Myofascial Planes
The “myo-fascial” lines, planes, or sheaths provide a helpful map when trying to understand how patterns of positive and negative stress relay and transfer through the structures of the body.
When studying the human structure we often name individual anatomical parts as if they’re separate from all other parts. This of course, is not true; everything is deeply connected within the body. One of the ways the body remains connected is through the fascia. The bodies fascia can be extremely dense, and at other times very fine. The stronger qualities of fascia help to maintain structure; its more flexible and fluid nature helps to facilitate organs, bones, and muscles sliding and gliding against one another.
In particular, the myo-fascial planes provide a template for the yoga practitioner to understand how patterns of movement (through postures or asana) affect the body.
The Dorsal Plane and the "Heels" of the Body
The dorsal plane of the body serves to protect the back of the body and primarily functions (with the exception of the knees) to support the body in upright flexion. In other words, the back side of the body helps us stand upright.
The dorsal plane starts at the base of the foot and travels along the plantar fascia, the achilles tendon, the back of the leg to the sitting bones, across the sacrum, and up the back body to the base of the cranium (skull).
The muscles, tendons, and tissue that create an upright posture work hard to maintain this stability. Because of this effort the muscles and fascial groupings of the dorsal plane are often very thick bands. For example, the erector spinae (the muscles that run up along the back on either side of the spine), the hamstrings (backs of the thighs), and the achilles tendon (fascia that wraps around the heel and up the back of the leg) are all areas where fascial continuity is maintained through dense tissue.
From this perspective, a yoga practitioner can begin to feel the relationship between the heels of the feet, the “heels” of the pelvis (the sitting bones), and the “heels” of the cranium (occiput at the base of the skull). All of these structures are connected in a continuous band with one affecting the other simultaneously.
An Outer Shell of Personal History
We can think of the dorsal plane (the back of the body) as more “yang” or masculine. The back of the body protects the more “yin” or feminine front side of the body. The back side of the body is considered the protector and is usually much tighter due to its role as shield or shell. Athletic body types who run often (which on a very basic level is similar to the protective “flight” response) will know the holding pattern of tight hamstrings and back body well.
"ABHYASA VAIRAGYABHYAM TANNIRODHAH"
"The way to stilling the flucuations is by engaged practice and letting go"
As you work to open the back of the body it may be helpful to do some psychological work regarding the processing of your personal and familial history with a skilled therapist. Energetically, the back of the body can contain remnants of memory and the past. In yoga terminology this is termed our karma.
Our bodies and minds hold patterns (samskara) of tension that are deeply engrained. Through disciplined effort (abhyasa) and letting go (vairagyabhyam) these patterns can be transformed. Some patterns are physical, resulting in tender trigger points. Others are more psychic, leading to what yoga teacher Tias Little terms “mind-pain”. Ultimately, everything that is conditioned (or patterned) creates dukkha (suffering). In this way the body and mind are only completely free when patterns of holding are released.
Urinary Bladder Meridian
The dorsal plane of the body is associated with the Urinary Bladder meridian in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Bladder meridian, which houses and transmits Qi, travels along either side of the spine and down the backs of the legs much like the sheathing of the dorsal plane.
According to Chinese Medicine, the Bladder channel is a very important yang meridian which connects to the shu (transport) points for every organ in the body. When the Bladder is out of balance there may be excess fear, and because of its close proximity to the spine it has a direct impact on the autonomic nervous system – helping to calm and regulate the fight or flight response.
Movement to Open the Dorsal Plane
Forward bends and poses that work the bottom of the feet help to open the dorsal sheath. Use the below poses to free the dorsal sheathing for yourself:
- Vajrasana (broken toe) – Kneel on the floor, tuck your toes, and sit back on your heels. Work towards having all ten toes tucked and don’t allow your heels to fall out to the side. Use this pose regularly to open the plantar fascia at the bottom of the feet increasing circulation and treating bunions, plantar fasciitis, and bone spurs in the feet. If sitting all the way back is too painful, place a block on your heels to sit on, or place your hands on a chair in front of you to reduce the pressure.
- Cat Cow – Kneel on all 4’s with with your hands spread wide under your shoulders and your hips above your knees. Alternate rounding your spine to the sky and arching the spine. Begin the movement by tilting the pelvis back and forth. From there, allow the movement to ripple all the way up the back like a wave. Move with your breath and sense into the subtle articulations of the vertebrae. Notice whether there are areas of tightness, limitation, or hyper mobility.
- Adho Mukha Svanasa (downward dog) – Step back into downward dog. Place your feet about hip distance apart and engage your legs. Stretch your outer heels back and down. Move your thigh bones and inner groins back to lengthen the lower back. Notice the connection between the heels of the feet, the heels of the pelvis (sitting bones), and the heels of the skull (occiput).
- Uttanasana (forward fold “intense stretching”) – Step forward and release your head and torso over your legs. Activate your legs by drawing your kneecaps upward.
- Janu Sirsasana (head to knee) – Sit on the floor and extend one leg out. Draw the opposite foot in (bending the knee out to the side) and place the sole of the foot against the inner thigh of the extended leg. Press out through the heel of the extended leg. Drop the sitting bone of the bent leg and fold forward reaching towards the the toes of the extended leg. Use a strap around the foot if you can’t reach.
I hope that helps to open your dorsal plane 🙂 Thanks for reading!
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