Introduction
What is Counterspiral?
The hands and feet are designed to form dynamic, three-dimensional spiral structures that rotate around a central axis. Instead of developing them to plan, we flatten them into levers and use the wrists and ankles like simple hinges. As a result, we lose most of the mobility in our hands and feet, much of the alignment in our posture, and nearly all of the efficiency in our gait.
The Counterspiral program aims to rehabilitate the hands and feet and complete their development. Over time, using a set of simple, targeted exercises, the program realigns the bones of the hands and feet into their intended spiral structures. The hands and feet are so foundational to our engagement with the world that Counterspiral will produce consistent general improvements in physical performance over several years of training, and reduce the risk of chronic injury for a lifetime.
The Theory
The prevailing – or Standard – model of biomechanics, where the hands and feet are used as flattened levers, is contrasted to the Spiral Model, where the hands and feet work on the basis of spiral rotation. The differences and similarities are explored looking in turn at the feet, then gait, and finally the hands.
The Training
The Counterspiral program consists of exercises designed to guide the transition from the Standard to the Spiral model. Alternating between pressure exercises – which harness rotational symmetry across the body’s midline – and repetitive motion exercises with specific instructions on how to position, place, and move the hands and feet, the program restores their mobility and completes their biomechanical development.
The Results
As you advance through the program, it will restore mobility to the joints of your hands and feet and correct the alignment of your legs and spine, delivering continuous improvements in stability, flexibility, coordination, and balance across physical activities. In addition, you should note steady increases in control, precision, and endurance, and reductions in wear and tear and the risk of injury and chronic pain.