But, we're talking "Gravity" right now.
The originator of that definitive and peerless Structural Integration method, Dr. Ida P. Rolf, saw chronic symptoms such as pain and stress, fatigue, poor self-image, early aging as “…signals pointing to a single problem so prominent in their own structure, as well as others, that it has been ignored. They are at war with Gravity.”
She developed a system offering individualized assistance to individuals to live effortlessly upright, stress free, and supported by the energy field of the Earth itself. Her big idea: "Gravity is the tool. Gravity is the therapist."
"When the body gets working appropriately, the force of Gravity flows through and the body spontaneously heals itself." Dr. Rolf spoke those words in the context of getting people from a condition of imbalance to one of balanced alignment with the demands of Gravity. "Healing" in its totality is much more than correcting what's not right; it's about becoming a whole Human being. Growth. "Individuation", as C.G. Jung would put it. But, weeds grow. The kind of growth envisioned here is guided by a universal standard: Gravity. To live true to yourself. True to the Earth. In alignment with the flow of Creation. Go with the flow, Man!
So, just what is Rolf's "appropriate"? Again, same as for all structures on Earth. At the center of even the most eccentric looking architectural structures there's always the central vertical around which are symmetries and levels. Short lesson: the stresses need to be balanced.
If you need further convincing of this point, consider the Pyramids ...
Now look! Body balance with Gravity is not the all in all; the end all and be all. Okay? But it is part of the all. A large part in fact. A part that is almost not recognized for its implications for daily living. Sure, those money bags guys know all about Gravity to get their phallic substitute rockets off. We're talking here about basic, every day stuff. Not to factor it in is to like miss the forest for the trees. Gravity is not a suggestion; it's the law. Ignorance is not an excuse; there's a price to pay for not paying it attention. And, a pot of gold for cooperating with its imperatives. It's a choice.
Did you know that you have a choice? Now you do.
Imagine that. Talk about deep ecology! The force of Gravity itself is a vast untapped, universally available and ever-ready natural resource for Human health and wellness. Let's also mention top performance, and full creative expressiveness. At whatever the heck you set your mind on. You be you! Just why not go with a trusty guide? Okay, we all know from Gravity. As a concept. As a percept, an actively engaged conscious relationship, not so much. We pay a price. Living in default of our natural given potential for structural integration in our bodies as such, and with our bodies in relationship to the Earth.
An old friend of mine recently (finally!) got it about Gravity and said, “It’s amazing that with all the interest in ecology and natural living nobody’s talking about Gravity.” (Much less doing anything with it, I would add.) We certainly wouldn’t buy that house if the foundation was off, and the walls were cracking. Or drive down the street with our front end out of alignment. Play winning tennis with the strings not evenly tensioned. At Pisa I’ll let you take my picture next to their tower; but, no way am I going up there. But when it comes to our own physical architecture — how our bodies stack up in respect to the basic architectural dictates of Gravity — we don’t much look at our own stance in Gravity, how our own bodies stack up. If at all. We just take how it is as how it is. Never mind that it got that way, and that it can get got another way. But, such change takes doing. The body is not only elastic, it's plastic too. It can change. Rather easily don't you know.
The whole thing about how your condition is not fixed is simply observable. As children we grow bigger and stronger as we mature. How the parts of our bodies come to actually work as a unit, that's learned. We are shaped by our experience(s). Mostly self taught. We arrive at adulthood with a unique random testament to our development writ embedded into the very flesh. Not all bad. Lot of good. Yet, there are those accidents and traumas. Bad habits. Inadequate instruction. Modeling after significant others who themselves may not have been living into their own potential for healthy balance in the makeup of their bodies.
My friend suggested that I write a piece on “Gravity and aging”. So here we are. Thanks, buddy.
There is a problem with talking about Gravity as such. Gravity is the most prominent physical force the body has to deal with. It is also so constant and ubiquitous and ever present in our life that it’s easily not noticed. Like do fish notice the water?
Perhaps we’re reminded of its being there when we drop something or take a spill ourselves. Mainly it doesn’t register. It’s as if you asked a fish, “how’s the water?” “What water?” Imagine if Human beings were adapted to Gravity to the same degree as the fish are to the sea. If dolphins can leap into the air, what can you imagine Humans could leap into? Art Bell listeners, stay tuned. So what about Gravity and aging, you ask? Simply this … doesn’t it make just plain common sense that if you are not spending energy keeping yourself up, keeping yourself together, that you have more of it for living? Whatever the heck you are about to go about doing. You got to be in it to win it though. And when your body is in balance along the lines of Gravity you will discover its inner secret: It uplifts you. It is supportive, nourishing. It energizes. You feel great. You live well. And you last longer too.
We're all too familiar with Gravity as a downward force — "centripetal". The upward side is called "centrifugal". They are concomitant. Yin and Yang. Apple pie with a slice of Cheese, or a nice scoop of Ice Cream; your choice.
Mankind may not as of yet have explored that side of things Gravity-wise to its practical advantage(s). Prove me wrong.
This is as old as the hills, but as an idea it's new. As something to put into practice ... also new.
In my own field I am known as "Gravity Ace". Not out of knowing all there is to know or being an exquisite example of such balance. No. But for my enthusiasm for the prospect as a very, very good idea; and my own dedication to living into that potential myself.
Dr. Rolf admonished us to do this: "Consign your body to Gravity". In other words let Mother Nature's innate force be a guide in your life. Imagine, being effortlessly supported by the force of Gravity itself. Take a pause and consider that. It means not having to hold yourself together. There's some courage needed there; letting go of old patterns. New territory. But, since we're talking in alignment with Gravity, we can go confidently, and fearlessly into that territory. Kapische?
So, what's to do?
Now that you’re all convinced that you should have more Gravity in your life, now what to do? (While I offer clients individualized assistance to balance the makeup of their bodies along the simple lines of Gravity, my aim in writing this is to get you going on that Path. And, to give some pointers that will get you started. Should you want a helping hand, there are qualified practitioners in my field and in so many others that you can call on.)
Anything you do for your health is a good thing. Dr. Ida P. Rolf Method Structural Integration is the only thing out there that single mindedly works toward such balance aligned with Gravity. There are various schools which use names such as Rolfing, Hellerwork, Anatomy Trains Structural Integration [ATSI], Soma, and others.
Caution on selecting a practitioner. The so-called marketplace for balancing the body with the Gravitational field of the Earth is virtually non-existent. Most people look for this work out of seeking to remedy a physical problem, and sometimes as a last resort. Others in sports and the performing arts easily grok the advantage(s) of bodily balance. Many practitioners under the name of Structural Integration also offer therapeutic "fix it" work. All good. Just not Structural Integration as Dr. Rolf intended, not as any of the accredited school teach it. Alas, marketplace conditions; gotta put food on the table. People come in looking for to get fixed. It's a built in challenge to serve others while at the same time working to what amounts to a paradigm shift in our very notions of health and normalcy. The challenge as professionals is to work in an environment where most are looking for a therapeutic result when at the same time the work is designed to correct a more basic "fix"; that is, being ecologically at odds with the prevailing influence of Gravity.
BTW, Chiropractic is based on a similar fundamental premise; theirs built on the idea that proper spinal relationships support healthy functioning. Structural Integration goes a step further, introducing the whole Human being's relationship to the Earth, mitigated by you know what? ... the force of Gravity.
So, if you're interested in finding someone expert in delivering support on the potential to see yourself transformed to a higher order of workable balance vis-a-vis Gravity, get clear that the professional you will work with is geared in that direction. Like your sore shoulder will feel better with a little local manipulation. For a while anyway. It'll have a chance to fully resolve itself out of having the tensions of the entire whole body in equipoise. Verbum sat sap.
This is not just about the body. It's about the whole Human being. Becoming a whole Human being. As Ida Rolf would put it, we can't get our hands on hearts and minds; we can get our hands on bodies. Very practical she is.
My take on how to understand a lot of the typical decrepitude of old age is that as the years progress the unconscious patterns of imbalance built into our bodies over years of experience — imbalances = unresolved issues, incomplete experience, bad habits, lack of learning — become more obvious. We find ourselves living with the weight of the past. Metaphorically, being pulled down to the grave. "Grave" ... "Gravity", get it.
Yes, there is a downward pull to Gravity. Who doesn't know that. Even as kids stacking blocks we grok how things have to go to stay upright. Same for the body. Imbalances in the arrangement of the Human body require energy to counteract the downward pull of Gravity. What to do?
The good news is that there's another side to Gravity! It's upward — "centrifugal" — equal and opposite reaction to that familiar downward pull. To convey the experience in words is a challenge. Like, how does it feel to slip into the crystal blue waters off a white sand beach on a sun drenched day in the balmy, soft breeze on a Caribbean island? Or, you name you're spot; or, your experience. How about a bed of Rose petals in a sun dappled grove near a meandering river?
But, when there are imbalances, you can sometimes feel like a mountain of gold being pulled up a steep hill in a rickety Donkey cart.
In balance, it's strong, graceful, easy, capable, enjoyable. Looks good too. [Note that when you want to go for plastic surgery to fix the surface of things.] That there, all those desirable attributes. that's your birthright. Even with whatever how you call them "genetic" and "karmic" conditions, in balance with the ineluctable, constant and ever-present action of Gravity gets you through efficiently and creatively. Kapische?
The thing is, when we're young and full of life we take things for granted. The force of Gravity is not in direct conscious view. Like the air we breathe. It's just there. No need to pay attention. This aging business has to do with the accumulation of debt we incur for not having paid attention to the constant signals Gravity is giving.
What are those signals? Very plain, and direct. What you are feeling right now. That's it. That feeling state, those various feelings are your dance with Gravity. We just don't pay any attention mostly. And, when we do notice, not usually connecting with the fact that very often it's a message from Gravity. Whether you're with it, or not. The culture at large offers pills. For profit. Ain't no profit in Gravity. As I said, it takes doing. That's the investment you make. Whether on your own, or with a helping hand. Your choice. Just ... do it!
So, let's pay attention. You know how in sports the primary point is to keep your eye on the ball? It's the same with Gravity. Just to pay attention.
How? There's really no "how". There is something to do however.
My Rx: This may seem a little strange to you at first; but you gotta try it. Too simple. Maybe even too simple. Look. Just like when you drive your car you pay attention to the road (unless you’re one of those with a cell phone glued to your ear) ... so from now on — are you ready — feel your feet.
That’s right, feel your feet.
Your feet are the foundation of your body, literally. By always feeling your feet you will start creating the habit of paying attention to your body. We're not saying to put all your attention on your feet, but just to include that sensory factor in your conscious presence. Such mindfulness will become an ingrained habit. It will grow to the point where you will become conscious of the felt sense of your whole body and the feelings that are moving through it. That’s when you will also be able to be aware of the signals your body gives when it is out of balance in Gravity, or any other way. Then you can make the necessary adjustments yourself. Comfortable, relaxed is the hallmark of living in balance.
It’s in you.
Go there.
PS Cultivating a somatic felt sense of the body isn't something that is commonly understood, much less practiced. The term is "embodiment". For some it may come as a sea change. It is the opposite of being fixated in mental pictures and stories. Absorbed in the phantasmagoria of the sensory world experience. The felt body sense is immediate. It is happening. It behooves you to notice. It's real. It's now. It's here.
Hear?
