In the middle of the hustling pace of mid-town Manhattan off of Madison Ave. is a health oasis called "Mocean" and is the location of last week’s Cervical Revolution. The facility is as modern and up-to-date of any I have ever seen and it was a pleasure to work with a wide range of professionals from physical therapy, chiropractic and strength and conditioning movement specialists.
Cervical Revolution is the course that is the gateway from the primary courses, especially Postural Respiration, to the cranium. Through the anterior neck flows airway, blood flow, food, sound and especially translational movement of the jaw and rotation of the cranium. There is lymph flow, CSF flow, nerve flow including autonomics, motor control and somatic sense inside the spinal column as well as outside of it. The ability to turn a neck is essential for upright human evolution and existence, and when rotational transverse plane is lost, a functional "de-evolution" results.
Since Cervical Revolution is a secondary course, having a primary course foundation is critical especially when the dominant pattern and position of the cervical spine and cranium is essentially "right stance". In the primary courses it is much easier to see patterns and position in the pelvis and rib cage that dictates sacrum and sternum position. In this course, since it is harder to see obvious movement in the cranium or the position of cranial bones like the sphenoid and temporal bones via vectors of stress over time driven by atlas underneath an occipital bone, the basic concepts of atlas/occipital patterns and position were described in detail repetitively to provide a basic and sound foundation. Once this sound foundation of atlas under occipital bone, driving sphenoid position and temporal bone rhythm, directing mandible position is established, cranial torsion as a patho-mechanical presentation can be introduced with testing and treatment.
This course is also a gateway into the occlusal system and how position of jaw and bite influence not only the cranium and neck but the entire "stomatognathic" system as well. Atlas and occiput are the main neuro-articulation that are defined as the position of those two bones drives not only cranium and jaw but has an effect on the entire system.
This group of students was really sharp and had some of the best questions that helped inform and teach the entire group. There was plenty of time for lab and demonstration and the basics of this course were reinforced over the entire weekend.
Big shout out to Joe Giangrasso for being my tour guide and subway guru. Not only that, but it was Joe, Mike Zhao, Liz Cash who enthusiastically promoted the course and showed up with their "A" game of attention and participation. Thank you to Emily for coming out from Texas, Alex from Chicago but most especially Lenny from London and Wing Ho from Hong Kong! Wing Ho flew in the day before, flying coach, for 15 hours! Huge shout out to Aleena for being our lab assistant. She is a fire ball of energy and PRI knowledge and is a pleasure to know and have as support staff for any course. Thank you especially to Josh Park for hosting PRI at Mocean!
