The fascial system, the nervous and circulatory systems, snowflakes, lightning, crystals, river networks, and maybe the underlying electromagnetic vibration of all structures in nature may have “fractal” characteristics.
Wikipedia defines a “fractal” as a rough geometric shape that appears similar at all levels of magnification. The fractal’s properties of self-similarity are terms coined by the mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot in 1975.
The word fractal was derived from the Latin “fractus” meaning fractured. Why should we care? Because all of the different health professions taught linear principles. So what? Our bodies are not linear! Our fascial system is nonlinear and requires very different principles that when added to massage or bodywork, will greatly enhance your results.
Myofascial Release expands our ability to help others by exploring deeper dimensions of the human experience: Fractal geometry, non-linearity, complexity, and chaos theory. This is an exciting time to be a therapist. We are at a “tipping point”.
Before we go into more depth of these important concepts, it would be interesting to hear your comments or questions.
John
5 responses so far ↓
Sheila Walker // Feb 5th 2009 at 8:36 am
Recently, as I flew back to Vermont from Key West, Florida, I gazed out the airplane window and appreciated the additional information available to me from this new perspective. From the ‘bird’s eye view’, I noticed how the topography reminded me of a cranium. Most noticeably, were the waterways. When standing on the banks of a flowing river, we might appreciate the water, the erosion, etc… From the aerial view, I noticed how the bodies of water articulated with the interfacing land so intricately. I could not have appreciated that as well, without the expanded visual. It reminded me of slides I have been shown of skulls, imploded to demonstrate the expansion happens along the suture lines. When we look more closely at that, we see the ‘erosion’ patterns, as the subtle oscillations of our bodies work… although their remain many, because of their limited view, who deny this observation. There is much more we can understand when we allow for a fresh perspective.
Carol M. Davis // Feb 5th 2009 at 1:24 pm
Dear John: I agree with what you say about how our bodies are not linear, nor do they respond like machines, as linear or mechanistic science teaches. I wrote about fractals in the chapter on the “New Science” in the third edition of Complementary Therapies in Rehabilitation – Evidence of Efficacy in Therapy, Prevention and Wellness (2008 SLACK, Inc. Thorofare, NJ) I was writing about the advances in the science of energy medicine – vibration, photons and the zero point field. Cellular biologist Bruce Lipton summarized the path from reductionism to holism in his article in Shift magazine (Institute of Noetic Sciences, Dec 05-Feb 06; 9:8-12) this way.
To understand nature and the human experience, we must transcend the ‘parts’ aspect that was focused upon in reductionism, (to understand the whole, divide it into as many small parts as possible and study all of the parts, and then you will understand the whole) and look more toward the integration and coordination of all parts of the universe, both material and immaterial, into a larger whole. This revisioning of conventional science to a new or noetic science will, Lipton believes, “rescue us from extinction.”
Lipton states that conventional or traditional science can be seen as hierarchical, with basic scientific theories supporting, or giving foundation to upper level knowledge. At the base of all traditional scientific understanding is mathematics, the laws of which are absolute, certain and indisputable. Built upon our understanding of math is physics and built upon physics are the laws of chemistry. The laws and science of chemistry support the next tier, biology, and biology supports the final top layer- psychology.
The new science is expanding our understanding on all 5 of these levels. For example, our growing understanding of the laws of mathematics is enhanced by the disciplines of fractal geometry and chaos theory. Fractal geometry informs us that all that we can see and know in the physical universe is derived from the integration and interconnectivity of all the parts, often turned back on themselves in common patterns that repeat over and over from the branching of tributaries of a river, to the branching of veins in a leaf, and capillaries in a section of living tissue. Most important, in the larger view, cooperation and harmony seem to trump the old dictum of survival of the fittest as the predominant descriptor of how the universe organizes itself. Chaos theory proves that ultimately, if one waits long enough, there is underlying order in even the most chaotic of events, and, more important, small changes have huge impact in nature when we take a longer, larger view. To prematurely interrupt a process as it unfolds to its order, even for the noblest of reasons, can result in the kind of devastation that we are experiencing in the growing disaster of the warming of the atmosphere, the steady decline in colonies of honeybees, the extinction of so many species of plants and animals that sustain a balanced and ordered planet. We acted as if the earth were a “thing”, ours to manipulate for our own advancement, not as if the earth were a balanced, living entity that would suffer globally from our manipulations.
Woody Haiken // Feb 5th 2009 at 1:59 pm
Dear John,
The most recognizable fractal, the Mandelbrot set, is fascinating to look at as a still image. But it isn’t until it is viewed either as an animation, or on a computer that its true magnificence and wonder is apparent. On a computer, one can continually zoom in on a fractal image to see more and more detail. Animations choose one area to continually magnify. The image is always changing, yet is always familiar. One gets the feeling of falling into a rabbit hole. The small is always getting larger and making way for the even smaller. There is always something new, yet the same patterns infinitely repeat themselves with subtle differences.
I imagine if we were to have a microscope that could zoom in on our tissue, at ever increasing magnifications, it would have the same effect. We would find the same fractal chaos at 25 times, as we would at 100,000 times. Likewise, no matter what the magnification into space–whether with a pair of binoculars, or with the Hubble Space Telescope, we see the same patterns. We live in a fractal universe. This is why, in “Fractals: The Colors of Infinity,” a documentary narrated by Arthur C. Clarke, one scientist calls fractals “The Fingerprint of God.” This documentary, has phenomenal animations, along with the history of fractals, and even an interview of Benoit Mandelbrot, who is credited with their discovery. The entire documentary is available on YouTube in six parts. I’ve listed the links to below.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB8m85p7GsU
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gKOB6spCb8
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZsVrHCPOio
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXngUyOS-XM
Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjdogjBxfco
Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8Y6xpeQK-w
Scott van Niekerk // Feb 11th 2009 at 3:38 pm
Fractals are fascinating – exemplifying the state of the living universe. The concept that comes to mind is “As within, as without” from the Wisdom of the ancient philosopher, Hermes Trismegistus “The Seven Principles of Hermes”.
We as human bodies/beings are microcosms of the greater creation. Just as our planet is part of our solar system, which is part of the Milky Way (our galaxy) which is one of billions of galaxies in the observable universe.
So too the connective tissue system is fractal…… as we zoom into it at higher and higher magnification we see more and more space – it is awe inspiring.
Recently, at his latest new Myofascial Release seminar – Quantum Leap, John Barnes showed his students a fascinating DVD of highly magnified living fascia via endoscopic videography. This was followed by serial magnifications in a zoom sequence of the Mandelbrot set of fractal mathematical images. One tied beautifully together with the other and they stimulated the great minds amongst the 180 students collected in the room. The energy was palpable and FABULOUS!
I was honored to be there!
Thanks John!
Warmly,
Scott van Niekerk
http://www.wholisticphysicaltherapy.com
http://www.MFRsuccess.com
Richard Harty // Jul 23rd 2009 at 12:01 am
The discovery of fractals as the underlying geometry of nature has made the computer generation of nature possible. It’s interesting that this mathematical solution came out of a rather heated disagreement between groups of mathematicians at the turn of the century.
One group of mathematicians stated that when a line changed direction it had to have a curve present at some small microscopic level even though it might look like a right angle.
It turns out that fractals tell us that it is infinite and in mathematical terms the curve is not differentiable. This gives us all kinds of intriguing insights into how the universe is put together.
And just like all other things in nature, our fascial system has this fractal organization that is more apparent due to its function and form. It appears to create an order out of randomness.
That’s part of the beauty of our mysterious universe.
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