I’m going to start a series of entries about my observations on repeated body patterns I’ve noticed from the massage table.

Having a theatrical background, I’ve always been aware of facial expressions and body language and how they feel to me as I express myself. This communication method seems innate and natural for me. I talk with my hands and watch how someone responds to see how they are feeling.

I’ve formed a theory that our body responds to different events much like a voicemail greeting, like an automated, unconscious, but physical reaction. I’m sure psychologists have their own name for this, but from the sensory awareness standpoint, this is new for me.

In trying to show a client how they are standing or sitting could be creating problems for their body, I will form the posture so they can see it. Instead of just giving information on exercises to work on, I think body awareness is important. If you don’t know you are doing something, how can you fix anything?

Think about when you learned to drive a car. Do you remember having to think about which peddle to push, or looking for the windshield wipers button/lever, or turning the wheel carefully, or freaking out about your proximity to other vehicles as you began to drive in traffic?

Do you think about those things now that you have your cup o’ Joe and cell phone and focus in on what’s on the radio? They have been integrated into your subconscious and you can drive your car being focused on thoughts or emotions and not even remember driving the last stretch of road!

I think we react in relationships much like this unconscious driving of your car. We form primal, unconscious, physical responses to our interactions- and the stronger the emotions, the stronger the reaction. Under stress, these become tension and pain in the body.

So, the following posts are some of my observations on these patterned, physical responses. I’m interested on your insights on my ideas.