In Part I of this series of articles regarding the spine, I explored the concept of Whole Body Health and the belief systems as one aspect of the process of sustaining or attaining physical health.
We know that this is not a new idea because we had access to some of the writings left by our ancestors.
The concept goes back to the times of Ayurveda, ancient Chinese Medicine and Native Indian Medicine to name just a few.
“The ones who came before us” (as Gregg Braden refers to our forerunners) knew that the physical health of the human body depends on the understanding of the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical aspects of ourselves.
Some of us believe that the body will be in a state of health if we eat and sleep well, exercise, drink water and do not carry genes that make us more prone to certain diseases.
But these are all related to the physical body and we are not just physical.
The physical body is responding to all the aspects of who we are by manifesting health or discomfort and disease.
We physically manifest what we believe.
Our chosen belief system will affect our Whole Body Health in general and the physical health in particular.
Let’s explore some of the common beliefs we harbor about our spines and how this can affect the physical health:
- We might believe that our discs start to degenerate from a very early age and that by the age of 50 or 60 discal protrusions and hernias are imminent. Even though it is absolutely true that the discs become thinner, less plump and start to degenerate from the teenage years it is not true that we must end up debilitated and in pain. There are older people who move and feel like young adults. What makes that possible? Is it only a lifetime of good eating habits, exercise and good genes or is it what these people have believed all their lives?
- We might believe that our state of emotional health has no serious effects on our spines. Even though we all know that stress is not good for the heart and that the risk of heart disease increases with higher levels of stress hormones, we do not extend the thought beyond that. Even though we have learned from our doctors and from the media that our digestive systems can be affected by elevated stress levels, we do not connect the dots. Stress affects everything in our bodies! I will say this again: Stress affects everything!! Our connective tissues become tighter, our postures change dramatically when we suffer emotional distress. We all know how a happy and content person carries themselves and we have felt ourselves shrinking and falling inward when we are in emotional pain.
- We might believe that unless we started exercising when younger and more energetic, we have no chance of returning to a state of well being and a more youthful spine. Some of the physical changes that impede the freedom of movement in the joints can be irreversible (arthritis, spinal stenosis, etc.), but if we believe that nothing can be done to alleviate the discomfort created by these conditions then nothing will help. I have seen dramatic changes in strength and mobility, stability and stamina in clients of all ages and varying degrees of health. What made these changes possible was their decision to start believing in the possibility.
Our beliefs will find a way to manifest in our bodies, creating an either healthy, youthful spine or a plethora of discomfort levels and conditions, depending on what we feel to be true.
We can choose to change how we eat, how much we exercise and decide to take a few extra days of rest, but before we truly believe that we can return to a youthful spine we will not witness the extraordinary capacity for recovery and regeneration that our physical bodies have!
When we are in harmony with all the aspects of ourselves, our bodies vibrantly reflect a general state of health and well-being.
I believe that returning to a youthful spine is not only possible, but just one belief away!