What is the great mystery of the masculine and feminine sides of the body? Why do we need to be aware of this? The body is energetically divided into two parts. The right and the left, the sides dominated by men and women. This is not a new concept, it has its origin in Eastern philosophies such as Buddhism, Yoga, and you can even find ancient writings that the Mayan civilization was aware of the power to maintain the balance between these two opposing energies.

The Buddha taught it very clearly. Every human being has a right and a left hemisphere in the brain, which we classify as male and female, with the right being female and the left being male. The left or male side is in charge of the right side of the body and the right brain or female side is in charge of the left side of the body.

The Maya placed themselves and their environment into categories that allowed them to order and manipulate their world. They often categorized using the basic complementary pairing of male/female and right/left.

In yoga, the masculine energy (the sun) is known as Shiva and is the form of the universe. Masculine energy is the domain of the right side of the body. While the feminine energy (the moon), is known as Shakti and is the force of the universe. Feminine energy is the domain of the left side of the body.

The significant importance is that, as one person, we must be in constant balance in order to make the best of our world, mental, physical and emotional. Both sides, male and female, have to achieve a harmonious whole.

The masculine side is generally connected to our rationality, logic, linear thinking, and understanding. The feminine side is connected with feelings, nurturing, caring, compassion, love and all emotional qualities. Each of us has sides, the emotional and the mental capacity. Very few people develop both equally, so your car often falls over. Emotionalism is as dangerous as thinking without being in touch with your own feelings. That can also deviate a lot.

A person who goes too far on the side of rational thought has to learn to balance the feminine side with feelings. Anyone who thinks to the extent that the experience of feelings is hardly known has to practice mindfulness of feelings a lot. On the other hand, the feminine side is usually emotional. This means that we get carried away by our emotions and, consequently, our thinking is affected. The quality of logical thinking, of delving into a thought process and being able to analyze, is not possible when emotions are at the forefront.

During yoga practice, the goal is to observe and understand the dance between Shiva and Shakti. In this dance, Shiva and Shakti flow in balance with each other and bring balance to the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the yogi.

When we experience blockages or imbalances within our masculine/feminine essence or energy, the results can be disastrous and damaging to our physical body as well as our mental body.

For example, there is a belief that manic depression is common and occurs when the right and left energies are out of control or out of balance. When a person is stuck on the right side, the manic masculine side, then the body becomes stringy and thin and heart attacks become frequent. When stuck on the left side, the feminine depressive side, the person becomes lethargic, fat and easily depressed. The physical base of these energies is the perineum in men and the vulva in women. His other point of control is the left and right nostrils. Blocked nasal passages and mucus can show a blockage of these energies.

There may also be outward signs of imbalances, watch for problems with

men or women in your life and your body will begin to manifest these imbalances in the form of diseases. Problems with men can result in simple things like stubbing your right toe or hurting your right elbow. The same goes for the opposite side of the body. Problems with women manifest on the left side of your body.

The balance of masculine and feminine energy should be seen as a connection between the heart and the mind. Energy and concentration have to be balanced. In yoga, the practice is to begin to allow the energy to realign itself with the body. Meditation is one of the most effective tools that can be used to connect and balance masculine/feminine energies. Yoga is used to prepare the body for meditation, thus increasing the ability to make these energies find their space and begin to realign, balance, find harmony. Chakra balancing is an effective way to align those energies. Other very effective tools to connect and balance are the work of Reiki, Watsu and pranayama.

It is interesting that this knowledge that has been with us for many centuries and was commonplace then to detect bodily, mental and space diseases, is so strange and mysterious to us in this so-called “advanced” civilization. I believe that more and more as we enter the era of “inspirational”1, we will begin to learn to listen and connect with our own energy. Only then will we begin to feel the balance and healing that comes from this.

1. Inspirato-Latin for inspiration. We will move from the information age to the age of a new world where compassion and respect for ourselves, the universe and others will prevail.