Biodynamic Terminology Part 7

Self-Regulation. A term from the field of affective neuroscience regarding an ability to consciously and unconsciously modify states of arousal. It refers to the potential that every human being has to be resilient and to experience love. Resilience is the capacity to quickly return to a stable and/or normal emotional/autonomic state following a change process. It requires interoceptive awareness especially cardioception which is awareness of the movement of the heart. It also requires neuroception which is safety as perceived by the social nervous system. See also cardioception, five stages of biodynamic perception and neuroception.

Six Embodiments. Used to orient the practitioner during a session as follows:

  1. First embodiment. Sensing/exploring the shape of the body at its surface covered by the skin. Typically this is initiated by what is called a body scan.
  2. Second embodiment. Sensing/exploring the movement of the respiratory diaphragm.
  3. Third embodiment. Sensing/exploring the pulsation and movement of the heart in the center of the body.
  4. Fourth embodiment. Sensing/exploring the fluid body in which the micro movement of biological water is constantly moving along all membranes from caudal to cranial.
  5. Fifth embodiment. Sensing/exploring the transparency of the cardiovascular system with Primary Respiration moving through the heart and vascular system as well as in and out of the whole body.
  6. Sixth embodiment. Sensing/exploring the relationship of the central stillness between the third ventricle and heart in the body and the global perception of the dynamic stillness as one whole. See biodynamic five step process.

Social Nervous System. There are autonomic and muscular components of the face that visually indicate to others whether a person is safe or dangerous. As human beings we have an innate capacity, through neuroception, to pick up signals from another person´s face, voice and gestures, and to determine whether that person is friendly or hostile, and respond accordingly. In this context eye contact is an important component to establish a safe relationship. Especially related to the Polyvagal Theory of Stephen Porges. See neuroception.

Stillness. Also referred to as Dynamic Stillness. In the mid spectrum of perceptual experiences with stillpoint on one end and the void on the other end of the spectrum. Stillness is the perception of a lucid, even, dynamic, nonmoving clarity either locally or globally. It may or may not be related to the holistic shift. At the level of biology it relates to quiescence which are specialized cells with slow metabolism or to pockets of still fluid (lacunae) in the developing embryo (especially the heart and vascular system) whose function is to create relationship, invite connection and provide nurturing. It is what the body orients to at a cellular level for normal growth and development through the life span. Stillness is most often a perception of midline phenomena in biodynamic practice. In addition, stillness is sometimes used as an indicator of the end of a session. See also midline, stillpoint, normal, healing, health and void and three categories of biological stillness.

Stillpoint. Exists on one end of a spectrum of perceptual explorations from the biomechanical to the biodynamic. At a biomechanical level it refers to the perception of a pause or quieting in the local motion of body tissues and/or fluids such as the traditional CV4 technique effect on the cerebrospinal fluid. At a biodynamic level it refers to the pause between the contraction and expansion phases of Primary Respiration. See stillness, void, ignition and Primary Respiration.

Synchronizing the Breath of Air with Primary Respiration. Primary Respiration periodically synchronizes with secondary respiration and can be discovered through attention on the respiratory diaphragm while attending to Primary Respiration. Synchronization occurs when a deep breath happens spontaneously. In addition, Primary Respiration is synchronized with the movement of the air and wind in the atmosphere of the earth. This can be discovered when outside in the natural world by sensing the movement of the air and wind at the same time as attending to Primary Respiration. Synchronization is known when the wind pauses, shifts speed or changes direction at the same time as Primary Respiration is going through a phase change. This can also be discovered when doing a session and the office windows are left open for the movement of the air to come through.