Armpit as Metastability

Armpit as Metastability

The armpit a major locus of biomechanical metastability. The armpit is the heavily meaning laden and sensual body part that is also the coordinative center for the arm. It is deep, dark, and reaches deep within. And yet biomechanically it is by far more interesting than the superficial and blunt shoulder. This fact is important because of the tremendous amount of suffering and expense caused by the shoulder. We will never find stability in the shoulder and should turn our attention to its opposite, the armpit.

The armpit is where all the nerves and most sensitive tissues and organs are located. Underneath the shoulder and in the armpit is where all the musculotendinous attachments are found. This is where we touch ourselves and by extension this is where we know ourselves.

The synergistic effect of integrating both the simple biomechanics and the profound perceptual dimensions of this body part is a phase transition, a cognitive shift, the regular and consistent activation of right hemispheric awareness.

And yet the armpit is so sexy and fun.

Remember, we are talking about the armpit.

Metastability simply means that the system has found a stable point other than just a resting state. In other words posturally it refers to poise. It is literally an awareness of poise.

Poise is the product of many interrelated factors but if we restrict our discussion to the sensory motor system, we would say it is postural. This means that it involves a specific system of muscles and a specific physiology that is geared to its slower, more long term, and more sensitive function. The dynamic system of muscles in contrast has a different repertoire of movement behaviors, those that we associate with running and throwing that are large and relatively brief.

Metastability is postural and involves the same sensorymotor system every culture relates to through things like yoga, taichi, or Feldenkrais.

The armpit is a place where we can find a tremendous amount of resources for stability, balance, self knowledge, and poise.

The cognitive effects of the phase shift in the oscillations of the brain that result from finding yourself in your armpits are world historical.

Join my workshops and learn how. Our next Prosocial Embodiment Circle is Aug 5 2:30pm PDT

Our next Prosocial Embodiment Circle is Aug 5 2:30pm PDT

I will teach on Aug. 26 at 3:00 pm.

Sign up here:

https://mailchi.mp/2415c654b6ab/prosocial-embodiment-signup2