Myofascial Release and the Masculine & Feminine Sides of your Body

In 1984 Roger Sperry a neuropsychologist and neurobiologist won a nobel prize in medicine for his work with the right and left sides of the brain. 

Neurologically speaking the right side of the brain innervates the left side of our body - our feminine side - which is all about the emotional, feeling, subjective, musical, spatial perception, pieces together in ricochet fashion, abstract, intuitive approach and the being, receiving, relational sides of ourselves.  

The left side of the brain innervates the right side of our body - our masculine side - and is all about our logical, analytical, objective, verbal, directional, follows steps in orderly fashion, systems thinking, structural approach and the doing, initiating, giving, career sides of ourselves. 

We all have both and need both to function fully in this world. 

We all have different mixes of both of these sides and the "marriage" or connection and embrace of both of these sides within ourselves is what allows us to feel balanced and whole.

Therapeutically there is a pattern where pain or injuries on the right side of the body have to do with problems or areas in which we are out of balance, in regards to masculine issues or male people currently in our life or who have been in our life. 

"Dad" is of course the big one but it can be any male or any conflict in those attributes within our own self mentioned above influenced by the left brain. 

Equally, the left side body pain or injuries are a signal towards our feminine issues or female people, mainly "Mom" although it could also be any female or conflict within ourselves in any of those attributes mentioned above influenced by the right brain. 

(Note to clear confusion: The brain crosses midline so Right brain innervates Left side of body and vice versa.) 

For example, if I am struggling with pain or limitation on the right side of my body, I might reflect on my relationship with my Dad, husband, etc. or with myself in the areas mentioned above for the masculine attributes (my career, my thoughts/feelings around giving, etc). 

Comparatively if the pain or limitation is in the left side, it might reflect more in my relationships with my Mom (or wife, etc) or my feelings of myself as a wife or Mom, or in the areas mentioned above in the feminine attributes (my intuition, how I let myself be, can I receive?, etc). 

There are of course, no absolutes and it is unique and individual for each of us, but often it helps bring faster results to give some reflection not only to the awareness that our body is out of balance, but also to what is actually causing the out of balance. It's not about anything being right or wrong, but about our relationship with it.  

Regardless it's always best to simply feel into the body, listen and experience what is happening for you instead of trying to figure out what it is. These thoughts are to bring reflection and expanded awareness, not analysis.

Self Awareness Enhancement Exercise 

So, I encourage you to take a moment and begin paying attention to the balance between the right and left sides of your body. 

Right now, take a breath, (this brief refresher moment will only take a few seconds), close your eyes (which helps you feel into your body easier), tune in and pay attention to how your right foot feels on the floor in comparison to your left. 

Take another breath and this time feel how the right side of your pelvis is resting in your chair in comparison to your left side. How even are they? 

What does it mean???? 

I strongly encourage allowing (feminine principle) yourself to listen and feel what it says to you in this moment. Your body holds so much wisdom when you listen. Don’t jump up in your head as we are conditioned to do and try and figure out the linear meaning. Simply listen and see what shows up for you. What is important here is to create the channels to listen, not whether you receive anything specific in this moment that directly answers your question but instead that you are planting the seed which may take time to generate its response. Simply give yourself the opportunity to listen to yourself!

Also allow yourself to be on the receiving (feminine principle) side of treatment and discover your body's wisdom for yourself! 

I love being a therapeutic guide in this way, and I look forward to guiding you again soon.