I want to talk about bones today. Not the kind dogs dig up in your back yard. I want to talk about the vital living bones within our bodies. This subject of bones has come up during sessions with clients a lot in the last few weeks..
For most of us, our direct conscious experience of bones seems to come from dead ones. You know, the part left after you’ve eaten ribs; the hard heavy bones we give to our dogs; skeletal remains at the museum; skeletal replicas we study in anatomy classes; and the like.
However, the bones inside our living bodies are quite different. Yes, they are far from being rigid, hard and dead; they constantly recreate themselves!
For most of us, our direct conscious experience of bones seems to come from dead ones. You know, the part left after you’ve eaten ribs; the hard heavy bones we give to our dogs; skeletal remains at the museum; skeletal replicas we study in anatomy classes; and the like.
However, the bones inside our living bodies are quite different. Yes, they are far from being rigid, hard and dead; they constantly recreate themselves!
I remember my own sense of revelation and surprise when my anatomy teacher in massage school told us that the head of the femur (thigh bone) takes the longest time to renew itself of any of the bones. It does that about every 5 months! So 5 months from now new cells will have replaced all the bones cells you currently have within your skeleton.
So you see, bones are living dynamic structures. Much like tree trunks they provide strength, stability AND the ability to bend just a bit. As we know from stories of older folks, bones that are rigid and brittle tend to break more easily.
By design bones are vibrant centers of activity. The honeycomb struction inside provides strength without requiring heavy mass (which tends to weigh one down). They also provide pockets for air. Our bones are filled with air.
As you know, the body is mostly water. Objects filled with air generally float in water. Our bones are indeed designed to float. Our ligaments keep them in relative space of course. That way we know where they are!
So you see, bones are living dynamic structures. Much like tree trunks they provide strength, stability AND the ability to bend just a bit. As we know from stories of older folks, bones that are rigid and brittle tend to break more easily.
By design bones are vibrant centers of activity. The honeycomb struction inside provides strength without requiring heavy mass (which tends to weigh one down). They also provide pockets for air. Our bones are filled with air.
As you know, the body is mostly water. Objects filled with air generally float in water. Our bones are indeed designed to float. Our ligaments keep them in relative space of course. That way we know where they are!
When we are at rest (not contracting our muscles) our bones move within the waters of our body. This movement is very very small AND very important. When we allow ourselves to rest, this small movement of our bones brings nutrients and ease to our joints and allows toxins and waste to be flushed out.
Inside the long bones (i.e., in the legs and arms) our red blood cell factories operate with heat, rhythm and fluidity. This home of our marrow is very juicy and vibrant. And remember, it is surrounded by the honeycomb structure filled with breath and then wrapped in an outer shell that has a small degree of flexibility. The bone is wrapped in a fascial sheath that becomes one with the ligaments connecting this bone with another to form a joint - everything floating until we contract our muscles and move through our life.
Inside the long bones (i.e., in the legs and arms) our red blood cell factories operate with heat, rhythm and fluidity. This home of our marrow is very juicy and vibrant. And remember, it is surrounded by the honeycomb structure filled with breath and then wrapped in an outer shell that has a small degree of flexibility. The bone is wrapped in a fascial sheath that becomes one with the ligaments connecting this bone with another to form a joint - everything floating until we contract our muscles and move through our life.
So take a moment every now and again to feel the gentle movement of your bones floating in the water of your body. Key into the rich and juicy pulsing of the red blood cell factory that is your marrow. Notice your breath. Send the enlivened breath of your inhale into those honeycomb structures and exhale stale breath. Appreciate the lightness and strength of your bones as you stand, walk, live.
Oh, and drink plenty of water. Bones do not function so well in a dehydrated body: not much to float around in.
Coleen
