VisceroEmotional Relationships explores the body and the organism, physical and psychoemotional energies and release techniques, all with respect to Jean Pierre Barral’s (D.O., MFR (F)) unique visceral approach to visceral manipulation, and includes all modules of the Visceral Manipulation Courses.
Without emotions there is no human life. Thus, it is normal that emotions are reflected somewhere in the body, usually in a dissipated manner. Dysfunction is the body's way of expressing the tensions we harbour. Dr. Barral's experience reveals that stored emotions are also involved in most diseases.
One of the basic tenets of osteopathy is that the neuromusculoskeletal structure is involved in most of the disease processes. Another basic tenet of osteopathy is that the body tends to heal itself unless there is a great deal of accumulated stress. In such a case, maladaptation and disease result.
Medical history reveals that physical health, thoughts and emotions are interconnected. When our body experiences overpowering pain or emotions, our organs are the first to react.
One example: someone who loses her or his job suffers from stomach pains. The brain receives a negative message and re-sends it to the stomach. This causes cramps. The brain now receives 2 messages: “I am not good enough” and “I am sick”. This connects in a particular part of the brain and sets off depressive symptoms.
Another example: someone feeling rage, initiated from the limbic forebrain, involves the secretion of stress hormones and the sympathetic connections with the viscera to support the “fight or flight” response. The physiologic changes include diversion of blood, increase of the heart rate, bronchodilation, and decreased renal and gastro activity.
The brain is the conductor of our great concert of emotions. It can capture up to 10 billion bits of information per second. It thinks, therefore it builds ideas, dreams and theories. However, as put by Neurologist António Damásio "Dysfunctional brains make dysfunctional decisions" .
Properly trained therapists can locate the weakened physical element in an ailing person through manual contact. They will let their hand glide over the patient’s body with pressure equal only to the weight of their hand.
We began to experience that by treating the mind we can influence the body and by treating the body we can influence the mind. It is the "Chicken-or-Egg" Syndrome, related to organ dysfunction and to emotions, that visceroemotional techniques can solve.
By using visceroemotional techniques, skilled therapists aim to improve the communication between head and body, as the organ must be connected with emotions. This is healthy somatisation.
Notes:
B.Sc. – Bachelor of Science in Medicine
D.O. – Doctor in Osteopathy
BI-D – Barral Institute Diplomate Certification
