Since we’ve introduced physical intelligence, it seems like a good idea to introduce two of its basic building blocks: plastiques and corporals, which are one way of describing two aspects of how we move.
A plastique is what happens when one single muscle contracts or releases. Not a group of muscles, but one single solitary one. (yes, this is a practical impossibility, but let’s pretend for now) Generally speaking, muscles span joints between two or more bones, each end attaching to the bone on either side of the joint. So when the muscle is in a state of relaxation the joint is normally at an open, wide angle, while when it’s contracted the joint will be at a smaller, closed angle. Now as far as I know all joints are spanned by more than one muscle, and for every muscular contraction there should be an equal muscular release at the other side of the joint, but these are for later posts. For now, let’s simply say that plastiques are individual movements of individual joints.
A corporal is what happens when you have a long chain of muscles working together. There are a limited number of corporals, and they usually either pass through or in some way include the abdominal muscles. One example of a corporal is called the “Great X” which starts at the tip of one finger and includes a chain of muscles that goes all the way through the body to the tips of the opposite foot. While it’s possible to isolate one of these lines — say right hand to left foot — they’re generally used together, hence making an X rather than a slash. The Great X gets a workout all the time, in walking.
So what are they good for?
Corporals are like the frame of a building. They’re structural elements, like the frame of a building. So when they’re strong the body is strong, and by extension, so is the mind. They are what you would use to jump a fence, so developing one’s corporals is said to develop one’s ability to face dread, face fears, overcome challenges and so on.
Plastiques, on the other hand, are like the decorative elements of a building. They’re the details that define personality, that help you present who you are to others, as well as to yourself. They can be seen as the building blocks of expression.
Much has been made lately about the relationship between the mind and the body, but I have yet to see a clearer or more direct explanation of that relationship than through plastiques and corporals. I’ll be coming back to them and elaborating in detail as time goes on.
Post by Aaron Bihari, Trainer & managing partner
Cross-posted at Cross-Pollination.
