Movement and health - how my IBS disappeared

This is my experience regarding the restorative power of movement from a health perspective, my individual experience.

I suffered from IBS syndrome for over fourteen years; It was very debilitating and painful.

In my experience an IBS episode always followed or was during stressful times, I would just like to add my life is not any less stressful now! Certain foods also triggered attacks.

Through restoring my movement, moving more of me, more frequently, and learning about my movement habits. I gradually rebuilt my body through my movement choices. This process was not difficult it easily fit into my life. I could feel the subtle improvements that grew and grew over time, and I gained confidence again in my body. I loved being able to move again and my pain decreased and I regained my active life after 10 years of chronic injury.

Movement also had many effects on my health. I realized I’d not encountered an IBS attack for quite some period. Six years later, not a single attack. My mind being forever curious, I wanted to understand the influences which contributed to my improved health.

I have always been an active person, restorative exercise taught me to move in an improved way, accessing more of my body.

I felt the benefits, the injury and pain decreased, so I moved more. Returning to tasks I’d been unable to accomplish for years. My health improved, and I became much more in tune with my body.

Part of my training Involved learning about breathing, in a way that was not only more beneficial for my body but stimulated some structures, relaxed others and made me understand how many people breathing patterns have adapted from stress.

The way you breathe is a big deal, many people believe you either breathe or you don’t (I wouldn’t recommend the latter). In today’s stressed, rushed, society not only do we move less, we also are only using part of our breathing capacity. Which affects our health and can set up extensive muscular adaptation and tension patterns throughout the body.

Movement patterns I performed whilst working as a therapist had slowly developed me into a rotated frame. My abdomen on one side felt constantly shortened, I noticed that every task I did I performed it in my work posture I had molded myself into this shape. Which had a knock on effect on my entire body.

Movement restored my natural alignment (my body parts being stacked over each other) and allowed my body to work reflexively (stimulated from the interaction, connection and loading of other body parts)

I believe working my way into whole body alignment took the extra pressure and stress off my abdomen. As my external adaptations effected my internal structures( everything works together) Learning to use more of my body, more frequently, and improving my breathing mechanics improved my health tenfold, and I think these are all large factors in the disappearance of my IBS (good riddance!)

Alongside the traditionally recognised health benefits in my experience, there are many more significant health improvements that movement and alignment brought. I am certain improved and more frequent movement and restoring alignment of the horse could also bring improved health. And also prevent many wear and tear conditions that are prevalent in the equine population today.