Below I have outlined a basic system of posture and movement which focuses on spiraling contractile fields. One intended benefit of approaching the body through such a system is to ease the process of approaching the whole body, instead of just focusing on basic movements. Geometry is another problem. While straight lines are a very helpful tool in modeling our inner and outer environments, it is a simplification of complexity. It seems wise to me now to start from the spiral, then the “breaking apart” process becomes easier since were are simplifying from a base we have mastered, instead of increasing complexity from our base.

In this system we divide the body into four major regions: core, upper extremity, middle extremity, lower extremity.

Each region has four major spiraling patterns, the core being the obvious center.

The four core spirals are most easily discovered through the breathing mechanism by trying to maximally expand and contract both the left and right sides of the core. This forms the basis for all other movements: relation with the breathing process. One approach to mastering any movement is to explore different relationships between the movement and breath. Example: try doing some squats while exhaling as you come up. Then, try doing some while inhaling as you come up, then holding the breath at the bottom and top. Then, try to breath freely under a tense core shield while squatting from that shield, similar to an exoskeleton. Then, try to hold the breath in the middle as you squat. Then, allow the whole core to breath fully as you squat up and down, allowing the relationship to be chaotic.

Record your results. You probably discovered that the breath and lower body have a host of potential relationships. I aim to maximize future freedom of action and awareness, so I encourage exploring the turf and making your own decisions about how you want to move your body next.

Basic 4 core spiral positions: breathe each side of chest to contralateral ASIS, breathe each side of upper back to sacrum

click here for video demonstration.

Basic 4 upper extremity spiral positions: look under front and back of each armpit.

click here for video demonstration.

Basic 4 middle extremity spiral positions: open hand upward reach up and out/down and back, turn fist/arm in reach across front/behind.

click here for video demonstration.

Basic 4 lower extremity spiral positions: closed arch reach foot across front/behind, open arch reach foot out front/back.

click here for video demonstration.

I have used these positions as ends to mobilize between, stretches to explore with different combinations of joints, basic poses to explore. I am working on integrating gait mechanics into this Spiral based approach to the human musculoskeletal system. I hope to get some short content out on this stuff, heavily inspired by a recent seminar with Adarian Barr of Barrunning.com.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.