A buoy in the sea stays afloat in the water even when there is a storm. If the buoy gets pushed down below the surface of the water, then it will pop back up with resilient lightness. This attribute of buoyancy or the quality of floating and of lightness is central to the experience of the Bowspring.
When there is a dynamic balance of push and pull forces within a double-S curved posture, then we gain the physical sensation of floating in water. The body feels very light, almost weightless when we are in the Bowspring. In this alignment, no part of the body is overworking or underworking so there is a uniformity of active tone throughout the myofascia which lifts the whole body against the downward force of gravity.
Buoyancy in the Bowspring is also a psychological state of light-heartedness, positive uplightment, and effortlessness. This attitude needs to be cultivated as a daily practice since modern life can be very stressful and can easily drag us down psychologically. With anxiety, distress, sadness, and anger, our mood becomes heavy and weighted down. Under stress and negative experiences, we typically default to a C-Curve posture, which adds to the feeling of physical and psychological heaviness. It is easier to give in to our default, heavy posture than to consciously create a buoyant form that pushes out and up against the depressing forces. Yet, a consistently heavy, sedentary, and low energy lifestyle only leads to serious mind-body health imbalances.
Every moment and every event in our daily lives can be an opportunity to either go downward and be heavy or to rise upward and be buoyant. A challenging life event can be a source of suffering or a catalyst to learn and improve. In the Bowspring, Radiant Channel and Radiant Heart are the key actions that push out and lift us upward to create buoyancy within body and mind. Out of our own freedom we choose to expand a positive attitude from the core of our ribcage to meet the downward pressures of life. Buoyancy in the Bowspring reflects our willingness and commitment toward learning, improvement in our mind-body health, and our happiness.
