Posture and approach – experiencing, treating, taking hold of them
The Medical Section in collaboration with the International Association for Anthroposophic Body Therapy (IAABT)
Brochure here.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system occur frequently and are associated with a high level of distress. How can we help in such a situation not just symptomatically but at a deeper level? We are used to paying attention to movement from a physiological perspective and offering functionally oriented treatment. How do we support the regenerative etheric forces of the patient beyond that?
The numerous degenerative diseases are often an expression of the lack of effectiveness of these forces which must then be strengthened. The soul of the human being lives in movement: emotional tension can lead to hypertonia up to and including pain in the muscular system; sleep, on the other hand, reduces muscle tone.
How can we guide the patient’s soul towards breathing physiologically in movement, alternating rhythmically between tension and release? In pain the soul connects itself too closely with the body. Many experiences in our life inscribe themselves in this and other ways into the muscular system. Often emotional pain is crystallised out in physical complaints and requires the release of the soul.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system thus also have a biographical background: what guides the human being back to the verticality towards which their whole musculoskeletal system is oriented? What guides them to the healthy movement in which their soul and spiritual being can be realised?
The whole human being lives in movement: we need the physiological function of the musculoskeletal system, require an anabolic regenerative metabolism which ensures recovery after exhausting movement, and have to include the action of our soul and spiritual being in our therapy. Such a course of action requires collaboration between colleagues in the therapeutic professions, a common spiritually oriented understanding of illness and treatment aligned with that.