Health, as defined in the context of this manual, refers to building and maintenance (and recovery, if necessary) of all physiologic processes of the human bodymind. Physiologic processes refer here to those functions activated and controlled by the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system, including metabolic, digestive, immune, self-healing, rest, and tissue regenerative functions.

On one hand, parasympathetic processes require a very different, nearly opposite style and degree of stimulation to the nervous system than does the fitness branch, the sympathetic system (as, again, we are using the terms in this manual). The focus of our work with DSL Edgework or  Let-Go Yoga, then, as opposed to SECC, is on Tension & Stress Reduction Strategies (or TSRS), supporting parasympathetic function more directly and fully.

On the other hand, the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system is more associated with overt, strength-based actions and fitness-related activities. It also controls what I call the 4-F System: Fright, Freeze, Fight or Flight, a primary function of the sympathetic system. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult, if not impossible, to work effecticiently (effective plus efficient) with both sympathetic and parasympathetic systems at the same time. They require very different inputs to optimize their functions, and require significantly different forms of exercise and, in more extreme cases, therapies.

We’ll not deal directly with the sympathetic system in this paper, except in reducing its often excessive functions, even though the benefits of that can, for some people, be vast, even profound. We’ll be focusing mostly on activating and enhancing the parasympathetic system and therefore the health end of the Health↔Fitness Spectrum.

CLARIFICATION on  Health versus Fitness

Ironically, in my 40 plus years in Private Practice as a yoga/bodywork therapist, it is my most “fit” clients who’ve had the most neuromuscular, myofascial & musculoskeletal problems. They very often have many more than the usual aches, pains, & dysfunction stemming from C.E.M.&.N.T. — or Chronic, Excess, Musculo-Fascial, & Nerve Tension & Stress developed from their physical activities, including many forms of exercise. (Please see other pages on the website for more on the Core Concept of C.E.M.&.N.T.)

Yes, increased fitness improves your metabolic and structural health up to a point. But the Law of Diminishing Returns kicks in if you do not perform enough Tension & Stress Reduction Strategies (TSRS) to balance out the inevitable stresses, strains, and tensions that WILL eventually accumulate from strength-oriented exercise.

Even many yoga teachers around the world have ended up with debilitating pain and/or dysfunction, sometimes resulting in hip, knee, or disc surgeries … or other areas of their bodies are in trouble. It is my view that much of this is the result of a too aggressive an approach to yoga — too much SECC (even in yoga) — and not enough TSRS. Their C.E.M.&.N.T. is further compounded by the aggressive forcing of the body into so-called “Proper Alignments” that I consider to be, in many cases, counter-productive at best, dangerous or even debilitating at worst.

If one aggressively pursues SECC without TSRS, even while doing what might loosely be called “yoga,” the only question is the degree and how soon the negative results will manifest in your life. Yes, just as there are those few who can eat and drink junk and smoke all their lives with no apparent health problems, there are a few of us who do not seem too much affected by accumulating muscle tension and stress.

Question Is: are you one of them? How would you know? And do you want to take that risk? Or do you prefer prevention?

Sometimes, an Ounce of Prevention is worth TEN TONS of Cure!

DEEP Relaxation & BIO-Structural DE-Compression

There are many fitness (SECC) focused yoga classes and systems available today throughout the world, and they are activating the 4-F system, the sympathetic system, far too much. Many, if not most, of these classes are not nearly as focused on truly Deep Relaxation & Lengthening with Structural DE-Compression of the Psycho-Neuro-Musculo-Fascial & Joint system. Doing so would lead to much increased parasympathetic function and resulting health.

Yet deep relaxation and significant levels of decompression are quite necessary to achieve the kinds of health objectives described in this manual, and for what yoga is more widely known to be about. And yes, in case you’re wondering, this approach will, paradoxically, provide an excellent foundation on which to build your SECC capacities, too. But it is far better and healthier to build your parasympathetic foundation first before you build your sympathetic structure on top of too much tension & stress.

Two Different Kinds of Flexibility & Relaxation

Many are misled by the fact that even within the fitness approach, they are, or might be, getting more overtly flexible. This would tend to imply the person’s muscles were getting more relaxed, allowing their muscles to lengthen out more.

Unfortunately, there is a kind of flexibility gained by a more external, higher-intensity approach to muscles (which tends to trigger the sympathetic, 4-F system), and a very different kind of flexibility gained by a more internal, lower-intensity approach to the psycho-neuro-musculo-fascial system (which tends to activate and restore the parasympathetic system). It is this second approach to flexibility we focus on in DSL Edgework and Let-Go Yoga.

Let-Go Yoga
(Low-Intensity, Physical/Mental Yoga)
A Primary Tool of DSL Edgework

Also known as “Conscious Stretching,” physical/mental yoga can be a highly effective tool for reducing C.E.M.&.N.T. and re-balancing muscle groups and muscle cells within the human bodymind. One available “yogic” objective, for motivated Clients or Patients, is to learn the skills of Feeling, Relaxing, Lengthening, & Balancing their muscles.

In a properly designed and executed “stretch*,” the appropriate nerve endings — Golgi Tendon Organs (GTOs) — are stimulated, and the CNS (Central Nervous System) spontaneously inhibits motor activity to the respective muscles on the same motor pathway.

Using gentle or low-intensity stretching prevents activation of stretch reflexes, which can be triggered even by extremely low amounts of tension or stretch, often below the threshold of awareness.

According to the Arndt-Schultz Principle

The Arndt-Schultz Principle says …

Weak stimuli activate physiological processes;
moderate stimuli favor physiological processes;
strong stimuli inhibit physiological processes;
very strong stimuli arrest them.

~ Dorlands Medical Dictionary
21st Edition, 1947

Most researchers say “physiologic processes” refer to the functions of the parasympathetic nervous system and its activation of internal, self-healing rest, repair, and immune functions.

Therefore, stretching, exercise, and various therapies producing weak to moderate stimuli activate or favor the internal, self-healing, and immune functions.

Stretching, exercise, or various therapies producing strong to very strong stimuli shut down self-healing and immune functions.

This is why the DSL Method encourages and utilizes low-intensity processes to get as much stimulation of, and assistance from, the parasympathetic nervous system as possible.

(SEE The Edge, A, Below)

So, the gentle stretching action of Let-Go Yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This is opposed to more aggressive yoga and exercise, which can inhibit parasympathetic activity and even activate the sympathetic.

Sympathetic activation is, without doubt, counter-productive to the desired Rest, Relaxation & Restoration, of the healing processes, as it tends to increase stress and tension in the bodymind.

On Yoga & Fitness Stretching Injuries: One reason I believe so many people are injured in stretching, yoga & fitness activities is that the stretch reflex can be so subtle as to be unnoticeable to the person. They are, therefore, often triggering muscle contractions that compress joints unconsciously.

This is similar to an eccentric contraction, wherein the muscle can be lengthening, yet stays in a predominantly contracted state. An illusion of “flexibility” results because the alpha, extrafusal fiber-based nerve system temporarily overrides the gamma-controlled, intrafusal fiber-based habit patterns.

Yet when the alpha-controlled, conscious stretch activity stops, the unconscious gamma system takes over, reinstating habitual, historical tension patterns, bringing the muscle back to a chronically shortened length.

The term “stretch” is not really a good one. It tends to imply elasticity, like a rubber band, spandex, or pulling taffy. Many people approach “stretching” as if muscles and tendons were indeed elastic, or that they SHOULD BE more elastic. Yet they are not very much so, nor should they be. The Muscle fibers themselves are said to have a tensile strength half that of fine steel wire, meaning the fibers tehmselves ae NOT “elastic.”

Yet muscle cells can change length up to 150% of their resting length due to the “ratcheting” effect of the actin-myosin units (sarcomeres). This is because of the arrangement of the components of the muscle cell, in which the myosin fibers can “ratchet up” alongside the actin fibers (see illustration below), allowing the overall unit to change length. But it is NOT from elasticity. (This is described more fully in other places in our publications.)

Fascia, including tendons, is widely stated to have a maximum of 6 to 7% extensibility. This provides a modicum of “shock absorber” effect for the musculo-fascial-tendinous unit. And they have no detectable striated, contractile muscle fibers, such as those found in the muscles involved in movement of the muscles of the body.

There are occasional locations of a few contractile, smooth muscle fibers, which have very little pulling power, and some researchers say these are anomalies resultant of injury. Therefore, there is no significant ability for them to actually contract in the fashion, nor with the strength that striated muscle fiber is capable of.