Decode and Osteopathy: Beyond Manual Therapy
Interview with Daniele Marcolini
Can you tell us how your background in sports science, physiotherapy and osteopathy led you to discover and explore the internal practices of the DECODE school?
I have always been very curious and passionate about the functioning and mechanisms of the human body. I wanted to understand how it was able to function and how it could perform so many functions at the same time. I began to study anatomy, physiology and biomechanics, seeking first and foremost to understand how we are made and how muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons manage our bodies, how they enable us to jump, walk, run and perform any movement, from the smallest and most refined to the most difficult and complicated, all with absolute simplicity and coordination. My studies and training in Sports Science helped me (at least in part) to find many answers to my questions. The next step was to understand how such a 'perfect' machine sometimes failed to respond as it should to certain stimuli and how such a highly sophisticated system could be affected by physical pathologies and dysfunctions of varying degrees of severity. Physiotherapy helped me understand these mechanisms, but above all how to intervene in the event of trauma, what to do or what not to do to help our body regain health and healing, what were the most appropriate therapies and rehabilitation methods for each type of trauma or musculoskeletal disorder. The third step, which I consider the most important and definitely the most formative for me, was the long (and not easy) journey into osteopathy. Six long years, during which I managed to examine every single aspect and put the whole puzzle together. I had all the answers I was looking for. I finally understood how all the systems and apparatus worked in harmony and were all connected to each other. The body and mind were no longer separate, as I had always thought, but a single system that interacted and integrated all external stimuli, reacting in the best possible way to safeguard this wonderful machine we call the human body. At this point, I believed I had come full circle and had all the knowledge and laws that govern and manage our body at my fingertips. In part, this was 'true', but one thing escaped me... I had been practising martial arts since the age of six: Judo and Karate, then Kung Fu as I got older. Thanks to these disciplines, I had a good understanding and control of my body and, from a motor function point of view, I felt satisfied and was very well trained. Every day I trained coordination, speed, endurance, combat, but also practices related to stress control and management, such as meditation and breathing techniques. As I said before, I believed I had come full circle and possessed all the tools to work in the best possible way on every aspect related to the human body and its functions. Then, on an ordinary day, I encountered DECODE. I happened to read a post on social media about a conference held by Master Mauro Antonino D'angelo. It seemed interesting, and I was intrigued by the topics covered, partly because they were all subjects I already knew, or rather, thought I knew. From that day on, my view of martial arts changed radically, and I completely abandoned my old martial practices to embrace this new path and journey of inner growth. The DECODE method made me understand how to 'feel' my body and go deeper into all aspects related to bodily dynamics. It is a method that has given me the necessary tools that I still use and explore daily to gain greater awareness of who I am. Today, after several years of continuous and assiduous practice, I have become a teacher and share with the Master and all the other instructors at the school our mission to spread the method.
From your professional point of view, how do internal alchemy practices enrich or complement the view of the body that comes from Western academic training?
Western academic training does not take into account any of the aspects related to internal alchemy. Nowadays, medical, health and all other professional training is increasingly specialised in a minimalist vision and extreme specialisation of individual body structures. Today we have specialists in the hand, shoulder, heart, various systems and apparatuses, but each individual specialist does not 'see' beyond their area of expertise. Without understanding and not considering that the “hand” is attached to an arm, which is attached to a shoulder, which is connected to the spine and which is part of a whole UNIQUE system, which lives and interacts with the surrounding world, seeking balance and continuous homeostasis. Everything works because everything is in harmony and all structures communicate with each other. What is missing in the Western academic world is precisely a vision of the whole. Internal alchemy practices can complete this vision of the whole and give every healthcare professional a greater and more holistic view of the body. In this way, the professional will have 360° competence and all patients will benefit. Furthermore, internal alchemy work, carried out physically and mentally by each individual professional, can lead to greater physical efficiency and concentration, enabling them to better manage stressful events, especially at the level of surgical precision, where the doctor's presence and concentration must be 100%. Finally, working on self-awareness and alchemical change can only lead to improvement in every personal and professional aspect.
How much do you think the practice of exercises such as zhan zhuang or nei gong can influence posture and spinal health, based on what you know about anatomy and biomechanics?
Unfortunately, nowadays, the percentage of people suffering from postural problems and spinal pain is growing, especially among young people. A sedentary lifestyle and poor posture lead to a slow and continuous weakening of all the deep muscles of the spine and all the associated and connected muscles. The spine, as the word itself suggests, is a COLUMN, where all the structures of the body, from the muscles to the viscera, the nervous and vascular structures and the entire cruciate system of walking, 'rest and anchor'. It thrives on loading and unloading, and its best therapy is movement and physical exercise in all its forms. The spine must be stimulated without fear because it is designed to move and bear heavy loads. I believe that ZHAN ZHUANG (unique in its kind) can be an excellent and valid alternative to the many forms of physical exercise already available. Its distinctive features lies in a 'single' exercise with many variables in terms of intensity and execution. It can be practised by everyone at all ages and, with the right precautions, even by people with physical problems and various pathologies. Some of its benefits are: improving posture, aligning the spine while respecting its physiological curves, strengthening muscles, tendons and ligaments, realigning all the bone segments that make up the spine, restoring good flexibility and regaining strength and vigour, stimulating blood and lymphatic circulation, releasing and loosening all fascial tensions, connecting the structural link with the skull, pelvis, and upper and lower limbs at a proprioceptive level, and relieving back pain. Zhan zhuang also works on willpower, helping us to manage stress and improve what traditional Chinese medicine considers to be the free flow of internal energy (QI) within the meridians. Does this sound like an exaggeration? You have to try it to believe it. I recommend it and also have my patients practise it.
In your experience, what role does breath regulation play in internal practices in relation to the well-being of the nervous system and functional recovery?
Breathing is fundamental, primary and indispensable for human life. There is no life without breath and no breath without life. In internal practices, one of the goals is inner exploration and psycho-physical wellbeing. What better system could we use to delve deep within ourselves than breathing? We can consider breathing as an anchor, keeping us firmly rooted in the present moment. By focusing, breathing takes us away from negative thoughts and helps us to restore inner peace and serenity. On a mental level, slow and deep breathing ( ) stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system with the release of chemicals: endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, which are neurotransmitters of well-being. These substances help us improve concentration, learning and memory and create a state of cerebral balance, which will give us a state of deep calm and relaxation thanks to the production of alpha waves. The body will consequently benefit from this mental state and gradually accept this condition of relaxation and pleasant state of calm. In addition, stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system also has a positive effect on the vascular system, lowering blood pressure and slowing the heart rate, improving and regulating digestion and many organic functions that depend on the vagus nerve (a large nerve that connects the brain and the intestine and, thanks to its regulatory activity, improves all visceral interactions). and finally regulates sleep quality and promotes the recovery of all the body's functions. We can say that breathing is a great activator and stimulator of the nervous system and we should consider it a true natural anti-stress remedy. It reduces cortisol (stress hormone) levels, lowering chronic stress and decreasing muscle tension, brings greater oxygenation to the tissues, restores the proper cardio-pulmonary balance and is useful in functional recovery in all respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, but also anxiety, coughing, dyspnoea and panic attacks. But that's not all. By changing the way we breathe, we can activate and stimulate the other branch of the autonomic nervous system, namely the sympathetic nervous system, the opposite of the parasympathetic nervous system, the so-called 'fight or flight' system. Working on this system will make the body ready, strong, alert, attentive and vigilant thanks to the hormonal stimulation of noradrenaline. Nature has given us this wonderful tool that is breathing: let's learn to use it and make it natural and conscious.
As a physiotherapist and osteopath, how would you connect the concepts of fascia and connective tissues with the sensations and developments experienced in the practice of internal work?
The fascia is a world of its own, a world still largely to be discovered and explored. There has been a lot of talk about fascia lately, but what is it really and how can it be integrated into the internal alchemy practices? Fascia, or connective tissue, is everything, and it is everything we are: organs, bones, nerves, ligaments, muscles and all the apparatus and systems that make up the human body. As Andrew Taylor Still, founder of osteopathy, said, fascia "is a tissue that separates and unites everything, unites and separates everything". It supports our structure, keeping everything in place (organs, viscera) and allows all the tissues of the body to slide over each other, transmitting movement without friction. It dissipates forces, internal and external, in every direction of the body. Intra- and extra-cellular metabolic exchanges take place within it, as well as intimate cellular integration relationships with energy production and metabolite waste. It receives sensory information, and thanks to Golgi organs and Ruffini receptors, this is transformed into proprioception, so that it can respond autonomously to stimuli and changes, each time modifying and adapting the structure to new needs. The fascia has a 'memory' and records physical and emotional trauma, impregnating the tissue with the trauma itself, changing its viscoelastic density and thus generating pain or muscle tension. The fascia is a tensegrity structure, a mechanical concept used in engineering to construct bridges or buildings, for example. Without going into too much detail about the human body, thanks to its structure of bones, ligaments, tendons and internal forces that move in all directions, it can be compared to this type of structure. A structure that adapts to incoming external forces, absorbing and elastically returning the same forces. In internal practice, we try to 'feel', stretch and connect the movement of the fascia in every action; we try to stimulate the fascia by moving in accordance with the tensegrity model, activating the whole body simultaneously, being aware of every part of it; we seek the connection between mind and muscle, mind and body, mind and structure; we seek to release muscle tension by moving the body with a subtle force that is released from within and generates a pleasant feeling of fullness. It is not easy, and the search for correct 'deep listening' requires years of study and personal practice, but I guarantee that this work will give the practitioner full body awareness, very deep and in accordance with all the laws that govern bodily functions.
Do you think that Internal Alchemy can also be seen as a preventive tool for musculoskeletal and degenerative problems that you encounter in your clinical work?
For many years, I have been treating and helping patients to overcome physical problems of varying severity, whether acute or chronic. The question I always asked myself was: how can I ensure that patients do NOT return to me after I have treated them and restored a certain degree of physical autonomy and proper bodily function? My goal was to understand how to teach them 'deep listening' and how to recognise and prevent dysfunctions that, if not caught in time, often lead to blockages, physical pain and postural problems (prevention is better than cure).
I know from experience that good Internal Alchemy work, done regularly, can be an excellent aid to prevention, but also to maintaining good physical and mental health. Internal practice is aimed at and recommended for everyone, at all ages.
There are no side effects and it can be adapted to each individual according to their physical condition. It is a 'holistic' practice for the prevention, maintenance and improvement of good general mental and physical health. Thanks to its slow, fluid and continuous movements, it creates the right harmony between mind and body, removing tension and muscle stiffness. It works on posture by aligning the spine and correcting postural imbalances, restoring strength and balance. It works on breathing in its broadest sense, restoring vigour and strength to the whole body. It is also an excellent alternative to the many activities already offered in gyms. In modern times, where we are all forced into unnatural postures (such as sitting for long periods) or adopting inappropriate postures for repetitive and strenuous work, internal work is a tool that can help us train both body and mind, inside and out, restoring the right balance and maintaining an excellent state of well-being.
Done first, it prevents; done later, it maintains... good internal alchemy to all.
As a 'movement scientist', how do you see the potential of the traditional tools offered by DECODE in terms of posture, proprioception and everyday wellbeing?
Let's start by saying that the traditional tools offered by DECODE are a real novelty here in the West, even though we are starting to see something lately, but there is still a lot of confusion about how to use these tools. I can say that the work proposed by DECODE is carried out gradually and follows a precise order of progression. The first benefit that can be seen after a short period of work will be on joint mobility, specifically the scapulohumeral joint.
The rotations and combinations of exercises will have an impact on the entire upper limb, involving and integrating the elbow and wrist joints in the movement. The shoulder blades will work in synchrony on all planes of movement, releasing tension in the neck and cervical spine. Furthermore, as this exercise seeks to stretch the joints, there will be great benefits for the glenohumeral joint and all the connective tissue, which responds very well to stretching, as well as greatly strengthening all the muscles of the rotator cuff, without impacting or compressing the joint. All the muscles of the forearm will be strengthened, especially those involved in the grip of the hand, which will become stronger, more decisive and more secure. There will be excellent development of coordination, proprioception and synchronisation between the right and left hemispheres, which will have to manage opposing movements and increasingly complex trajectories simultaneously. Over time, the intensity and the tolls used will increase, and most of the work will require strong core engagement, which is the fundamental point from which all movements originate. We will have more stability and strength, which will be distributed from the centre of the body and dissipated to the periphery (upper and lower limbs). This work will generate more strength, stability, connection and alignment.
At this point, given the wide variety of exercises that can be performed and the positive effects on strength, mobility, proprioception and stability of the core and spine, I also recommend this work for adolescents and the elderly. But above all, I recommend it as functional recovery after surgery. It is excellent work for recovering lost motor skills and returning to all the functions of daily life as soon as possible. I would also like to mention the great work and positive effect on posture, spinal pain, hyperkyphosis or hyperlordosis, scoliosis, winged shoulder blades and many other musculoskeletal problems. It is an excellent form of prevention, strengthening and support for any recommended rehabilitation protocols, pre- or post-surgery. I hope that it will become increasingly popular and that this method of work will also be taken into consideration and included in rehabilitation health protocols.
Do you believe that an integrated approach between Western science and traditional Eastern practices can offer a new way of educating people about movement and health?
Of course, I believe that the integration of two very different cultures and visions can only contribute to evolution and improve the quality and demands of the individual athlete or ordinary practitioner. Everyone could benefit, take inspiration and further improve both working methods. Eastern practices are based on specific work that focuses on flexibility, coordination, concentration and mind-body balance, all thanks to greater mental awareness. Specifically, cultivation, deep listening and spiritual research promote overall well-being throughout the body, improving fluidity of movement and body management. Above all, this approach leads to a significant and constant reduction in stress. Western methods, on the other hand, are based more on physical work, specific sports performance and a frantic search for specific qualities, depending on the activity performed, such as strength, hypertrophy, endurance, speed, etc. Combining these methods means developing a complete training programme and method, which we can define as 'holistic' work, where nothing is left to chance and every single aspect is taken into consideration. Whether it is specific work on strength, endurance or balance and flexibility does not matter, because we have the opportunity to work on both and at the same time achieve greater mental and physical wellbeing and mind-body balance.
So, to answer the initial question, I believe so, and I hope that the process already underway within DECODE will continue, integrating and merging these two methods of working, drawing the best from both and making them available to everyone, from simple amateurs to the most dedicated athletes, given that both seek balance and physical and mental well-being.
Looking to the future, what do you think could be the specific contribution of the DECODE school to the world of training and wellbeing, especially in relation to the dialogue between motor sciences and internal disciplines?
DECODE means "decoding" and can be translated as: interpreting, understanding, converting, deciphering; in simple terms, it is a method that searches for codes in order to read anything, understand it, simplify it and get to the essence of understanding. In sports or related disciplines, we can also see it as a method capable of focusing on the goal and finding all the resources needed to achieve it. Discard the superfluous and work exclusively on what is needed to achieve the goal. It is a method that, thanks to our Master's research in the East on various methods of working on oneself, psychology, traditional Eastern training and Western training methods, has succeeded in providing a clear and transparent view of the 'whole', decoding everything in a simple way. All this work enables DECODE practitioners to have a vision of their surroundings and the tools to deal with anything in a conscious way: whether it is a simple physical exercise, an interpersonal relationship, a particular type of work or anything else that requires skill, they will certainly be able to tackle it with the right spirit and understand its essence thoroughly. Everything can be decoded and read clearly. It is like having a large set of keys and being able to open all the doors that stand in our way. Thanks to this training, DECODE can certainly be a very valuable tool to complement all the disciplines that already exist in the West. Western motor sciences focus heavily on the external part of the body (muscles, ligaments, bones, etc.), on the biomechanics of movement and on the effectiveness of the gesture as an end in itself, while internal disciplines work on body-mind harmony, balance and a deeper holistic awareness of ourselves. The combination of these two approaches can certainly bring great psychological and physical benefits, improve sporting performance and make the practitioner more complete. They are two complementary methods where one does not exclude the other and both are compatible.