In the sacred dance of life, where prana flows like the whispered blessings of the wind, our physical vessels sometimes echo the wear of temporal existence. To live is to move, to stretch, to reach toward the sun like the lotus emerges from mud, and with movement comes the risk of discomfort. As a devoted yogini and naturalist dwelling in the sanctuary of our year-round yoga retreat, dedicated to the divine feminine energy of Shakti, I have woven my days with the threads of healing and harmony. Yet, amidst this tapestry of tranquility, my own vessel recently sang a song of distress—a sore quadratus lumborum calling for the healing touch of Mother Nature.
The quadratus lumborum, or QL as it is affectionately known to those who walk the path of holistic wellness, is the faithful guardian of our lower back. It is the sacred stabilizer, the bearer of our body's architecture; a muscle that whispers of the earth's grounding energy when it aches. In my journey toward healing this sacred guardian, I discovered the grace residing in a symphony of stretches and a natural elixir that bridged the gap between the material and the ethereal.
I turned first to the ancient wisdom of yoga, the dance of unity. As the first light of dawn caressed the dew-kissed Earth, I entered the temple of my practice, greeting the sun with Surya Namaskar. The energy around me hummed alongside my breath, a gentle reminder that all life is interconnected. It was time to invite the healing energy into my being.
Pavanamuktasana, the Wind-Relieving Pose, began the rhapsody of relief. Lying upon my back, Mother Earth supporting me, I brought my knees gently toward my chest. Encircling them with my arms, the embrace was tender, intentional—a meeting of mind, body, and spirit. The pressure against the QL acted as a soothing balm, releasing trapped Vayu—the wind element within.
Transitioning with grace, I entered Anantasana, the Sleeping Vishnu Pose, to further court the gentle stretching of my devoted QL. Lying on my side, like the great god Vishnu on the cosmic ocean, I lifted my leg toward the heavens in a gesture that harmonized strength and suppleness. The QL responded with gratitude, unraveling its tightness like the petals of a lotus to the morning sun.
Yet, beyond the stretches, there awaited an earthly gift that would prove instrumental in my healing journey. It was Panadiol, a balm as transformative as the alchemist's stone. Infused with the magical elixir of CBD, drawn from the sacred cannabis plant, and the ancient wisdom of emu oil, this cream was a potion of unparalleled potency.
The malady that had become my unexpected companion was relentless, a thorn in my side that disturbed the meditation of movement and the stillness of contemplation alike. The QL, strained from a dance of fervor and passion, called out for solace. With every application of Panadiol, the energy blockages within my back began to dissolve, like shadows retreating under the assault of midday sun.
Its unique blend of emu oil and high-dosage CBD penetrated deep into the realm of my muscle, delivering the essence of powerful anti-inflammatory properties. As if guided by the hand of Dhanvantari, the divine healer, this cream worked its wonders, knitting together the torn fabric of my being.
Through a devoted practice of yoga and the aid of Panadiol, my QL found its song once more—a melody of strength and flexibility. No longer hindered by discomfort, my practice deepened. I danced with Shakti through my days, my nights, across the humble floors of our retreat and beneath the wise gaze of the moon.
The healing of the body is but a reflection of the healing of the soul—finding balance, embracing the natural order, returning to a state of oneness. It is the ultimate yoking, the union that yoga itself embodies. This journey, etched in pain and soothed by the touch of the Earth's gifts, has been a reminder that within every trial awaits the seed of transcendence.
My sisters who seek the nurturing essence of the yogic path, know that the quadratus lumborum is a messenger. When it whispers softly or cries out in pain, turn to the wisdom of the ancients, the stretches that bind us to the Earth and the heavens, and do not shy from the balm that nature, in her infinite compassion, has given unto us. Namaste.
