In every moment, even now as you sit stand or lie down to read these words, you are shaping your body into postures that fit your world. Each of us falls, often unconsciously, into patterns of body use which create postures that reflect our attitudes, thoughts and feelings. Our bodies become tense and rigid through the stressful effects of unbalanced movement habits, emotional tension or physical injury. For example, continually carrying a briefcase on one side of the body is an ongoing physical stress.
Gravity pulls the briefcase down, and the shoulder with it.
With repetition, the connective tissue layers begin to glue to one another and the body becomes stuck in that position even when the briefcase is not being carried. The whole body adjusts to this imbalance, and soon the impact will be reflected throughout. Similarly with emotional patterns, a feeling of depression is often characterised by a sunken chest. If this feeling and the bodily stance become habitual, the body will hold this shape. Physical trauma also disturbs our balance.