The Three Somatic Reflexes: Green Light; Red Light; Trauma

Somatic Reflexes: Trauma, Red Light, and Green Light

The Three Somatic Reflexes: 

It is unfortunate that in our current lifestyle, the "rat race", our bodies learn behaviours that become functional postural normalities of everyday life, we live with pain, almost accepting it as "normal". Through understanding ourselves physically as well as mentally...like a recalibration we can reduce or eliminate the SMA (Sensory Motor Amnesia) caused by habitual postural reflexes.

Unfortunately, because of SMA, some people stay in these extreme postural reflexes, their bodies unable to sense the postural imbalance. These are functional responses, are many times seen as structural in nature by medical professionals. Improving functional responses of the musculature will improve the structural or posture of the body. Clinical Somatic Education resolves these issues through a process of bringing awareness of the functional issue or "amnesiac" muscles first, then by retraining the brain to retrain the muscles to release and relax back to the new and normal length. By doing so, this process helps to improve balance, coordination and overall musculoskeletal function. The ultimate goal of Clinical Somatics is to bring one to be more self-aware, by self-monitoring, self-regulating, and self-healing.

Green Light Reflex:

The posterior or back muscles are responsible for the Green Light Reflex pattern or the "getting things done" in the world muscle reflex. Not only does this reflex involve the contraction of the lumbar muscles connecting the back of the pelvis to the vertebrae but the following also occurs; the backward pulling on the neck and downward on the shoulders, lengthening and protruding abdominal muscles, contracting the gluteus muscles to rotate thighs outwards, knees are in hyperextension, and feet are duck-like.

Every time we spring into action to get things done, we spring into the green light reflex. This becomes habitual and the new postural norm for our bodies. Sensory motor amnesia takes hold and we no longer have the ability to turn these muscles off or sense what is taking hold. What we do sense is tired, pain in our heads, neck and shoulders, upper and lower back pain and sore buttocks. 

Red Light Reflex:

More commonly known as the Startle Response; this reflex involves the anterior muscles of the body, the muscles that tighten to pull you forward. 

The slumping posture or "slumping reflex" presents as rounded shoulders, depressed chest, and a jutting of the head. A protective posture, which is found in most vertebrate animals; it is a response to fear, anxiety, prolonged exposure to distress or negativity. Also, long hours hunched over a computer can cause the anterior muscles of the body to contract into this slumping posture.

 A habituated Red Light Reflex may result in chronic neck and jaw pain (such as temporomandibular joint pain or TMJ), a "widow's" or "dowager's" hump, hip and back pain, as well as shallow breathing. The latter causative symptom (shallow breathing) is more concerning due to the body being deprived of much-needed oxygen for the brain, muscles, and blood. This can cause fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and exacerbate allergies.

Trauma Reflex:

An involuntary response to an accident and injuries, the Trauma Reflex is a compensatory response of the musculature to avoid or reduce pain. This reflex involves the trunk-rotator muscles when contracted to hike the hip on one side and twist the spine slightly. A good example of this movement is the repetitive task of holding a child on your hip, a sudden fall of any kind, a twisted ankle causing you to limp, falling on your tailbone, and even, appendicitis. This posture presents with a side bending rotation of the pelvis/torso/shoulder/head. Scoliosis is a good example of this type of reflex.

The good news is we can change all of the "stuck reflex" patterns and learn to control our muscles and re-educate through the sensory-motor system.

Join me again for more Clinical Somatic insights and education, learn to live pain-free in your body.

You are invited to become a beautiful soma with me, and discover yourself from the inside out. Learning Our Way Back Home.

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