SEMIPERMEABLE BOUNDARIES
Semipermeability is a template for our understanding of relationships, interdependence and interrelatedness.
When we understand semipermeability we can understand how to establish effective boundaries, how to regulate our sense of identity and navigate our way through the ups and downs of life. The semi permeable membrane is a literal example of what Thich Nhat Han called interbeing, a way to live in harmony with ourselves, those around us and the planet we live upon. It is the middle path in Buddhist tradition & the principle of yield in embodied movement patterns.
One place to start with understanding semipermeability is from the view point of our cellular biology. The cell has a membrane around it, a boundary. If there is no membrane around it, it dissolves, dissipates and dies. But if the membrane is too thick, then nothing can come out, and nothing can go in either. So, the semi-permeable membrane allows some stuff to come in and some stuff to go out, or not everything to come in and not everything to out.
It can be said that the cell has a boundary, not so that it can exist in isolation, but so that it can work in cooperation with other cells whilst simultaneously protecting itself. It can also be said that the cells are in constant flux, making moment to moment adjustments in relationship to the environment.
Maybe you have heard it said before that we hold “our issues in our tissues”, and I would like to suggest that how you relate to others, how you assert your identity and establish boundaries is reflected deep within your embodied selves, right down to the cellular level.
Fascia - the bridge that connects the autonomic nervous system & the central nervous system.
Fascia is your emotional container, it acts like a somatic emotional boundary between you & the world. Your state is directly reflected in your fascial tone, & your fascial tone influences your psycho-emotional state.
If your fascial system is too slack (hypermobile) & you don’t feel properly supported, you may feel less safe. You may find it hard to say no, you may over extend yourself & experience burn out.
If your fascial system is too tight & you feel too physically rigid (body armouring), you may feel cut off from the world, nothing comes in & nothing goes out. You may find it hard to say yes, you may be defensive & struggle to experience satisfaction.
When it comes to exploring what type of movement interventions will be the most beneficial for your nervous system regulation, then it will depend on the state of your fascial system.
➔ Fascial systems that are too tense or stressed need to be returned to optimal tension without being too rigorously manipulated - somatic practices such as pandiculations that offer a gentle oscillatory rhythm can hydrate and free up tired and overworked tissues, allowing a sense of aliveness to return to the body.
➔ Fascial systems that lack density & tension need to be tightened & made denser through titrated strength & stability work - practices that help to build greater proprioceptive capacity such as strength based work using weights and resistance can help the body to know where it is in space and time, allowing a sense of connectivity to return to the body.
With optimal fascial tension, the body’s natural biotensegrity provides the right amount of resistance for muscles to fire against and to provide the sensory feedback that allows the nervous system a sense of safety in the world.
When you feel safe, you feel more connected to yourself, more stable within yourself and more aware of the present moment.
Your nervous system learns that it can cycle naturally through states of alertness and rest, and you can learn to rely on a network of resources to support you in your daily life.
You learn that everything is welcome, from joy and bliss to righteous anger and defense, when your body and nervous system is supported, you have a greater sense of your self worth, belonging, dignity and agency in the world.
“I have a voice, I will be heard and I can influence a situation, my input is valued and can help me be what or do what is needed”
Eight journalling prompts on boundaries*
Do you have a strong sense of your own boundaries and can you say no?
Do you feel like you absorb other people’s feelings?
Do you have a hard time finding your actual voice?
Do you own your peri-personal space and believe you have a right to bodily integrity?
Do you carry around an embodied apology for who you are?
Do you feel the impulse to rescue people?
Do you idealise empathy as a way to be a good person?
Do you have a history of co-dependence or of losing a sense of your self in relationships?
*If you have a history of trauma and a hard time establishing healthy boundaries, then taking away current coping mechanisms without support can be de-stabilising and triggering, working with a professional who can help you to build the necessary resources in a manner that is supportive to your healing journey is recommended.