A Tensegral Lens
Poor posture, repetitive movement patterns, emotional stress, injuries, and work habits can disrupt your body’s natural balance, leading to uneven tension and compression throughout the entire fascial system and bony structures.
Uneven areas of tension and compression may be experienced in a localised region (such as the knees, hips, or shoulders), and this may affect your soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia) and joints. Especially when left unaddressed for many years, the soft tissues may become overworked or strained, while the joints may experience accelerated wear and tear.
This is where the concept of tensegrity offers a powerful lens for viewing and treating the body.
Compression and tension are transmitted throughout the body and can manifest in regions distant from the initial area of tension or compression. Rather than focusing solely on localised areas of strain or dysfunction, tensegrity encourages us to view the body as an interconnected system.
Image credit: https://tensologic.com
What is Tensegrity?
Tensegrity is short for “tensional integrity,” a term coined by designer and architect Richard Buckminster Fuller. It explains how certain structures maintain their stability through a balance of tension and compression.
All structures maintain some level of tension and compression, though the proportions vary. For instance, a brick wall relies more on compression, while a hanging lightbulb relies more on tension. Tensegrity structures on the other hand, are unique because they derive their integrity from continuous tension and discontinuous compression.
A tensegrity like structure, such as a geodesic dome, trampoline, or tent, maintains its shape because the tensioned components (e.g., cables or rubber bands) surround and balance the compression elements (e.g., poles or rods). These components do not work in isolation—any change in one part of the structure impacts the whole.
The human body operates like a tensegrity structure, but it is important to note that biotensegrity (tensegrity applied to the human body) is just a theory.
Fascia (the continuous tension component) connects and supports bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Bones act as the discontinuous compression components, pushing outward against the surrounding tension. Together, these elements provide internal integrity and shape, allowing us to move and adapt to external forces.
A Tensegral Lens
Tensegrity structures distribute strain along lines of tension. In the human body, these lines of tension correspond to the myofascial meridians described in the Anatomy Trains model. These meridians represent myofascial connections that span the body, running from bone to bone at consistent depths and directions.
By viewing the body through a tensegral lens, we can identify which myofascial lines are creating tension, both locally and globally. This perspective also highlights how these tensions influence the bony anatomy, particularly the joints.
While the Anatomy Trains model provides one framework for understanding tensegrity in the body, other perspectives can also be applied depending on your background and expertise.
Treating local myofascia along the Superficial Frontline Merdian, changes the line of tension globally.
Local Changes Affect The Whole System
In a tensegrity structure, strain is distributed throughout the entire system. When a load is applied to one area, the structure adjusts globally to accommodate it. If the load exceeds the structure’s capacity, failure often occurs in a distant part, not where the strain originated.
Similarly, in the human body, excessive tension in the fascial network or compression in a joint does not remain localised. These forces shift the balance across the entire system, potentially causing discomfort or dysfunction in seemingly unrelated areas.
This explains why persistent issues, such as a chronic shoulder problem, may not resolve despite targeted treatment. The problem often lies elsewhere, and a global perspective is required to identify and address the root cause.
Image Credit: https://www.anatomytrains.com
6 Ways You Can Improve Tensegral Balance
Improving tensegral balance involves restoring harmony between tension and compression in the body.
- Engage in functional movement practices: Yoga (that balances stretching and strengthening), Pilates, fascia-focused training (FAMO or ZOGA for example), and other functional training systems that emphasise full-body movement, alignment, and balance.
- Develop postural awareness: Use mirrors, ergonomic seating, or reminders to improve your posture and reduce strain on your joints and soft tissue. Try and move as multidimensionally as you can throughout the day.
- Practice myofascial release techniques: Use foam rollers or massage balls to release tension in the myofascia and explore how different regions affect each other after release.
- Prioritise rest and recovery: Adequate sleep, hydration, diet, sunlight exposure, and stress management support the repair of your fascial system.
- Explore myofascial meridians: Dynamically stretch and strengthen along the lines of tension described in Anatomy Trains to improve your overall balance.
- Improve body awareness: Practise body scans or mindful movement to identify areas of tension and compression, making subtle adjustments for better alignment.
How Can ATSI Improve Your Tensegral Balance?
Anatomy Trains Structural Integration (ATSI) offers a systematic approach to balancing tension and compression in the body: assessing the relationships between the bony anatomy and the fascial system.
Here are five ways ATSI can improve your unique tensegral balance:
- Unwinding Strain Patterns: ATSI works to ease long-held strain patterns in your fascial system. By addressing areas of excessive tension or compression, it helps restore a more natural balance in your body.
- Balancing Myofascial Meridians: Each session targets specific myofascial lines (e.g., superficial back line or spiral line) to optimise the distribution of tension and compression throughout the body. This creates a more harmonious structural balance.
- Enhancing Joint Mobility: By addressing fascial restrictions around joints, ATSI improves joint alignment and mobility, reducing unnecessary strain and promoting ease of movement.
- Improving Postural Alignment: ATSI focuses on bringing the body into better alignment with gravity. This improved alignment reduces compensatory patterns, allowing for more economical postural positioning.
- Supporting Holistic Body Awareness: ATSI helps clients tune into their bodies, recognising imbalances and understanding how different areas of tension or compression interact. This increased awareness encourages better Balance and movement.
**Example before and after photo from session 1 of the 12 session series: The Superficial Frontline.
Image Credit: https://www.anatomytrains.com
A Unified System
The concept of tensegrity offers a valuable framework for understanding the human body. While it is easy to seperate the body into isolated parts and functions, tensegrity emphasises the interconnected nature of our body, where local changes influence the whole system.
Poor posture, movement habits, and stress disrupt this balance, leading to strain, dysfunction, and unnecessary wear and tear.
By viewing the body through a tensegral lens, we can identify and address the root causes of imbalance rather than focusing solely on symptoms. Strategies like movement practices, postural awareness, and exploring myofascial meridians, alongside bodywork like ATSI, provide effective tools to restore alignment and promote overall well-being.
Remember, the body is a unified system. When one part is supported, the whole benefits. By nurturing balance within this intricate network, you can move, feel, and live better.
Thanks for reading,
Lewis
