Tone & Tension
The bony framework of the spine and cranium serves as the physical protector of the nervous system, but also as a regulator of tension. Tension placed on tissue will change its shape. Changes in shape can and will alter function. From cell membranes to capillaries (tiny blood vessels), eyeballs, muscles, and stomaches, the tension on all tissues and organs reflects how well they can move energy and information. Too much or too little tension leads to disorder, dysfunction, and dis-ease. This is why we recognize the vital and central role the neuroskeleton plays in health.
The nervous system is the means of communication between all of the denizens of the physical body, our knowledge of the world around us, our relationship to others, and our connection to Source. It sets the tone for how we (be/do/have) life. Chiropractic is founded upon the principle of tone and its practice supports the conscious and ecological expression of life.
The Science of Chiropractic
Chiropractic science recognizes the foundational role the nervous system plays in health. When there is interference in the communication between the brain and the body, we are not able to adapt to stress effectively. Finding, measuring, and helping the nervous system reorganize these areas of interference is the primary goal of chiropractic care.
This begins with movement. Areas of the spine that do not move normally do not move effectively. The energy bound in these areas can show up as muscle tension, stiffness, reduced range of motion, or pain. Movement, especially within the spine, is a vital nutrient for the brain.
Without free and integrated movement, the quantity and quality of information from the body to the brain is reduced. The picture the brain has to work with becomes less rich and detailed. Its ability to regulate normal baseline function in the organs is affected.
What follows is a change in tone. Tone is the energetic signature that all cells, tissues, and organs have. All muscles in the body must maintain tone in order for the body to work properly.
Beyond the “musculoskeletal” system, when we recognize that muscle tone determines the flow of blood and the release of hormones from every gland in the body, we can appreciate the physiological fact that the health of any part of the body is intimately connected to the state and tone of the nervous system.
Dysfunction, dis-ease, and disease are downstream effects of the insult and interference within and through the nervous system. Chiropractic calls this interference subluxation. The chiropractic adjustment is an invitation to help the nervous system re-member, and in so doing liberate the self-healing and self-organizing power of the body.
A Broader Horizon
In The Art of Racing in the Rain, the main (human) character Denny shares a secret he learned when racing cars in Italy: "La macchina va dove vanno gli occhi." Loosely translated, the car goes where the eyes go.
So too with the vehicle of our bodies and the instrument of our minds. Consider the essential behavior of hand-eye coordination. From bowling to baseball, yarning to yoga, our ability to track and translate the movement of our body to effect change on the external world requires we see the action as we perform it. It also highlights the importance of having direct experiences in the physical world. Nature pushes back in a real and meaningful way. The hyper-novelty of the modern era continues to draw us away from direct, physical experiences and toward screen-mediated virtual ones. I contend that the conversation that occurs between the body, the mind, and the environment is diminished when we over-inhabit digital space.
Our brains prioritize keeping our sightline horizontal. Our sense of balance is predominantly influenced by sight. The multi-sensory array of organs that allow us to perceive the real world is concentrated in the head, so our brains want to know where we are in space.
Literally and figuratively, we see where we are going because it is often where we are looking. To the extent that we allow our field of vision to include a broader horizon, we can approach a more expansive experience.
I believe that the art of chiropractic offers a philosophical, evolutionary, and expansive perspective. Beyond bones and muscles, chiropractic interfaces with the neurological, immunological, and psycho-emotional aspects of inhabiting a human body.
When things aren’t working we tend to look down and watch our feet. I invite you to consider what else you might see by looking up and opening the aperture of your perspective.