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   34.     Body Sculpting with Massage                                                       10/22/03

 

Once you understand how to change a structural or alignment problem on your self and can understand its implications for your body you may be able to point out or suggest a solution to another.

An example of correcting a problem of the body that is fairly easy to remedy is fallen arches. With an adult that has fallen arches, pointing out and illustrating what is poor alignment as well as good alignment for the body will give the person some information on how to stand and walk without collapsing the arches of the feet as well as instituting good alignment habits. This will affect both health and performance over the long run.

A fuller explanation and suggestions about the arches of the feet and alignment can be found in other entries within this site that deal with the feet and standing.

 

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Seeing this problem on a child or an infant, the process of informing the child and infant can be done with out words. By gently shaping the arch of the feet and massaging the foot and leg in the direction of opening (supination) you will be giving the body a feeling key. The spirit generally likes this feeling and will like this massage. Perhaps we have an innate sense for what is an accurate way of animating the body.

Recently I met with a doctor from India, who’s 8-month-old niece had a noticeable collapse of the left foot while the leg was also rotated inward. This was being treated as a condition that needs medical treatment, since doctors and family accept this as something that is a fixed condition. The only reason that this is so, I conclude, is that alignment and the malleability of the body is not fully understood by a large percentage of the medical world.

I explained this to the doctor and instructed her in the use of her own feet and legs, which were also a little turned in (pronation). By a hands on demonstration she could feel the common sense of the accuracy of alignment. This resonates fairly fast with most people. I then showed her how to massage the foot and leg in the direction of alignment so she can do this with her niece.

A friend, whose boy of three had a similar problem, asked me to look at her sons’ condition. I massaged the boys’ foot and shaped his arches as well as massaged his legs in an outward/open direction. After 3 or 4 minutes you can see a change for the better. I showed her how to do this and within a month this boys’ condition was fine. She had no prior training in alignment work.

The picture on the left shows an example of what can be seen as a problem of the left leg and foot. By massaging the leg lightly in an open direction, as can be seen on the right, you can affect a change to an aligned position. Also on the left you can see that the left foot is turned in and the arch somewhat flattened. By massaging the foot to restore the arch  you can also change that condition. With children and young people it is interesting to observe how fast accurate information will be absorbed by their body. I have often experienced the speed with which this alignment principle is accepted by the body. With continued application of walking and maintaining the arches of the feet good alignment starts to take hold and becomes second nature. The pictures were posed and not taken from actual cases, but do illustrate both the often considered "fixed" problem as well as a comfortable solution.

Considering the alternative, medical treatments and physically limiting effects, that this condition can have on anyone, we can take it in to our own hands and save a lot of money and pain for another.

 Peace.

 

 

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