Imagine the body as one big stringed instrument. Imagine such an instrument with layer upon layer of strings forming spiral-like patterns of fibres all connected to one spiralling matrix upon which we play our version of the song of life.

 

It sounds like a lovely metaphor, doesn’t it, yet it is not a metaphor at all, it is anatomical fact. We become what we do and how we do it and what we do with our hands is so often the product of waist rotation with movement along another axis. The structure of our body is formulated around what we do (our lifestyle) and how we do it (our mood) that, over time, grow into spirals of tissue around different spirals of repetitive movement performed in different moods. This creates different patterns of compression-tension-friction in the body which stimulates growth of connective tissue and change in tissue density.

​

When tissue clumps together, or an area becomes too dense/loose, too dry/moist, swollen etc., when muscle sticks to bone or scarred tissue builds up it it can pull on the entire web of the body's connective tissue architecture. This leads to pain and dysfunction not only at the site of imbalance/injury, but also in distant parts of the body, all of which are connected by web-like 'bed' or mattress of connective tissue cells suspended in a cellular matrix. 

​

This 'bed' of connective tissue or deep-fascia is a network of all the 'seams' in your body (think the tough white seams in bits of meat that, ideally, you cut off because they're too chewy) - the 'seams' between nerves and organs and blood vessels and muscles and the striations inside muscles - all of these 'seams' are connected, are constantly shifting according to the needs of your body, and are made of a very intelligent substance that feels like a viscus ocean of silly putty or wax earplugs or blue tac. There are currents in the ocean and occasionally storms. There are more superficial levels to the ocean in which the fascia moves quickly and respond rapidly. Then there are deeper levels to the ocean that hardly ever move but when whipped up just keep moving.

 

The deepest level is the overall permanent posture of our body. This is held by compression-tension-friction relationships that form spokes of spirals in the bed of deep-fascia.

​

My therapy addresses treatment and self-maintenance. This involves hand techniques, acupuncture, Tai Chi classes and herbalism. For Orthopaedic treatments like those dealing with musculoskeletal problems (painful back, frozen shoulder etc.)  I primarily rely on hand techniques and Tai Chi practice. 

 

My hand techniques are derived from Tui Na (Chinese Clinical massage therapy) as well as 'stacking and spreading' (myofascial release) adapted with Tai Chi principles along spirals of tissue to stimulate whole-body recalibration of tension-compression-friction relationships. To learn more about this, you can read my article on Lifestyle-Mood Spirals.