Muscle carapace by Wilhelm Reich

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Reich believed that:

- the mind and body are a single whole, each trait of a person's character has a corresponding physical posture;

- character is expressed in the body in the form of muscle rigidity (excessive muscle tension, from the Latin rigidus - hard) or muscular shell;

- chronic stress blocks the energy flows that underlie strong emotions;

- blocked emotions cannot be expressed and form so-called COEX systems (systems of condensed experience - specific clots of memories with a strong emotional charge of the same quality, which contain condensed experiences (and related fantasies) from different periods of a person's life);

- Eliminating muscle tension releases significant energy, which manifests itself in the form of a feeling of warmth or cold, tingling, itching or emotional uplift.

Reich analyzed the patient's postures and physical habits to make him aware of how vital feelings in various parts of the body were suppressed.

All patients said that in the course of therapy they went through periods of their childhood when they learned to suppress their hatred, anxiety or love through certain actions that influenced autonomic functions (restraining breathing, tension of the abdominal muscles, etc.).

The reason for the increase in muscle tension in adults is constant mental and emotional stress.

Self-care is the state of a modern person.

The imposed ideals of material well-being and comfort, the conditions for their achievement, an orientation towards the end result, and not towards life at the moment - keep people in constant tension.

Hence, muscle clamps> spasm of blood vessels> hypertension, osteochondrosis, peptic ulcer, etc. etc.

Everything else is secondary reasons.

The function of the carapace is to protect against displeasure. However, the body pays for this protection by decreasing its capacity for pleasure.

The muscular carapace is organized into seven main segments, consisting of muscles and organs. These segments are located in the eyes, mouth, neck, chest, diaphragm, abdomen and pelvis.

Reichian therapy consists of uncasing in each segment, from the eyes to the pelvis.

Elimination of muscle clamps is achieved through:

* accumulation of energy in the body;

* direct effect on chronic muscle blocks (massage);

* expression of the released emotions, which are revealed in this case;

* spontaneous movements, dance therapy, relaxation exercises, yoga, qigong, holotropic breathing, etc.

1. Eyes. The protective carapace is manifested in the immobility of the forehead and the "empty" expression of the eyes, which seem to be looking from behind the immovable mask. Dissolution is done by opening the eyes as wide as possible to engage the eyelids and forehead; gymnastics for the eyes.

2. Mouth. This segment includes the muscle groups of the chin, throat and occiput. The jaw can be either too tight or unnaturally relaxed. The segment holds the expression of crying, screaming, anger. Muscle tension can be relieved by imitating crying, lip movements, biting, grimacing and massaging the muscles of the forehead and face.

3. Neck. Includes deep neck muscles and tongue. The muscle block is mainly retained by anger, screaming and crying. A direct effect on the muscles in the depths of the neck is impossible, therefore, screaming, singing, gagging, protruding the tongue, tilting and rotating the head, etc., can eliminate the muscle clamp.

4. Thoracic segment: broad muscles of the chest, muscles of the shoulders, shoulder blades, chest and arms. Laughter, sadness, passion are held back. Holding your breath is a means of suppressing any emotion. The carapace is unraveled by work on the breath, especially by the exercise of a full exhalation.

5. Aperture. This segment includes the diaphragm, solar plexus, internal organs, muscles of the vertebrae at this level. The carapace is expressed in the forward curvature of the spine. Exhalation turns out to be more difficult than inhalation (as in bronchial asthma). The muscle block keeps intense anger. One needs to pretty much dissolve the first four segments before moving on to dissolving this.

6. Belly. Abdominal muscles and back muscles. The tension in the lumbar muscles is associated with the fear of attack. Muscle clamps on the sides are associated with the suppression of anger, dislike. Opening of the carapace in this segment is relatively easy if the upper segments are already open.

7. The pelvis. The last segment includes all the muscles of the pelvis and lower extremities. The stronger the muscle spasm, the more the pelvis is pulled back. The gluteal muscles are tense and sore. The pelvic shell serves to suppress arousal, anger, pleasure.