How you use your body matters to your health.
Both physical and mental.
This is a process. It takes time and focus to work with the right muscles and to learn to use your body better.
This is not a quick fix for those that have a lot of stored trauma. I was physically wrecked - twisted and restricted, with layer upon layer of trauma zig-zagging throughout my body. It's taken a long time to work though and release all the damage I was carrying around.
The body's core pillar of strength.
'Breathing with your Base-Line' helps to build the connection between mind and muscles.
Think: Stronger and longer with every in-breath, activating your pelvic floor and extending your rectus abdominis muscles from pelvis to chest.
Base-Line:
Like ribbon anchored to a rock.
From where all movement
should originate.
Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, think of your Base-Line muscles as your centre from where the rest of your body extends.
Imagine your midline becoming more aligned as your breathe, the rest of the body being supported by your Base-Line muscles.
Let your body adjust itself, however feels natural.
Use your Base-Line to guide your movements.
Do what is easiest, find positions where you can feel your Base-Line activating and work from there.
Be inspired by Tai chi, Pilates, yoga, dance, movement in water - whatever appeals to you.
Don't force anything. You can only do what your body is currently capable of and straining to do more is detrimental to the process. As you work with the correct muscles you'll find yourself being able to do a little more each time.
I found the roll-down action came naturally as I thought about my Base-Line being as 'strong and long' as possible.
The gluteus maximus and rectus femoris muscles work in tandem, linking the legs to Base-Line support.
The trapezius muscles connect the head and arms to Base-Line support.
Using your Base-Line as your central reference, feel for activation and balance between left and right in the other 3 main muscles.
Work with these 5 (paired) muscles, and the rest of the body will start to fall into place.
Sensory information about the body's positioning/posture is used for our sense of position, motion and balance known as proprioception.
The body-mind connection is strong when we are aware of this feedback in our conscious minds and can feel how to move in order to improve our positioning - to improve posture.
Focusing on your Base-Line muscles will increase awareness of your midline and state of body alignment.
Working with the other main muscles helps increase awareness of how balanced your body is.
full range of natural movement
The mind-body wants to heal - give it the opportunity to do so.
It takes time and focus to utilise the main muscles of movement if you are not used to using them. Try to keep these muscles in mind whatever you are doing.
Your "healing time" will depend on:
Please contact me if you have any comments or suggestions on how to make the anatomy pages as easy to understand as possible - or if you've anything else you'd like to say!
Base-Line Theory of Health:The 5 Main Muscles of Movement& Conscious Proprioception.