Freeing the Tension

by D. P. Marr

At the heart of all emotional and mental distress lies the culprit of tension. This is especially evident in the pathology of anxiety, as one feels “tense”, “uptight”, “wound up”, etc. In depression, the heart feels “heavy” and/or “frozen”. There are many different factors involved in psychological disorders, but a key ingredient is muscle tension. But let us first look at some common ways in which doctors have approached the problems of anxiety and depression.

Mental illness can be explained in the field of neurology, where the circuits of the brain become locked on a limited set of paths through various synaptic/dendrite terminals, resulting in learned behavioral patterns. Often, patients are treated by psychologists with cognitive/ behavioral methods that change these paths temporarily, but sooner or later, the symptoms will return in most people, as this type of treatment will eventually lose a large amount of its efficacy.

Commonly, various antidepressants are utilized to neutralize the problem at the “source”, regulating the neurotransmitter levels of serotonin, dopamine, GABA, etc. at the synaptic terminals in the brain. However, scientists are still unsure as to how exactly these levels play a part in mental illness, and precisely what other chemical reactions are involved, although they have many competing theories to explain the processes. Even so, there have been a great deal of successful therapeutic effects in most patients being treated by antidepressants for depression and/or anxiety, but they are never free from side-effects, which means scientists have much more research ahead before the exact chemical reactions within the body can be defined to account for the causes of disorders in the mind.

So where does this take us? Since attempting to resolve the dilemma at the molecular level has appeared problematic so far, we must “zoom out” to widen our field of vision. Borrowing the maxim, we must be able to “see the forest for the trees”. In essence, the problem must be examined in physiological manifestations due to emotional distress, in the body as a complete unit.

For example, when a person experiences extreme fear or terror, the heart races, adrenaline is pumped into the body, cortisol is released, oxygen is decreased by costal(chest) breathing(while abdominal respiration is reduced), the amygdala in the brain is stimulated, and the blood flow is increased, but reduced in the surface muscles, which results in weak outer muscles, and tense internal muscles. If intense fear becomes a conditioned behavioral response due to constant stressors, then these reactions, more or less, become a permanent factor in the way the person’s body regulates itself. Thus, if a person with this difficulty tries to treat the problem at the chemical level, they must overcome every facet of conditioned bodily response. Current methods to change brain chemistry are somewhat effective in eliminating the symptoms when they appear at the surface level, but the source of the chronic tension is never ‘rooted out’.

It’s All in the Muscles

At the root of all pervasive emotional and mental distress, and therefore an influence in many physical diseases, is energy stagnation in chronic muscle tension. This lies at the heart of the majority of neurotransmitter malfunctions and chemical deficiencies in the brain. Simply put, if the tense muscles are relaxed, and the stagnant energy is released, then the organs in the surrounding area(including the brain) recover their positive energy, and then the body is enabled to regulate itself properly again. Even so, the process is slightly more complex than that: the tension fills the role of both cause and effect in the emotional disorder, creating a vicious cycle.

Dr. Wilhelm Reich, student of Sigmund Freud, was the first person to conduct major research in this area. As he worked with patients, he realized that the inability to express a particular emotion always manifests itself in some individual muscle tension. Only by freeing the tension, e.i. “armor”, could the repressed emotion be expressed in its full capacity. Taking this concept further, Reich hypothesized that emotional difficulties contribute to physical diseases. Being a natural biologist as well as a psychiatrist, he set out to conduct experiments on the cells of his patients. His findings confirmed his theory, but he gained much more insight into nature in general than he bargained for. This enlightenment led him to the discovery of a new energy: what he called “Orgone”, the progenitor of matter. Unfortunately, Reich could not help but interpret the results through his Marxist-Freudian-Darwinist lens, but the experiments themselves and the initial conclusions were conducted and assessed with the utmost objectivity. The argument defending Reich’s orgone scientifically will not be presented here, but I would direct anyone interested, with an open and discerning mind, to Dr. Paulo and Alexandra Correa’s work on the Aether (orgone as a subcomponent form of its energy) at www.aetherometry.com.

Dr. Alexander Lowen, Reich’s student, expanded upon Reich’s work of analyzing the muscular/ emotional connection in mental illness, but in a more practical, and yet sometimes mystical, manner. Perhaps a statement from him sums up our area of analysis best: “The emotional significance of muscle tension is not adequately understood. The unresolved emotional conflicts of childhood are structured in the body by chronic muscular tensions that enslave the individual by limiting his motility and capacity for feeling. These tensions, which grip the body -mold it, split it, and distort it- must be eliminated before one can achieve inner freedom. Without this inner freedom, it is illusory to believe that one can think, feel, act, and love freely.”1

As a devoted student of fitness, Lowen incorporated various exercises directed at isolating and eliminating the most destructive muscle tension. One exercise involves setting the feet about 12-14” apart with the legs slightly bent, and then bending over to touch the ground with the fingertips. The major goals involved in this exercise are to loosen the lower body muscles and increase abdominal breathing. As one’s legs begin to relax into this position, the muscles begin to shake due to the initial dissolution of the tension. Lowen shies away from labeling this phenomena “orgone” pulsation, but rather uses the vague analogy of a car engine being turned on after a period of inactivity. Interestingly, Lowen titled his field “Bioenergetics”- the same name that Reich uses for orgonotic processes; however, Lowen will not publicly address orgone’s existence.

Another example of Lowen’s exercises requires more attention. When Lowen studied the problem of chronic emotional tension, he noticed that the patients never received enough oxygen. In fact, when an emotion such as fear persisted throughout a patient’s life, their breathing remained in the costal(emergency) position in the chest, but failed to retain the normal abdominal position of inhalation. In researching a way to resolve this, he noticed that when a “healthy” person does not receive enough air due to drowsiness, they stretch and curve back their upper body in order to facilitate the intake of oxygen; they free the air canal from the chains of tired muscles by yawning. Lowen further developed this concept by utilizing a common barstool. If a rolled up towel is placed on the stool, and a person places their back(just below the shoulder blades) on the towel, forming an arch with their body, all of the muscles from the head to the lower leg area stretch and eventually relax. In order to ensure relaxation from the internal muscles, Lowen recommends “toning” lightly with the voice. This will often release repressed emotions, thereby releasing the corresponding physical tension.

My Observations

To release muscle tension, I have found the two preceding exercises by Lowen to be immensely therapeutic. The key is to completely relax while performing these activities. Lowen recommends doing the barstool exercise first, followed by the leaning over exercise. However, in certain cases, blockages(certain muscle groups) will be exacerbated while freeing other muscles. But in the long-term outlook, these methods are quite effective at relieving the tension.

As noted above, Lowen recommends toning or singing a note(at a comfortable range) while engaging in the exercise. While this obtains results initially in some patients, sometimes there is too much blockage in the vocal apparatus due to tense neck muscles; almost no one is able to, or regularly utilize, their true voice in any significant capacity. But Lowen has highlighted an important concept: the role of toning or singing in emotional health.

The most pure form of the voice is inaccessible to most people. When most people talk or sing, even many professional singers, only a small fraction of their true voice is being used; the sound is overcompensated for and amplified by various muscle tensions in the head and neck. So the key is to tap into that tiny connection that we use, and then expand it naturally. But how is this done?

My Technique - "Vocalorgonometry"

IMPORTANT - If you are an Illuminati abuse victim with “mind control programming", proceed with extreme caution. This is an all-natural technique, but it seriously tampers with programming systems. It will actually eventually initiate a harmful programming reaction called “flood programming”, a process which I will describe in another article.

The first step to take is to close the eyes and concentrate on the breathing. You should be sitting down, maintaining good posture, with your feet flat on the ground. Make sure that there is no tension anywhere from the stomach to the head. Next, there are three fundamental approaches to this problem that can be utilized.

STEP 1 (First Approach)

The first way, and the most ideal method, is to gently breath air through the nostrils with the mouth closed. Slowly release an infinitesimal amount of air out while thinking about sounding a note(but don’t actually use muscles to do this). While concentrating on singing the note, and ensuring that ALL muscles are completely relaxed, you should start to feel a beaded, “stretchy” connection that vibrates and is reminiscent of a light grunting or buzzing sound. Some vocal coaches refer to this as the middle voice. This connection is very light and thin, and pure; a connection with the vocal cords will barely be felt. It will feel as though energy is being generated and gliding over various muscles in the head, especially from the nasal to throat area. Typically, this connection will be located behind the nose, but it might be lower in the air canal. After finding this area, keep decreasing exhalation while still maintaining the connection, limiting the amount of expiration to free any contributing tension. Most importantly, remember to just breath while thinking of sounding a note in your mind; your body will naturally establish the connection without effort. In order to facilitate the most effective results, think of sounding an "ah" sound at a higher range, while letting the slowly exhaling air into the mouth area(while it is closed), expanding the air to as thin a level as possible, and letting the air reach all sides of the head- from the teeth, to the ears(an important area), to the back of the neck- you could almost think of it being a cylinder of air, starting from the abdominal region and flowing through the top of the head. Just remember: your body will do the work for you. You may be be tempted to concentrate on the buzzing sound when it occurs; however, ignore it and continue to concentrate on sounding the note in your mind without allowing the air to intensify the musculature contraction. Feel the action "float" in your throat. At some point, the vibration will cease due to the muscles forcing a contraction. The reason why this occurs is because the vocal cords used in their most pure form eradicate tension; in most cases, in order for this effect to happen, unconscious tension must be brought to conscious awareness. The vibration stops because it has eliminated as much of the tension as possible for the time being. Simultaneously, the airflow will be cut off, and an additional step must be taken to assist the process. Even if you don't find the sound, but you feel the contracting blockage of air, proceed to Step 2

STEP 2

When this beaded connection becomes so tight that only activating other muscles will prolong the airflow, STOP and then immediately rotate the head around slowly in semi-circles, stretching the head as close to the back of the neck as possible with each rotation. Start to breath again when you feel the muscles begin to pry loose while doing the rotations, directing the air as much as possible to the center of the tension. Inhale through the nostrils, and exhale through the mouth. Summarily, the tension dissolves at a central point as the muscles in the surrounding area break up from their tension blocks. Perhaps an apt analogy to the action would be a solid block of ice melting enough to be easily broken apart.

STEP 1 (Second Approach)

The second approach I am about to describe should be utilized if you have trouble finding the "middle voice" connection. The first task is to concentrate on isolating and physically sounding the vocal cords. You need to breathe as if you are going to actually sing, but don't sound a full note. This is done by exhaling air from the abdominal area out to the vocal apparatus, but only with a tiny fraction of air. What should be heard and felt is a “gravelly”, beaded, low vibration in the vocal cords. When this is felt, decrease the air flow while still maintaining the connection. After this is done, the vibration should begin to move backward into a deeper section of the throat, with the sensation that it is being suctioned back to a central point of tension, which ends with an extreme tightening and severing of the connection and the airflow. When this happens, immediately proceed to the second phase, as in the first approach.

A slight alteration to the above exercise may be needed if their is too much “head voice”, or excessive tension in the neck/throat area. This circumstance is usually caused by a considerable suppression of grief over one’s lifetime. In this case, instead of sounding the “ah” note, replace it with a “guhg” note. Make it the lowest note that you can think of, and also with as much of the flat “uh” sound(as in “duh”). Then add a cry to it, as if you were sobbing while saying it. Try to make the sound aloud first if you are unsure how to execute it, but remember that this must all be done in your mind; the muscles will act appropriately on their own. As you add this modification, prepare for an unleashing of a grief reaction. This is necessary not only for freeing the voice and muscles, but, of course, also for your own overall health. As with all of these exercises, choosing a proper time to do this work is very important.

STEP 1 (Third Approach)

The third approach incorporates both steps of the first two methods. First, proceed as you would under the second approach, and locate the middle voice connection in the lower throat area. But instead of decreasing the airflow, slowly force air to the connection until it starts to "roll" or vibrate like like an engine. It will be a thicker, stronger, and louder sound than under the other two versions. Let the connection suction back, and then downward, deeper into the throat. When the tension reaches a critical impasse, rather than proceeding to the second step outlined above, concentrate on relaxing the muscles in the surrounding area, letting them shake free into a dissolution from tension. This may happen in a somewhat "violent" manner, and will likely induce the gag reflex. I would recommend the first two approaches over this one, and I will use an analogy to explain why. The two former methods are akin to using a small laser beam to precisely melt away ice blocks(muscles), and this approach is comparable to using a pick-axe to break apart the ice: less precise, less thorough, and less controllable, but the results obtained can be substantial. Nevertheless, this method requires much more concentration and discipline of the mind.

The first means of access I described is a very good way to find the most pure form of the voice, but it’s short-term weakness lies in the fact that progress in muscle relaxation is much slower than in the second version. Notwithstanding, the second method only works with a few muscle groups at a time, thus sometimes risking blockages in other areas, but the former version actually works to relax all muscles simultaneously. Because of the corresponding strengths and weaknesses, I recommend a program of alternating between the first two variations of my technique. In my opinion, the third approach should only be utilized if a person cannot rotate their neck safely(e.g., due to nerve damage in or near the spine).

If the preceding steps are done properly and repeatedly, the overall actions of this technique will release the tense muscles in the near vicinity of the vocal connection; oftentimes the muscle groups are unconsciously tense. After continually using this exercise, this beaded connection will eventually fuse with the regular, everyday voice.

What a person finds as they regularly practice this exercise is that other muscle groups all over the body begin to relax and become energized.* At some point, you will undoubtedly experience an emotional reaction. In this case, DO NOT hold it in, if at all possible, but let the emotion flow out. If anger or rage surfaces and seems unmanageable, I would suggest integrating the program with heavy exercise, preferably one that features aerobic and anaerobic benefits(e.g. swimming, martial arts).

Initially during treatment, exhaustion might be experienced, but this is a temporary, necessary step toward recovery. Great fatigue will also occur after a major, deep release of different muscle groupings, which have been stretched free of contraction simultaneously.

If nausea is experienced, which is often accompanied by once repressed fear or terror, it may help to assist the process by using two fingers against the back of the tongue to activate the gag reflex; I stress this point: only use the reflex if there is a clear sensation of nauseation, otherwise it can cause problems in the rest of the musculature above the throat. Nausea will likely be experienced in conjunction with hyperactivity in the salivary glands(which neighbor the masseter[jaw] muscles).

Occasionally, memory will be released after proper execution of these techniques.* This is due to the fact that the body is mapped in a complex fashion to the brain, a “wiring” utilizing the nervous system and orgone energy, which connects memories with emotions which are associated together at the moment that the emotional suppression occurred. As Sandor Ferenczi, a psychoanalyst that had notable influence on Reich, elaborated: “The awakening of a memory can -as in catharsis- bring an emotional reaction with it, but an activity exacted [with] the patient, or an emotion set at freedom, can equally well expose the repressed ideas associated with such processes.”2 And as Reich himself elucidated: "dissolution of a muscular rigidity not only liberates vegetative energy, but, in addition, also brings back into memory the very infantile situation in which the repression had taken effect."3 In a somewhat similar manner, “memory by association” is related to this series of reactions.

Using the two previously mentioned exercises by Lowen in conjunction with this technique is especially effective; however, I have found that my technique essentially elicits the same effect as the barstool exercise, just from a different approach. I cannot recommend any of Lowen's other methods due to the eastern mysticism and Freudian doctrine that insidiously permeates much of his work(e.g. releasing the god within, over-emphasis on Oedipus complex. Alexander Lowen was also on the faculty of the Esalen Institute.).

An additional step you can take to attain the maximum benefits from Vocalorgonometry is to actually sound tones out loud periodically. It is best to sound one note as long as you are able, and sing at a higher range- but make sure it is a comfortable note to sing(without any straining). This will not be your normal singing voice; it will sound more like falsetto when you are beginning to do this. It is likely to sound that way because absolutely no muscle tension should be present while singing the note. As you relax into the tonal flow, and simultaneously release more muscle tension and emotion, more muscles in the face and neck will be loosened, as you naturally strengthen the voice.

The four keys to properly executing the exercise I have illustrated are sensitivity, concentration, patience, and perseverance. You must actively “listen” to what your body is telling you, and take necessary measures to redirect action to reduce tension. It is crucial to focus on the areas involved, especially on sounding the note in your mind when performing the first method. Visualize it, if necessary. Do not become frustrated or discouraged but keep trying, because it often takes a while to find the “middle” voice connection that is free of surrounding tension. You may have to just slowly breath air around the tension indefinitely, depending on how much blockage there is. Keep practicing and refining the attempts.

In conclusion, I would like to say that, although I developed this technique through my own personal experience, and most notably by the aid of Jesus Christ, I drew from many different sources, and surely there exists other exercises using the same principle. I am constantly experimenting, refining and improving this technique, so I will most likely update this article at a future point. I also welcome any suggestions from those who have conducted research, or have personal experience, in this area. There remains many discoveries to be attained in curing emotional/ mental illness, but reducing chronic muscle tension is the first great step in the right direction.

Special Note: Many researchers have found somewhat valid similarities between the muscle groupings(or “armor”) identified by Reich and Lowen, and the seven chakra points of the New Age ideology. I do not believe that this can be specifically inferred from their work, but if they do subscribe to these beliefs, I must depart from these two technicians, for I view that the muscles are interconnected in such a way that they cannot be split into distinct groupings. Also, although major tension energy blocks can be found in these "power" centers, the energy by no means originates from these areas. I will elaborate further on this in a future essay. In addition, as a devout follower of Jesus, I refute any suggestion that my ideas draw on occult concepts because many references can be found in the Bible (KJV) which support the argument that sin causes certain physical tensions in the body(e.g. “stiff-necked people” or “hardened heart”), and that freeing these tensions or keeping them free is most effectively attained by living a holy life(e.g. the lower abdomen as a natural power reservoir recognized in the phrase “Gird up your loins”). Sometimes, Satan will reveal a small part of God’s design and attach to it a large portion of his philosophy or propaganda, such as “C'hi”, “chakra points”, and “meridians” in this case.