GroupGravityAce
"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭" ... 𝐃𝐫. 𝐈𝐝𝐚 𝐏. 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐟
𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟎-𝟏𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.
There’s an inextricable relationship between Gravity and Fascia. This is overlooked. [Interesting, remember how Fascia itself had been overlooked?]
Simply put, Fascia wouldn’t behave as it does without Gravity.
BACKGROUND
The Fascia Research Congress was started by Tom Findley MD, PhD and Robert Schleip PhD — both practitioners of Structural Integration, the method originated by Ida P. Rolf PhD. She is acknowledged as the “Mother of Fascia”.
Knowing the ideas which underpin Dr. Rolf’s approach will clarify the significance and utility of working with an included view of the integral relationship of the form that is Fascia with the force that is Gravity. And, hopefully recontextualize the subject to open for new creative ideas on approaches for the bench and for the office.
DISCUSSION
Key points on the Fascia-Gravity connection ...
Gravity is an essential reference. Balance in the architectural arrangement of the whole body is healthy, normal. The standard for bodily balance is the same as for all structures on Earth: balance in respect to the three cardinal planes. The Fascial system is the “Organ of Structure”. It is the bodywide, three dimensional fabric [“matrix”] of support and organization. Seeing its globally interconnected tensionality we now model the body as a tensegrity structure; i.e., true balance maintained in the equipoise span of the connective tissues. Imbalances in the Fascial web are contributive in symptoms of chronic pain and stress. Imbalances in the fascial web have accompanying compensations. Fascia is plastic, adaptive. Myofascial anatomy is a clinical map. Integration of the body structure with Gravity is wholistic, somatic: that is, we access the whole Human being at the concrete, hands-on body level. Upright verticality in the Human body structure is in the definition of normal. It is the direction of Human physical evolution.
CONCLUSION/SUGGESTIONS
The Human body design calls for balance with the force of Gravity. Imbalances contribute to dis-ease.
That the Human body can transform to such a level of structural integration is still to be seen as a realizable possibility. Much less a value in itself. Including this can open new areas for research study as well as clinical diagnosis and applications.
PROPOSED RESEARCH
Compile an image record of pre/post Dr. Ida P. Rolf Method Structural Integration processing enlisting models in training classes in schools accredited by the International Association of Structural Integrators. Images to include strictly comparable photographic imaging/analysis, and other innovative measurement devices; e.g., on site foot pressure plate mapping, gait analysis; selected digital pattern overlays in system with analysis of spatial and morphological variances.
“Gravity Ace” is a group for discussing the topic:
Ida P. Rolf, PhD stood for the idea of learning to live in cooperative alignment with the force of Gravity. Such balance in the makeup of the human body is a human evolutionary potential. Trajectory?
Dr. Rolf observed that we are living below our natural innate potential for the kind of upright balance in the makeup of our bodies which we recognize as 1. correct in terms of human anatomical design ... and 2. basic laws of Physics.
“Some individuals may perceive their losing fight with gravity as a sharp pain in their back, others as the unflattering contour of their body, others as constant fatigue, yet others as an unrelentingly threatening environment. Those over forty may call it old age. And yet all these signals may be pointing to a single problem so prominent in their own structure, as well as others, that it has been ignored: they are off balance, they are at war with gravity.”
About her peerless and definitive approach to human structural balance [Rolf Structural Integration], she said:
“This is the gospel of Rolfing: When the body gets working appropriately, the force of Gravity can flow through. Then, spontaneously, the body heals itself.”
Gravity is the tool. Gravity is the therapist.”
“Consign your body to Gravity.”
𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 ... 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠.
And, so ... ?
But, it is also said there are no straight lines in Nature. So, what is this “line” of Gravity? And, saying that it’s a straight vertical line? Can we see it from both sides? Of course you can. Stay with.
Let’s discuss ...
When we trace the action of Gravity we see it goes from being anchored at the center of planet Earth and extends out to the center of the Universe. [Of course, not just Earth; this is true for any rock you may find yourself on in God’s Great Creation. Elon Musk, take that to Mars with you!] Gravity as Mr. Einstein has pointed out has all to do with the attraction of mass. Like a lot of things, the bigger they are the more attractive. To the eye anyway. To me they're all lovely. But, did I just digress? Oh, yes, Gravity. And, then it comes back again. From the center of Creation back to wherever you may be standing right now. Gravity, that is, does that. Mr. Musk too, we pray will come back. If he ever gets there in the first place anyway.
Gravity doesn’t really travel; we speak of it that way for explanation purposes. You can’t see Gravity. Just its effects. But, you can put your finger on it. We’ll get to that a bit later. It's about a firm grasp of the obvious. Hint: your felt sense is a kind of seeing.
Dig this. Quoting Scott Russell Sanders from his novel The Paradise of Bombs ...
Let’s explain ...
That line of Gravity isn’t just a marked static line, like one drawn on a piece of paper. Or even that chalk line snapped on the wall with a weighted string to keep wallpaper going on straight. It’s dynamic. It’s alive really.
As a line, looked at on Earth there are two actions. The one pulling down/inward; i.e., centripetal. The other pushing upward/outward; i.e., centrifugal. So what, you may ask. The thing is we all get the pulling down part. Like when you drop Auntie’s fine bone china handed-down-the-generations Rosenthal tea cup and it falls and cracks into a million pieces to the floor breaking what otherwise was a proper afternoon tea time. And, smart-ass that you are you offer her the excuse that it was Gravity what done it.
The underappreciated aspect of Gravity is how it exerts that upward lifting action. I know, like nobody’s let go the ball and it goes up. Not without a push anyway. So how do we grok this upward thing?
We need to talk centrifugal some more. Okay?
My professional interest is in the process of balancing of the Human body with the Gravitational field of the Earth. Dr. Ida P. Rolf’s brilliant observation is that, “When the body gets working appropriately, the force of Gravity can flow through”. She goes on to say, “Then, spontaneously, the body heals itself.” If that is a new idea to you, pause and give it a thought. That’s for real, for real! The approach she developed and handed down is called Structural Integration. Some may be familiar with the nickname “Rolfing”.* There are other brand flavors also. The one common factor is that balancing the body in respect to the demands of Gravity is the main goal.
The core idea with that definitive and peerless approach is in how we already know the body is designed to be arranged in an architectural balance. This is well known science. Both Anatomy and Physics. Architects and builders know this as a central point. In architectural terms the body is just like any other physical structure on Earth. And, since imbalances can creep in and — importantly — since the body is plastic, individuals can learn this simple, basic normal balance and/or be restored to such a healthy balance.
Let’s get back to “centrifugal”. Just like a tree, roots go down and the branches go up. Humans too. We don’t have physical roots, but the pull of Gravity confirms our rootedness. We feel that. Especially after a long day of work. Or, that triathalon. Or, a pub crawl. You know what I'm talking about. Right?
As for the up — the centrifugal action of Gravity — some good news! But you gotta be in balance to appreciate that. Some semblance of balance anyway. Otherwise, out of balance, Gravity is entropic; it pulls you down, tears you apart. We live in default of having chronic aches and pains and stress for not recognizing that body imbalances as such are the culprit, in whole or in part. And, that those imbalances exacerbate other health problems. And, we take it for granted that there's nothing to do about it but to take pills. Or, get all cut away or propped and stoked up with some fancy procedure.
To recap ... when you’re out of structural body balance Gravity is a downer. In balance, now you’re ALIVE.
Dr. Rolf also observed: “Some individuals may perceive their losing fight with gravity as a sharp pain in their back, others as the unflattering contour of their body, others as constant fatigue, yet others as an unrelentingly threatening environment. Those over forty may call it old age. And yet all these signals may be pointing to a single problem so prominent in their own structure, as well as others, that it has been ignored: they are off balance, they are at war with Gravity.”
Now you get it that out of balance, it’s only a downer. A lot of what ails us is due to imbalances in the makeup of our body. These have been accrued inadvertently over time. Like the Grand Canyon. Years upon years of slow erosion of flowing water. If you’ve ever been there and taken in the Grand Canyon you’ll know the awe inspiring presence of something so vast and ancient. Profound. You might not be ancient, but being out of bodily balance sure feels that way. Causative factors: repeated bad habits, unresolved accidents and traumas, inadequate or improper training, modeling significant others who themselves may not have been good examples of correct balance.
That we can learn such balance is due to the natural plasticity of the body. We are shaped by our experience. Some of it misshaped. At any age and with any life experience one can learn the simple balance of the body in respect to the dictates of the force of Gravity. And, undo imbalances accumulated over time due to those contributing factors. Here again, the culprits: bad habits, unresolved accidents and traumas, insufficient or improper training, modeling significant others who themselves may not have been good examples of such bodily balance.
Perhaps with the talking about spiritual matters you're getting that The Line is not just about a better body. We talk about the body because we can get our hands on it. The entire enterprise is what's called "somatic". Entering within yourself at the felt sense bodily level, but understanding that it's a wholistic event. Body, mind, psychology, soul, spirit. We separate these for speaking purposes only. Words will do that. The reality is that it's a unity. In other words, you can think of The Line as the Shepherd's Staff. Guiding a good life. What's a "good life"? Well, having a sense of simple basic bodily balance is a help. You do you. But, be righteous. Righteous? Now with all these words surely you have a sense that it involves simple geometry. As for ultimate matters, when the student is ready the Teacher will appear. Gravity is a teacher. In the Teacher's Hand.
𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 ...
The twist here with the "Blondell" is that it's indeed a sort of a do-it-yourself approach. Where you set up the apparatus in the comfort of your own home and communicate your felt sensations to a technician — an AI version is in the works — via telephone, who in turn inputs that data into a computer synced with those gizmos pulling on your hair. Obviously, modulating the input tensions on the follicles according to algorithms based on coordination with recipient’s real time subjective verbal reporting. "Yes, yes ... OMG, yes!" Not "OUCH!". And a host of other stuff too technical for me to bother to explain to you. Trust me, it's the shizz. A snippet of which calculus is shown here, thusly:
𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ~ 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐮 𝐑𝐢𝐧𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞
𝐋𝐲𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — “𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐩.”
There’s also the opposite and equal force. “Centrifugal”. Upward ... lifting. That latter one, the upward movement, that one we don’t really appreciate in an every day, directly experienced way.
Here’s something you might not know. When your body is aligned in its makeup in respect to the demands of Gravity that upward movement is an empowering, healing agent. You feel it. It’s a lived experience. It’s alway there, just now to pay attention.
Big thing to know: There’s always an up and a down. An upside, and a downside.
Then there’s bombs.
What does Gravity have to do with bombs? Bombs go BOOM. Also, they go down. No surprise there. Is there an upside? What goes up from bombs? Nothing good. Reading the news should fill you in on the details.
Same for rockets, and bullets. While those mostly go horizontal — call them vectors —the force of Gravity which always exerts its downward pull. Again, what comes of it, it’s a downer. Down and out when they strike their mark.
Maybe it’s time to evaluate things on just how they perform on the scale of up and down? Just sayin’.
Bombs, rockets, bullets are violent. They bring nothing constructive. Unless, of course, your idea of things is that you have to use them to get what you want. I refer you again to the news of the day. Or, to prevent someone else from getting what they want at your expense of what you want. Or, it’s how you make a living. A living from dying. Does anyone see the irony in that?
Net, net ... war/death and destruction/militarism, that whole indigestible Enchilada, it’s a downer. And, add to that any other way the ingenuity of mankind can figure how to kill their fellows. Unless, those so-called fellows are sub-human. Then, it’s pest control. You have read the news ... Oh Boy!
So, where do we go from here? Ask yourself. What’s it gonna be boy? Yes, or no? To war?
If you’re in a position to do something on a geo-political level, and you want war to end, then work on that. Your smart enough to have got yourself in that high seat; so, you go! That is, if you’re not beholden to interests who want war for political and/or pecuniary reasons. No new news there. Then, you have a hard choice to make. Put bread on the table, or find a new line of work. Or, wait until it all blows up, then pick of what pieces you can. Of course, using your guns to keep others from taking what’s yours. Skip the news, read Human history.
If you’re an average citizen of the world what can you do? Purify your heart. Take the war out of yourself. Didn’t the Dalai Lama and others essentially say, “No peace without inner peace”?
“Some individuals may perceive their losing fight with gravity as a sharp pain in their back, others as the unflattering contour of their body, others as constant fatigue, yet others as an unrelentingly threatening environment. Those over forty may call it old age. And yet all these signals may be pointing to a single problem so prominent in their own structure, as well as others, that it has been ignored: they are off balance, they are at war with gravity.”
"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭" ... 𝐃𝐫. 𝐈𝐝𝐚 𝐏. 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐟
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