New Consciousness Review Winter 2016 | Page 18

HEALTH

to have periods of innervation , stretch and laxity to maintain their tone . Otherwise . . . ACHOO--- Woops !
The connective tissue does the same thing inside your body . They ’ ve done tests to see how humans react to sudden unexpected noise at close range . Over and over again , it shows that we contract down and inward . We protect our guts . This happens everyday . It can either be a large dramatic movement in response to something really big . Or it can be a subtle , tiny little overall contraction in response to any perceived threat : someone ’ s comment , cold weather , noise , deadlines , expectations , anticipation , driving .
The fascia responds to any perceived attack by tightening and resisting outside assault . The biological reason is to slow circulation , numb you and “ spring load ” you for flight or fight so that if you are injured you won ’ t bleed too much , feel much pain and you ’ ll have nearly superhuman energy to fight back or run . Of course , it comes with adrenalin as well .
If our body doesn ’ t get a chance to discharge that energy by fighting or fleeing or crying and yelling , the fascia doesn ’ t quit . We walk around every day with holding patterns in our body from old perceived threats . Holding back a reaction doesn ’ t make it go away . Over time this can result in a very tight , immobile body . The body is used to resisting . When a massage therapist tries to force a body to let go , it just creates more resistance . It may feel good at the time , because blood is being pushed into the shallow layers and some lactic acid , uric acid and adrenalin are being carried away by the blood .
FASCIA

No Pain No Gain ?

To understand the role of fascia ( connective tissue ) in our bodies , we need to know how PROTECTIVE it is . Its function is to connect , support , contain , protect and communicate . One aspect of this hollow , fluid-filled , light-conducting , super-strong , magnificent network of fibrils , tendrils , scaffolding and rigging is to tighten in the face of danger . It is the fishnet inside you that acts like a “ pill bug ” when you ’ re frightened . You know what I ’ m talking about ? That grey little bug from the garden that turns into a protective little ball when you touch it .
But the holding patterns over the years develop deep layers . If you want to get down to the source of the holding , you must get past that protective resistance . If the fascia perceives “ attack ” it will not let you in . That is why Myofascial Release is so successful . We approach the body slowly and we hang out at the first sign of resistance and then follow the direction of ease . The body ALLOWS and INVITES us in to the deeper layers so that you can let go of the deepest layers of holding and have longer lasting results .

Are Insoles Helping or Hurting My Feet ?

Most likely hurting . When you substitute some prosthetic device for your own muscular movement , you are handicapping your body and causing the needed muscles to further atrophy . Often people come in saying “ I have one leg shorter than the other .” Upon examination , we find that the measured length of the bones in both legs is the same , but the hips are out of alignment .
The hips often become misaligned from simple day-to-day living – minor accidents , jarring , slip-
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