However, under continual stress and lack of movement, fascia becomes rigid and loses its fluidity. The sheaths of fascia stick in a systematic way, based on our habitual patterns of movement, or more correctly, lack of movement. Although people most often associate tension and stiffness with their muscles, it is actually the connective tissue that accumulates much of this stress. Gravity is the force that pulls any two masses together, notably the earth and our human bodies. We learn about this force early in life, but then get used to it, although it continually pulls on us.
Alignment simply means that things are in a straight line.
If items are in a zig-zag pattern, we would say that they are out of alignment. It also supports us in being balanced. An imbalanced body, however, feels gravity as a stress. Consider the two buildings in the above illustration. The balanced and erect building has no problem with gravity.