How I Discovered Ortho-Bionomy®

I came to Ortho-Bionomy® after many years of working in other modalities. I was looking for a way to help my daughter who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and had the trauma of several car accidents. As soon as I took my first class, I realized I had found something that was remarkable in its simplicity, yet powerful and effective for people with mind/body trauma.

What is Ortho-Bionomy®?

Ortho-Bionomy® is a type of bodywork that can alleviate both acute and chronic pain and stress patterns by reducing chronic muscle tension, soothing the joints, increasing flexibility, improving circulation, and relaxing the entire body.

	Ortho-Bionomy® has been called the homeopathy of bodywork.

Based on the work of British Osteopath and Judo instructor Arthur Lincoln Pauls, Ortho-Bionomy® is an osteopathic-based form of bodywork. Dr. Pauls’ work was heavily influenced by American Osteopath Dr. Lawrence Jones and his work “Spontaneous Release Through Positioning.” He discovered that by working with the body in positions it preferred, the body could restore its balance. Dr. Pauls introduced Ortho-Bionomy to both doctors and laymen in the United States in 1976.

Ortho-Bionomy® has been called the homeopathy of bodywork—this gentle, non-invasive work seems about as active as growing grass. However, minute position changes during the work can have significant effects. A trained practitioner uses these miniscule positional differences and relationships to help the body find breakthroughs.

What Happens in an Ortho-Bionomy® Session?

During an Ortho-Bionomy® session, the client wears comfortable loose clothing that will not restrict the flow of movement. The practitioner gently positions the body to facilitate the body’s natural tendency to seek comfort. As the body finds its way to more comfortable positions, it re-educates itself, learning how to maximize effective movement and minimize chronic pain and stress.

During the work, the client may discover an extremely “delicious” position—one they could hold for hours or days with extreme comfort. This position, often called the “still point,” is where everything is at peace, and is a place of the deepest rest and relaxation. The practitioner may encourage the client to rest in this position, which further re-educates the body in how true rest and relaxation feel. The practitioner may also suggest some follow-up activities for the client to do on her own to further the re-education process.

Is Ortho-Bionomy® Painful?

Ortho-Bionomy® focuses on the comfort of the individual—no forceful manipulations are used. In some phases of the work, practitioners use tender, or tight, trigger points as guidelines for how the body is holding information. Ortho-Bionomy® should not be confused with trigger point therapy, which can often be painful. Dr. Pauls recognized the deep but often hidden connection between mind and body, especially with regard to trauma. The body tends to recover from injury in phases and through layers of physical restriction. The longer the trauma has had an effect, the more physical layers will be affected.

Dr. Pauls developed the Phased Reflex Approach, which addresses these phases and layers by using several key reflexes that operate on the body’s neuro muscular system. As the body starts to move to an area of comfort, instead of coming to rest at a still point, the body may continue to move and unwind for several minutes until a new still point is found. Unwinding is one of several reflexes the practitioner looks for to see if the client is on the right track.

The work is gentle; however, I often caution people that they might experience soreness the next day. Once you start to find a comfortable position in one area, the rest of your body has to absorb the change. The soreness should subside within 48 hours as your body fully absorbs the changes it chose to make.

Ortho-Bionomy is a safe, painless, non-invasive, effective form of body work with no reported side effects other than occasional soreness as noted above. It is practiced in countries around the world and is taught by certified trainers who are members of the Society of Ortho-Bionomy International.