SPINAL FLOW® TECHNIQUE

A spinal blockage occurs when the body is unable to effectively process stress—whether it's chemical, physical, or emotional. According to Dr. Carli Axford, "A spinal blockage happens when our bodies can’t properly process or deal with stress. When overwhelmed, the body essentially says, ‘I don’t know what to do with this,’ and stores it in the spine—what many call ‘the back of our mind.’”

Over time, stress accumulates in the body, especially emotional stress, and tends to be stored along the spine. Our bodies absorb and hold onto all kinds of experiences, and when the brain finds it too difficult to process certain stressors, it sets them aside—often into the spine.

The relationship between our spine, nervous system, and emotions is complex. The body, with its incredible intelligence, often sends messages through symptoms—like digestive issues, pain, or other forms of discomfort—indicating that stress has been stored in the spine as a blockage.

If the body's stress response (such as fight-or-flight) is activated, it can cause the vertebrae to become rigid or inflexible as a protective measure. This immobility can also lead to inflammation around the affected area.

“Our bodies have an innate intelligence,” says Dr. Axford. “When stress can’t be processed in the moment, the body stores it safely—often in the spine—until we’re ready to deal with it.”

Our body instinctively knows exactly how to bring back ease and flow just like it did when you were a child with cuts and bruises that always healed with just a little bit of attention. 

Spinal Flow® gives our nervous system this attention, switching it back into the Parasympathetic state where bodily functions such as digestion, respiration and conception are regulated and healing can happen, releasing the stuckness from our life’s experiences .

The goal of Spinal Flow  is to expand the Spinal Wave and release spinal blockages with every contact – the body will determine which order that happens.

Many of the initial changes that occur with Spinal Flow are so slight that you may not notice them unless you pay very close attention or have exceptionally high awareness of your own internal physiology.

• A slowing or deepening of your breathing rate
• A sense of relaxation or ease in your body
• A feeling of calmness or clarity in your mind

As your system becomes more adept at producing change, many people (but not all) actually feel the craniosacral rhythm kick into high gear as it produces a wave-like movement that courses the entire length of your spine.  Some people may occasionally twitch rather than wave as they release the blockages through the spine.

Does “the wave” happen for everyone? 

No. Many people process releasing their emotions & traumas internally, which is completely okay too.  

Every person, every session may be different.  Everyone processes differently as the energy travels through the spine and nervous system.  

The human body wants to protect us and keep us safe, so when we experience emotions that we cannot process or fully comprehend, our nervous system stores them at the back of our mind – which is precisely where the spine is.
“It does not need to be a significant emotional trauma to create a blockage in our body,” says Dr. Carli Axford, the creator of Spinal Flow Technique.

“Because emotional stress is such an intimate and internal experience – and usually the first kind we will encounter in childhood – it is the one that stores the deepest in the nervous system and tends to hide beneath layers of physical and chemical stress.”

It helps to understand that emotions are energy in motion (e + motion = emotion). When the energy is not in motion, it becomes stagnant and stores itself in the body as a spinal blockage.
We are emotional beings and our body talks to us all the time, particularly when it comes to feelings. Emotions can be felt in the body as gut feelings, heavy hearts and sinking stomachs, for example. Pain – both physical and emotional – can be our body sending us a message.

Some of the key emotional stress situations during different life stages can include:

In childhood

• Being the result of an unwanted pregnancy
• Not feeling loved
• Being scolded by parents or teachers
• Disharmony at home
• Unstable or inconsistent parenting
• Feeling unsafe, unseen, neglected, or unheard
• Family violence and abuse
• Bullying

In adolescence

• Bullying
• Peer exclusion
• Low self-esteem
• Unidentified sense of self
• Undefined values
• Puberty
• Sexuality
• Physical or sexual violence
• Study stress
• Financial strain
• Family violence
• Social media
• Depression & Anxiety

In adulthood

• Workplace harassment
• Career
• Family dynamics
• Parenting
• Peer exclusion
• Low self-esteem or self-worth
• Financial strain
• Family violence
• Physical or sexual violence
• Addiction
• Anxiety, depression, mental Illness
• Feeling disconnected
• Lacking purpose
• Death of a loved one

When we understand that emotions and the different feelings they create are perfectly normal, the process of releasing their energy becomes much easier.

 In Spinal Flow Technique, physical stress refers to any physical trauma or strain experienced by the body that disrupts the natural flow of energy through the spinal column and nervous system.

• Injuries: e.g., falls, accidents, sports injuries.
   
• Postural strain: Poor posture from prolonged sitting, improper lifting, or sleeping positions.
• Repetitive motion: Overuse of muscles from daily work or physical routines.
• Birth trauma: For both babies and mothers during childbirth.
• Surgical procedures: Scar tissue or trauma from past operations.
   

• Physical stress gets stored in specific “spinal gateways” — points along the spine where nerve flow can be assessed and adjusted.
   
• These stored stressors can lead to misalignments, tension, or blockages, affecting the body's ability to self-heal.
   
• Practitioners use gentle touch to help the nervous system recognize and release these stored physical stresses, restoring proper energy flow.
   

Physical stress in Spinal Flow Technique is any trauma or strain that gets imprinted in the spine, disrupting communication between the brain and body. The technique aims to identify and release these imprints so the body can return to balance and optimal function.

Our amazing bodies are constantly in a state of flow—repairing, regenerating, and healing. But this natural process can be disrupted by stress. One of the main culprits? Chemical stress, alongside physical and emotional stress.

It’s estimated that we’re exposed to over 700,000 toxic chemicals daily—and that’s not even counting what’s in our food. These toxins disrupt the body’s natural processes and can lead to blockages in the spine, preventing the free flow of energy.

The more chemical exposure your body faces, the louder the symptoms: pain, illness, and disease. When combined with poor diet and high anxiety, the body struggles to heal and function at its best.

Chemical stress tends to create spinal blockages in two key areas:

• Power Gateway (Lumbar spine L1–L5, around the belly button)
  Common symptoms: constipation, bloating, gas, diarrhea, IBS, lower back pain, and gluten intolerance.
   
• Passion Gateway (C3 – Lower neck)
  Common symptoms: shoulder pain, swollen glands, thyroid issues, insomnia, nervousness, and neck stiffness.
  

Our bodies always act in our best interest. When they can’t eliminate toxins through the skin, liver, bowels, blood, or lymphatic system, they often store them in the spine, forming what’s known as spinal blockages.

This storage protects us temporarily, but over time, it compromises our body's natural ability to self-heal. That’s why reducing chemical stress is key to staying well.

• Food: processed items, sugars, additives, preservatives, pesticides, GMOs, gluten, dairy
• Water: chlorine, heavy metals, plastics, and other contaminants
• Plastics: especially heated containers and bottles
• Air: pollutants from vehicles, factories, fragrances, and recycled indoor air 
• Lifestyle: chronic stress, smoking, medications (both prescription and over-the-counter) 
• Personal Care: cosmetics, skincare, hair products, perfumes 
• Environment: household cleaners, pesticides, furniture, and everyday items
   

It’s nearly impossible to avoid all chemical stress—but you can reduce your exposure and support your body’s healing ability:

• Choose whole, earth-grown foods over packaged, synthetic ones. Even many "natural" convenience foods contain additives your body can’t process. 
• Switch to natural cleaning and personal care products and pay attention to your home’s air quality. 
• Make conscious choices about what you put in and on your body. 
• Work with a Spinal Flow Technique™ practitioner to help release spinal blockages and bring more ease to your system.
   

When you help your body eliminate toxins and reduce the source of chemical stress, you’ll notice profound improvements in your health—right down to the cellular level.