Metaphors for Healing: The Tale of the Silverback

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the National Zoo in Washington, DC.  While there, I made sure to visit the Great Ape House exhibit which houses a large variety of ape species from the very small (lemurs and gibbons) to the incredibly massive (orangutans and gorillas).  Much to my eventual dismay, the sign indicating the “Do’s and Don’ts” within the Great Ape House was hidden from view behind some very large tropical plants.

Coming around one corner, I was met with the largest ape I had ever seen in my life – Baraka, the four-hundred-pound silverback gorilla – who was busy munching on a piece of what looked to be bamboo.  I stared in fascination at this massive creature, completely in awe at the gentleness he was exhibiting.  Baraka would periodically look over at me before going back to his bamboo.  This is where the sign for the “Do’s and Don’ts” would have come in quite handy.  Not even thinking about it, I had been staring at this giant silverback for a good five minutes which, any sensible person would tell you, is a sign of aggression.

I watched as Baraka put down his treat, slowly raised himself up and stalked towards the thick transparent front to his enclosure.  I immediately felt a tightness in my chest, a primal fear that most of us in our civilized world have forgotten, the fear of the hunted.  As he approached, I felt frozen in place, unable to retreat, nearly unable to breathe.  He balled his fist and THUMP! He punched the window, showing his strength and reminding me of proper primate etiquette. Baraka then quietly returned to his snack.

This story is important to illustrate the power that Baraka, the four hundred-pound silverback gorilla, possessed.  And it is that level of power that leads us to our newest Metaphor for Healing.

Imagine you were having a tug-of-war game with Baraka. Better yet, imagine that Baraka was letting you have a tug-of-war game with him! There’s no way that you could overpower the great ape, we’re just not built for that. Thankfully, Baraka has only been holding steady, he has yet to exert his full force, yet you remain stuck. Now imagine if you gave some slack to the rope. You could imagine Baraka possibly getting bored with the game and going off to look for something else to do, like finding a snack.

I liken this to the tug of war between your conscious and subconscious mind. This tug of war game is what is keeping you stuck in pain and dysfunction. In an effort to protect you following injury, your subconscious mind begins to cordon off the traumatized regions, which leads to a tightening of the soft tissues in the area and altering how we move. These subconscious “bracing” or “holding” patterns can keep us stuck in our injury, constantly fighting against Baraka, the four hundred-pound silverback.

John Barnes, the Father of Myofascial Release, speaks often about the “800-pound gorilla,” meaning our mind, specifically the subconscious mind. In this article from Massage Magazine (https://www.massagemag.com/therapeutic-insight-the-john-f-barnes-myofascial-release-perspectivetraumatic-imprints-part-1-11998/), John explains the reason that so many therapies, while well-intentioned and logical, ultimately fail due to the lack of understanding of this deep and reflexive protective mechanism.

The gentle pressures and stretches utilized in MFR assist in decreasing this subconscious protection by not pushing past the barriers set by the mind, much like giving in to Baraka in the tug of war game. When the mind can begin to soften its protective hold on the physical body, reducing these bracing/holding patterns, the structural changes imparted by MFR and the increased flexibility and strength built through your exercise program can finally work the way they were intended to, leading you closer to the pain-free and active lifestyle you hope for.

All you have to do is let Baraka win!