Arthur Lincoln Pauls was born in 1929 in Laird, Saskatchewan, Canada. He is the founder of the body work Ortho-Bionomy. Arthur was in his mid thirties when he became an Osteopath in Britain. He had already been practicing Judo for many years and held a black belt in this art. Arthur was not comfortable with the force thrust technique's he was taught in osteopathy school, which required a great deal of skill & timing to do, without causing harm to his patients. Arthur searched for a way to follow the Osteopathic Principle "Structure Governs Function", while still flowing with the principles of judo
"Maximum efficiency with minimum effort, mutual welfare and benefit for all."

Arthur saw a demonstration of Jones' Strain Counterstrain work while he was in school. He read the
paper Dr. Jones wrote, Spontaneous Release Through Positioning. This was much more to his liking. At
this point in his studies Arthur began using the same principles in developing his work. He began noticing
the different “Phases” the body goes through to naturally and spontaneously release tension, from the
physical to the energetic bodies. He lectured and practiced throughout Europe testing his 'evolvement
of the original concept'.

Arthur taught his first classes of Ortho-Bionomy in North America in 1976. He was asked to come back
yearly as interest spread. In 1984 the Society of Ortho-Bionomy International, Inc. was formed, now a
professional organization teaching Practitioners and Instructors of Arthur's marvelous work.

Ortho-Bionomy is it's principles and concepts. In essence a philosophy applied to the body.
• Support.
• Follow the path of least resistance.
• Away from pain - into comfort.
• Less is more.
• For every action there is an equal & opposite reaction.
• Being nonjudgemental.
• Acceptance.
• Going with the flow.

Above all else, comfort is the rule. Ortho-Bionomy is about facilitating the experience of comfort.

The ORTHO-BIONOMY principle expressed is that the exaggeration of the pattern leads to a spontaneous
self-correction. Because of the pain reflex on the physical level, a living organism will move away from pain,
into a position of relief or comfort. Because of this comfort, the nervous system is able to release
dysfunctional holding patterns, thus increasing blood and oxygen to muscles and allowing for an increased
comfortable range of motion.

ORTHO-BIONOMY is an educational system; gentle and non-forceful. It is a homeopathic, biofeedback
technique that looks at the patterns that exist within the whole person. An ORTHO-BIONOMIST is a
facilitator, an educator who helps bring the attention of a person to those patterns within themselves
which, through the person’s own recognition, brings motive for change.

ORTHO-BIONOMY® is a registered trademark of The Society of ORTHO-BIONOMY International and is used with permission.
 

Phase 1
We all do this. Unconscious movement towards comfort. As when you are sleeping: it is a natural reflex
of the body to move into different positions of comfort many times an hour to release the tensions of the
day. Fidgeting is a natural & unconscious response to become more physically comfortable.

Phase 2
Conscious movement towards comfort. As when you are sitting for periods of time and shift positions to
find comfort. Changing the position of your car seat while driving to maintain comfort. Noticing your feet
are tired and sitting down. Conscious listening to the body as in Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or Yoga. All to get the body more comfortable.

Phase 3
This is where Arthur gives credit to Lawrence Jones D.O. and his article “Spontaneous Release by Positioning.” It is this article which became the bridge for Arthur between the principles of Osteopathy,
what was self regulated & natural in Phases 1 and 2 and what he knew as elemental principles of Judo
and brought them together to become his stepping stone to Phase 4, where he begins Ortho-Bionomy. In phase-three we place the body in a position of comfort and hold that position for a period of 90 seconds or longer. In that period of time the body's own self-corrective reflexes are engaged and the body spontaneously lets go of the pain, stiffness, and discomfort it is holding onto.

Phase 4
Phase Four - is where Ortho-Bionomy starts. This is where Arthur Lincoln Pauls applied Judo principles to the 'Original Concept' of Spontaneous Release by Positioning. Judo principles being go with the path of least resistence and give way to superior force. If your opponent pushes on you, you don't push back you pull and if your opponent pulls on you, you don't pull back you push while maintaining your balance. Arthur used the position of comfort with the addition of compression and rotation of a joint and/or muscle which reduces the original time of 90+ to 10 - 30 seconds. It greatly speeds up the amount a practitioner is able to accomplish in the context of a session.

This is the more physical, muscular/skeletal level of Ortho-Bionomy. Here the principle "structure governs
function," is explored. Using larger physical movements, within the comfortable range of motion, the
practitioner stimulates the bodies self-corrective reflexes and helps to facilitate & restore balance to the
body without causing pain. In this phase the practitioner finds neutral by moving the client into positions
of comfort.

Phase 5
Phase Five - is the understanding that the body does not hold tension linearly. Phase-four is addressing a specific point that is holding tension where a "line" is made up of a series of points. By supporting the body "in time" in a position of comfort, it begins to feel safe and let go of the dynamic tension patterns it is holding onto. It is like a dance with the body that supports it where it is at, at any one given point in time. Where phase-four is like a photograph, phase-five is like a movie.

Phase 5 is training our senses to be aware of the more subtle fluid movement patterns of our bodies.
Here the principle 'the rule of the artery is supreme' is explored. We are fluid beings, made mostly of
water. The connections and flow of tissue are recognized and supported, facilitating interstitial fluids to
bathe our cells and rejuvenate our beings. In this phase the practitioner follows the energetic pathways
of ease that move the client into positions of comfort with smaller physical movements. Following
and supporting the ever changing neutral.

Phase 6
Is the understanding that the tension patterns that physically manifest on the body eminate out from the body into the bio-energetic field or the aura. This is most noticeable in our lives when someone who is very angry walks into a room we are in. We immediately feel the tension within our own beings as a result of the tension in another. We can also use this understanding for healing the tension patterns in the body. There are certain places that off that body that will feel more comfortable and can promote the release of the tension patterns that the body is holding onto.

In this phase we become aware of the electromagnetic, bio-energetic field that surrounds and is within
all of us. The practitioner learns how to recognize and ride the waves and tides of the energy expressed
by the client and themselves. How to stand in relationship with these subtle mood shifts is explored. Being
aware of the energetic shifts is the ultimate "less is more" principle of exaggerating the pattern to stimulate
the self-corrective reflexes of the body. Being able to get comfortable with uncomfortableness becomes
the energetic neutral.

Phase 7
Is the unconditional healing environment created of universal love, support, and acceptance where time and space do not exist. Distance work is incorporated here and is a very powerful aspect of Ortho-Bionomy.

Arthur had a dream in which he was shown the universal pattern of a spiral to help stimulate the
self-correcting reflexes of the body from any distance. Phase 7 can be applied in many ways. I best like
Arthur's explanation: "Phase 7 is when you are in presence with another being in the space where we
are all one." Being comfortable with uncomfortableness at all levels is the cosmic neutral.

So simple.......

yet profound at the very same time!

Never under estimate the power of simplicity!



This brings up a great quote:

I can teach you something your mind will like and your body won't or I can teach you something your body will like and your mind won't"

V. Vasiliev

Phase 8 is to stand within all of the Phases and recognize the whole made up by it's parts. It is
understanding that Ortho-Bionomy is not just a style of bodywork. The concepts and principles are universal and may shine through no matter where you are and what you are doing. It is being in connection and finding the ultimate neutral. Phase 8 is being a living breathing example of the work with all things.

"The embodiment of Ortho-Bionomy principles put into the practical application of life."
 

Related Links

• Ortho-Bionomy:
  • The Society of Ortho-Bionomy International
  • Ortho-Bionomy Association of Canada
  • The Principle Association for Ortho-Bionomy in Germany
  
   
• Philosophy of Ortho-Bionomy:
  • What the Bleep - Movie
  • The Secret - the Movie
  
   
• Other Related Links:
  • Systema - The Russian Martial Art
  • Systema Louisville
  • Tom Brown - Tracker School
  • Anderson Health Emporium