Momentum – By Chris Clayton
Momentum is at the very centre of our human existence. Throughout history, humankind has needed to maintain some form of momentum to keep moving forward using various methods of movement to find food, shelter and what we need to survive.
Even looking at our basic anatomy, we will notice that our feet, knees, pelvis, heart, head and our eyes are all oriented in the forward direction. Because of this orientation, I feel that we are designed to go forward physically and mentally. When we can’t go forward, we lose momentum, and if we lose momentum, it’s quite possible that our minds start to tell us that we are going backward, even when in the big scheme of things, it is only a momentary pause.
This is possibly why we don’t like traffic jams, or possibly the reason why we get so frustrated in busy car parks, Christmas shopping crowds or anywhere where we lose momentum. I feel this dislike for losing momentum is intrinsically embedded in us, from the earliest of our ancestors up to now. It seems that we have this inherent drive to keep moving forward. On a side note, I fully acknowledge that we should also learn to get off the hamster wheel, stop, rest and breathe a little from time to time. Even with the thought of resting occasionally in mind, we still need to keep moving forward with the momentum available to us in a given moment. While on this sidenote it is also worth noting that momentum has many variable speeds, too fast we may end up crashing, too slow and we don’t feel that we are getting anywhere. An unplanned stop, well, that seems to evoke a sense of frustration for so many of us.
“Momentum begets momentum, and the best way to start is to start.” ~ Gil Penchina
This brings me to the point of what this little article is about. When we have chronic pain or long-term movement pattern inhibitions, it limits our options and makes our world a little smaller, because there is a reduction in our potential to move forward. It gives us that restrictive feeling that we can’t quite do what we normally do or go where we would normally go. When this occurs our momentum also suffers, and as we have seen we do not always appreciate a reduction in our momentum. This can affect us physically and potentially mentally in some way or another.
Structural integration can help people regain and maintain their momentum. Anatomy Trains Structural Integration (ATSI) gives us a series of tools that can help us regain freedom of movement, space and the momentum which is so positive for us. By looking at our client’s global movement and identifying what is moving too much and what is not moving enough, we can then work towards creating a better body-wide balance and the opportunity for change.
When we feel that change occur, we can see potential and when we have potential, we can see hope and where there is hope there is momentum.
ATSI sessions can also be very detailed and focus on very specific anatomy and have specific movement and manual treatment plans to help address those key areas. But at the same time ATSI is about keeping in mind how the detail fits in with the global picture of what will help our clients function more efficiently as a whole.
For me structural integration is a hands-on process of restoring those key areas and assisting the client with reconnecting with themselves (as our amazing Director of Anatomy Trains Australia and NZ, Julie Hammond explained to us so well recently).
Our therapeutic goal is to help restore that sense of movement and re-light the fire of their momentum within them. In my mind this is because momentum is one of those quintessential needs that lives deep inside, possibly at the very centre of us.
Chris Clayton
Certified Anatomy Trains Teacher