Pain and tension can ruin your day.
A majority of people in any room are experiencing some ache or pain at this moment. I know, I have asked.
Pain is the body’s signal for attention to a certain area, asking to dig deeper into the root cause of imbalance. We don’t want to bypass it by taking something that masks the information from this signal. Yet we don’t have to suffer – ever.
There is something that I know we can do immediately to start down this process of digging into the root cause and beginning to rebalance.
It is based on the fact that most people tend to use one side of their body more than the other. You have a dominant hand, leg and eye. This creates a structural imbalance which can affect function. And we know that one imbalance leads to another, and this can mean imbalances in any area of life, not just your body.
Charlene, who used these exercises while on a trip commented, “I didn’t revert into pain or spasms because my body could self-adjust.” Isn’t that the essence of true first aid?
What is it? you ask. I don’t want to torture you, but first I must give a little background so that you understand what is happening so you can see when to use this as a first aid solution.
Reality Check
Go to a mirror and look at your face and body. Do you notice the imbalance from side to side? One eye might be open more, one corner of your mouth may be more upturned, one shoulder may be higher than the other, and so on.
Now look at your dominant hand. It usually stays half-closed, contracted. In fact, when you look at the entire dominant side of your body, it is usually more contracted.
This contraction on one side can lead to pain in the back and shoulders as well as problems in other parts of the body. It is also a contributing factor to poor equilibrium.
The First Aid
The first aid I am suggesting for backache or any other pain caused by this habitual imbalance are simple releases to counteract this contraction and resulting imbalance.
And because of the important principle that muscles work in sympathy, it can help release tension from any cause.
They are from Paula Garbourg, who developed a system of exercises from observation and experimentation on people after she used them on herself to come back from a lack of mobility that required a wheelchair. She wrote down her system in the book called The Secret of the Ring Muscles.
The two presented here are to rebalance this asymmetry of the body caused by using one side of the body predominantly.
The secret she reveals is about the ring muscles, technically known as sphincters. Ring muscles contract to a center, like those that surround the orifices of the body. But other combinations of muscles bring body parts to a center also like the hand.
Remember, as the tone of any one muscle affects all the muscles of the body, releasing certain muscles can affect the tension of all the muscles, releasing restriction and pain.
OK, let’s not wait any longer and start in.
Dominant Hand Release
Determine which is your dominant hand. It is the one you prefer to use for most fine motor skills.
Spread the four fingers of your dominant hand as widely as you can. Your thumb will do what it needs to without you directing it.
Do this only with your dominant hand, not both. Also, relax your arm, as your fingers are the only things spreading.
Hold this position for one to two minutes to start. If it is uncomfortable, it is a sign that this exercise is needed.
Keep holding it. You can engage in other activities while holding it.
After five to ten minutes holding this position, you should begin to feel your body straighten.
After the straightening has covered the dominant side of the body, then it radiates to the whole body.
This is also explained in a previous post Exercises for Beauty, because the more symmetrical a body is, the more we perceive it as beautiful
And if you like videos, I made Counteract the Imbalance of Modern Life at this link on my Youtube channel.
Success Stories
I myself have used this when I used to have a tight back when I walked my dog. With the leash in my left hand, I would start walking, stretching out the fingers of my right hand as I walked. After a bit, I could feel my low back releasing, giving more ease in my steps. I kept at it, stretching out the fingers of my right hand until I didn’t notice any discomfort, and by that time I had just about forgotten about stretching my fingers out.
 | I received Bowen bodywork for back spasms that had me miserable for 9 months. After a second treatment, I went travelling for 3 weeks and I was okay! The little exercises Dr. Cheryl gave me helped me in a pinch. I didn’t revert into pain or spasms because my body could self-adjust. – CG |
| I had a knee replacement and felt tension in my back. As I live too far away to come for a Bowen bodywork session, Dr. Cheryl told me about a simple release that could help. And it did! I did it to relieve the tension in my back whenever I needed to so I could continue to recover my knee. – RL | |
 | My hip seemed to go out of place for no reason at all and it was painful. Dr. Cheryl helped me stabilize it with Bowen bodywork treaetments, and showed me a release to do at home when I needed it. Well, my hip had twinges like it was going to go out, and after doing the exercise, it was back to normal. What a relief! – SR |
Whole Body Release
But wait, there is more! There is a second release for when you have time to really let go and rebalance.
This one is also available on video here.
- Lie on your back, relaxing into a supportive bed.
2. Bend your non-dominant leg, pull it up to your chest, and clasp it to your abdomen with the elbow on that side.
3. Keep your other leg – your dominant side – as straight and stretched out as possible.
4. Then raise your dominant arm above your head until the back of your hand rests on the bed.
5. Turn your head upward and to that side until you can see the palm of your dominant hand.
6. The body is really stretched in this position; let it release.
7. At first you may feel some discomfort, or heat at the site of discomfort. Maintain this position, taking short breaks if necessary, until the heat and discomfort passes.
8. When the excess tensions have dissipated, get up and feel what iis free of pain and more mobile.
When can I use this first aid?
This is meant to be used to get you out of pinch in the context of whole body care, not to replace the message of pain. But it is a good start since your body is releasing what is holding an imbalance.
My disclaimer is that this is not medical advice, and you should always defer to your medical practitioner.
This is not just for backaches, and can be used for any body tension, anywhere. Give it a go!
People have been helped with these releases for
- Neck pain
- Arm pain
- Hand problems
- Shoulder problems
- Back pain and spasms
- Unsteady balance
- Hip and groin pain
- Nervous system overload from stress
Add your own symptoms to this list, as you get relief.
I find that this first aid is useful when you have been receiving Bowen Bodywork treatments for releasing tension to realign structure, which prevents further imbalances and pain. Then when something happened to imbalance you and you need immediate relief, these releases can come in handy. Or if you have spent a whole day gardening, using your dominant side, it can release the imbalance at the end of the day so it does not develop into pain from the tension.
Call me at 928-649-9234 for a chat to find out how you might rebalance using Bowen bodywork, and use these releases before your session to get some relief.
