Balance and Stress

Balance and stress have an interesting relationship. When we are stressed out we will often refer to our experience as being out of balance, we bump into things and we loose our orientation and sense of direction or purpose in our lives. Physiologically there is an interesting correlation between being out of balance and stress. Both have connections to the central nervous system with nerves that run through or between the bones of the skull. These nerves are specifically Cranial Nerve VIII which connects the vestibular (balance) and Auditory components of the ear to the brain, and Cranial Nerve X which is also known as the Vagus Nerve. The Vagus nerve is the primary connection between the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) and the Brain. The PNS has a lot to do with stress responses and the physical symptoms of distress, such as heart rate, tightness in the gut, constipation and insomnia. 

Imbalance in the function of Cranial Nerves is known to arise from tension or compression placed on them by changing alignment of the bones of the skull. By simply reorganizing the relationship of the associated Cranial bones, normal nerve function quickly resumes, and the experience of being balanced and centered ensues. Chronic misalignment is usually associated with joints between the bones than can become stuck and it can take some focused work to unjam them. However, the type of imbalance that we all experience, sometimes just calling it "a bad day" can be approached much more generally and often with the simple exercise I am about to present. This type of imbalance can result from how we slept, to our physical reactions to any type of stress, from trauma (even minor injuries) and can last quite a while before our body figures out how to self correct it.

The technique has its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Gall Bladder Meridian) and Applied Kinesiology. I use it as a sort of first aid kit for working with structural imbalances when I don't have the time / inclination to dig deeply into the origins of an issue.

Laying down face up with knees bent:

1) Behind the knee is a little horizontal muscle called Popliteus. If you gently get your fingers into the void behind the knee, you will feel this muscle. Check both sides. One should feel much tighter than the other. Rub both deeply, but gently, paying special attention to the side that is tight. (In massage this area is considered high risk, so don't go poking deep in there, but spend a few minutes seeing if can get it to unwind).

2) At the front of the shoulder is a muscle called Anterior Deltiod. Repeat as above. A simple technique to get a muscle to relax is to compress the fibers along its length.

3) Lightly tap around the ear several times.

4) Repeat 1 - 3 several times. The Gall Bladder Meridian Energy moves down the outside of the body, so it is nice to stroke down the sides of the body, but you should start with the knees and work north. 

My guess as to how this works is that these particular muscles have strong links to balance, and that by reseting their tension, it takes tension off of the bones of the skull. The tapping then helps reset the cranial alignment. There are many variants and embellishments of this technique, but this basic version works pretty effectively. Let me know how you like it.

If I could figure this out I could retire rich

If I could design a shoe with a 3" heel that looked great and made women look great that didn't trash their feet and wreck their postural dynamics - I would be rich. Here are some design considerations:

1) The feet slide down into the toe, wedging them together which leads to hammertoe / bunions etc. You can add material (eg: suede)to the inside of the shoe that helps keep the foot from sliding, but it is an inherently unstable platform and the foot does move.

2) The angle the foot is maintained at pulls the connective tissue on the front of the body downward, rotating the pelvis forward which makes the butt stick out, but also encouraging the ribcage to slump and pulling the shoulders forward. This moves the head forward, creating neck pain, headaches etc. 

3) The muscles of the calves have to shorten to adapt the posture to the hyperextended foot. These muscles are associated with Triple Heater Meridian and the fight or flight response, and having them chronically activated can lead to Adrenal exhaustion and feelings of insecurity and excessive caution.

4) The nearly complete absence of medial / lateral stability in high heels is not only tiring on the knees, but activates the adductors and abductors of the thigh. These muscles are associated with Pericardium meridian which has the function of protecting the heart. If they are hyperactive, the heart is going to have trouble remaining calm.

5) The evolving arch support for the body on flat surfaces does not get to function when the foot is positioned at an angle  and shock loads are transmitted through the ankle into the knee and hip without the attenuation that the spring action of the arch provides.

On the plus side, these shoes look great on womens legs!