Buddha Smile
Dear Friends,
I’ve been on a kick to improve my meditation posture as I have a long history of challenge with sitting. My spine is curvy which can lead to compression and periodically, I need to recalibrate my seat.
As you all know, I’m in training right now for Biodynamic Osteopathic Manual Therapy. One of the observations I’ve made watching my mentor is that she has cultivated a buddha smile while working. One morning during meditation, I decided to imitate her. I noticed the slight inner smile widened my palate and increased awareness of the world inside my mouth.
The first thing I observed was the tip of the tongue seated behind my teeth. The rest was floating creating traction as the heavy back portion descended into the hyoid bone.
The tongue is very connected to the cranial system. The fascia of the tongue affects the structures of the mouth, cranium, neck, jaw, ears, and shoulders. A relaxed tongue is very much a part of easeful eating, speaking, and breathing. Having a tongue that softly nestles onto the roof of the mouth supports a widened palate and an inner smile that communicates internal safety from the mind to the body and back again.
When I was able to sustain a relaxed tongue position, I felt a different relationship to my airway. I sensed a new ability to soften my breathing. I also noticed my jaw relaxing and an increase of saliva. After more practice, my swallowing became wavelike, creating cycles of toning and releasing in the muscles of the throat. Most notably, my chin stopped bouncing each time I swallowed.
It has been amazing to experience another layer of sympatheic overload melting away. The palate, tongue and hyoid are so close to the top of the visceral spine or what I think of as the fascial midline. The experience touches the brain, the heart and everything below. As I continue to practice, I am able to reach a very deep internal layer of tension and slowly, through breath, tears, tissue release and visualizing, transform it.
There’s a lot of information held in the Buddha’s smile that is tenderly giving way to stillness. Each discovery is a tiny awakening.
If you would like to try it, here’s a 10 minute practice to explore your tongue and breath. If you do, pop me a note and share what you felt. I’d love to hear.
With folded palms, Jennifer