Biodynamic Terminology Part 4

Health. The amplitude of Primary Respiration on a spectrum from weak to potent (potency). Sometimes used as an indicator for the progression of the biodynamic therapeutic process or its endpoint in a session. See potency and Primary Respiration.

Heart Body. The second body of wholeness found in the embryo. The wholeness of the cardiovascular system expressed in its relationship with every cell in the body. It operates morphologically on the principles of transparency, stretching, twisting and ballooning. These developmental movements are maintained through the lifespan. Both the heart and blood are oriented to stillness (quiescence) for normal growth and development. The perception of stillness enhances the function of the cardiovascular system and supports it to return to normal. The essence of the heart body is to connect. See three bodies and stillness.

Holistic Shift. A term coined by Franklyn Sills. Related to the term neutral used in biodynamic osteopathy. An event or state associated with the autonomic nervous system in which the biodynamic therapeutic process is perceived to begin. It follows the relaxation and stabilization of the client’s autonomic nervous system and often involves some level of stillness. The holistic shift is when Primary Respiration changes from its maintenance mode to its repair or creative mode and thus its potency is more noticeable. See three activities of Primary Respiration, ignition, biodynamic therapeutic process, rhythmic balanced interchange, health and stillness.

Ignition. The context of wholeness is ignition. Constantly repeating or random events and/or natural phenomena that initiate a transition to another or different state. Such states can range from integration of wholeness and embodiment to an exacerbation or recurrence of symptoms. Since many sensory events occur during a session that could be interpreted to be ignition related, it is the discernment of the practitioner that determines their therapeutic relevance through his or her mindfulness of Primary Respiration in the background or foreground of perception. See mindfulness, five ignitions, three results of ignition, healing, health and Primary Respiration.

Interoception. To be consciously aware of the urges and sensations from the viscera of the body (for example, the urge to urinate, the urge to defecate, and the urge to eat). It includes the capacity to sense the movement of the blood throughout the body and the heart in the center of the body called cardioception. See cardioception.

Intersubjectivity. A branch of the field of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB). The neuroscience of the therapeutic relationship being a two person biology. It is based on the research of interpersonal central nervous systems and interpersonal cardiovascular systems in which the client and therapist are constantly resonating with each other’s autonomic nervous system states unconsciously. It places the responsibility of such an understanding on the therapist first to consciously self-regulate his or her nervous and vascular systems and then to attend to the same potential for self-regulation in the client by the creation of a container of safety and trust. It is the foundation of empathy and compassion. It includes the experience of the client knowing that the therapist understands or knows him or her and at the same time the therapist experiencing that the client understands or knows him or her. See neuroception, cardioception and self-regulation.