Come Home to Your Sacred Body
by Linda Cimpric

Our body is a temple. How many times have I heard this, and yet never fully embraced the sacredness of it? Many. I have never had a reason to dislike my body. It has great proportion, strength, and the wisdom to birth two beautiful babies. Yet I’ve never really liked it. I have always found fault with every little molecule of fat, acne scar, and wrinkle.

How did I develop this response to my temple? When I was young, I had zero encouragement from my parents to listen to, or love my body. Instead, I was teased about the shape of my knees, scoffed at for not living up to my middle name (which is Grace), and was taught to push myself to the point of exhaustion, ignoring my body’s pleas for rest.

I also used to be lulled by the hypnotic messaging of perfectionism and anti-aging, which were constantly downloaded into my belief systems from all forms of advertising and social media.

Then, as an adult, I dove into a path of spiritual enlightenment, where again I moved away from my body. My husband witnessed and commented, “You look like you’re searching for something.” He was right. I was searching outside of myself—looking to the cosmos, to other people’s opinions and views, and always seeking a higher dimension. I was looking for the one experience that would instantly heal me.

I don’t hold blame toward my parents or the media for my past experiences. The journey that took me away from my body was ultimately the catalyst for the U-turn back toward it. I have even forgiven myself and released my old rigid beliefs—replacing them with gentler ones. This has happened in many ways. One is by reading the empowering words of women—trail blazers in self care and new perspectives. Giving and receiving Reiki has also helped, as I uncover deeper and deeper levels within, remembering that I am LOVE.

Recently, I found a tool for healing that is soft and gentle, yet powerful. It’s steaming at the root chakra (perineum), and it’s called peristeam hydrotherapy. Steaming is an ancient self-care/healing practice that many cultures have used, and still do. A pot of water is brought to boil, and then turned down to gently simmer. Herbs are selected as medicine and added to brew a healing tea, while a seat with a hole is prepared to sit on. Then the herbal water is placed under the seat where it gently releases its herbal infusion upwards. A person could also just kneel over the steam, rather than using a seat.

The warm steam hydrates, causes vasodilation (widens the blood vessels), and promotes circulation. The increase of blood flow nourishes and relaxes the area. The soothing steam creates a softening of the tissues at the perineum, but also energetically at the root chakra, which allows for release of past and generational traumas. Many of us have experienced trauma that has caused a tightening of our root chakra.
Herbs are such powerful medicine, and the benefit of steaming with them is that the medicine is taken through transdermal absorption of the skin and mucus membranes, bypassing the digestive tract. Knowing what types of herbs to use is very important, especially for menstruating women. This can be done through your intuition, or through a knowledgeable other.

Steaming takes time and commitment, but it’s a giving of oneself—to oneself. The time investment should start at once per week, but then can taper to once per month. The time devoted to this practice is of course also very intuitive.

This form of steaming for biological women can be called Yoni steaming, vaginal steaming, etc. It can bring relief for things such as menstrual cramping, clotting, irregular discharge, PCOS, endometriosis, bladder prolapse, and vaginal dryness. Steaming has helped clear fibroids so women can conceive. A study conducted with post-partum women showed numerous advantages when women committed to steaming on days 4 to 8 after childbirth (the 4th trimester).

Lingam steaming or A-steaming are terms used for biological men. This healing modality can help reduce or clear hemorrhoids, improve circulation to shrink an enlarged prostrate, and clear pathways to allow the return of sexual virility in aging men. An herbal package I have developed is called herbal Viagra.

One other huge benefit of steaming is that it activates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). Since the nerve fibers of the sacral spine activate the parasympathetic, steaming at the perineum is a great way to take us out of the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight).

My beloved husband helped me create two steam stool versions. First, The Mula Steam Box and then a portable/foldable model called the Mula TriSteam. Mula is Sanskrit for root, which is where the healing happens.

I have realized, through my own experience, and having people share their experiences with me, that steaming is very grounding. Recently, I created a sacred space, put on beautiful music, and settled myself down to enjoy a steam. My body said, “Come home to me.” That heartfelt call sent sobs of gratitude throughout my being, and I grounded, with appreciation for my sacred body. I am home in my sacred body.
Contact me to try a steam, purchase a steam stool, and/or learn which herbs are best for you.

Linda Cimpric is a heart-centred woman with a passion for learning and practicing natural healing. She is a Reiki Master/Teacher, and a certified Peristeam Facilitator who practises in Saskatoon. For more information, please see www.evolve-one.ca email lindacimpric@sasktel.net, or text/phone 306-229-1310.