Base-Line Healing logo. Stick figure with arms outstretched above shoulder height, legs apart. Rainbow of colours up midline. Red at pelvic floor Base then a line of orange, yellow, green blue extending to the head. Showing the body aligned and balanced, the natural way to treat fibromyalgia. Use your body better slogan.

Body Alignment and Balance.

"Body alignment" and "a balanced body" are common phrases in many physical disciplines, but what do they mean?

Balance and alignment both have multiple definitions, the ones most relevant to the body are:

Alignment:

  1. Arrangement in a straight line.
  2. Arranged in the correct relative positions.

For body alignment:

  • What should be arranged in a straight line?
  • What should be in the correct relative positions?

Balanced:

  1. Different parts of something that exist in equal or correct amounts.
  2. A state of equilibrium, being in harmonious arrangement.

For a balanced body:

  • What is in equal amounts?
  • What is in equilibrium?

The Reference For Body Alignment And Balance: Our Midline Anatomy.

Body alignment and balance what do they mean? Human figure viewed from the front. Showing a line straight down the middle, splitting the body into left and right halves from head to pelvis. This is the reference line for body alignment and balance. The midline anatomy is at full extension and in alignment, creating the median plane. Left and right sides of the body are balanced either side of midline. This line should be used for the assessment of body alignment.

The body is balanced and aligned when:

  • Our midline anatomy can be arranged in a straight line.
  • All parts of the body are in the correct relative positions.
  • Left and right sides of the body are in equilibrium, either side of midline.

Alignment Of Our Midline Anatomy Creates The Median Plane.

The median plane is the perfect 'slice' through the middle of the body, where the body is balanced either side, with the head and limbs in their correct relative positions.

the median plane

Three images showing the median plane from different perspectives. The first image is of a human figure at an angle, showing the thinnest slice (plane) from head to pelvis that splits the body into left and right halves. Also known as the mid-sagittal plane, the median plane is our true midline, left and right halves of the body are balanced. The second image shows the median plane as seen from the side - a 2d shape with a front and a back that cuts through the body. The third image shows a straight, thin line. This is the median plane when viewed from the front or back. If our midline anatomy lies on the median plane then the body is aligned and balanced.

When our midline anatomy is truly aligned, so are the hips, shoulders and spine.

Skeleton and main muscles of movement seen from the front. Highlighting the positioning of the hip, shoulder and knee joints when the body is balanced. The pelvic floor the solid base of the torso. The rectus abdominis muscles up the front of the abdomen from pelvis to chest aligning the lower body. The trapezius muscles aligning the upper body. The rectus femoris muscles from pelvis to shin aligning the hip and knee joints. The gluteus maximus muscles are mostly hidden by the pelvic bones in this view. Good posture comes with midline alignment. When the main muscles of movement are fully utilised the rest of the body is correctly positioned.

What Anatomical Features Are Part of Our Midline Anatomy?

The linea alba (at the front of the body), and the nuchal & supraspinous ligaments (at the back of the body), are the main midline linear structures that should align to create the median plane.

linea alba   nuchal & supraspinous ligaments

Side view of the midline slice of a human figure which is known as the median plane. Showing some midline anatomical structures: The midline slice of the pelvic floor muscles forms a cup/crescent-shape at the base of the torso. The linea alba at the front of the body extends from the pubic symphysis of the pelvis to the xiphoid process of the sternum. The nuchal ligament and supraspinous ligament are a continuous structure at the back of the body that attach to the vertebrae of the spine. The nuchal ligament extends from the midline bump on back of skull, known as the external occipital protuberance, and forms a leaf of connective tissue in the back of the neck, turning into the supraspinous ligament that follows the spine to the lower lumbar area of the back. The nuchal ligament and supraspinous ligaments are curved down the neck to mid back and then another curve towards the lower spine. The linea alba and nuchal and supraspinous ligaments should be fully extendable and flexible through a full range of natural movement for the body to be dynamically balanced and in alignment.

Median plane. Side view.

The linea alba is your primary anatomical guide for midline alignment. When the linea alba is free to move and be fully extended, it can be positioned on the median plane, with the body balanced either side. Your rectus abdominis muscles are responsible for the alignment of your linea alba (see below).

human figure seen from the front, highlighting the linea alba on the midline of the front of the abdomen, running vertically from pelvis to chest. The left and right rectus abdominis muscles are shown either side of the linea alba.

Body alignment and balance:

When our midline anatomy can align on the median plane, with the body balanced either side.

How Can You Align Your Midline Anatomy, Balancing Your Body?

→ By Working With The 5 Main Muscles Of Movement, Starting From Base-Line.

The 5 (paired) main muscles of movement are the key muscles to focus on to improve the body's state of balance and alignment. Firstly, focus on activating your body's Base-Line (pelvic floor and rectus abdominis).

Base-Line muscles

Skeleton within an outline of a human figure seen from the front. Midline is marked with a thick line from head to pelvis. Showing the rectus abdominis and pelvic floor which are the body's Base-Line muscles. Focusing on activating our Base-Line increases awareness of the relative positioning of our midline anatomy so that we can work towards true body alignment and balance.

5 main muscles of movement

the 5 main muscles of movement labelled on a skeleton. Viewed from different angles. Trapezius of the upper body, the rectus abdominis at the front of the abdomen pelvis to chest, gluteus maximus big ass muscles, pelvic floor a group of muscles that are the base of the body and the rectus femoris of each leg, strong poles down the front of each thigh. The central muscular framework of the body. These 5 muscles are key to a having a good posture and a full range of natural movement, with a body that is dynamically balanced and aligned.
  • The trapezius aligns the nuchal and supraspinous ligaments.
  • The rectus femoris align the hip and knee joints.

When used correctly, the main muscles of movement allow the body to maintain dynamic balance and alignment in all positions i.e. A good posture through a full range of natural movement.

good posture

2 images of a human figure, one from the front and one from the back, angled. Showing the base-line muscles of the pelvic floor and rectus abdominis. The rectus abdominis muscles are like two parallel ribbons up the front of the abdomen from pubic symphysis of the pelvis (the bone between the legs) to the front of the chest, attaching to the cartilage of rib cage i.e. the rectus abdominis muscles extend quite high up the chest. Each rectus abdominis is made up of sections of muscle, panels of muscular tissue separated by bands of horizontal connective tissue within each 'ribbon'. The linea alba, a strip of tough connective tissue, lies between the rectus abdominis muscles on the body's midline. Think pelvic floor base, rectus abdominis line. Our core pillar of strength that should be active and extended.

What if I don't use my main muscles of movement?

Increased Awareness Of Your State Of Alignment And Balance.

Your body is constantly generating information about its positioning (posture), motion and balance. By focusing on the relevant anatomy you will become more aware of this sensory feedback, which is the basis of your sense of proprioception, the connection between body and mind.

conscious proprioception

Conscious proprioception allows you to feel how to move to improve your posture (positioning), and increase your state of balance and alignment.

An easy way to start to feel your alignment it by finding these five midline markers on your body, and feeling for their relative positioning:

From bottom to top:

  1. pubic symphysis.
  2. navel.
  3. xiphoid process.
  4. jugular notch.
  5. external occipital protuberance.
Outline of a human figure seen from the front. 5 spots are marked on midline, evenly spaced. These 5 anatomical markers are part of our midline anatomy that should align on the median plane. From bottom to top: 1. is the pubic symphysis of the pelvis between the top of the legs. 2. is the navel/belly button. The bottom and top of the breastbone/sternum are markers 3 and 4. The xiphoid process at the bottom of the sternum and the jugular notch at the top of the sternum. 5. is the midline bump on the back of the head, the external occipital protuberance. Find these 5 markers on your body and feel for their state of alignment.

5 midline markers

Touch these markers to help focus your attention on their location as you breathe with your Base-Line.

breathing technique

Imbalance And Misalignment.

Two human outlines seen from the front. One is balanced and aligned with the midline anatomical structures forming a straight line on the median plane with left and right sides of the body balanced either side of this line. The other figure is crooked, twisted and misaligned. Physical restrictions in connective tissue, stored trauma, are causing bad posture and creating body-wide tensions.

Having a body that is imbalanced and misaligned means experiencing:

  • Tension.
  • Pain.

An explanation for fibromyalgia

Physical Requirements For Body Alignment.

For our midline anatomy to be able to align on the median plane it needs to be free to fully extend. This is possible when the body has a full range of natural movement, and if free of physical restrictions that limit movement, apply tensions and cause pain.

full range of natural movement physical restrictions

Achieving a body that is truly balanced and aligned takes time and effort. It's a journey back to better physical health. Start from Base-Line.

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