ARCHAIC REFLEXES IN ADULTS
A FEW WEEKS OF EXERCISES TO SOLVE EVERYTHING
Clumsiness, frequent torticollis, recurrent falls, hyperstress, hypersensitivity, dyslexia, attention disorders, impulsivity, difficulty writing... what if you had a problem with your archaic reflexes? Often overlooked, they play a fundamental role in our development. Let's take a closer look at their impact on our lives.
Written by Chloé Lesage - October 2024
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Approx. 10 minutes
ARCHAIC REFLEXES: FORGOTTEN KEYS TO PHYSICAL BALANCE
This post invites you to explore the impact of archaic reflexes on your physical and emotional well-being. Discover how these innate responses, inherited from early childhood, can influence your movement patterns, emotional reactions and even your posture. By learning to identify and reintegrate these reflexes, you can restore balance to your body and regain a natural fluidity in your movements.
What if, starting today, you transformed these old automatisms into allies to improve your daily well-being and your yoga practice? Ready to discover the influence of archaic reflexes?
"Let's take a look!

WHAT ARE ARCHAIC REFLEXES? THE HEALTHY FOUNDATION OF GOOD BALANCE
Archaic reflexes are involuntary, automatic movements of the central nervous system, present from birth or even before, in utero. Their role is multiple: they ensure the infant's survival, but also, and above all, they enable neurological maturation and all the functionalities that are comfortable in adulthood.
Each archaic reflex has a precise role in the maturation of the brain and the development of motor and sensory functions. Take, for example, the sucking reflex: not only does it enable an infant to feed, it also contributes to the coordination of breathing, swallowing and sucking.
Another example is the grasping reflex, which helps strengthen hand muscles for crawling, crawling and writing.
A 10-year-old child testified that he had consulted a dozen professionals who were unable to help him write. He thought his brain was broken, but it was just unintegrated reflexes.
Under normal circumstances, these reflexes are gradually absorbed by the nervous system, giving way to voluntary, controlled movements.
For my part, I had great difficulty in feeling my body relax. In a state of perpetual vigilance, no matter how much I practiced meditation and yoga regularly, I could only feel a little relaxation after 3 days of doing nothing. Which doesn't really pay off. I've discovered that my Moro reflex wasn't integrated, and I can finally feel the tensions in my body releasing.
So how can these seemingly innocuous reflexes cause problems in adulthood?

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NON-INTEGRATED REFLEXES? REPERCUSSIONS ON ADULTHOOD (1-4)
There are many natural reflexes, such as hiccups, yawning and the vomiting reflex. However, only 12 archaic reflexes are being studied for their potential impact on adult life. If these archaic reflexes do not disappear or are not properly integrated, they can manifest themselves through the following physical, emotional or social difficulties:
Hyperreactivity to stress: If the Moro reflex, the infant's startle response to loud noise or light stimuli, is poorly integrated, it can lead to hypersensitivity to noise, sudden movements or stressful situations. Affected individuals may find it difficult to relax, be prone to anxiety and have a very low stress tolerance threshold. They are constantly on alert, leading to heightened anxiety and difficulty in relaxing. The persistence of this reflex also affects emotional management, leading to disproportionate responses in social relationships. It can also lead to sleep disturbances, with frequent startle awakenings.
Attention and concentration disorders: Certain archaic reflexes can affect the functioning of the frontal lobe, responsible for executive functions. This can manifest itself in attention problems, difficulty staying focused on a task, or a tendency to be impulsive.
Sensory hypersensitivity: If Galant's spinal reflex is not properly integrated, it can make a person hypersensitive to touch or tight clothing. These adults may experience constant discomfort in movement or have an aversion to certain textures or sensory stimuli.
The automatic righting and walking reflex enables infants to "walk" briefly when supported under the arms and their feet touch a flat surface. If this reflex is not integrated, adults may have difficulty maintaining an upright posture, often stooping, with an awkward or irregular gait. This can also lead to balance problems, increasing the risk of falls. Chronic back, shoulder and neck pain can develop. The body must constantly compensate to maintain balance, resulting in more rapid fatigue. Finally, it can affect the ability to perform precise movements, such as running, jumping or climbing stairs.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NON-INTEGRATED REFLEXES? REPERCUSSIONS ON ADULTHOOD (5-8)
The cardinal point reflex, or search reflex, causes the baby to turn its head towards the stimulation on its cheek. If this reflex is not integrated, it can cause difficulties in chewing or swallowing properly (dysphagia) and make the person hypersensitive to certain food textures, creating an aversion to solid foods. Simple gestures such as brushing the teeth or wiping the mouth can become uncomfortable, and this reflex can lead to behaviors such as teeth grinding. It can also affect oral muscle coordination, making speech articulation less fluid. The orofacial hypersensitivity associated with this reflex can also be distracting, making it difficult to concentrate on long-term tasks.
If the sucking reflex is not integrated, this can lead to feeding difficulties, such as problems chewing or swallowing properly. It can also affect coordination between breathing, swallowing and chewing. Incomplete integration of this reflex can also interfere with language development, as it affects the coordination of oral muscles. Orthodontic problems can also manifest themselves through incorrect positioning of teeth or jaws.
If the grasping reflex is not integrated, this can lead to fine motor difficulties, such as manipulating objects with precision or writing. People may find it difficult to release their grip, which can affect everyday activities such as grasping or handling tools. This persistent reflex can also cause muscle tension in the hands and forearms, leading to discomfort or chronic pain. It can also affect overall coordination, making it more difficult to acquire complex motor skills such as playing a musical instrument. Finally, postural problems can arise as a result of tension built up in the muscles of the upper limbs. Without prehension, it is difficult to develop certain neuronal connections linked to spatial perception and problem-solving.
The swimming reflex initially helps infants to hold their breath when submerged. An adult with this non-integrated reflex could be uncomfortable swimming or, more generally, lying or submerging in water. If this reflex persists, it could also interfere with those everyday land-based activities with non-fluid, uncoordinated breathing.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NON-INTEGRATED REFLEXES? REPERCUSSIONS ON ADULTHOOD (9-12)
As the foraging reflex is linked to the search for food and comfort, its non-integration can lead to poor regulation of stress and anxiety, especially when there is sensory stimulation on the face. In some cases, adults may adopt compulsive oral behaviors, such as chewing gum, objects or nails.
The asymmetrical tonic neck reflex can cause tension in the neck and shoulder region, leading to frequent migraines and neck pain. In adults, it can manifest itself as difficulties in following lines when reading, or clumsy handwriting with poor hand-eye coordination. The asymmetrical tonic neck reflex is linked to the development of the frontal lobe, which is responsible for executive functions such as attention and concentration. If this reflex persists, it can lead to difficulties in concentrating on complex tasks, organizing thoughts and remaining attentive for long periods. Bilateral movements (involving both sides of the body) such as running, swimming, or even typing at the computer can become more difficult to perform smoothly and synchronously.
People with a non-integrated glabellar reflex may experience hypersensitivity in the forehead and eyes. This can make activities such as applying make-up, washing the face or even wearing glasses uncomfortable. If the glabellar reflex persists, excessive blinking may occur when the forehead is touched or even in response to simple stimuli, such as light or other light visual or tactile stimuli. This can be troublesome in social interactions and daily activities.
Non-integrated plantar skin reflexes in adults may indicate underlying neurological disorders, such as damage to the central nervous system. Symptoms include problems with coordination, walking and pain in the feet, as well as plantar hypersensitivity.
Beyond the physical symptoms, unintegrated archaic reflexes can have a significant impact on emotional management and social relationships. Not being able to do as others do, either through inability or uncontrollable reactions, can affect our self-confidence, make us feel different or inadequate, and lead to socially awkward situations.
For example, an individual whose Moro reflex is always present may feel in a constant state of alert, which can make social interactions more complicated. This hypervigilance can lead to flight or avoidance behaviors, or difficulties in dealing with conflict in a calm, rational manner. Affected adults may also be more prone to disproportionate emotional responses, feel overwhelmed more easily, and have difficulty handling stressful situations in a composed manner.

WHAT DOES A NON-INTEGRATED REFLEX MEAN? THEIR ENDURING INFLUENCE ON OUR BEHAVIOUR
Failure to integrate an archaic reflex means that this reflex, which is supposed to disappear in the first months of life, persists beyond the age when it should normally be inhibited by the central nervous system.
As the nervous system develops, it integrates and absorbs archaic reflexes, replacing them with more voluntary, controlled movements. These reflexes then become useless. They are therefore naturally inhibited by the brain, enabling more sophisticated movements to be mastered, and it is through this essential condition that we can learn to read, write or even do mathematics.
But if this process is not carried out correctly, the reflex remains active and continues to influence the individual's behavior, posture or motor and cognitive development, even into adulthood.

WHY ARE ARCHAIC REFLEXES DISTURBED? THE CAUSES OF NON-INTEGRATED ARCHAIC REFLEXES
When this process is disrupted, it may be due to a combination of physical, environmental, neurological or emotional factors.
The first cause is anything to do with incidents or enormous stresses that occur during gestation, birth or childhood. For example, a premature baby has not had enough time to complete its neurological and physical development in the womb, which can slow down or disrupt the integration of reflexes. A birth with complications (long labor, Caesarean section, use of forceps or vacuum) can put physical stress on the child's nervous system.
The second cause is linked to the non-physiological practices that parents impose on their babies. If a baby is often kept in static positions, such as bouncers, this can limit his freedom of movement and, consequently, slow down the integration of reflexes that depend on motor development. Failure to let the child play sufficiently on the floor from his earliest days limits the opportunities for reflex integration. Or early over-stimulation by parents when learning to walk, can lead babies to skip the intermediate stages of development so essential to their development and future.
Some children may also have genetic predispositions or biological differences that affect their neurological development.

HOW TO REINTEGRATE REFLEXES? THE SOLUTION FOR ALL AGES
Fortunately, there are solutions for reintegrating these reflexes, whether in infancy, childhood or even adulthood.
Yoga is an excellent tool for helping the body, but it's not enough to integrate all archaic reflexes completely. Some reflexes may require specific, targeted exercises, usually provided by therapists specializing in archaic reflexes.
To identify persistent archaic reflexes, an assessment can be carried out by specialized professionals near you. Always remember to check your practitioner's training.
Generally speaking, a combination of easy exercises to be done at home on a daily basis for a period of 3 weeks is enough to achieve radical improvements. It may be necessary to repeat the assessment to work on other reflexes in a complementary way.
If, in addition, you can combine them with a regular yoga practice, this would probably be the best approach to maximize results.
It's fascinating to realize that some of our quests can be traced back to simple reflex adjustments. Archaic reflexes from our earliest childhood can ruin our lives if not properly integrated, affecting our posture, stress management, concentration and even social relationships. It's by better understanding these archaic mechanisms that we can restore greater harmony between body and mind. In this way, we can free ourselves of unnecessary tension and develop our full potential.
Many thanks for your 6th captivating and instructive article, Chloé!
Your insightful reflections give us a better understanding of the importance of archaic reflexes and their impact on our daily lives.
Chloé's bio
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Chloé LESAGE
Leadership coach and project facilitator
Warrior at heart" is often the conclusion I get when I explain my life path. After a rocky start on this earth, I sought inner balance and expansion through a 15-year personal development journey in which I tested all conventional and atypical practices.Because learning never stops, I'm constantly nourishing my thirst for understanding. As a person with high intellectual and emotional potential, I've learned to put my abilities at the service of life so that it becomes a gift.
My method is at the crossroads of who I am, the reappropriation of my 2-year training in personal development coaching and all my life experiences.
It's a practice that involves the body, the emotions and the spiritual dimension all at the same time. For me, it's out of the question to accompany someone for years on end, which would, in my opinion, lead to dependency. My job, however, is to create the conditions for reappropriating one's inner power, so as to achieve immediate results in materializing one's objectives.
Find out more about his career
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