it is said in yoga 
we store strong emotions within our hips
as they protect us 
by holding it all inside
unprocessed
it isn’t unusual 
in deep hip opening poses 
to suddenly cry
or feel a surprising sense of rage

fear 
   shame
      grief
         trauma 
            anger
all reside rent-free 
within our hips
stuffed down 
and packed up tight

a yoga teacher once told me
that hips are a dumping ground
because they never get excavated
my mind exploded as I imagined
the stories of ancient civilizations
trapped under the dirt
waiting for someone 
to begin to dig

instead, as time passed
another city was built 
on top of the ground
smothering their voices
under the soil

we must sink into our deep
hip opening postures 
with courage
allowing the excavation to begin
cry it out
sweat it out
scream if you must
and allow yourself to feel it all

do not allow your voice
to be smothered
in a dumping ground