Anatomy of Alignment:
Find the following 5 midline markers on your body. Touch them. Feel for where they are in relation to each other.
Can you position yourself so these 5 markers are in a straight line?
Note: Markers 1, 2 and 3 (the pubic symphysis, navel and xiphoid process) are connected by the linea alba.
The pubic symphysis is where the left and right pubic bones meet midline at the front of the pelvis. The pubic bones are joined by the pubic ligaments.
The pubic symphysis is where the clitoris / suspensory ligament of the penis is located.
The pubic symphysis is the central point between your Base-Line muscles:
The linea alba extends from the pubic symphysis up the front of the abdomen, between the rectus abdominis muscles.
The navel (belly button) is in the middle of the linea alba.
The xiphoid (zif-oi-d) process is at the bottom the sternum (breastbone).
Feel for where your bottom ribs meet in an "Ʌ" at the front of your chest.
The top of the linea alba attaches to the xiphoid process of the sternum.
The jugular notch of the sternum is at the base of your neck, midline at the front.
Feel for the "V" of bone at the top of your sternum (breastbone).
The sternum is a long, flat bone on the body's midline joining the xiphoid process and the jugular notch.
At the base of the skull, midline at the back of the head, there is a bony bump known as the external occipital protuberance.
Place your hands on your ears and extend your fingers to the back of your skull to find the external occipital protuberance.
Think of this bump as the top of your midline.
The nuchal ligament attaches to the skull at the external occipital protuberance.
Imagine these 5 midline markers as part of a thread that runs up and down the middle of the body. The thread should be free to fully extend from pubic symphysis to external occipital protuberance (from bottom to top).
The body can provide a lot of sensory information about its positioning and state of alignment and balance to help you work towards alignment and feeling how to heal.
The correct alignment of your midline anatomy, including these 5 midline markers, creates the median plane, where the left and right sides of the body are balanced.
the median plane body alignment and balance
Alignment is possible when the body has a full range of natural movement.
full range of natural movement