Welcome to the second post of my Body Part Series! Just to recap, throughout this series I intend to highlight the theme of the body part in question, to discuss how issues in that area may be influenced by other parts of the body, and to leave you with a few questions for further reflection. These articles will by no means cover the entire scope of the topic at hand, and there are truly so many different perspectives out there... so please note that I do not claim to be an authority, nor am I here to convince you of anything - I'm just a rather curious explorer whose aim is to give you a glimpse into perspectives which I have enjoyed contemplating on my own and in the context of my holistic practice.
To follow up from my post about the shoulder, I wanted to take a look at another area which seems to be a popular sore spot amongst clients, an area which I personally find to be one of the most fascinating areas to work with: the neck and back. Obviously, these are two separate parts of the body, and often they do ask to be addressed individually, but as both parts house the entirety of the spinal column I thought to cover them together in the same article.
The neck, in itself, represents the theme of FLEXIBILITY/RIGIDITY and of SEEING ALL SIDES. Including the throat, the neck also acts as a two-way bridge between the body and the mind - it is both where we “swallow” our reality and where inner feelings from the heart can be released. Although issues with the neck can be limited to components of the neck itself or the cervical spine, they are very often tied in to different parts such as the head or mind, throat or thyroid, the shoulders, the heart, the back or otherwise, all the while taking into consideration anatomy and physiology, meridians, environmental factors, and the various consciousness themes that the related part or parts represent. For example, one client may have chronic neck pain because they’re rigid in their beliefs or mindset, whereas another may be suffering due to resenting a situation in their life, feeling guilty about that resentment, and stifling their emotions. These are but a couple of basic examples - you may have a room full of people with similar symptoms and yet when you get to work, you find that each body tells a different story.
Below the neck and cervical spine is the thoracic, lumbar, sacral spine and coccyx, which span the length of the back. Along with the theme of FLEXIBILITY/RIGIDITY just like the neck, general themes for the back include SUPPORT, PROTECTION and STABILITY. However, in addition to these general themes, each vertebrae of the spine represents a specific theme, as does each section of the spine, which takes the aligned organs, endocrine glands, and energetic centres of consciousness into consideration, amongst other factors.
Besides the array of themes associated to the sections of the spine and to the vertebrae themselves, experience leads me to believe that the back often holds what we can’t see, or perhaps what we don’t want to see. Although sometimes the back is simply a blind spot, it can point to issues that we are actively avoiding, to where we have stored trauma, or have “buried the wound” so to speak.
Besides the array of themes associated to the sections of the spine and to the vertebrae themselves, experience leads me to believe that the back often holds what we can’t see, or perhaps what we don’t want to see. Although sometimes the back is simply a blind spot, it can point to issues that we are actively avoiding, to where we have stored trauma, or have “buried the wound” so to speak.
Common themes amongst the vertebrae include, but are not limited to: ABANDONMENT, REJECTION, PERFECTIONISM, INSECURITY, HUMILIATION, BETRAYAL, FRUSTRATION, SAVING OTHERS, FEELING/BEING BOUND (to or by someone or something). To be clear, I did not invent these themes myself - I discovered them over the course of my studies and, in practice, my clients and I have observed them to be quite accurate. When they do arise in session these themes are never approached from a place of judgment, but from a place of acknowledging the reality of our shared humanness as we ALL experience these themes to a certain extent. Some of us simply have a tendency to hold our mental/emotional/spiritual pain in our back more than others, others who may potentially hold theirs elsewhere. Although no one is immune to back pain, I've noticed a trend; very often, those who come to me for help with their back are the “superheroes” of society - police officers, firefighters, paramedics, teachers, conventional and alternative healthcare practitioners - those who serve the public and must always appear to be strong. Then there are the athletes under pressure, the parents and caregivers who put everybody else first, the bread-winners who provide all the financial support, not to mention those who feel stuck in an unhappy marriage or relationship but can’t seem to leave. Again, these are just a few examples. So while back pain may be triggered by physical activity such as lifting a heavy barbell, lugging kids around, massaging clients, patrolling in an emergency vehicle or sitting at a computer all day, if that pain is more than just fleeting, it is likely trying to tell you something relevant about your life beyond the context of the trigger itself.
Over the years, clients have approached me with neck and back issues of all kinds - from minor tension and stiffness to serious conditions, some of them even stemming from birth. While certain symptoms resolve themselves quickly and others show improvement over time, I have observed that either way, working with consciousness along with the physical brings about significant shifts in awareness which greatly support and encourage one’s growth and one's healing process on all levels.
If you or someone you know is experiencing pain or symptoms in the neck or back, here are some questions for further reflection:
Again, the questions I ask in these articles and the insight or answers that may arise are just for you, a personal exercise if ever it can be helpful. For anyone who is reading this and curious about my approach, while I do work successfully hand in hand with doctors, chiropractors, osteopaths, kinesiologists, and physiotherapists, l will never manipulate or crack parts of the body in my sessions as that is not my expertise. That said, I am able to work effectively in-person and via distance using safe and non-invasive techniques which address body, mind, and spirit.
To stay up to date with news and session promotions be sure to sign up for my newsletter using the button at the bottom of my home page or the Newsletter Signup tab on my Facebook!
Before I sign off, I just want to say that I sincerely appreciate all the enthusiasm and great feedback I've received thus far about my new blogging venture and hope that my articles continue to provide you with something of value. Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for the next installment...!
Over the years, clients have approached me with neck and back issues of all kinds - from minor tension and stiffness to serious conditions, some of them even stemming from birth. While certain symptoms resolve themselves quickly and others show improvement over time, I have observed that either way, working with consciousness along with the physical brings about significant shifts in awareness which greatly support and encourage one’s growth and one's healing process on all levels.
If you or someone you know is experiencing pain or symptoms in the neck or back, here are some questions for further reflection:
- Do you have difficulty accepting an aspect of your reality or a situation in your life?
- Do you tend to “swallow” your feelings? (love, affection, fear, anger, etc.)
- Are you rigid in your mindset or beliefs, unable or unwilling to see different points of view?
- Are you in a position of providing support to others and often put their needs before your own?
- Do you feel stable in life (physically/mentally/emotionally/spiritually/financially)?
- Have you felt or been betrayed by someone important to you?
- Do you notice ways in which you are betraying or have betrayed yourself?
- Have you suffered trauma or abuse (physical/emotional/psychological/sexual)?
- Do you often find yourself frustrated in life?
- Do you feel trapped or powerless under the hold of someone or something?
Again, the questions I ask in these articles and the insight or answers that may arise are just for you, a personal exercise if ever it can be helpful. For anyone who is reading this and curious about my approach, while I do work successfully hand in hand with doctors, chiropractors, osteopaths, kinesiologists, and physiotherapists, l will never manipulate or crack parts of the body in my sessions as that is not my expertise. That said, I am able to work effectively in-person and via distance using safe and non-invasive techniques which address body, mind, and spirit.
To stay up to date with news and session promotions be sure to sign up for my newsletter using the button at the bottom of my home page or the Newsletter Signup tab on my Facebook!
Before I sign off, I just want to say that I sincerely appreciate all the enthusiasm and great feedback I've received thus far about my new blogging venture and hope that my articles continue to provide you with something of value. Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for the next installment...!
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