"All this metaphysics is fine, but be mighty sure you've got physics under the metaphysics." Ida Rolf
All Rolfers have some training in craniosacral holds that we often use during a Rolfing session. These methods are known as subtle energy work, but energy work in general is a loaded term. When it is used one must question what a person means when they use it. Because most practices under that term have not been really investigated by science, it often evokes the idea that it these practices are imaginary and not real. Due to the subjective nature of energy work practices, it would be difficult to study them scientifically, but what can be observed is how the client's body responds and how they feel afterwards. Here are five aspects of the energy work to consider, at least as it pertains to a craniosacral approach.
We take in more Information than we are aware of
We are continually taking in information from the outside world through our senses. Only a very small part of this information is apparent to us consciously. The information that is taken in through our peripheral vision is processed faster than the information taken in through focused vision. When we are looking at things out in the world we are engaging our sympathetic nervous system, which is linked to the predator/prey areas of the brain. This touches in on the fight or flight aspect of our autonomic nervous system. A wider vision not only allows more information to come in and be subconsciously processed, it encourages the parasympathetic nervous system to take over again, the rest and digest aspect of our autonomic nervous system. It is this rest and digest aspect of the clients nervous system we are trying to foster when doing energy work.
The Rolfer must be aware that when we are doing assessment and work, they have taken in more information about the client's situation than they are consciously aware of, so intuition can be a key factor in figuring out what the client needs. Our system are always communicating subconsciously with one another. Change will occur through the receptive attention on the part of the client and the Rolfer. So the intention is almost more important that what the Rolfer does.
Intention and Attention makes the change
The nervous system controls what muscles are tight and what muscle are loose. Tight (hyper-tonic) or loose (hypo-tonic), the tone of a muscle is held in place because the nervous system is responding to a need. So if a Rolfer tries to lengthen a hypertonic muscle, the nervous system may respond by simply tightening and shortening the muscle again, if it is necessary for support. The Rolfer does gentle holds in highly innervated areas in order to down regulate the nervous system in order to be more open to change. Even if the Rolfer's observation about certain structural changes is not correct, and even if the intervention done is wrong, the client still might have a positive response merely to the Rolfer's good intentions and attention. Attention itself has the power to produce change.
Our nervous system is self regulating
Our bodies have the ability to heal themselves and strive for balance, but this self regulating system often needs help. We tend to blame persistent aches and pains on age, but it is possible that it is all the baggage we are carrying that is not allowing us to heal. Subtle energy work helps to down regulate the nervous system so that healing can start to take place. The body has the ability to sort out all of this extra baggage.
Health and Balance are our natural state
When the system is brought to a state of peace and quite, we achieve balance once again. This is our natural state. Disease is an aberration of our natural state, just as aches and pains associated with structural imbalance. The body has the ability to heal and find balance. Through energy work the Rolfer helps to bring out the self correcting mechanisms of the body.
Energy is sensation
"What do you mean by energy?!" is the a question I have had thrown at me a number of times when approaching the subject. If you put your hand next to a burner you should feel heat. That is energy. The nerve impulses that register it and send it to your brain operate on electricity. That is literally energy. So the feeling of the wind on your face is also the perception of energy, that is registered and delivered to the brain via energy. All sensation is energy, weather it is subtle or not subtle. The conscious reception of sensation feeds and informs the nervous system. The body will respond to the touch and attention of the Rolfer just as a houseplant might feed and thrive when given the right attention.
It has been said that all bodywork is energy work. It is true we are continually exchanging stimulus from one another when we are in the same room. When intentionally doing energy work we are trying to consciously participate in the exchange, with presence and attention. Healing will take place in the calm nurturing environment that energy work provides. The power of healing is within the individual, the Rolfer only provides support.
댓글