Cynthia Allen, Feldenkrais and Bones for Life Teacher

When is a kiss not just a kiss? In February’s Weight Training for the Brain, we asked, “How can kissing one’s forearm make the action of getting up from the challenging position of a squat easier?” To see winners and their answers, jump now. Continue reading for my own answer.

The mouth is one of over 40 ring muscles. While only three of these are called sphincters, the mouth is in fact part of the sphincter network. These primitive anatomical structures were some of the first means of locomotion in one-celled organisms. When I see jelly fish rhythmically moving about, I also think of sphincters. In the human, the sphincters are in constant communication with each other creating a network.  

We commonly think of these button-hole like structures for keeping contents where they belong. Sphincters allow us to swallow down the right tube, to keep stomach acid in the stomach, to keep our urine and feces in their assigned places until such moment that we are ready to void and then the sphincter opens.

The Anti-Gravity Network
The rich interaction with the abdominal and buttock muscles and the domes or diaphragms of the body which particularly interests me. 

Try this experiment, sitting wherever you are now, bring your body to an upright position. Strongly contract your anal sphincter and release. As you contract, perhaps you notice that the sitting bones narrow, the heels lightly increase their contact with the ground and you get taller. If you don’t notice these details—not to worry. It is still likely happening.

Now play with slower rhythmic contractions and shift your attention to the sensation in any of the following places: 

• Sphincters such as the mouth and eyes (both the eyeballs in the socket change position but you may also be able to notice a change in the pupil—it might help if your eyes are closed).
• The diaphragms (domes) under the ribs, arch of the feet or the roof of the mouth.
• The musculature throughout the belly and buttocks.
• A rather fun one is to feel what bones change position such as the base of the skull narrowing, the lower jaw relaxing or the lower ribs both narrowing and dropping.

Are You Saying a Tight A#% is a Good Thing?
It might sound like I am suggesting that walking around with a tight anal sphincter is a good thing. Actually, the brain should communicate with all the sphincters for continually changing tone. When a tight a#% is present 24/7 there is a likely asymmetry in the way in which the muscle is contracted which will lead to digestive, sexual, back and joint challenges. 

We started this contest with the mouth and then slid way down. Try kissing your forearm now and I believe you will notice that your anal sphincter is responding.

Nice Party Trick, But What’s the Point?
By working with the sphincter muscles there are a whole host of physical functions and ailments that can be improved. Bowel, bladder and sexual are the obvious ones. But posture, power, metabolism, neck tension, TMJ and general spine health can also be improved.