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Sessions 4: The Foundation
In Session 4, we begin our move from the extrinsic to the intrisic layer of the body. Here we work the front of the core line, starting with the inside of the ankles and moving up to the Lumbo-Dorsal Hinge, or LDH. The LDH is located at the top of the lower back, or lumber spine, which consists of the lower 5 vertebrae (the sacrum and coccyx are not included in these 5 and are considered to be part of the pelvis effectively for our work). Above the LDH is the dorsal or thoracic spine, which consists of the 12 vertebrae that have ribs attached. The meeting of the lower and upper spine is an important area of the body, and one where we often find functional breakdown. Both the Diaphram and Psoas connect at the LDH. Often times a person will hinge at this point, which is fine momentarily, we encourage freedom of movement, but over time will develop a chronic forward lean here. This pattern will shorten the psoas, causing pelvic tilt, and all the problems discussed in The Core Sessions. Kinking here will also cause a disfunction in the primary breathing muscle, the diaphram. As discussed already, we can survive weeks without food, days without water, and only minutes without breath. Disfunction of breath is the primary cause of muscle fatigue in the body, and disfunction of internal organs. As we discovered in session 1, breath is vital to life.
As we're beginning to understand, the body is not a collection of pieces, but rather an integrated whole. Proper function and integrity of the LDH, or anywhere for that matter, requires proper support from integrated parts. For this reason, much of session 4 is spent supporting the LDH from underneath. We lift the lower legs to support the proper ankle and knee joints setup in session 2. We take it further, and work the adductor group, moving from the inside of the knee up the front and inside of the thighs, into and including the pelvic attachments. We also lengthen the Psoas from it's lower insertion to it's upper attachment at the LDH. Though the Psoas is often considered only a hip flexor, it is more functionally thought of as the guiding muscle for adductors (which bring our legs in), abductors (which take our legs out), and hip flexors and extensors (the quadriceps on the front of the thigh, and the hamstrings on the back side), setting the overall placement and tone tendencies.
As we work into the groin muscles, we will sometimes come into contact with issues, concerns and possibly past trauma over safety, stability and protection. This is a vulnerable area of the body and one that is central to sexuality, stability and our standing in the world. Even at an early age, without the added possibility of sexual abuse, most of us wore diapers, and our first assignment in this world of self control came with potty training and bowel control. Diapers themselves can even cause adductor/abductor unbalance with their bulkiness and discomfort. From an early age, we often set the tone for unbalanced standing, leading to a wide stance and knee or ankle problems. This is not always the case, and sometimes it's just another session, but the possibility is there and the invitation is to be open to a deeper healing and letting go.