Gravity is one of the principle organizing factors for all living organisms; every cell, organ, fluid system and whole animal is adapted, from its individual and evolutionary origins, to living with gravity. The organizing principles of balance in meridians and channels in TCVM fit beautifully into this approach, and for TCVM practitioners, considering our patients' interaction with gravity helps us to better understand the responses of the body to physical or energetic interventions. On a profound level, the shared experience of gravity promotes empathy and a common understanding between us and our non-human patients. Posture maintains constant activity against gravity, conferring balance and stability to critical structures. It must integrate multiple structures. Large, fast animals, such as horses, dogs and humans, have a low metabolic rate, compared to small ones, and so must minimize the costly muscular effort involved with daily activities by using passive mechanisms whenever possible. Maintaining neutral posture is a dynamically changing process, controlled reflexively. Recent research utilizing complexity algorithms find that during movement, functional postural priorities are trunk orientation and center of mass location and support.
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