When in proper alignment our body resembles the sound structure of a bridge
Developed in 1920, Spinal Touch Therapy is the original work of Dr. John Hurley, DC and Dr. Helen Sanders, DC. John Hurley was a mechanical and structural engineer. His work involved paying attention to balance and stress and how critical they are in the sound structure of buildings, bridges, etc.
He became intrigued with the idea that the same principles of balance and stress would apply to a living structure – the human body and that there is a correlation between stress and the lack of balance in the body and the high incidence of disease.
If the human body is balanced and the physical stresses reduced, then disease and illness could also be reduced.
Wanting to learn more about the human body, and how to balance it; he applied to Chiropractic College.
Originally called Aquarian Age Healing, through research he discovered that this light touch technique appeared to engage with the body’s energy systems and promote a flow of energy through the muscles, bones and joints.
Through research Hurley discovered that the lighter the touch the more powerful the results and that through addressing the body as a unified (holistic) structure this technique was a powerful way to obtain and preserve good health. Together with fellow chiropractor, Helen Sanders they developed a technique using engineering principles, laws of leverage, physiology, and acupuncture meridians.
What is Spinal Touch?
Spinal Touch assesses a person's posture to determine if there is any distortion occurring and then, using a very gentle treatment, attempts to correct this.
The human body is naturally built to maintain health and vitality in Earth's environment of constant gravity, even when subjected to a variety of stresses. This adaptability occurs by all parts and organs of the body being situated so as to interact, not only with each other, but also with gravity.
But when the body is placed under stress and strain, continuously pushed beyond it's elastic limits it can cause loss of proper balance between parts of the body, and gravity postural distortions occur. These distortions usually indicate internal body changes long before any body functions appear disturbed.
One of the first effects of strain is to change the body's normal centre of gravity, which is located at the the sacrum. The sacrum is in the critical position of both supporting the entire spine while also being the keystone for the pelvic arch. Eight major muscles fasten to the sacrum connecting it with all other parts of the body. Therefore any strain on the body is transmitted all or in part to this centre of gravity, distorting the normal, posture. This posture shift changes position of the organs, placing them under strain and a distortion pattern is set up that can be critical factor in all developing diseases.
Usually when the body becomes distorted, the muscles need help to relax and rest. Spinal Touch aims to return the spine to a state of mechanical balance through muscle relaxation, by lightly touching key areas of the spine in such a way that will redirect the inner energies of the body. This redirecting causes the muscles to relax and gently pull the spine into its more natural position and so relieves the strain on the internal organs.