Principles for evolution

Words GAYLYN AITKEN

My life interest is the natural movement of our body; what it is and how we can return to the movement nature designed us for. Sifting through the mountains of research, studies, styles of movement and exercises takes me further away from nature, so I’ve turned my attention to universal principles – movement that behaves the same in any place, time, dimension and situation.

The first one to consider is the principle of opposites. For every action or force, there is an equal opposing reaction (yin/yang). I also take into consideration our environment and the natural forces we’re subject to – gravity and Earth rebound. Gravity presses us on to this planet and Earth supports us and offers a rebound for motion – opposing forces. These two forces are what shape us and allow us to move smoothly and effortlessly with the least amount of effort for the greatest amount of force.

As a two-legged upright being, we’re quite unique, as we have a relationship with gravity that supports and generates energy if we’re in a particular alignment. This also makes us vulnerable. We present a very narrow profile to gravity, and it doesn’t take much to fall out of alignment.

The second principle is form follows function. Our body is designed by nature to move in a particular way that allows it to function optimally as an upright being. In this alignment, we’re self-adjusting and self-healing. We’re constantly moving in and out of alignment, but when we’re balanced, we’ll always return to our resting state of alignment. This means our organs are in their proper place, massaged as we move; the blood vessels dilate and contract at their appropriate rate, and without kinks and bends; the breath flows freely, self-adjusting to situations; and the bones are moved within their full range of motion by muscles fully responsive to the electrical charge of the nervous system.

When the feet are out of alignment, the rest of the body adjusts itself at the joints to keep us upright and functioning. We’re no longer supported by our bones as the joint angles are such that we’d fall over, so the muscles become our support system. They gradually become so tense from holding us upright that the range of motion in the joints becomes critically reduced.

The nervous system responds to this situation by shifting into high alert, as the fear of falling is a primal awareness built into our makeup in response to the force of gravity. As our muscles deepen their contraction around the bones, the mind follows, becoming narrow and fearful.

The third principle is evolution. Restoring natural movement is a way of living as the body and mind are constantly challenged to adjust and adapt to changing situations, so the intelligence of an individual can be determined by the speed of their adjustment to change.

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