I had a morning KMI session (number 3) with Angela at Structural Balance last week. What an amazing way to start the day/week!
Session #3, according to the KMI 'recipe', is the Lateral Line (LL). Posturally, and in very simple terms, the LL functions to bring balance to our bodies, as well as lateral flexion (bending sideways). Where The Back Line (session #2) primarily supports extension, i.e. standing upright and lifting the body, The Front Line (session #1) primarily supports flexion, i.e. bending over, and the LL brings balance to both those aspects.
"
Anatomy Trains 'recipe' - Session 3
Thomas Myers - Anatomy Trains
Open the Lateral Line, differentiate all four Arm Lines from below, and open laterla aspects of the Deep Front Line at either end of the rib cage
Goals:Open the body's sides, spread the 'wings' of the breath
Session #3, according to the KMI 'recipe', is the Lateral Line (LL). Posturally, and in very simple terms, the LL functions to bring balance to our bodies, as well as lateral flexion (bending sideways). Where The Back Line (session #2) primarily supports extension, i.e. standing upright and lifting the body, The Front Line (session #1) primarily supports flexion, i.e. bending over, and the LL brings balance to both those aspects.
"
Anatomy Trains 'recipe' - Session 3
Thomas Myers - Anatomy Trains
Open the Lateral Line, differentiate all four Arm Lines from below, and open laterla aspects of the Deep Front Line at either end of the rib cage
Goals:Open the body's sides, spread the 'wings' of the breath
- Contact and balance the body's stabilising system
- Contact the body's 'lateral core'
Key structures:
- Peroneal fascia
- Iliotibial tract
- Lateral ribs
- Quadratus lumborum and scalene myofascia
"
But of course, there is no exact formula to the art of Structural Integration bodywork and as per the previous session, there was slight deviation from the prescribed 'recipe' based on Angela's assessment of my structure as she read it.
Having already done a good deal of work on my feet and legs in session #2, including both the back and lateral lines already, today's focus was very much the Lateral Lines of the upper body. This included a LOT of work on the ribs! Not really that surprising really considering the upper part of 'The 'Lateral Line' completely surrounds the ribs and intercostals - muscles between the ribs which help move the chest wall and aid our breathing - before connecting into the neck and shoulders.
As always, Angela does an initial assessment from front, back and both side views. From the front, she noted that my structure was really changing already, as I took a deep breath up into my chest. After assessing me (my structure) from all sides, she had me lay down on the couch on my right side with knees flexed, so she could work on my left side.
I can't remember all the wonderful things she did to my ribs exactly. But Angela had me slowly moving and rotating my shoulder with my arm/elbow above my head while she worked into my ribs, eleasing the tension/restrictions. The sensations were pretty intense, I'm not going to lie, but it also felt good! I could certainly feel the benefit. As always, Angela would come across a bit that was particularly 'stuck' and these are the areas that give the greatest sensations, just bordering on the cusp of being painful, but with no intention to withdraw or have Angela back off despite her regular enquiries as to whether it was too much or if she should back off a bit. 'No, I'm fine!' I replied, while wincing through my breath a little!!
If you have ever had a really deep sports massage, then you will have some idea of the sensations that I am talking about here. Now imagine them in your ribs!!
So she worked on my left side for quite a while, before asking me to get up slowly and see how it felt..........
'Wow!' I think were my exact words as I stood up drawing back my shoulders and puffing up my chest. So much more room to move, more room to breath. It felt so good, especially compared to the right side, which was still very tight and restricted. Even more noticeably given the changes on my left side. I was straight back on the table, keen to get balanced out and have the same feelings of openness in my other side.
After repeating the same treatment on my left side, she then had me lie on my back to finish up around and into my neck. For this area, I just needed to make my head heavy in Angela's hands while she did her thing. The purpose of this technique is to help stabilise and support the head through the axis of the body, so it can be properly supported by our spine and neck, and not recruiting our back and shoulders for this purpose, which is a very common dysfunction in today's society.
Angela then had me sit up, slowly, and then she did the thing she does down my spine to balance out the treatment, repeated twice. I have described this before, she has done it every session and it is just amazing. I must learn this technique myself!!
Finally, she had me stand up to observe my structure after the work she had done on me.
It continues to amaze me how much ones structure can be changed in such a short amount of time during these KMI sessions. Now my right side had actually dropped slightly lower than my left after the session. This could be seen clearly in both my shoulders and my hips as I observed myself in the mirror. 'It's not a problem' she said, 'we'll leave you like that for now and let the treatment settle until I see you next time.'
So it has been a week now since I had this session and the benefits have been very significant for me yet again. I feel so spacious and open in my chest and ribs and can open up my chest so much more now, I can get more air into my lungs!! I know this for a fact as I can now swim an entire length of a 25m pool down under the water. The morning before this session #3, I could only manage 3/4 of the pool. I had no real awareness (in terms of a feeling) of restrictions in my chest/ribs before this session. Compared to other areas of my body that I can really feel the tension and restriction, like my shoulders for example.
Thomas Myers talks about primarily treating the intercostals, the muscles between our ribs, as muscles of walking (supporting the contralateral and rotational forces as we walk), rather than muscles of breathing. It makes total sense as well and I am sure that is the case, but for me personally, I have noticed the biggest benefit in my breath and the expansion of my chest. At least in terms of the ability to intake and hold my breath, so not the act of breathing per say. Maybe that is the differentiator.
The prescribed 'recipe' for session 4 is 'The Spiral Lines'....but given the deviations so far, I think we are deviating here again. I can't remember exactly what she said last time, it's been over a week now since I was there for this session. I think we are going into The Deep Front Line next. I can't wait to find out though!!!
#ThePowerOfPosture
#StructuralIntegration
#KMI
I can't remember all the wonderful things she did to my ribs exactly. But Angela had me slowly moving and rotating my shoulder with my arm/elbow above my head while she worked into my ribs, eleasing the tension/restrictions. The sensations were pretty intense, I'm not going to lie, but it also felt good! I could certainly feel the benefit. As always, Angela would come across a bit that was particularly 'stuck' and these are the areas that give the greatest sensations, just bordering on the cusp of being painful, but with no intention to withdraw or have Angela back off despite her regular enquiries as to whether it was too much or if she should back off a bit. 'No, I'm fine!' I replied, while wincing through my breath a little!!
If you have ever had a really deep sports massage, then you will have some idea of the sensations that I am talking about here. Now imagine them in your ribs!!
So she worked on my left side for quite a while, before asking me to get up slowly and see how it felt..........
'Wow!' I think were my exact words as I stood up drawing back my shoulders and puffing up my chest. So much more room to move, more room to breath. It felt so good, especially compared to the right side, which was still very tight and restricted. Even more noticeably given the changes on my left side. I was straight back on the table, keen to get balanced out and have the same feelings of openness in my other side.
After repeating the same treatment on my left side, she then had me lie on my back to finish up around and into my neck. For this area, I just needed to make my head heavy in Angela's hands while she did her thing. The purpose of this technique is to help stabilise and support the head through the axis of the body, so it can be properly supported by our spine and neck, and not recruiting our back and shoulders for this purpose, which is a very common dysfunction in today's society.
Angela then had me sit up, slowly, and then she did the thing she does down my spine to balance out the treatment, repeated twice. I have described this before, she has done it every session and it is just amazing. I must learn this technique myself!!
Finally, she had me stand up to observe my structure after the work she had done on me.
It continues to amaze me how much ones structure can be changed in such a short amount of time during these KMI sessions. Now my right side had actually dropped slightly lower than my left after the session. This could be seen clearly in both my shoulders and my hips as I observed myself in the mirror. 'It's not a problem' she said, 'we'll leave you like that for now and let the treatment settle until I see you next time.'
So it has been a week now since I had this session and the benefits have been very significant for me yet again. I feel so spacious and open in my chest and ribs and can open up my chest so much more now, I can get more air into my lungs!! I know this for a fact as I can now swim an entire length of a 25m pool down under the water. The morning before this session #3, I could only manage 3/4 of the pool. I had no real awareness (in terms of a feeling) of restrictions in my chest/ribs before this session. Compared to other areas of my body that I can really feel the tension and restriction, like my shoulders for example.
Thomas Myers talks about primarily treating the intercostals, the muscles between our ribs, as muscles of walking (supporting the contralateral and rotational forces as we walk), rather than muscles of breathing. It makes total sense as well and I am sure that is the case, but for me personally, I have noticed the biggest benefit in my breath and the expansion of my chest. At least in terms of the ability to intake and hold my breath, so not the act of breathing per say. Maybe that is the differentiator.
The prescribed 'recipe' for session 4 is 'The Spiral Lines'....but given the deviations so far, I think we are deviating here again. I can't remember exactly what she said last time, it's been over a week now since I was there for this session. I think we are going into The Deep Front Line next. I can't wait to find out though!!!
#ThePowerOfPosture
#StructuralIntegration
#KMI
