The concept of body armouring was developed by Wilhelm Reich, a psychoanalyst who trained with Freud. We all have coping patterns and depending on how our life unfolds, particularly in our formative years, our bodies start to reflect where we hold stress, tension and trauma. This theory corresponds to the Yogic Chakra theory perfectly. The 7 tension belts identified by Reich match the 7 chakra areas of the body.
Healthy bodies have natural expansion and contraction. Life energy pulsates through them. When we are armoured, our pulsation is interrupted and the energy flow throughout our body is impeded. We may experience this as a numbness or pain or tension. Our armouring reduces our creative capacity and our natural expression of our unique Self.
According to Reich, our most important segment is the thoracic segment as it contains our heart and lungs. When we are anxious, angry, or depressed we can feel those emotions in our chest, like a vice grip or a knot. This armouring may result in chronically taut back muscles that can result in persistent back pain. If we are depressed, we may feel a heavy weight on our chest pressing us down.
When our chest is open and unarmoured, we can feel softening around our heart that is experienced as tenderness or joy. We breathe deeper and the back muscles and shoulders move with the breath. Somatic Yoga and Breathwork can help you dissolve body armour and reinstate the natural pulsation of life force in the body.
By Margot Wagner
