What is ELDOA and why should it be part of your daily routine?

The most important mechanism of communication within the body is the nervous system. If a nerve is physically compromised - for example, compressed, even by a minuscule amount - nerve signals are impeded. While some communication gets through, the transmutation rate suffers, the message may be jumbled, and dysfunction manifests.

Whatever tissue, gland, or organ is associated with, or innervated by that compressed nerve can experience a decrease in function. Proper nerve conduction is one of the foundations of optimal health as well as optimal physical movement performance.

How would your body’s health and performance improve if you had a methodology at your disposal that you could perform on your own that could:

• Decompress nerves

• Normalize visceral function

• Improve posture, even reduce scoliosis

• Improve joint mechanics

• Enhance Self-awareness

• Increase your sense of well-being

• Improve intervertebral disc hydration

• Increase muscle tone

• Delay disc degeneration and/or normalize disc bulges

• Reduce joint inflammation

• Injury recovery and prevention

• Relief of chronic and acute back, shoulder and neck pain

• Reduce stress

• And more . . .

What new endeavors would you attempt if your body and mind was up to the task? Eldoa can accomplish these feats and more.

‘Having Scoliosis, the ELDOA class was very beneficial. With regular practice I feel more freedom in my body, less restriction in the spine. It really feels like my body is lengthened and the right side of my torso is looser.

Michael teaches the correct positioning so that I know how I am supposed to the movements for maximum benefit. He spent time assisting each student. I felt improvements from session to session. Each time I felt more strength and more comfortable.

I feel calm and relaxed after each session. I now have another tool to use to help prevent any potential issues as my body ages as well as the opportunity to correct any current issues.’ - Lisa

ELDOA was developed by French Osteopath Guy VOYER. ELDOA is an acronym from French words which translated to English means ‘longitudinal osteoarticular decopatation stretches.’ ‘Osteoarticular’ means bones and joints. ‘Decoaptation’ means opening.

ELDOA is both the name of the method and the postures involved. Each posture is designed to create space within a precise joint or segment of the spine using myofascial tension and muscle contraction. Using these exercises, you can literally ‘create space’ between L5 and S1, the most injured joint and herniated disc in the spine. Imagine the benefit for someone suffering from pain or impaired movement.

ELDOAs exist for the spine, hips, ribs, shoulders and skull.

ELDOA postures may resemble some Yoga poses. That is the only similarity. Where Yoga focuses on stretching and gaining flexibility by elongating a muscle, ELDOA works through tension and contracting muscles.

The ELDOA pictured in the header doesn’t function to simply ‘stretch your arms overhead.’ This posture called T6-T7 is foundational to spinal mobility. The T6-T7 joint is where most thoracic extension occurs, or should occur. If there is restriction in this joint, movement will be compromised and joint stress increased both above and below the restriction. More severe thoracic restriction will lead to thoracic kyphosis or rounding forward of the upper back, the migration of the head forward and put both shoulders at increased risk of impingement syndromes and other dysfunctional conditions. From the nerve perspective, the nerve exiting this joint innervates the stomach, pancreas and duodenum. If you are manifesting digestive symptoms, the reason can be related to neural miscommunication related to the joint T6-T7. How many times upon visiting your physician have they listened to you and then referred to a nerve chart and followed up with a postural and movement assessment?

To ensure optimal benefit to the nervous system and spinal posture, it is important to be assessed and trained by a skilled ELDOA practitioner. Merely mimicking a posture from an image or short video clip will accomplish little, if anything. Initial cuing or direction is relatively simple. As one’s self-awareness and body control improves, through practice, layers are added, each initiating greater change.

Once proper posture is held, holding that posture is challenging. ELDOA can be a workout just unto itself. Precision is vital for success. Regardless of your skill level, the goal is the same: to apply maximum tension within the posture. A novice will generate as much tension, relatively speaking, as an advanced client. There always exists the opportunity to benefit from wherever you begin. Everyone can do ELDOA and everyone can receive positive effects. Even better, no special equipment is required. All you need is some floor space and access to an area of wall.

‘I signed up primarily because I was intrigued by ELDOA and wanted to learn something new. I didn’t really expect to notice any difference in my health as I don’t experience any pain or back issues. It was a pleasant surprise to find that I actually felt noticeable results. I had much more awareness of my posture, felt a reduction in stress and an increase in overall well-being, so much so, that when I missed a few days I craved doing it.

Michael was so thorough in his explanations of the postures and very attentive to technique, ensuring we were holding the positions correctly and pushing us to get the most out of each ELDOA.

I truly believe ELDOAs are something everyone can benefit from.’ - Sandra

HOW I INTEGRATE ELDOA INTO MY PRACTICE

As everyone can benefit, I integrate specific ELDOAs into a clients program based upon their specific needs. This may not be on day one, but I do introduce them when appropriate. Not doing ELDOA is a major opportunity missed. I can’t image any individual, athlete or not, who would not want to move and feel better, and in turn improve their quality of live to live better.

In modern society, our physical and mental/emotional bodies are under chronic attack via stress. Poor posture and body alignment are one of the first outward manifestations of this stress battle. Optimizing spinal alignment, body mechanics, nerve function and reducing stress levels are essential to improving health.

While individual clients receive some degree of ELDOA instruction, small group classes are also available. While not as personalized, we do focus on learning the foundations of ELDOA along with practicing most of the ELDAO available for the spine, hips, shoulders and even ribcage.

Achieving true health and movement performance is an individualized process; there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, there are general principles that do apply to everyone. A healthy nervous system and proper spinal alignment are essential to the process. ELDOA offers tremendous opportunity for growth and should not be missed.

‘ELDOA is the most efficient method I have found to promote balance, recover from exertion, and get a feeling of calm and well-being. In about 15 minutes, I can get the same energized yet peaceful feeling I get after a 70 minute yoga class. ELDOA can be done anywhere with no equipment. It’s helped me increase general body awareness and has also helped with the symptoms of my scoliosis.

Michael is a gifted instructor who knows how to help you get the most out of everything he teaches, ELDOA included. I highly recommend taking a class with him to experience directly how ELDOA can benefit you in your sport or daily life.’ - Melissa

What is ELDOA?

Here is a short video offering greater insight into what ELDOA is, how works and why you should experience it. ELDOA is one of those rare modalities that everyone can benefit from.