Mind~Body Connection
Massage for a
Sacred Body
The word sacrum is derived from the word “sacred”. There are cultures and religions that still consider the sacrum the seat of the soul. The sacrum is located close to the reproductive organs and the center of gravity. It forms the base of the spine and the “anchor” of the body.
The Sacral Chakra represents a duality, a polarity, such as the pain pleasure principle. It motivates all our behavior and helps us relate and maneuver in the world. The areas of the body that it relates to are the sexual organs, stomach, upper intestines, liver, gallbladder, kidney, pancreas, spleen, and the middle spine.
Anatomically, the sacral region (sacrum) is at the bottom of the spine and lies between the fifth segment of the lumbar spine (L5) and the coccyx (tailbone). The sacrum is a triangular-shaped bone and consists of five segments (S1 - S5) that are fused together.
There are numerous muscles that meet at this Sacral Chakra in the pelvic junction. As you can see from this very short list, they all play a crucial role in balanced, efficient movement as well as being "anchored" on Earth. Some of these you will recognize and some you may not:
Gluteal Muscles: The gluteal muscles are involved in everyday movement as producers and stabilizers of movement at the hip joint.
Piriformis: The piriformis muscle is located in the buttocks and connects the thigh bone to the hip. It plays an integral part in specific leg movements and can be associated with sciatic nerve pain.
Psoas: The Psoas is the only ‘muscle’ to connect the spine to the legs. It is responsible for holding us upright, and allows us to lift our legs in order to walk. A healthily functioning psoas stabilizes the spine and provides support through the trunk, forming a shelf for the vital organs of the abdominal core.
Quadratus Lumborum: This large, triangular-shaped back muscle is responsible for movement of the spinal column.
Rectus Abdominis: The muscle flexes the vertebral column, particularly in the lumbar portion, drawing the breastbone (sternum) toward the pubis. It also tenses the abdominal wall and aids in compressing the contents of the abdomen.
by Maria Knauff