The language of the body: what you can learn from a novel

The language of the body: what you can learn from a novel

The language of the body is clear! The novel “Play It As It Lays” by Joan Didion is about getting into a different mindset. Literally translated, the title means: “Play the ball as it lies.” In golf, this means: accept the situation as it is, without changing or controlling it.

This is a powerful invitation: Accept what is right now. Let go of the drama and give up the resistance. With clarity and trust.In our work as chiropractors, we see this as a key to healing. Because change begins with acceptance.

The body knows what it’s doing – even if it hurts!

Many people come in with pain and want one thing above all else: for it to finally go away. But what we often perceive as a “fault” or “problem”, such as a subluxation, is often a clever protective strategy on the part of the body.
Your body reacts intelligently to stress. It creates tensions and patterns that make sense in the short term. Even if they become restrictive in the long term. Your task is to understand these signals not as an illness, but as an expression of your imbalance.

Acceptance means working with the body, not against it

Healing needs relationship and relationship needs listening instead of control.
We don’t just ask you “What hurts?”, but also “Why is your body choosing this particular path?”
This means not wanting to correct immediately, but to accompany and regulate the process.
With the certainty and confidence that your body is not broken. It has its good reasons.
And as always: we support your body in finding its own path to healing.

Lesson from quantum physics

In quantum physics, the observer influences the experiment.
The more neutral the observer, the more open the result. Applied to treatment, this means: The fewer expectations and evaluations you bring with you, the more possibilities open up. Judgement creates narrowness. Neutrality creates space.
This applies to us as chiropractors, but also to you as a patient.

Be neutral, stay present

Imagine a magnet with two poles. One negative and one positive.
If you move too much towards one pole, you attract the opposite. Every gain has something to do with loss and vice versa.
Buddhist teachings say: “Be the empty vessel!” The more you can absorb, the greater the chance of positive change.

Radical presence

A radical presence in the middle is the key to openness and opportunities. But that is not everything.
We also need to be present in the here and now. Relaxation is not a nice-to-have, but a prerequisite.
A relaxed body opens up. A stressed body closes down. Ideally, we don’t know much about your history, symptoms or diagnoses. We prefer to look at what is happening right now. Because change happens in the now, not in the past or future.

The story behind the pain

At the end of the day, we want to understand why it hurts. We look for triggers, for explanations.
Whatever is behind it, such as stress, incorrect posture or injuries. These stories are important when it comes to adjusting everyday life and avoiding future stress. But for the adjustment, the moment of chiropractic treatment counts and knowledge of the history is not decisive. The adjustment reacts to your current condition, to what your nervous system is currently showing you. Not to the cause from the past.

Clarity instead of cause – encounter instead of proof

We listen to you without judging or explaining.
We meet your body as it presents itself – openly and without prejudice.

Conclusion

There is much more to “Play It As It Lays” than a romantic title or a golf rule.
It is an attitude that combines acceptance, presence and trust.
Your body shows itself in the moment as it is.
Our job is to support it and accompany it on its own path to healing, without pressure or judgment.
We are certain that this is how real change can happen.

👉 If you are currently suffering from pain and are looking for a sustainable solution, make an appointment on our website.

We wish you a vital and healthy life and would be delighted if our tips are useful to you. If you would like to know more about vitalistic chiropractic, please write to us.

The Chirolounge team Munich