What Links CANTIENICA® to Modern Research
“Is this scientific?”—we often hear this question when we talk about the CANTIENICA® method. The desire for well-founded, verifiable principles is justified, especially in an era when the bodywork market oscillates between wellness, spirituality, and medical rehabilitation.
The answer: CANTIENICA® is based on experience AND is scientifically sound.
This is because the method draws on findings from anatomy, neurobiology, kinesiology, fascia research, psychosomatics, and embodiment. In this article, we’ll walk you through the key principles—along with the studies and sources that support them.
Anatomy: Alignment with Gravity
CANTIENICA® aligns the skeleton so that it balances along the vertical central axis—like a perfectly tensioned marionette. The goal: efficiency, lightness, and stability. To achieve this, the deep postural muscles are activated, particularly the pelvic floor, diaphragm, the intrinsic back muscles, and small segmental stabilizing muscles.
This precise alignment is based on the biomechanical principles of functional anatomy—it also forms the basis for physiotherapeutic posture corrections.
Sources:
- Neumann, D.A. (2010). Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System
- Kendall et al. (2005). Muscles: Testing and Function in Relation to Posture and Pain
Deep Muscles: Invisible Strength, Big Impact
The strength that CANTIENICA® practitioners feel does not come from “power,” but from fine-tuning. Muscles that are often neglected are activated—for example, the transversus abdominis, the levator ani muscles, and the deep spinal stabilizing muscles.
Scientifically proven: Consciously engaging these structures improves posture, reduces pain, and stabilizes joints.
Sources:
- Hodges & Richardson (1996), Physical Therapy
- Stuge et al. (2004), *Spine*
Embodiment: Posture Influences Thinking
CANTIENICA® training has not only a physical effect—but also a mental one. When you stand up straight, you breathe differently. When you become consciously aware of your body, you change your behavior, your emotions, and your self-image.
This interaction between the body and the mind has been scientifically proven: embodiment is an interdisciplinary field of research in psychology, cognitive science, and social research.
Sources:
- Cantieni, Hüther, Storch, Tschacher (2006), Embodiment: Understanding and Utilizing the Interaction Between Body and Mind
- Koch et al. (2012), *Body Memory, Metaphor, and Movement*
- Carney et al. (2010), *Psychological Science*
Neuroplasticity: Movement Is Learning
Precise, deliberate movement activates the central nervous system. New connections form in the brain, and existing ones are reorganized. “Use it and improve it”—this is the principle behind the CANTIENICA® method.
The training not only strengthens muscles but also improves motor skills, body image, and spatial orientation—key aspects of neurorehabilitation.
Sources:
- Kleim & Jones (2008), *Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research*
- Taub et al. (2002), Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
Fascia & Tensegrity: A Whole-Body Tension System
CANTIENICA® views the body not as a rigid framework of bones, but as an elastic network of tension. The tension in the fascial tracts results in a harmonious distribution of force, relief for the joints, and dynamism in every movement.
This principle—known as biotensegrity—is supported by modern fascia research and also forms the basis for new perspectives in osteopathy and movement medicine.
Sources:
- Myers (2020), Anatomy Trains
- Levin (2002), *Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology*
- Schleip et al. (2012), *Fascia: The Tensional Network*
Practical Knowledge: Evaluation in Practice
For over 25 years, the method has been used worldwide in one-on-one coaching sessions, courses, and medically supervised settings. Thousands of pieces of feedback, records, adjustments, and progress reports are continuously incorporated into the method’s ongoing development.
The CANTIENICA® method thus follows an evidence-based approach: research + practice + individual experience. This approach is considered the gold standard in modern physical therapy.
Sources:
- Sackett et al. (1996), BMJ
- Herbert et al. (2005), Practical Evidence-Based Physical Therapy
Ideokinesis: Why Visualization Works
CANTIENICA® training uses precise mental imagery—for example: “The spine straightens like a string of pearls,” “The pelvis floats freely in a vertical position.”
Such language-guided visualizations are not metaphors, but rather targeted prompts for reorganizing the body. The scientific basis for this is provided by the model of ideokinesis: imagined movements activate the same neural networks as actual movements—and can thereby measurably alter muscle tension, joint alignment, and the quality of movement.
This method applies this principle in its purest form: anatomically correct, functionally sound, and effective for long-term learning.
Sources:
- Parsons (2001), *Acta Psychologica*
- Stefan et al. (2005), *The Journal of Neuroscience*
- Schack & Mechsner (2006), *Neuroscience Letters*
Spiral Dynamics: Anatomical Movement Training
Key insights for the development of the CANTIENICA® method came from Dr. Christian Larsen, MD, the founder of Spiraldynamik®. His concept of anatomically correct movement—guided along natural joint axes and based on spiral movement patterns—shaped our understanding of alignment and efficiency in the human body. Particularly influential was the “10 Degrees of Freedom” model, which describes the ten central joint axes along which the body can organize itself three-dimensionally: rotating, spiraling, and swinging.
CANTIENICA® has taken these principles and transformed them into an active training program that focuses on internal tension, joint centering, and three-dimensional pulsation. While Spiraldynamik® analyzes movement, CANTIENICA® translates it into tangible micro-work—arising from stillness, from the depths. The result is a movement system that draws on the conscious understanding of anatomical relationships and finds expression in active alignment.
Sources:
- Larsen, C. (2012). The Ten Degrees of Freedom: Moving Anatomically Correctly. Trias Verlag
- Larsen, C. (2006). Spiral Dynamics: Moving Anatomically Correctly. Trias Verlag
- Spiraldynamik® Med Center Zurich: www.spiraldynamik.com
Conclusion: CANTIENICA® is scientifically valid
Anyone who practices CANTIENICA® experiences science firsthand—in a way that is tangible, practical, and sustainable. The method combines anatomical precision, physical self-awareness, mental presence, and functional training in a way that is aligned with current research—while remaining accessible to everyone.
Whether you’re a therapist, a trainer, a medical professional, or simply someone with a keen awareness of your body—CANTIENICA® is an invitation not just to read about science, but to experience it.
