CH.13 THE HAMMOCK ATLAS
Spiral LineSPL
Unwinds the twist
Two spirals wrapping the whole body, governing its rotation
This line is a closed loop: it sets out from the back of the head, travels once around the body and returns there. The three stations in bold are the key ones — twice across the midline, once around the arch of the foot. Rotation can travel the whole way precisely because of those three crossings.
Where this line runs
- 01Occipital ridge · splenius capitis
- 02Crosses the spine to the opposite rhomboids ★
- 03Medial border of the scapula · serratus anterior
- 04External oblique
- 05Crosses the midline at the linea alba to the opposite internal oblique ★
- 06Iliac crest · ASIS
- 07Tensor fasciae latae · IT band
- 08Tibialis anterior
- 09First metatarsal · the arch (its lowest point) ★
- 10Peroneus longus · head of the fibula
- 11Biceps femoris
- 12Ischial tuberosity · sacrotuberous ligament
- 13Sacrolumbar fascia · erector spinae
- 14Back to the occipital ridge
What this line does
Two Spiral Lines wind around the body like a braid, stabilizing it and governing rotation. They share muscle with several other lines; when they tighten, posture twists, and the tracking of the knee and the shape of the arch are affected too.
How to train it
In the upper body, balance rhomboids, serratus anterior and external oblique. For rounded shoulders, lengthen the external oblique and serratus and bring the shoulder blades back; for an over-lifted chest that draws the blades too close together, release the rhomboids and let the blades return to neutral.
Go deeper
In rotational sports such as golf and baseball the Spiral Line works together with the Functional Line. For the spiral in the lower body, look at the balance of the hip and the foot.
Clues
You can rotate, but the two directions are not the same
- One arm swings wider than the other as you walk
- Turning to look behind you, one side is smooth and the other catches
- Standing, one side of the pelvis is rotated further forward
- One shoe wears down noticeably faster
When the thoracic spine will not rotate, the rotation is handed to the lumbar spine — which was never built for much of it. Compensate long enough and it aches.
Once the spiral releases, the upper and lower body can counter-rotate naturally as you walk. Everyday movement costs less, so accumulated fatigue is not carried into the night.
Test it yourself
Sit upright with the pelvis still and turn to look directly behind you, once to each side. Note which side catches first.
The rest of it, a book can’t carry
What this line feels like when it releases, I can’t put into writing.
Lie into the hammock and find out for yourself.