One of my great experiences during the Lancaster newborn research project was the confirmation of Ida Rolf’s belief that wherever the symptom was in the body, the root of the problem was almost certainly somewhere else.
The three of us had the opportunity to work on many babies at the same time. One provider would hold the pelvis and legs, another the trunk, and the third the head and neck.
As the infant drove the movement, we would communicate what we were feeling in our section of the body. As a result, we were able to trace many strains from one part of the body to another part, some from head to toe.
Every cell of our 40 trillion cells is connected in the fascial web. Thus, the force of a trauma can run through the body like a lightning bolt and strain any combination of tissues. That is why every patient presents with a different story and why one cookbook therapy plan cannot be corrective for everyone.
This puts a different light on the therapeutic efficacy of healing structural issues. Let’s say a patient presents to the massage therapist with chronic neck pain. The muscle therapy session maybe helpful for a day or so but the problem still persists. Why?
Let’s say the same patient goes for a chiropractic adjustment. The adjustment helps for a short time, the condition returns, and the patient needs continual adjustments. Why?
In each case, the fascial web is straining the neck, undoing the previous work. The root of the problem, the fascial strain in the lower body, has not been addressed and cleared.
Providers need to look outside of the symptomatic area in the craniosacral fascial system to discover the root of the problem. They also need to look at the time factor since the injury may have happened long ago. This system exists in space and time.
In our research project, we found that most upper-body conditions will not resolve until the lower-body strains have been fully released. Everyone needs full-body therapy for complete release of the fascial web.
Newborns present the best scenario where the fresh birth injuries can more easily be released like the layers of an onion. Gillespie Approach Training is so needed for every newborn provider.
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