Flow is defined as everything that necessitates movement within our Structure, but cannot be externally observed. We can see the muscles and bones of structure move through time and space from the outside, but we do not see the flow of blood, lymph, air, food turning to waste, etc. Flow includes nine of the eleven major systems of the human body. These are Nervous, Digestive, Respiratory, Vascular, Lymphatic, Integumentary, Endocrine, Urinary, and Reproductive. Structure includes the remaining two: Muscular and Skeletal. In order to properly understand these systems, I will briefly describe how they fit into the Flow of the human body.
The Nervous system flow: the electrical currents and communication of the system. It has everything to do with the nerves, but nothing to do with the physical nerves themselves (that would be structure). It is about the afferent and efferent signals that go from the tips of our bodies to the brain and back again. This is our communication network and human “software” that will be referred to later throughout the manual.
The Digestive system flow: movement of fluids, fuel, and waste through our bodies. The flow should be considered from intake at the mouth to excretion from the anus and everything in between. The intestines can have stagnated blood, gas retention, and fecal lithe that lead to discomfort. Often times it is not a dietary or chemical component that is needed to create a catalyst for change, but something neurological or an added awareness that is key. On this note, identifying exactly which system of flow is at play is typically the break through connection.
The Respiratory system flow: the passage of air in through the orifices of the face into the lungs and back out again. Nose, mouth, throat, lungs and the entire breathing apparatus are structures of the system, but the focus here is on the flow. Awareness, education and emotional components have great potential to help this system if structural corrections are insufficient. Chemical inhalation from household products to environmental toxins can also be a consideration here.
The Vascular system flow: the movement of blood through the body, from the heart through the arteries to the veins and back to the heart. This system responds well to tissue, movement, or breath work. The heart, veins, and arteries are structures of the Vascular system.
The Digestive system flow: movement of fluids, fuel, and waste through our bodies. The flow should be considered from intake at the mouth to excretion from the anus and everything in between. The intestines can have stagnated blood, gas retention, and fecal lithe that lead to discomfort. Often times it is not a dietary or chemical component that is needed to create a catalyst for change, but something neurological or an added awareness that is key. On this note, identifying exactly which system of flow is at play is typically the break through connection.
The Lymphatic system flow: the movement of lymph through the watersheds and our waste management system. Structural movement is required for this system to flow as there is no pump. Sometimes neurological corrections or manual stimulation are necessary when movement is not enough. The lymphatic nodes, ducts, spleen, cisterna chyli, and thymus are all structures of the system, but not the flow.
The Integumentary system flow: various functions including protection, waste excretion and temperature regulation. It has an ability to be porous, blocking things from entering the body while allowing others to exit. Every inch of skin, nails and hair follicles are structures of this system.
The Endocrine system flow: the chemical messenger system of the human body. It consists of the endocrine glands as the structures. It is a complex system with many organs that participate as part of this system with secondary endocrine functions. As such, touch therapies can have an indirect affect on this system.
The Urinary system flow: the body’s drainage system in the form of urine. Kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra are major structures of this system. Their flow and movement can be corrected with tissue, neurological or even emotional work. Structural blockages from stones can also potentially obstruct flow.
The Reproductive system flow: is the movement of spermatozoa or ova for the purpose of reproduction. Emotions or neurological corrections tend to correct flow obstructions within this system. Structures of this system are the sex organs of males and females.
Also included in Flow is the concept of Emotions: a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one’s circumstances, moods, or relationships with others and one’s self. Studies across many modalities and eras honor the effects of “trapped” emotions. Emotions come and go, and possess their own unique form of flow. Emotional stress is well known to affect the human being, and therefore, included as a key component of Flow.
I simply love this connection of breath and emotions:
The vomer bone sits in the nasal cavity articulating in a wedge and groove style suture with the sphenoid bone and vibrates with every breath. Slightly superior in the cranium sits the pituitary gland, the master gland of the body. Therefore with every breath, a vibrational frequency is directly affecting these structures. Each vibrational frequency correlates to the release of specific protein peptides involving the pituitary, hypothalamus and thalamus. Within a square inch or two in the human cranium, we have a direct connection from the Respiratory, Endocrine, and Nervous systems. All of this is monitored and regulated by our breath. “As our feelings change, this mixture of peptides travels throughout your body and your brain. And they’re literally changing the chemistry of every cell in your body.” -Dr. Candace Pert, Molecules of Emotion
These protein peptides go out into the blood stream immediately docking with the cells of the body. They change us at a cellular level. When we are “filled with rage,” or joy, we are literally vibrating at a specific frequency. All of this spawns from a thought, a reaction, a change in breath and some tiny proteins culminating in a full body, cellular-level vibration of emoting. If these vibrations are not allowed to move, where do they go? How do we tense? Where are they held?
There are plenty of works on the effects of emotions, my point here is they need to flow and move. I love an analogy I received from a Shaman once. They said that we can be like a hollow reed, allowing all of the air to flow through us but not be trapped within us. We can feel it all. In fact, it is rather important to feel things. Otherwise, why would we have such experiences or even capabilities? To teach us something? Tell us something? Warn us of something? We do not have to hold on to these things forever. What are we holding on to? What are we not letting go of? What is the blockage to the Flow?
Lastly, we must honor the flow of energy around us. Dr. Stone has done great study into this in his Polarity Therapy and calls it our, “wireless anatomy.” The way I see it, it mirrors the electromagnetic flow of the Earth. As we are microcosms of the macrocosm, this flow of energy can be seen all throughout the universe.
We are electromagnetic beings. My personal favorite is, “We are electrified bags of saltwater walking around upon an infrastructure.” (that one’s from me) Deane Juhan in his book Job’s Body provides another definition I enjoy: “Humans were invented by water to walk around.” When we walk/move, we produce energy, heat, and electricity. There is a flow to this electricity.
Dr. Keown in his book states that, “…water moves in a similar way to electricity:
It moves from areas of high pressure to low pressure — voltage.
It moves in a current — amperage.
It creates power as it moves — wattage.
Like flowing water it can be isolated (insulated) but will always seek to find a way out and will do this through pathways of least resistance — channels.
It can bypass things — short-circuits.”
If we were to run a current through pure water, H20 only, there would be no observable electromagnetic properties. We need minerals like salt to transmit the current. Our blood, a microcosm of the Earth, is similar and rather synonymous to salt water. If we run a current through salt water, we get an electromagnetic field forming around that water. The human body is the same, and so this energy must be honored. “The energy accounting books are always strictly balanced.” -Cosmos, Neil Tyson DeGrasse
In summary, Flow is anything that cannot be seen by the observed eye that requires the opportunity for movement within the human body. This includes nine of the eleven major systems of the human body, energy (in whatever form or belief you need), and our emotions.