees as you possibly can - preferably on the floor or a hard surface. If you cannot bend your knees any more it is important to slowly work towards it and every day bend them a little more although it might be slightly painful in the beginning. Some slow forms of yoga mostly use exercises to stretch tight muscles and breathe into them. The squatting position (also to be recommended on the toilet) the dogpose and the plough are good ones to start with.
I have described the visualization and breathing exercise where we imagine that we are breathing into each toe. This exercise is a basic one for deeply relaxing every part of the leg, allowing the energy to flow more and for helping us to go to sleep, or to release a state of mental tension simply by directing the energy from the head to the toes.
Self massage of the leg
For the massage of the feet, calves and thighs it is helpful to lie on the floor and put the legs up on a chair. Start with foot massage as described in the first chapter "Ground your feet". Then work on the bones around your ankles as if you would polish them throroughly. The achilles tendon reaches from the heel to the back of the knee. Take the tendon between thumb and index finger and squeeze it gently. Work your way from the heel up to the back of the knee. The further you go up the more difficult it becomes to touch the tendon. You probably have to work on the fluids instead. Imagine that you are milking a cow then you most likely get results such as fluidy belly sounds, burping, deep breathing and energy movements along legs and arms.
Never forget to breathe with an open mouth. Massage the big bone along the calf with a firm rubbing movement. For massage on the knee you should sit on the floor with your leg stretched out. Then massage the knee bone by imagining the shape of the knee and add as much pressure as necessary by firmly rubbing the knee with your fingertips.
You'll be surprised how sensitive the knee can become after a few minutes of massage. Quite often pain in the knee can be healed with simple massage. Early arthritis needs a lot of attention. Things that have been settling in over 20 years or more cannot just be rubbed off within a few minutes or days. The massage can sometimes increase the pain before it goes. Inflamed areas should not be massaged but treated with Rescue Cream and healing on the aura.
To massage the thigh put your leg back on the chair. The muscle on the instep is usually very tense and needs a firm pressure to let go. Then go to the big muscle on top of the thigh and add enough pressure with the thumb or the nuckles to relax it all the way down to the knee. Then try to work on the muscle outside with your whole hand. The thighs are one of the more difficult places for massage. It is not easy to release the often deep-seated tension in this area. Usually we have to add more pressure than anywhere else and quite often the frustration and anger following can cause dissapointment. Finish the massage with strokes down the leg.
Next week we will look at flower and gem essences for the legs. Tomorrow on Monday, May 11th there will be a workshop on grounding and working with the feet in Vauxhall from 7-9pm. Cost is £10 (conc.7) More info on 0171 735 4513