Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Core Postural Alignment?
Core Postural Alignment is a philosophy and practice which seeks to help restore and maintain the Physiological Efficient Posture, in order to allow the body to express its maximum potential.
What do you mean by maximum potential?
Each individual human being has their own unique blend of potentials pre-programmed by genetic heritage long before birth. These include such factors as the capacity to see and hear, the capacity for eye to hand coordination, the capacity to think clearly, to remember, to reason, to organise thoughts, to solve problems, the capacity to resist disease and recover from injuries, the capacity for balanced emotional response, for humour, for love.
These are but a few examples of the many potentials and capacities inherent within the individual. While nobody can know the outer-most limits of these potentials, it is easy to see how failure to express them fully would make us less than we could be.
What has the Physiological Efficient Posture got to do with expressing potential?
Loss of the Physiological Efficient Posture may affect the position of the bones of the skull, spine and pelvis. These bones protect the central nervous system, which is the body's control pathway to organs, glands and other body parts. It has been shown that tiny misalignments of these bones, which we call derrangements, can interfere with normal nervous impulses to and from the brain, and thereby disrupt the harmonious interaction of body parts. Because some of the disturbed glands and organs manufacture body chemicals the totality of the biochemistry is thus disturbed. This disturbance in the balance of the body's chemistry affects every physical, mental and emotional aspect of life and interferes with the expression of full potential.
Are you saying that internal changes in body chemistry, caused by derrangements, can affect such mental factors as mood or memory or creative ability?
Of course. We have only to think of the physical, emotional and mental changes that can result from alcohol, drugs and medicines to realise how important body chemistry is to all functions. When body chemistry is disturbed either by adding chemicals from the outside, or by changing what the body manufactures from the inside, the result always affects every aspect of life.
How does Core Postural Alignment correct these derrangements?
To be absolutely accurate, we must point out that Core Postural Alignment does not really correct the derrangements. The body has its own spinal muscles to do that. Unfortunately, the spinal muscles are often too busy doing something else. It is this "something else" that Core Postural Alignment addresses, allowing the muscles to do the job they are supposed to do.
Is Core Postural Alignment a form of chiropractic or osteopathy?
Absolutely not! There are no bony manipulations involved at all. Core Postural Alignment solely uses a unique muscle relaxation technique to improve the Physiological Efficient Posture.
Does it hurt?
No it is very gentle and relaxing. Often people fall asleep while it is being done.
Is Core Postural Alignment safe?
Yes. There are no contra-indications to receiving the treatment. There are, however, some times when caution is required. Practitioners are well trained to know when intervention from another health professional is required.
How do I know if I have lost the Physiological Efficient Posture?
Unfortunately, most of the time you don't. It is true that some derrangements may produce pain or muscle spasm, but most do not. The only way to be sure is to have an assessment by a trained and certified Core Postural Alignment practitioner.
How does a Core Postural Alignment practitioner know what to do?
They are trained in assessing you for postural distortion by standing you in front of a plumb line, and by other means. Even untrained people (a spouse or parent, for example) can often see the distortion when compared against a vertical and horizontal reference point. The exact form that this distortion takes determines how the alignment technique is applied.
What can Core Postural Alignment do for my posture?
Let's take a look at an example. In the following photographs the green lines are where the person should be, the pink lines denote where they actually are.