Under Pressure - Turtle Syndrome

It's been great seeing the comments rolling in about this topic, obviously it's something many of us have experience with!

So, now let's move on to another popular manifestation of the expression of pressure in our bodies: the tight upper body syndrome.

This is a very common condition that brings a lot of folks into my office... tension, pain, stiffness in the neck, shoulders and upper back. Structurally, it seems obvious why this is such a widespread malady... caused by something Moshé Feldenkrais referred to as "flexion addiction". Take a look at the predominant posturing in our culture -- hips flexed as in sitting: sitting to eat, drive, work, anything, and for long periods of time, with arms flexed as well. This alone creates a chronic imbalance between extended (stretched) muscles and contracted muscles. Add to this all of the moments of stress experienced while in this position, and we kind of lock ourselves into this form.

Energetically, let's look at what's happening through the meridian lens.

The yang, (active, strong) meridians are located primarily on the back side of our bodies and limbs. If you curled yourself up into a ball, you would be exposing only the yang meridians. Conversely, the yin (receptive) meridians are on the underbelly, the softer sides of our bodies and limbs. Describing the trend of our culture's posture in this way, it is as if we are assuming more of a protective stance, curling in on our more vulnerable sides, almost becoming like turtles. We put our backs (literally and figuratively) toward things which appear as threats, because they can withstand trauma and pain better than any of our other parts, while our more vulnerable areas, upper chest and abdomen, become more drawn in and, in effect, weaker.

We are, in essence, closing in on ourselves, becoming more contracted, and exacerbating the experience of pressure.

Not only is this manifested externally in our form, but the contraction of structure inhibits full breathing, circulation and ease of organ functioning. More pressure is created as a result, and on and on it goes.

Does this sound accurate to you? Does this feel like your own experience?

Tomorrow's post: some exercises to open up the contraction of the body. See you then!

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Comments

[Suzanna Stinnett]

Gina, this is such an informative post! I've known about meridians for many years, but never seen it explained quite this way. I have to go stretch now (!!) and I thank you for helping me remember how important it is to balance all the sitting and stress in my life. I can't wait to see the rest of your series.
Suzanna

[Lisa Hunter]

Gina! This post rocks! For such a long time, I've been horrified by the physical postures that are required of us in sitting in front of a computer to do the work we love (how ironic). And I feel exactly that way - like over the years I've slowly curled into a ball. I love your turtle metaphor - I never thought about how it causes you to literally put your back and your defenses to the world. Wow.

It also resonates because that's been my big thing - waking up the softer, more feminine, more yin wisdom to run our businesses. Not that the more outward yang wisdom is not important, but we tend to learn that kind of wisdom by default in our culture. And having both is really important.

I love how you've just pointed out that this imbalance is happening in my physical body as well. Now I have even more reason to be horrified by sitting at a computer so much. It makes me wonder - what is the animal metaphor for the GOOD way to be in your body while working. If we're turtles and we're in a protected posture, what's the animal image that gives us just the right balance of protected and vulnerable?

[Gina Loree' Marks]

I hope you got my message about pressure post #5.. ! LOL! How about a bird in flight!? Hard to work that way, but trying to take breaks in between and stretch in that complementary position. It's really not so much about that position, per se, that is the problem, but the length of time we spend there.

Variety of movement is the key... another Feldenkrais bit of wisdom.. life is movement! And lots of it! So, git up and dance once in a while!!