One of the most challenging feelings to overcome is that of being trapped by burden. You may want to free yourself of life’s constraints and stand powerfully in your life, but no matter what you try, you can’t seem to find a way through.

In this practice that John originally led for Masculine practitioners in his 90-day Depth and Devotion program, you will fully embody the pain of being trapped in the world as a caged gorilla, and then transmute that energy into standing tall and composed as a fiercely loving Awakened Warrior King.

If you want to free yourself of the anguish of being trapped by life’s burdens, this 15-minute practice will help you move through it and into the hope and clarity of the King that you are.

Begin by settling your body into a state in which you feel grounded and connected to the earth. Close your eyes. Use your ribs to press the base of your heart and your hips down into the earth. Breathe deeply, pulling energy up from the earth. Try as best you can to let your mind unclench, like a fist unclenching.

Consciously give yourself permission to go to the place where you feel trapped in the world - trapped by work, relationship, burden etc. Take a few minutes to connect to that part. Find the place in the bottom of your heart that feels the ache and the frustration of not being free, and start to make some sounds on the exhales that express that pain of the lack of freedom.  

Then take the shape of a huge, powerful gorilla and move around like  you're trapped in a cage. Maybe you pace back and forth, or pound on your chest. Express that pain through the embodiment of a trapped gorilla. Get in touch with the anger of how much you hate not being free - the people who keep you down, the systems that keep you down, the life that keeps you down... Let yourself feel it fully.

Imagine somebody is looking at you from outside the cage - somebody who is trapping you. Look at them and growl like a gorilla would growl at a captor. Feel the anguish of being trapped through this embodiment of caged gorilla for 2 full minutes.

Then relax the practice by becoming aware of what's beautiful and feels good in the room you're in, like the plants or sunlight streaming in. Move any parts of your body that still have a lot of sensation - maybe you circle an arm, lift and shake a leg, take a few deep breaths, or rub your shoulders. Let yourself get grounded in the present moment. You are no longer trapped.

Move to a spot in the room that feels good, like it's your spot. Stand there with your arms by your sides, keeping your eyes closed if you want. Begin to breathe in a way that makes your heart wide. Lift your chest, but also ground your sacrum. Get very tall, but also very grounded. And tuck your chin slightly.

Feel the fierceness you cultivated as the caged gorilla and let it course through your veins while also feeling yourself as a tall, composed Warrior King. From here, feel out to the world that you serve. For example, a company, men's group, community or family. Feel how you are fierce, but you also serve the world. Open your eyes and soften your gaze, like you're looking out into a distant land. Feel everyone who is served by your purpose, depth and gifts.

Then feel how your nobility, width and depth co-mingles with the fierceness in your heart for freedom. Feel every cell in your body living into that. Pulse this Warrior King fully through your body - feel it alive in your spine, grounded into the earth, wide through your heart, and deep in your breath.

Then with another deep breath, return to the place of grounded awareness. Stand for the last few minutes of the practice from the place of Awakened Warrior King. Feel this part of you as an ally that you live. This is you. Feel how this part of you serves the world and how it is being called forth - in how you love your partner, in the way that you serve your community, etc.

Connect to this Awakened Warrior King through your wide heart, deep breath, and grounded legs. What is the world asking for? Who needs you? Who needs your depth? Who needs your love? Who needs your fierceness? Feel how this Awakened Warrior King serves all of that. Open the top of your heart to the blue sky, and feel it filled with hope and clarity.

Close the practice by making a pledge to yourself that you will bring more of this Awakened Warrior King out into the world. Give a bow, and maybe a little smile, acknowledging how good it is that the world wants more from you.

Music: "Dhan Baba Naanak" by Simrit and "Heroes" by Peter Gabriel

Disclaimer: Although anyone may find this practice to be useful, it is made available with the understanding that we are not engaged in presenting specific medical, psychological, emotional, sexual or spiritual advice. Nor is anything in this practice intended to be a diagnosis, prescription, recommendation or cure for any specific kind of medical, psychological, emotional, sexual or spiritual problem. Each individual has unique needs and this practice cannot take these individual differences into account. Each person should engage in a program of treatment, prevention, cure, or general health only in consultation with a licensed, qualified physician, therapist or other competent professional. Any person suffering from a sexually transmitted disease or any local illness of his or her sexual organs should consult a medical doctor and a qualified instructor of sexual yoga before practicing the sexual methods described in this practice.