Greetings again, friends!
I wrote the following while allowing myself to freely think outside of my health care occupational work of movement reeducation and therapy. I allow myself to do this sometimes. :-)
I am in awe with how much our reality is engaged with the entity, the "Spiral". Right within my own backyard as a Practitioner of the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, I notice the existence of various spiral Body Awareness lessons within our community, that explore and play with, or are oriented around the tendency for Spiral. I thought I might commentate on some additional observations of mine regarding this unique trajectory, the Spiral.
The action of the spiral is a very economical way for generating power, as displayed in Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais’s "Sitting to Standing" lesson, which employs the unique trajectory of a twist or spiral, as well as in the fabulous lesson by the Master Trainer, Ruthy Alon, in her "Standing Up from Sitting - Inner Dynamics of Gravity, Spiral and Timing" (25 minutes in length), on her magnificent "Free Your Back" audiotape lesson series.
In hands-on Functional Movement Education bodywork, the simple action of, for instance, say, lifting a client's arm or shoulder, or, pushing a client’s hip, as well as many other actions, sometime naturally lead into a spiral.
Ruthy Alon, one of the best “organized for movement” practitioners on our planet, beautifully demonstrates, during many of her public workshops, how the action of the spiral is evident within the leg, most likely the whole Self (whole body), during the leg's trajectory during walking. Many of us are familiar with how the action of reaching with the arm is enhanced when we allow the arm to twist or spiral. For example, say you wish to pick up an object from, for instance, a dining table or a shelf. Thus, allow your arm to freely “pronate” as your arm begins the movement of reaching. “Pronation”, or “to pronate” means to rotate the hand or forearm so that the surface of the palm is downward or toward the back. Also, you will find it helpful to allow your arm to pronate when performing other activities … such as when throwing a punch, speaking of which …
Many of the authentic punches in the sport of boxing, for example, the “left jab” or a “straight right” both employ a spiral, that is a twisting of the arm in a pronated direction, while an “uppercut” punch employs a supinated spiral, or “supination”. “To supinate” means to rotate the hand so that the palm is upward, rather, so that the palm is facing up or forwards. Also, observe how frequently two fighters or boxers dance around the ring against one another, before they gradually, ultimately, meet in the center of the ring to exchange punches. Again, this displays a spiral. The concept of dancing around a confrontation, as boxers sometimes do, all the while, gradually migrating towards the heated epicenter (thus, the trajectory of a spiral), is intriguing, as opposed to tackling something, unpreparedly, head-on.
The principle of the Screw, recognized within Mechanics as that fastener having “helical” threads, is an excellent demonstration of the ease and power of a spiral. The large amount of torque or “Moment Arm” generated from the action of turning a screw is often utilized for lifting, raising, and permanently fastening immense objects.
Scientists are aware of the spiral structure of a galaxy. Also, it has been conveyed to me that neighboring galaxies encounter one another in a spiral fashion. Likewise, on the other end of the spectrum, the very beginning of life, the initial contact between a sperm and egg is a spiral dance between these two lovers before they ultimately connect with one another.
The powerful, but very gentle, form of bodywork, Ortho-Bionomy, developed by formerly Canadian, then British Osteopath and Judo Master, Dr. Arthur Lincoln Pauls, passionately espouses the power of the spiral, as I am sure that other forms of bodywork do as well.
An extremely thought-provoking movie, the psychological thriller, "Pi", is named for the Greek symbol representing the value denoting a circle's circumference divided by its diameter, thus, an unending, irrational number. Released in 1998, the film touches upon the concept of a spiral, Kabbalah, and other philosophical issues, through its main character, a young mathematician genius.
Some animals exhibit spirals in the shape of their horns, teeth, or claws.
Whether man-made or in nature, we are surrounded by spirals. Please find below probably just a fraction of some examples within our world …
* Tree rings or annual growth rings of a tree.
* Nautilus shell.
* Grooves on the old style record LPs.
* Spider web.
* Cork screw tool.
* Strand of DNA.
* Water outflow from a sink or bathtub, i.e. “down the drain”.
* Tornado.
* Hurricane (the "eye" of the hurricane being the origin or the focal point).
I wrote the following while allowing myself to freely think outside of my health care occupational work of movement reeducation and therapy. I allow myself to do this sometimes. :-)
I am in awe with how much our reality is engaged with the entity, the "Spiral". Right within my own backyard as a Practitioner of the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, I notice the existence of various spiral Body Awareness lessons within our community, that explore and play with, or are oriented around the tendency for Spiral. I thought I might commentate on some additional observations of mine regarding this unique trajectory, the Spiral.
The action of the spiral is a very economical way for generating power, as displayed in Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais’s "Sitting to Standing" lesson, which employs the unique trajectory of a twist or spiral, as well as in the fabulous lesson by the Master Trainer, Ruthy Alon, in her "Standing Up from Sitting - Inner Dynamics of Gravity, Spiral and Timing" (25 minutes in length), on her magnificent "Free Your Back" audiotape lesson series.
In hands-on Functional Movement Education bodywork, the simple action of, for instance, say, lifting a client's arm or shoulder, or, pushing a client’s hip, as well as many other actions, sometime naturally lead into a spiral.
Ruthy Alon, one of the best “organized for movement” practitioners on our planet, beautifully demonstrates, during many of her public workshops, how the action of the spiral is evident within the leg, most likely the whole Self (whole body), during the leg's trajectory during walking. Many of us are familiar with how the action of reaching with the arm is enhanced when we allow the arm to twist or spiral. For example, say you wish to pick up an object from, for instance, a dining table or a shelf. Thus, allow your arm to freely “pronate” as your arm begins the movement of reaching. “Pronation”, or “to pronate” means to rotate the hand or forearm so that the surface of the palm is downward or toward the back. Also, you will find it helpful to allow your arm to pronate when performing other activities … such as when throwing a punch, speaking of which …
Many of the authentic punches in the sport of boxing, for example, the “left jab” or a “straight right” both employ a spiral, that is a twisting of the arm in a pronated direction, while an “uppercut” punch employs a supinated spiral, or “supination”. “To supinate” means to rotate the hand so that the palm is upward, rather, so that the palm is facing up or forwards. Also, observe how frequently two fighters or boxers dance around the ring against one another, before they gradually, ultimately, meet in the center of the ring to exchange punches. Again, this displays a spiral. The concept of dancing around a confrontation, as boxers sometimes do, all the while, gradually migrating towards the heated epicenter (thus, the trajectory of a spiral), is intriguing, as opposed to tackling something, unpreparedly, head-on.
The principle of the Screw, recognized within Mechanics as that fastener having “helical” threads, is an excellent demonstration of the ease and power of a spiral. The large amount of torque or “Moment Arm” generated from the action of turning a screw is often utilized for lifting, raising, and permanently fastening immense objects.
Scientists are aware of the spiral structure of a galaxy. Also, it has been conveyed to me that neighboring galaxies encounter one another in a spiral fashion. Likewise, on the other end of the spectrum, the very beginning of life, the initial contact between a sperm and egg is a spiral dance between these two lovers before they ultimately connect with one another.
The powerful, but very gentle, form of bodywork, Ortho-Bionomy, developed by formerly Canadian, then British Osteopath and Judo Master, Dr. Arthur Lincoln Pauls, passionately espouses the power of the spiral, as I am sure that other forms of bodywork do as well.
An extremely thought-provoking movie, the psychological thriller, "Pi", is named for the Greek symbol representing the value denoting a circle's circumference divided by its diameter, thus, an unending, irrational number. Released in 1998, the film touches upon the concept of a spiral, Kabbalah, and other philosophical issues, through its main character, a young mathematician genius.
Some animals exhibit spirals in the shape of their horns, teeth, or claws.
Whether man-made or in nature, we are surrounded by spirals. Please find below probably just a fraction of some examples within our world …
* Tree rings or annual growth rings of a tree.
* Nautilus shell.
* Grooves on the old style record LPs.
* Spider web.
* Cork screw tool.
* Strand of DNA.
* Water outflow from a sink or bathtub, i.e. “down the drain”.
* Tornado.
* Hurricane (the "eye" of the hurricane being the origin or the focal point).
Although some of the above may be associated with a “twist”, or a “helix”, I am still allowing either of these to also be categorized as a spiral. Thank you very much, Math Police.
Interestingly, the expression, “He’s spiraling downhill.”, or, “He’s on a downhill spiral.”, apparently infers that this individual is not directly going downhill, but is traveling a gradual, twisting, widening path to be gradually encroaching upon “the end or bottom of the hill”. Thus, this individual is progressively, piece by piece, becoming worse and worse to finally, ultimately, eventually reach the “down hill”. [Wow! That was a mouthful.] Rather than admitting that this individual has already “hit rock bottom”, by referencing the “spiral” term, at least one is expressing some slight politeness or courtesy toward this individual.
Can you think of other examples of a twist or spiral within our world, rather, within our reality?
Can you think of other applications or other philosophical paradigms related to this profound movement concept of the spiral?
If you don’t want to bother, you can just relax and come in for an unwinding, spiral, bodywork session. :-)
Take good care,
James
Guan Yin Acupuncture & Movement-Education Center
Dr. Lin Cheng Speer, LAc, OMD, PhD
James Speer, Injury Rehab Therapist
Functional Movement-Education Therapist
Practitioner of the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais
1003 Wilshire Blvd. Suites #203, #208
Santa Monica, CA 90401
tel. 310-395-1952www.drlinspeer.com
"Health Is All that Matters!"
"If you’re in pain, or your body aches, I give you the sensory motor experience to be able to move freely, effortlessly, pleasantly, without strain or discomfort. Say 'Hello' to relaxing, and 'Goodbye' to stiffness and pain!"
To see my popular YouTube video of me demonstrating the wonderful "'2-Minute Movement-Education Miracle' to Free Up Your Stiff Neck", Click Here
Dr. Lin Cheng Speer, LAc, OMD, PhD
James Speer, Injury Rehab Therapist
Functional Movement-Education Therapist
Practitioner of the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais
1003 Wilshire Blvd. Suites #203, #208
Santa Monica, CA 90401
tel. 310-395-1952www.drlinspeer.com
"Health Is All that Matters!"
"If you’re in pain, or your body aches, I give you the sensory motor experience to be able to move freely, effortlessly, pleasantly, without strain or discomfort. Say 'Hello' to relaxing, and 'Goodbye' to stiffness and pain!"
To see my popular YouTube video of me demonstrating the wonderful "'2-Minute Movement-Education Miracle' to Free Up Your Stiff Neck", Click Here
No comments:
Post a Comment