Part 1- Improve your movement by training your brain
When was the last time you thought about how you move? You probably get up and down from a chair several times a day, but if you had to talk someone through the actual process, what would you say? Do you begin the movement by shifting your weight? Tightening your abs? Holding your breath?
Luckily we don’t have to think about how we do these tasks. For most of us, our foundational physical learning (walking, running, jumping, etc.) was accomplished by the age of 5. These patterns were learned, deemed acceptable, and then moved into the realm of subconscious movement, freeing our brains to think about other things like, “How much am I actually spending on streaming services every month?”
So since most of our daily movements are subconscious, why do we need to do anything about it?
Do you ever experience low back pain, or tension in your neck or shoulders? Do you shy away from certain movements or positions because they are uncomfortable? Oftentimes we develop areas of discomfort because there is a habitual movement pattern that is not serving us well.
Let’s say that every morning when you get out of bed, you overuse and tighten your neck muscles to sit up instead of using the muscles of your trunk. You’re not aware that you’re doing this and over time, you develop neck pain.
You go get a weekly massage to relieve the hurting muscles and this gives you immediate relief, but the pain returns a few days later.
You decide to strengthen the muscles of your core and shoulders. Now you have really strong muscles, but you haven't changed the habit. You continue to strain your neck each time you get out of bed. Thus the cycle continues.
I believe the solution is to change the way we train, and to work with the control center for all movement: the brain and the nervous system.
The Feldenkrais Method is an easy and effective way to discover those unconscious habits that are interfering with your movement. A Feldenkrais lesson improves your movement by enhancing the communication between your brain and the rest of your body. These lessons are a great complement to a workout program, as well as a wonderful daily movement practice.
As our understanding of human movement continues to develop and improve, so should our training practices. What have you done lately for your brain?
For more information on the Feldenkrais Method or to try a class, contact liz@betterinmotion.com