Sotai

Sotai or Sotai-hō (操体法, Sōtai-hō) is a Japanese form of muscular or movement therapy which was invented by Keizo Hashimoto, a Japanese Medical Doctor (1897–1993).

He developed a model of treatment that was based on returning natural body alignment by working with the breath and moving toward comfort rather than adjusting toward pain. He developed his system from traditional oriental medicine (Acupuncture, bone setting (Sekkotsu), Seitai Jutsu) in concert with his knowledge of modern medicine.

Sotai is said to be a method for neuromuscular reeducation, untwisting muscular holding patterns. According to their practitioners this balances the nervous and muscular systems. Its central point is the backward movement or reverse motion treatment. The idea is that the wrong point of the frame could be returned by moving the body in the comfortable direction. Using the effects of an isometric contraction followed by a sudden relaxation (post-isometric relaxation) normalises the strained condition.

Philosophy

Sotai practitioners claim that stiff structures should be regarded as a sort of stop light: if a movement hurts you should stop it. They claim that Sotai(ho) helps to determine where the movement is going wrong.

Like the acupuncture meridians in traditional eastern medicine, there are also muscular "meridians" along the body. Landsberger and Hoepke (1936) invented the term of muscular chains ("Muskelketten"). Sotai practitioners claim that it detects the "strains" within these chains. According to its philosophy these "strains" arise through habituated movements.

Moshe Feldenkrais said that a free person is able to do one action within one plot. Probably Hashimoto translated this thought into neurophysiological terms: He said that if one puts his centre of gravity adequately over his feet the body will raise naturally. Hashimoto claims that people often shift their weight more to the outside of the foot instead of shifting it towards the bale of the big toe. He said that our body is not centred then, which means that the natural set reactions (Statomotorik) will not occur properly. Additional muscular work is needed to keep the body straight. To speak in Feldenkrais words, body energy is not focused on the act but is spent in keeping the trunk raised.

The construction of the body

Hashimoto claimed that the organism always moves as a unity and formulated from it "the law of the reciprocal effect" ("Doji-sokan-sohosei").

According to Hashimoto the construction of the human body resembles in the principle that of a house. Four supporting piers correspond to our arms and legs, the ridge corresponds to the spinal column. If the balance one of these pillars is disturbed sensitively, this will become apparent as a malfunction in the backbone.

The law of the reciprocal effect (Doji-sokan-sohosei)

The four factors that invluence our health

Four factors

Hashimoto's opinion was that there are in fact four factors which contribute to our inside balance. The following passage is a citation of Hashimotos thoughts:

• Respiration: A slow, quiet and deep respiration is important for optimization of body processes. (Moving the diaphragm in consonance with respiration the circulation will improve, particularly the fast buffer system's effects will improve as well, which contributes cell metabolism by exchanging carbon dioxide with oxygen.)
• Nutrition: Regular, balanced nutrition is a presupposition for the development of healthy organs.
• Movement: One should always do those movements that are good for one's body, which fit to one's biomechanical recources.
• Thinking: Gratitude is the key to moderate thinking and positive life attitude.

In the ideal case balance rules in all four factors. But this is rather rarely the case. So a person who moves normally can affect his health by bad nutrition negatively. On the other hand is a balanced point, for example respiration in state to equalize a neglected area, for example the nutrition.

As long as within this system balance rules, one says, the person is healthy. Only if at least one of these pillars collapses, disease appears.

One's environment also affects the body balance, for example, by stress factors like noise or frantic.

The movement chain

According to Hashimoto the law of the reciprocal effect has not only validity within the model of the four health factors: it refers in every kind of movement. A movement never (!) takes place in one segment only. It is not detached from the remaining body! It spreads out as a kind of a chain starting from one link going to the adjoining and finally over the whole body.

To repeat his vision, in Sotai it is said that the whole organism is always involved in performance. Following this idea one could regard the birth of a local hardening as the result of a process which works in the whole organism (see Philosophy). According to this vision one could regard a prolapsed disc as an appearance at those places within the chain which are not permeable, where the forces are held, leading to a collapse.

Doshin (self-detection)

According to Hayashi sensei Sotaiho is no curation treatment in the usual sense. Sotaiho requires the co-operation of the affected person. This is meant as a sort "listening to yourself" during the treatment. Hashimoto claims that therapists, doctors and medications cannot heal. He states that this can only be done by nature. So it is an essential part of Sotai therapy to hunt up independently false positions of the several joints and to understand them as a cause of the problem.

While Dr. Hashimotos work has concentrated in essence upon the partner's work, it was Dr. Sato who has strongly developed the Self-Sotai. From his point of view it belongs to an extensive therapy to train an affected person in self-exercises.

Practitioners claim that if the affected person has understood the Sotai idea once, he can extend it to all areas. They say that this understanding also includes the idea that there is an optimal degree of the pleasant. Too much of it is again harmfully: e.g., a piece of cakes may be probably tasty, however, a whole cake causes certainly stomachaches.

Meridian tendons

In the traditional eastern medicine (TEAM) one knows about muscular leading roads which are very similar to the course of the associated meridians. They are named 'meridian tendons'.

For didactic reasons the 'tendon' of the gallbladder meridian is chosen: This meridian tendon runs down the outside of the body and connects the temples with the outer area of the foot. In between there are several interfaces:

• on height of the fibula's head
• at the level of the sacrum
• on height of the waist-line
• in the shoulder
• in the area of the temple

Practitioners frequently have to work on problems within this tendon. They claim that many loins complaints stand in connection with a disturbance of this chain.

According to Dr. Masunaga (founder of Zen Shiatsu), who has assigned psychological functions to the Functional Circles, the meridian of the gallbladder stands on behalf for the function of short-time decisions: do I go to the right or to the left?

In the bioenergetic concept of Alexander Lowen it is said that emotional habits are incorporated in postural patterns. Probably Dr. Hashimotos approach transfers this theory to the level of the movement chains: all kind of (movement) habits will be reflected within the meridian tendons. E.g., everybody knows the situation in which one couldn't make a proper decision, to do something somehow and, nevertheless, also again not. According to Masunaga the appropriate movement would be a kind of twist, an unclear movement which leads to one side, but also to the other side. According to Masunaga's idea such samples will establish as strained conditions in the gall-blader's meridian tendon.

According to Kawakami one could state a change of the muscle proteins at microscopic level, called "strain". Via neuronal feedback mechanisms the vegetative nervous system is affected, which has an influence on the metabolism of the internal organs. It is possible that through this way disturbances in the organ system could be caused.

To speak to Manakas words, a correction in the software - in this case the muscle apparatus - could cause changes in the somatic condition of the related segment.

Therapy

According to Hashimoto the pelvis is the centre of all movements. Goal of therapy is to synchronize movements of hands and feet with those of the pelvic girdle.

Facilitate the lower abdomen

According to Hayashi with this technique an exercise is presented with which all basic treatments are started practically. Palpating the popliteal fossa one can feal hardenings of the local tendons by moving one's fingers. The technique will be executed on the more reactive side. Here the affected person should raise his forefoot and shift his weight gently towards the heel. If both sides are reactive the technique will be done on both sides. The practitioner puts on his hand lightly to strengthen the tension within the movement chain positively. After three to five seconds the affected person should relax suddenly, afterwards the exercise will be repeated three to four times. Applying this technique facilitates the connection of the center of the foot with the lower abdomen.

Right or left?

The following technique probably adjusts the tension in the diafragm and in the gall-bladder's meridian tendon as well. If for example, the trunk rotation is unpleasant to the left, the affected person turns to the right, to the painless side. Starting from the place at which the movement is still pleasant the practitioner initiates the movement. Close to the end of the movement the practitioner will build up a light resistance which ends in an isometric contraction. The final point of the exercise is where the segment can be adjusted on an optimal degree. Mostly it lies exactly opposite facing the starting point. After three to five seconds the affected person should relax suddenly, afterwards the exercise will be repeated three to four times.

References

• Guimberteau, J. C. (2008). "Die Gleitfähigkeit subkutaner Strukturen beim Menschen". Osteopathische Medizin, 08-01, Urban & Fischer. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B8JJV-4T5BWNJ-2&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=7149f7af16d3e57c86524d438e0b6bbe. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
• Hashimoto, Keizo (May 1981). Sotai Natural Exercise. Study Series. George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation. ISBN 0918860334. 
• Hashimoto, Keizo (November 1983). Sotai Balance and Health Through Natural Movement. Japan Publications. ISBN 0870405349. 
• Hayashi, Kenji (2009). "Sotaiho Bewegungsübungen für die Körperbalance". Self publishing. http://www.taido-hannover.de/Sotaiho_haupt.html. Retrieved 2009-08-02. 
• Heine, Hartmut (October 2006). Lehrbuch der biologischen Medizin. Hippokrates. ISBN 3830453353. http://books.google.de/books?id=yOR8ci9tH3IC&pg=PR3&lpg=PR3&dq=Lehrbuch+der+biologischen+Medizin%27%27%3B+Heine%3B+3.+%C3%BCberarbeitete+Auflage%3B+Hippokrates&source=bl&ots=YvCXrozpf1&sig=3PipfLoqy8wXRNu74MXFZsGKRUI&hl=de&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result. 
• Hoepke, Hermann; Kantner, Max (1971). Das Muskelspiel des Menschen. G. Fischer Verlag. ISBN 3437100815. 

• Manaka, Yoshio (July 1995). Chasing the dragon's tail. Redwing Books. ISBN 9780912111322. http://www.redwingbooks.com/products/books/ChaDraTai.cfm. 

• Myers, Thomas W. (August 2004). Anatomy trains, german ed.. Urban & Fischer. ISBN 3437567306. http://www.amazon.de/gp/reader/3437567306/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-page. 
• Myers, Thomas W. (December 2008). Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 044310283X. 
• Valenzuela Serrano, Arturo (2006). Sotai: Reeducación Postural Integral. S.L. Editorial Paidotribó. ISBN 9788480198905. 
• Nemoto, Yoshikazu (2005). 新編 臨床家のための連動操体法.jpeg Home exercises. RENDOU SOTAI HO. Enterprise Editions. 

External links

• sotai.eu
• Schule für Atmung und Bewegung, Hannover
• sotai.net
• shiatsuescuela.es/shiatsuescuela/sotai.html
• www.sotai-spain.com