Hypo & Hyper - The Second Music
Hypo & Hyper: The Second Music
A wordier one from me this week. It’s a meaty and nuanced topic - absolutely more to it than what’s written here but I think it’s an intersting thing to ponder. I’ve been reading the work by Merete Holm Brantbjerg and I’ve found it really illuminating and helpful - I’ve referenced the article that I refer to at the bottom of this page and also a link to a brilliant youtube video she has recorded.
What we don’t feel.
I’ve been pondering my own response when I felt overwhelmed and was experiencing some more anxious thoughts recently. I often slip into procrastinaion, anxiety and indecisiveness if my stress levels tip over into something that I can’t manage. My body feels a little more rigid as do my thoughts
As you’re sitting here reading this can you notice which parts of your body you’re aware of? Perhaps which are a little shoutier - that feel a bit more tense, tight, aching. They may feel a bit more ‘stressed?’. These might be called our ‘hypertonic’ muscles - the muscles that are a bit more contracted than other parts of our body.
Can you also now notice or draw your awareness to parts of the body that feel numb? Or unnoticeable?
That you haven’t noticed in a while or perhaps can’t get a sense of as you’re here? These might be our ‘hypotonic’ muscles of the body. They might not feel very ‘full’, they might feel lacklustre or not able to contract.
We all have parts of our bodies and selves Brantbjerg writes, that are ‘hyper’ - contracted, more tense, fighting parts of ourselves, that mobilise with pressure and stress. We may hold tightly on to our emotions, not letting them go.
We also have parts of ourselves - ‘hypo’ - that collapse, that become more defensive, that withdraw or give up. We may relinquish emotions entirely. We may feel stuck, indecisive.
We also all have balanced parts of ourselves that are able to stay present, to have a sense of realism under pressure. That find joy even in tough periods. That can express emotion freely and, appropriately.
Of course non of this that I’m describing is cut and dry/black and white. But it’s interesting to ponder.
If each of these parts of us had a voice, Brantbjerg describes, this is perhaps what they’d say…
“Hyper-response - “I fight, I am handling this pressure. I live up to the world’s and my own expectations. I shut off, so I don’t have to feel so much. I don’t want to be weak. I must be strong. I have to make it”
Hypo-response - “This is too much. I disengage. I hide, I disappear, so I can’t feel how overwhelmed I get. I am tired. I am weak. I can’t.”
Balanced responsive part: “What are the facts? What information do I need to obtain to be able to decide about this situation? What is my capacity? I am still present. I still have energy. I can go on for a while. I don’t know for how long. I know I will need a break at some point to refuel and sense where I am at. Will I stay, meet and match the pressure? Can I create a flow, a way to tag along? Or do I want to leave?”
How are these 3 responses balanced in you? Perhaps the balance changes depending on the level and kind of stress you meet.”
Usually, she writes, the more powerful the external influence, the less flexible we become in our choice of strategy and will fall back to our autonomic preferences. The more 'we might refer to ourselves in ‘absolute’ terms as well.
So what’s this got to do with Yoga or Biodynamic Massage?
In lots of movement and therepeutic modalities we often prioritise the stress reliever, relieving tension in tight muscles, ‘release’ and ‘letting go’. These strategies are wonderful and helpful for a hyper-response: when we’re in that ‘fight’ mode, when we’re doing so many things, not stopping and holding on tightly to emotions. So many of us are holding on very tightly to so many things.
Yet sometimes what may help us, espeically if we have a dominant hypo-response - if we find ourselves in a very low state, or giving up on emotions or desires - we may need stronger boundaries, a little more engagement, finding ways to help us stay present rather than disengage.
The level of engagement we find is really key to how well we feel. If we flood the body with too much ‘work’ or energy then we may feel exhausted and slip further into a hypo response. If we find just the right ‘dose’ of movement or engagement then we may bring a little more life to this area, and a little more fluidity, energy.
It’s a bit like building back the core after having a baby. Bringing engagement and gentle awareness, slowly bringing back strength here can give us a sense of core-support, deep inner strength, steadiness. Confidence. Too much, too soon, can make us feel even more depleted and we may lose confidence in our sense of self or recovery.
I love this quote from her:
For instance, if I am too busy and react to the pressure by attempting to fight my way through, other parts of me—the hyporesponsive ones—disengage. I fight—and I lose contact with parts of myself. The parts that will disengage are those least present in me in the first place. If for some reason I haven’t allowed myself time to do things out of pleasure, and if my idea of what is pleasurable to me is hazy to begin with, this part will definitely disengage under highly intense pressure where there are things to be done all the time. It will disengage by letting the muscles that carry pleasure impulses go hyporesponsive. The benefit I get from this strategy is that I no longer notice that I have no room for pleasure. The parts that were supposed to sense it gave up. That way I am able to be even more efficient. The downside is that the parts of me that should signal time for a break, time to take notice, time to breathe, to take time off,etc, are no longer present. They are not participating; they have dropped out.
This speaks to my directly as someone that can be a bit of a workaholic. Certainly, my tendency to this is I think what led me to yoga all those years ago - to finding flow, joy, ease of movement. It put me in touch with parts of myself I’d long forgotten.
It’s also what makes Biodynamic Massage so helpful as it can put us in touch with so much of this.
So what’s missing in your life at the moment? What have you forgotten/aren’t in touch with? How can you gently bring this area back to life?
Finally, I love how all of this intersects so beautifully with Traditional Chinese Medicine and Spring. The wood element is associated with Spring and that of the liver. As my teacher, Tiffany Cruikshank writes:
“the Liver and the Wood element are both connected to circulation, planning, stress regulation, & the smooth movement of Qi.
When that movement feels restricted, it can show up as:
~irritability or mood swings
~tension in the neck, jaw, or hips
~feeling stuck, indecisive, or stressed
~digestive sluggishness
Spring invites gentle, steady momentum. Flow is the name of the game.”
I love that there is a balance of planning, boundaries, vision and purpose - as well as going with the flow and ease. This element is also deeply nourished by the water element - as all trees and plants are - through rest and stillness. And if this element becomes overgrown then it’s also supported by the Metal element - of clear boundaries, containment and clarity. Of choosing what to take in, and what to let go of.
I love this quote from one of her writings:
For instance, if I am too busy and react to the pressure by attempting to fight my way through, other parts of me—the hyporesponsive ones—disengage. I fight—and I lose contact with parts of myself. The parts that will disengage are those least present in me in the first place. If for some reason I haven’t allowed myself time to do things out of pleasure, and if my idea of what is pleasurable to me is hazy to begin with, this part will definitely disengage under highly intense pressure where there are things to be done all the time. It will disengage by letting the muscles that carry pleasure impulses go hyporesponsive. The benefit I get from this strategy is that I no longer notice that I have no room for pleasure. The parts that were supposed to sense it gave up. That way I am able to be even more efficient. The downside is that the parts of me that should signal time for a break, time to take notice, time to breathe, to take time off,etc, are no longer present. They are not participating; they have dropped out.
This speaks to my directly as someone that can be a bit of a workaholic. Certainly, my tendency to this is I think what led me to yoga all those years ago - to finding flow, joy, ease of movement. It put me in touch with parts of myself I’d long forgotten.
It’s also what makes Biodynamic Massage so helpful as it can put us in touch with so much of this.
So what’s missing in your life at the moment? What have you forgotten/aren’t in touch with? How can you gently bring this area back to life?
Further Reading and references: Hyporesponse: The Hidden Challenge in Coping With Stress, Merete Holm Brantbjerg.
https://youtu.be/ah09GB7DTLw?si=OdEY4xMrtjVCMoj-