THE HISTORY OF ORTHO-BIONOMY
Ortho-Bionomy was founded and developed by Dr Arthur Pauls, a British Osteopath and Judo Instructor. Dr Pauls developed a gentle way of working with injuries and pain without the use of force.
Ortho-Bionomy’s self-corrective approach often allows for long-lasting effects through changes to the body’s own memory and the balancing of the proprioceptive/autonomic nervous systems. While gentle, this works very deeply and in a very interconnected way.
As with the homeopathic principle “like cures like”, the new knowledge and information gained during an Ortho-Bionomy session is often all that is needed to begin unravelling long-ingrained tension and pain. Ortho-Bionomy was based on Dr Pauls’ understanding of these two systems.
The word Ortho-Bionomy is based on “Ortho” meaning correct or aligned, “Bio” meaning life and nature; and “Onomy”, the principles or governing laws. Thus, Ortho-Bionomy means the correct Application of the Natural Laws of Life.
WHAT HAPPENS IN AN ORTHO-BIONOMY SESSION?
During an Ortho-Bionomy session, the client lies on a massage table, or is seated preferably wearing loose and comfortable clothing, while the practitioner gently positions the body to create ease and comfort around areas that are painful, tight or restricted.
Whilst gently using very light compression or traction to assist the nervous system this will stimulate the self-corrective reflexes that are present in the body thereby enabling the release of the pain and tension patterns that are present and causing problems.
These releases are accompanied by realignment and re-education of the joints, muscles and nerves. Mental and emotional tension caused or exacerbated by the pain and imbalances also disappear at the same time, creating a feeling of lightness and well-being.
Ortho-Bionomy sessions incorporate body re-education techniques such as postural awareness exercises, isometric or isotonic exercises to restore muscle tone and significantly increase the range of movement available within the joints. A strong focus is placed on comfort and no force or manipulations are used.
Often self-care exercises are given for clients to do at home to accelerate the healing process.
Each Ortho-Bionomy session lasts between 30 – 60 minutes. Many people choose a series of sessions to help chronic back, neck, joint and muscle problems or pain/stress syndromes. Usually there is no need for more than one treatment per week even when treating the most acute problems.
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ORTHO-BIONOMY?
Ortho-Bionomy is a gentle, non-invasive form of body therapy, which is highly effective in working with acute or chronic pain or stress caused through accidents, injuries or postural and structural imbalances.
Ortho-Bionomy is sometimes called a self-corrective or self-healing technique, because it helps the body to correct itself by working with the innate reflexes of the body. It uses slow, gentle movements and comfortable positions to unlock tension and relieve pain. There are no rapid adjustments, painful contortions or deep muscle work. A strong focus is placed on comfort and no forceful manipulations are used.
Instead, Ortho-Bionomy uses the body’s preferred or most comfortable postures and mild exaggeration of any imbalances or distortions to initiate postural balance and integration. The work is safe, since the movements are made slowly and clients are not taken into any positions which could increase their pain.
This extremely gentle therapy is highly effective in working with chronic stress and pain or problems associated with postural or structural imbalances caused through injuries, stress or illness. The practitioner uses gentle movements and positions to facilitate the change of stress and pain patterns in the body and allowing the bones and tissue of the body to come back into a place of realignment and strength.
Many people find that Ortho-Bionomy is very effective in helping alleviate both acute and chronic pain by reducing chronic muscle tension, soothing the joints, increasing flexibility and improving circulation through correctly realigning the structure of the body. It does not take many sessions in order for significant changes or noticeable improvements to be apparent.
