An Introduction to Classical
Kinesiology
Classical Kinesiology [pronounced kin-easy-ology] is a natural health therapy that can be truly holistic in its ability to address and re-balance all the aspects of the human being that contribute to health and well-being.
Traditionally Kinesiology refers to the study of muscles and movement in the body and would be used in this context by physiotherapists, sports coaches etc.
However, in the natural health field the term 'kinesiology' is seen and used in a wider context. Muscles are perceived as indicators or monitors of stress and imbalance within the body. Hence 'Muscle Testing' is used to detect and correct those imbalances, thus addressing the underlying causes of disease or malfunction in the body.
Classical Kinesiology is a therapy that brings together the principles of traditional Chinese acupuncture meridians and the knowledge of Western muscle testing, anatomy and physiology, and nutrition.
Over the years, many branches of Kinesiology have been developed, each offering their own view of the original concept, which was Applied Kinesiology (AK). Note: Applied Kinesiology is reserved for practitioners trained by the International College of Applied Kinesiology founded in 1973 in America. AK is seen as an adjunct to a recognised medical qualification and the ICAK will only accept such medically qualified persons for training.
Classical Kinesiology is based on AK and offers a rounded and orthodox approach to the art of healing using kinesiology. Qualified therapists will have gone through an academically orientated training programme that would include extensive anatomy and physiology and clinical medicine. They are likely to use a nutritional approach to the therapy, as well as working with the acupuncture meridian system and other techniques to balance emtional stresses or musculo-skeletal problems.
Health - How does it all go wrong?
Each of us is a complex individual whose health is influenced and affected by four major components:¨ |
our structure - the muscles, joints, bones |
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our 'chemical factory' - nutritional deficiencies; how our body handles the food we eat and converts it into essential chemicals, hormones etc.; elimination of toxins; allergic reactions etc. |
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our thoughts / emotions - the influences of psychological and emotional stress |
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our 'subtle' energy - a flow of energy or 'vital force' which nurtures the whole being and connects the other three aspects of health. This is the same as the chi of Chinese acupuncture and the prana of traditional Indian medicine and philosophy. |
When we begin to develop symptoms of ill health it is because one, or more, of the above is out of balance.
Our bodies are continuously working to maintain a balance within [something called homeostasis] and over a period of time this homeostasis can be very easily upset - largely through stress, poor diet, inherited nutritional deficiencies, pollutants, toxicity, trauma, emotional distress, etc. At the point of imbalance - or loss of homeostasis - we will become ill.
The system at greatest risk from all these inputs is the Immune System, thus not only lowering our resistance to disease and our ability to fight it, but opening us to the likelihood of the increasingly common range of auto-immune diseases.
Structurally, too, the muscles and joints of the body will show evidence of all these stresses, along with the strains incurred by poor posture, sedentary lifestyle, injuries, etc.
Classical Kinesiology can redress these accumulated imbalances and begin to return the body to some form of normality and comfortable function.