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target cells in different and distant tissues, and carries neuropeptides secreted by these tissues to other targets and back to the brain. The limbic system is where chemical information from its neurons and from the blood (matter) connects with electrical nerve impulses in the brain (mind), and where the true union between mind and matter takes place. A cell or organ in the body requires some sort of response to its activity to coordinate it with other systems. It synthesises and secretes appropriate messenger neuropeptides, which are carried in the blood to the limbic system. These bond to receptors on spe- cific neurons, where they alter the neurons’ internal chemical activity, neuropeptide secretion and pattern of activity in the brain. The original cell or organ is then answered, both by neu- ropeptides from the brain delivered by the blood and by nerve impulses directly through the nervous system. Both responses are then integrated by the cell or organ prior to its next response. Thus, the question is not one of mind versus matter, but of both being part of a whole. Physical events are translated into feeling states, and feeling states are translated into physical responses of all kinds, conscious and unconscious. Candace Pert observes: "Emotions are at the nexus between matter and mind, going back and forth between the two and influencing both." mimicked by the state of the immune system, that repressed emotions are stored in the body—the unconscious mind—by means of neuropeptides, and that memories are stored in neuropeptide receptors. union between mind and matter takes place. INSIGHTS FOR EFFECTIVE BODYWORK A cell or organ in the body requires some sort of response to its The neuropeptide system is highly variable and adaptable, using activity to coordinate it with other systems. It synthesises and the language of emotions to generate all kinds of self-awareness secretes appropriate messenger neuropeptides, which are carried and opportunities for self-regulation. Getting in conscious touch in the blood to the limbic system. These bond to receptors on spe- with tissues that are storing emotions in the form of combinations cific neurons, where they alter the neurons’ internal chemical of neuropeptides, particularly muscles, and producing feelings activity, neuropeptide secretion and pattern of activity in the that are healing are what effective bodywork is about. Pert's work brain. The original cell or organ is then answered, both by neu- offers scientific insight into how bodywork modalities such as ropeptides from the brain delivered by the blood and by nerve Trager, body psychotherapy, bodymind centring, body transfor- impulses directly through the nervous system. Both responses are mation and craniosacral therapy accomplish their therapeutic then integrated by the cell or organ prior to its next response. effects, often by causing somatic-emotional release, and provides Thus, the question is not one of mind versus matter, but of both a framework for further improvement. being part of a whole. Physical events are translated into feeling In the Trager approach, the practitioner enters a meditative state states, and feeling states are translated into physical responses of (or "hook-up", as coined by Dr Milton Trager) and invites the all kinds, conscious and unconscious. Candace Pert observes: client to be in that state with him. Only when both are in this "Emotions are at the nexus between matter and mind, going back —_— meditative state can the practitioner make suggestions to the client and forth between the two and influencing both." in the language of touch and can his message be adequately received. The idea of touch as a language is absolutely essential HABITUAL MUSCULAR to understanding how the Trager approach can accomplish what it PATTERNS does—how "hook-up", and every- One of the major impacts of shift- . . thing that goes with it, can be trans- ing emotions and their underlying Dr Pert believes that there is ferred from one individual to another. neuropeptide chemistry is on our no state of mind that is not Hook-up is a very specific feeling, muscles. Without conscious aware- we or "neuropeptide cocktail", charac- ness, everything we do with our mimicked by the state of the terised by very specific sensations— muscles relies on habit patterns. As immune system, that repressed peace, lightness, agelessness, etc. well as performing numerous motor . . The light, pleasurable shimmer of tis- functions, muscles are themselves emotions are stored in the body sue creates the sensory foundation of sense organs, contributing enormous- by means of neuropeptides, the feeling state of hook-up, and the ly to our body image and sense of the and that memories are stored brain enters an alpha-brainwave state. environment. Changes in feeling- . : Dr Trager said that hook-up neutralis- states create changes in motor per- in neuropeptide receptors. es the effects of chronic stress and formance. As Dr Deane Juhan says: restores the mind and the body to a "Our emotions are constantly leaking condition of rest, repair, long-term into all our muscular activities, and are either enhancing or debili- maintenance and relaxed awareness. tating our performance on every level." We can suppress large Dr Trager was very much against what he called "efforting". portions of those feelings, which will disrupt that awareness and Effort causes tension, and tension causes pain and injury. In regulation; or we can fixate on patterns of behaviour that favour _— Trager, repetitive light, gentle and nonintrusive movements are the dominance of one feeling state over all the others, which lim- used to facilitate the release of deep-seated mental and physical its our available responses and strategies for adapting. patterns, including emotional traumas. Like the Feldenkrais As well as affecting our movements and behaviour, emotions method, the Trager approach reaches the unconscious mind, rather become set in our shape or posture, as Stanley Keleman demon- than the body, to produce changes in the bodymind. Every touch, strated so elegantly in 1985. He says that uprightness, the mark of | every movement, every gesture of the practitioner is intended to human development, is altered by insults, challenges and assaults, reach the mind. and that one's shape is changed by one's emotional history. Milton Trager said: "Iam convinced that for every physical Keleman wrote: "Insults and shocks, stress and distress are non-yielding condition, there is a psychic counterpart in the imprinted on every cell, creating a somatic, emotional, psycholog- unconscious mind corresponding exactly to the degree of the ical image that is enmeshed with all the events of life." He physical manifestation. These patterns often develop in response believes that distress creates contractions or weaknesses that dis- to adverse circumstances such as accidents, surgery, illness, poor tort "pulsation", and that somatic education brings people into the —_ posture, emotional trauma, stresses of daily living, or poor move- living foundations of existence—the "pulsatory waves" that gen- ment habits. The purpose of my work is to break up these sensory erate excitement, feeling, thinking and action. and mental patterns which inhibit free movement and cause pain Since we now know that emotional expression is always tied to _and disruption of normal function." a specific flow of neuropeptides, it is possible that the chronic In the Trager approach, the feeling quality first enters the suppression of emotions can result in massive disturbance of the client's system as sensations. Sensations act as analogues for psychosomatic network, leading to immunodeficiency and feelings and, according to Dr Juhan's interpretation of Candace disease. Pert's work: "The shift from sensation to an emotional feeling Dr Pert believes that there is no state of mind that is not quality is the transduction of a train of nerve impulses into a Dr Pert believes that there is no state of mind that is not mimicked by the state of the immune system, that repressed emotions are stored in the body by means of neuropeptides, and that memories are stored in neuropeptide receptors. NEXUS = 41 DECEMBER 2002 — JANUARY 2003 www.nexusmagazine.com