I began my professional journey in chiropractic school being taught that as a chiropractor my job is to remove blockages in the body using a chiropractic adjustment. There are hundreds of chiropractic techniques out there now. I studied with several mentors of various techniques and SOT (Sacral Occipital Technique) resonated with me the most. The foundation of SOT is to re-establish normal flow of the cerebral spinal fluid. This fluid is produced by cells surrounding the brain and flows down the spine and out the holes in the spine to bathe with nourishment all the nerves of the body. It also acts like a cushion protector in the brain and spinal cord as is surrounds them. All of chiropractic was founded on this premise of locating the primary blockages thus restoring the ability of the body to return to it's natural homeostasis and heal itself. Quite simple. However, my education in and out of school also went on to learn the names of all the illnesses that can afflict a person and all the tests to do to prove it. When I got out of chiropractic school and into the real working world I found a great pressure to name/diagnose the issues. We as chiropractors are not legally permitted to diagnose. Our gift is to locate the imbalance/injury/trauma/blockage and add a force/energy to help remove it so the body can heal. Well, I have to say it has been very challenging to remain that pure. I have over the years wavered and succumbed to the pressures of our medically oriented society that believes the power is in the name/diagnosis. And, my own ego that wants to show how smart it is and come up with a name. Truthfully, a diagnosis is only a word that was made up to describe some condition.
So, here is where it comes full circle......
As I, and my practice has evolved, I once again looked back to my beginning teachings and the truth behind the philosophy of removing blockages so the innate wisdom of the body can heal itself. This brings us to the present day of studying Spring Forest QiGong and the fundamental philosophy of moving energy and removing blockages. In chiropractic it was removing blockages in the nervous system and in QiGong it is removing excess energy from the system. What I focused on in Sacral Occipital Technique was the cerebral spinal fluid flow and in QiGong it is Qi/Chi. How ironic that they both run in the same area of the body providing life force and nourishment.
Isn't the universe funny.
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| Master Chunyi Lin |
