The Crazy Wisdom Community Journal • January - April 2018 • Page 102
Ortho-Bionomy: Using the Vital Role of Body Awareness in Healing By Cinda Hocking, LMSW
Cinda Hocking
Sue Phare
Most of the time, we are only fully aware of our body when it feels especially good or especially bad. If our mental life is busy and we are distracted, we rarely tune in to our physical being and kinesthetic senses. Because of our tendency to be preoccupied with what’s happening from the neck up, we are often unaware of how both our thoughts and physical habits lead us to hold unnecessary tension and stress. Fortunately, with increased attention and intention, we can become more aware and begin to prevent, minimize, and recover from our negative bodystress patterns. Ortho-Bionomy® is a gentle, integrative, educational system of body therapy based in osteopathic principles and postural release, which provides a useful way to evaluate and adjust our body’s systems toward comfort and pain relief.
When I did not add to the tension, the process of natural healing could then be maximized. I watched a large, hard hematoma that had developed just off the bone near my elbow instantly subside! The term “Ortho-Bionomy” comes from “ortho,” meaning correct or straight; “bio,” meaning life; and “nomy,” meaning “the laws of” or “study of.” The founder of the technique, Dr. Arthur Lincoln Pauls (1929–1997), defined it as “the correct application of the laws of life.” My colleague, Sue Phare, and I were introduced to Ortho-Bionomy through our martial arts training. Our teacher was a trained naturopath in Oregon and OrthoBionomy was one of the modalities he worked in. He used it with me when I was injured in class from accidentally getting hit with a stick. The teacher pointed out how I was holding unnecessary tension in the area by pretending it did not hurt. He helped me to relax with basic Ortho-Bionomy techniques. The healing seemed to occur just from him guiding me with small movements and a change in mindset. The process of paying attention differently to my injury allowed
me to walk that middle path between denying and over-identifying with it. When I did not add to the tension, the process of natural healing could then be maximized. I watched a large, hard hematoma that had developed just off the bone near my elbow instantly subside! The bruise the next day was a yellow/green color, indicative of a later healing phase, instead of the usual purple/blue that a fresh bruise would be.
The healing seemed to occur just from [the instructor] guiding me with small movements and a change in mindset. Sue and I knew something extraordinary had happened — and so, of course, we wanted to learn more! Our martial arts instruction included medicinal arts, so eventually we received training in the basics of Ortho-Bionomy, as well as acupressure, mindfulness, and focusing techniques. Several years later, Sue and I decided to search for more in-depth training in Ortho-Bionomy and found Carole Poffinbarger in Hamilton, Ohio. We studied with her and other teachers over several years, and last year became certified Associate Practitioners. We are in ongoing training to become full Practitioners in Ortho-Bionomy.
Ortho-Bionomy® combines the gentle contact of tension points with movements that initiate self-corrective reflexes of the body. These movements include facilitated isometric and isotonic positions, combined with compression and traction, to solicit and provide neurofeedback.