A loss of balance can happen even if we’re messing around with our body.
Balance can seem elusive at times since it can be affected by a number of factors.
1 – Compensations such as shoulders rolling forwards, palm facing backwards, bent knees, a slumping chest or even having a bad day can happen enough to begin to form such a posture over the long run.
2 – This can lead to discomforts in the chest or upper back where high stress levels can put the weight of our world on our shoulders and can prevent us from reaching states of comfortable balance.
While we might attempt to straighten up, the weight of what is going in internally can continue to undermine us.
3 – Bad life (fun) events such as being a Cleveland Browns sport fan like I am, who for the past 50 years, have lost incredibly more than we’ve won (especially lately). C’mon Brownies!
Those losses can a negative effect on the brain and body since I know how my shoulders can slump over yet another loss.
Letting go of bad (fun) events can be difficult since we can go to that sinking (movement) feeling over and over.
Over time, if we’re not careful or don’t have a way of letting life’s (self-imposed fun) stresses leave or get calmed down, the brain can reinforce our (negative) emotions.
So life and how we participate in it can affect us and challenge our internal balance since the brain can get altered over the course of the long run.
Plus, there are any number of other factors such as dealing with diseases, what we eat, our environment, and the small and large negative life events which can lead to the brain going haywire to keep us out of balance.
A Way to Restore Balance
One way to restore balance (and change the brain) is to employ mindful, conscious, easy movement where you tap into the brain’s ability to reset tension levels thus leaving you feeling calmer and more refreshed.
See you can find a safe zone – where you’re reasonably comfortable (or at least do the best you can given your circumstances) because this is the place where positive change can happen.
Even if you live in states of chronic pain, high tension or stress, there can be a small place where there is comfort or safety when it comes to doing a mindful movement.
Simply put, you gotta start from where you are to discover where those places can be.
Doing vs. Feeling
See, the “doing” of a movement is one thing.
Another is when you also pay attention to the “feel or sensing” of any number of movement actions taking place during a specific movement.
This may not be obvious to outside observer since this is an area you have to feel and self-observe within yourself.
When you direct the mind and body together while targeting the brain’s motor cortex in a specific manner, you can enhance one of nature’s most potent acts to restore the body in order to re-balance.
Not Exercise in the Usual Manner
This is a far different approach than regular exercise where that is “more about doing”.
Mindful movement is about feeling and sensing smaller movements or movement adjustments while noticing certain either a grand or minute orchestration of a particular movement.
Q.O.M vs R.O.M.
You simply notice the inherent quality of your own movement taking place.
Again, this may not be what we usually tune into since we tend to go for range of motion (ROM) rather than quality of motion (QOM).
Since the movement system involves any number of layers of muscles and fascia – which actually has more sense receptors than the muscles – there can be a lot of information to process, be aware of, and simply explore from a qualitative view rather than the end goal of moving to one’s end limit.
This more mental-feeling embodied approach can augment other physical types of activities in order to rebalance our faster or hectic pace of life.
You can recharge in a more playful and intelligent manner.
See, this can be done in a lazy, gentle, yet highly tuned in or focused approach where you learn to dissolve tension so balance naturally returns giving you back control.
8 Somatics Tips for Balance
Somatics, defined as the body experienced from within, covers many areas and here are some everyday useful tips you can use when you do easy, mindful movements such as somatics exercises to help restore balance.
You can also apply this to other forms of exercise too.
1. Move with the least effort
This often goes against many people’s idea of how to exercise, yet when we live in discomfort, this naturally makes more sense.
Even if you are highly active, you can pay attention to your movements by noticing your sense of effort rather than pushing with your efforts.
Again, this has more to do with noticing the quality of movement itself.
This slight difference in attention can make a big difference to help healing, recovery and living in an easy, flexible, fluid moving body.
2. Breathe with your movement
Since we tend to go on autopilot when it comes to breathing, becoming aware of breathing and how this is impacting our sense of effort or the quality of a movement can be quite revealing.
You can use your breath differently and explore the differences it can make when you shift your awareness.
You can do a movement and notice how you are breathing.
Do the same movement and hold you breath to feel or notice how this can impact the quality or feel.
Reverse your breath in terms of how you would normally think to do it as this can also affect a movement or the quality of feeling it too.
3. Move as a system not as a muscle
The big muscle–the brain–sends messages to the muscles and receives back information in our sensory-motor feedback loop.
When we become aware of how intimately involved our sense and level of effort is involved, that exploration can improve overall body balance since you’re tuning in to how you are connected throughout your entire body.
Once again, the “quality of a movement” and what you notice or feel lets us process or feel sensations which lie beneath the surface (where we ordinarily may not go by doing a movement).
4. Thoughts can affect movement and impact our body and balance
Simply sit and think.
Conjure up a thought and feel how your muscles respond.
As you do any exercise or movement, choose to think a thought and feel how your body responds.
You can play with different emotions to feel how your body responds as you move.
What does a thought or state of emotion do to what you feel as you move?
Can you tune in your sense of muscles turning on or off during a particular movement, exercise or simply noticing or feeling from a quality viewpoint while sitting or standing?
5. Comfort is king
Any small adjustment such as using a pad or pillow can alleviate any struggle (with tension) when it comes to positioning ourself for a movement, exercise or simply sitting or lying down for that matter.
There’s no need to tough it out.
A slight adjustment of an angle or body position may be the necessary thing to do so our body can be as comfortable as possible at that moment.
Of course, I get it if you live in states of chronic pain so experiment and find out what works for you.
When you are more comfortably propped, this can let you more fully experience yourself rather than taking away your focus in a movement or exercise because some of the tension can lessened in the moment.
6. An exercise can’t hurt us
People will tell me they tried a certain exercise or even our gentle somatics exercises and hurt them self or say – “that exercise hurt me”.
It’s not the exercise or movement, it’s simply that our brain can respond in a programmed way.
If we try to force our body (and it doesn’t have to be much of an effort), it can naturally react and pull itself back quickly since it will want to protect itself, especially if it is in an injured or chronic state or we’re early in healing.
Even a random, thoughtless or thoughtful movement or exercise can turn up tension levels so pain signals can be ramped up if we over do it or rev it up too fast–even if we didn’t intend to.
This is the tricky part to getting back to the comfort zone on a more permanent basis.
So it’s normal to err back into the pain program while learning how to get the brain to change.
So any arbitrary movement or exercise can seem to lead us to flinching, wincing or holding our breath, for instance.
Get Back to the Fundamentals & Quality of Movement Itself
To learn how to re-navigate our internal terrain of our movement system successfully is where we simply go back to the fundamentals and building blocks of movement itself.
… and if we pay attention to the quality of movement rather than the range of the movement, you will benefit with more internal awareness on the road to more lasting comfort.
“If” we bump into discomfort during any movement, exercise or exertion, we can use that information to bring our body and balance back as quickly as possible.
I’m not saying this is easy at first glance or first try, however, you can regain control of the brain by observing the quality morso than the quantity of movement or exercise.
See, more often than not, our compensations and habits of movement get us to bump the pain switch on – even if we don’t mean to – though this can be reversed with a more mindful approach which will have its normal course of learning to readjust.
So it’s both what you do and how (qualitatively) you do it.
You can change the quality of your movement in order to successfully exercise and comfortably move about.
7. Imagination is the least effort
In difficult times, you can use your ability to imagine a movement or exercise.
It’s highly likely you won’t hurt yourself using this approach, even though–sometimes just getting to the position of a movement or exercise can test our limits.
So to imagine or eke out even a micro-movement, can start the process to get the brain to change the body’s negative response to a more pleasureable response of calming feelings, restoration and healing.
Since it might seem like you’re not doing much with small or micro-movements to the point of imagining a movement, this counter-intuitive approach of doing less, wakes up the nervous system since the brain doesn’t know the difference between you imagining a movement and doing it.
-Try this: Imagine this movement taking place. (You can even close your eyes if you want to after you’ve read it).
-Sit. Bring your ear to your shoulder slowly. Then imagine the ear and shoulder moving away from each other.
- Now that you have the idea.
– Go ahead and actually do the movement.
- How did the actual (entire) movement feel as compared to your imagination of the (entire) movement???
- Did it feel the same or a little different? Only you will know.
Unleash Your Imagination
Only you will know (and feel) where you comfort zone is.
Only you will know (and feel) what you sensed.
Only you will know whether you were able to feel a shift down in your hips or weight in your feet.
And if you didn’t feel a thing – that’s merely sensory information where you may have some SMA.
The least of efforts
See when we shift to what I’ll call the “least of efforts” in terms of doing a movement, i.e. imagining a movement.
This might reveal more from a slow purposeful internal observation and provide keys to successfully getting out of a particular body-mind jam.
Successful athletes have used imagination and visualization techniques for quite some time.
You can do the same by simply visualizing and feeling to the best of your ability – what it might feel like to move by not moving.
When you spend the Somatics time – tuning in as deeply as you can – this can become a highly interesting, fun, focused and mindfully effortless way to regain balance in the body.
8. Pain is our greatest teacher and gives us back our body and balance
In the practice of somatics exercises, you learn how to wield pain and discomfort to your advantage.
Pain is treated as a signal that you can change, intensify or dissolve since you can use the brain and body to change the output of tension levels through various feedback loops of information.
With a little practice and familiarity of a simple 3 step method which mimics one of nature’s acts to reset tension levels, negative experiences can move towards more comfort and pleasure with a little internal know-how.
Once the brain remembers that it can produce more positive feel-good sensations, you’re well on your way to restoring and maintaining balance.
Somatics Body and Balance Movements
Somatics exercises were initially designed to help heal, resolve pain, and lower tension and stress.
Since these types of gentle movements are mindful and involve the brain’s motor cortex, they fall under the category of motor control exercises and mindful based stress reduction.
These are now proven to be “the first thing to do to relieve pain”.*
In general, somatics exercises work with many different lifestyles, circumstances, issues and with different types of pain, stiffness, discomfort, and injury all leading to increased levels of comfort.
Plus, they are now used by “somatic” athletes to prepare the body and help restore it after vigorous activity.
As a matter of fact, many “somatic” athletes have entirely given up stretching since they’ve learned how the brain is the one big muscle to regain control while at the same time restoring comfort levels.
General enthusiasts now have learned to consciously maintain comfortable levels of range of motion (without going for it) and are naturally flexible feeling more control and balance to boot.
It’s really up to you to go inside and take control of:
• your brain and your own awareness,
• mindfulness,
• breathing,
• coordination,
• tension levels,
• comfort
• and the effortless effort which allows a fluid body to Move Easily and Restore Balance.
Recapturing the feelings of childlike, easy movement happens since this is kinda like coming back to youthful memory patterns which are buried in the brain.
You have the ability to restore this or enhance it by reconnecting the brain and body from within.
The brain can be programmed to bring the body back to its natural state of comfort and pleasure.
This is what we do in the Somatics Un-Exercise Classroom.
This is where we explore conscious movement to learn more about how we are connected (or not) and we relearn and remind ourself to easily move from the inside out.
Simple (yet powerful) conscious movement patterns which can boggle the mind and leave the body refreshed, restored and in balance for more happy days ahead!
* 2017 ACP (American College of Physicians)
When our back is out of whack, we can use the brain and our conscious attention to release held tension to restore comfort.
A simple differentiation of the spine where we pay attention to the feelings or sensations – along with the quality of a simple targeted movement – can set us up to relieve morning stiffness and ready the back for the day.
Plus, it’s a great way to free things up later on if we feel it’s necessary.
The spine is designed to extend and flex so it’s vital to remind the spine of its capacity so the rest of our body can move more easily.
When things are tight, stiff or off kilter in the middle (the spine), then certain muscles get pulled one way or the other — and this lower brain program can hold us in check.
Listen and follow along to this tuning into the spine and simple intentional movement.
Was it easy for you to feel your spine in the manner described?
If we don’t check in every now and then, the brain is very clever and begins to shut down which is why it might have not been easy for some of you to get a clear picture or set of feelings.
That’s ok. With a few reminders and a little practice, you are waking up the brain’s command center.
If you did feel a little fidget or jerky quality that is very useful in order to regain control.
If you felt a twinge of pain or discomfort, then it’s time for a tuneup so your back can feel good and in control.
We do that using what is called somatics exercises which are generally done in such a lazy, easy and yet focused manner so that brain’s motor cortex is targeted.
When you get it down pat, the upper brain frees up the lower brain program of keeping things held in check so you can feel comfort and natural flexibility restored.
Simple differentiation to wake up both the brain and body
That easy movement (which may not always be easy if the spine isn’t cooperating) is part of a movement pattern to help wake up the brain’s cerebrospinal fluid so that brain bucket gets a little movement hello.
That Sitting Thing
If you’re in the unfortunate position of having to sit all day long, for instance, at work.
No matter if you do regular exercise, that may not be enough to change the known ill counter effects of sitting for too long.
See, certain muscles are getting programmed to be switched off and the brain will go – ok I’ll turn that department off.
Later in the day you might feel that gnawing sensation creeping in.
We can get so used to those sensations that we can bury them since we gotta do things in life – until they remind us once again.
Standing up is a simple differentiation which can help
Simply standing up every 20 minutes when you sit, will wake up the muscles so they don’t get used to checking out.
If you have a job where you can’t – like being a driver for instance – then you can mindfully do the easy spinal differentiation movement seated to remind the spine that it can extend and flex.
Otherwise, certain back muscles can go to sleep and begin to be trained to be useless and the brain can start to give us the signal of pain
Good news is.
Just get up and stand or be aware of how you are sitting and adjust your position consciously.
To further vary that – stand on one leg or walk around for a minute or so. Then you can sit back down.
Differentiate Your Way to Comfort & Freedom
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Even as I type a blog post such as this, I too am mindful of how sitting for too long in the same way can have the brain and body go to sleep even while I am sedentarily active in this manner.
This is why I will vary the sitting position or move mindfully to keep things fluid.
If you’re gonna keep sitting, then at least sit differently or be mindful of how you can shift your spine around.
Maintaining Comfort
All that tension we keep taking on in life, can be remedied with simple mindful movements to disperse, renew and refresh both the brain and body.
Yep, it’s really, really that simple to maintain life long comfort.
By refreshing the spine with your awareness, you can reset your muscles throughout the day, especially when they get amped up with too much tension.
At the same time, you improve the function of the brain by taking a full-brainer of a moment where you tune into movement done with awareness.
Simple differentiation movement classes
Life is movement and movement becomes easier when you can do any number of simple conscious differentiations with the central part of yourself, your spine.
And if you can get enough of these on a daily basis, then sleep becomes easier so you wake up feeling refreshed and not wiped out getting back in the grind of life.
We’d love for you to join us to learn as many simple differentiations as you’d like to remain comfortable for life.
Let me know what you thought of the movement and how your body responded
Sensory Motor Amnesia (SMA) is a term used to describe a loss of control, feelings or sensations around certain muscles.
It’s as if we no longer remember how a certain area feels or we’ve lost touch with the feel for the length of a muscle since we can get used to the body we are in (for better or worse).
Some muscular connections can seem fuzzy or murky as if it is lost or forgotten when we check-in with the control center in the brain.
You’ll get a chance to find out if this is so for you in the SMA test.
SMA – Stiffness, Pain, Tension
While SMA will not kill you, it is often evident when there is stiffness or pain.
Higher than normal tension or stress in the muscles generally goes along with SMA.
Oddly enough, we can get so used to it, we don’t know the SMA exists since this may lie underneath a certain consciousness that we might not have tapped into for some time.
When SMA happens
Sensory motor amnesia happens when our muscles are activating without conscious control or there is no activation so we’re not clear as to the feel of it anymore.
For instance, our spines can compensate.
We can get so used to it – or if pain or stiffness interferes – where we’ve forgotten what an upright normal comfortable spine feels like.
What that means is that there can be a certain level of tension being held as a program in the lower parts of the brain (sometimes referred to as the brainstem).
Like a car which can idle in neutral, in this case, the car is idling in 1st, 2nd, 3rd or higher gears on account of the program or compensation.
Our muscles can stay stuck and our spine may not get back to neutral as if we’ve forgotten how.
As you can imagine, this can wear out an engine and is not ideal for our spine and muscles since that can impede our ability to move easily.
Plus, the energy drain of continual tension or stress – when it stays on just beneath our level of every day awareness – remains to keep us at bay.
SMA – the Disconnect
SMA is also a reduction of neuro-muscular control and function at the same time.
Our quality of movement and the feeling of freedom in movement is generally hampered.
Neurologically speaking, the flow of information continues without an awareness of what is going on underneath the surface.
Information about the position in space (proprioception) of your muscles, the length of the muscle, and the feelings of resistance or tension are also housed in the lower parts of the brain.
Regain Control of SMA
You don’t have to think about it since certain sensors feedback this information.
Your body is going to adjust for whatever position you move yourself into. Most of this is on autopilot as the subconscious parts of the brain respond accordingly to the known program.
The upper part of the brain is where we learn and create new programs (for better or worse) where it eventually gets moved down to the lower brain as learned (been there, done that).
Interestingly, these lower brain programs are powerful enough to assume control where we can lose our connection to the control center in the brain’s motor cortex, if we don’t check in.
Sensory-amnesia can happen as we lose control or forget about the control center over time
In a sense, there is a disconnect between the higher part of the brain which can affect the muscles and movement system.
The 1 Thing
See, muscles do one thing.
They receive a command from the brain to contract.
This way you can bend your arm at the elbow and move your wrist towards your shoulder.
The other side of the equation is that in this case of bending the arm, the back side of the upper arm can relax enough to move the wrist closer to the shoulder.
Some people will say that muscle is stretching, when in fact it is simply allowing for its length to the degree it can lengthen under whatever tension levels have been programmed or adapted.
Out of Balance
However, tension levels can be held or fight the other side so — another form of SMA due to an imbalance in tension.
This is a neurological event.
Our feel of balance or its loss along with the ability to know (or feel) which muscles are held in states of tension or are chronically tight can be useful information.
The ability to relax muscles, however, can be lost or temporarily out of control.
The feelings of tension can be hazy when we can’t pinpoint it – even though we know or feel some parts of our self are held stiff.
If this continues long enough, then certain discomforts or pain can become noticeable when the brain has gone haywire with its programs.
Guarding SMA
When we are injured or have some type of bodily trauma, the muscles and movement system tend to recoil away from the area in order to protect us from further injury.
This can then be set as an on going lower brain program since other muscles can take over such when we compensate (for an injury) and then rely on other muscles to do the work.
We can get really good at guarding an area so certain muscles can tend to forgot what their role or job since the recoiling reflex & former guarding mechanism may still be held on at subtle levels.
This is where then the cascade of muscular imbalance can occur and we might increase our risk of injury or seem to have the same types of injury happening all over again.
Muscle Out of Control
Down the road, this can lead to muscles either:
• being or feeling weak,
• having poor coordination,
• or they no longer remember to relax.
The muscles remain stiff or at levels where tension is higher than normal (though we can get used to it and “learn to live with it”).
Pain or discomfort can ensue at some point as the brain is sorting it out or going haywire since the area or areas are now in states of tension held at higher than normal with ongoing muscular contractions preventing a full relaxation.
Crossed up signals
These crossed up signals keep things held in check without any relief of the holding tension.
So normally we ought to be able to let go and relax.
When the connection to the brain’s control center – through the communication of signals – aren’t being processed or meeting their destination.
Then things like a limited range of motion of happens or begins to set in. Slowly over time this becomes the program of what we might call aging.
Getting to Know SMA
SMA isn’t something we feel when we are simply sitting there.
The sensory-motor system of feeling and moving is what is at stake so…
We can’t feel SMA, unless we begin to tune into our movement at a cortical level – and you’ll get your chance soon to find out.
What SMA Looks Like
Generally there is a noticeable or subtle feeling of your body:
- hesitating
- misfiring,
- jerking,
- glitching,
- stuttering,
- or shuddering as you release tension.
SMA Test
You can try this simple movement – but first – let me warn you that if you bump into pain or have a restricted range of motion – move well within your comfort zone.
Plus, you need to move slowly to stay in the control center of the brain.
If you go too fast, then things shift to the lower part of the brain. So go s-l-o-w to play along.
First, read this first before you try.
Sit with your arms resting comfortably along your sides.
Turn your head/face to the left. You will keep looking to the left throughout the entire movement. Make sure you are in an easy comfortable range. The point is not to strain at all.
At the same time, you are going to look up towards the ceiling while you bring the right shoulder up towards the back of your head.
Then at the same time, you slowly release back to where you started.
Got it – now go ahead and do the movement slowly and feel as much as you can. This is more about feeling what is happening rather than going for the range of motion.
OK. Were you able to release slowly and smoothly?
Try it on the other side and feel if there is any difference.
Did either side feel – a little jerky, glitchy or stuttering? If so, you’ve been SMA’d.
Welcome to SMA
When this type of loss of motor control happens, this points the way to regain lost control since you are now more clued into where possible areas need a tune up.
It’s also possible that you may not feel certain movement actions taking place or you don’t feel a connection or an area as well as you could.
This is ok and normal with SMA.
Normally when we move, we are moving with our learned programs stored in the lower brain. It’s when we go back to the control center of the motor cortex to check-in that we can begin discover how much or little SMA we have.
SMA – altering it unconsciously
SMA can happen when we alter things unconsciously, say when we sit slumped over time.
Our muscles will respond to the demand or lack thereof on them.
Our particular position or repetitive motion grooves in as a program so it becomes less conscious.
Which can be good since we don’t always have to think about how to use the remote once we’ve figured it out.
Good Sensory Motor Amnesia
Good news is SMA can be adjusted since the brain can change and the body will follow the commands of the cortex as you use your awareness to what is taking place.
This wake up to the brain’s command center of the (forgotten or amnesiac) link helps to undo compensations and imbalances so certain positive feelings, sensations and control can be restored.
So sensory-motor amnesia is a both a useful tool and marker to discover if muscular control is off a little
With this knowledge, you can feel how to self-adjust and self-correct to improve the vital and necessary function of the muscles for lifelong control and comfort.
Regain Control of SMA
Find out what to do to help injuries, pain, and stiffness leave.
Clear up the SMA and Feel Free All Over Again
Back pain or stiffness is quite common over the age of 40.
So what can us older stiffer duffers do about it?
Tuning into the brain will actually help.
Easy, simple movements where you tune into the quality of movement or the nature of movement itself enhances your brain and body.
Today we know more about the brain and how it can change which means that our brain can change feelings of stiffness or reverse pain.
Rigid tension or harmful stress can be melted so we can feel more pliable, flexible and a return of pleasurable feelings.
Here are 7 tips to help us get the back… back to feeling great.
1. Use it consciously or lose it unconsciously
Many of us take our back for granted since we’ve mostly forgotten about tuning into the spine (unless it’s stiff or aching).
This unconscious behavior happens over time since we aren’t tuning in enough, until there is an issue.
The spine’s ability is enhanced when you give it some attention with your conscious awareness.
All it takes is just noticing whatever activity you are doing for a few movements and hone in on your spine.
Notice how your spine feels when you move around.
If feeling the spine is fuzzy or isn’t clear, simply tune in from the top of the spine to the bottom or vice versa.
This is just sensory information to be aware of and will wakeup the brain and body.
2. Move your spine in a variety of directions
Sounds reasonable, but who is actually thinking it through and then doing it afterwards.
If we keep using the spine the same way day in, day out. Then we set a program in the brain of what muscles are being used and others which are not.
The brain grows when you give it something different such as tuning into your spine when you move.
You up the level of the connection when mindfully bending, flexing, and twisting in a variety of ways.
3. Being sedentary or sitting too long works against us
You’ve probably heard that sitting for too long is the new smoking. Well kinda sorta since you can sit comfortably for long periods – if you are aware.
Go team!
Sitting for long periods can undermine us since we can be unconsciously programming the brain and muscles to certain contractions, tension patterns or pulls of the spine – and before you know it they are held in check.
A key is to vary how you sit.
Plus, get up more often than you think, especially if you feel stiff or tension creeping in.
With back pain, mindful movement and awareness is paramount since this can free us while you cheer to your heart’s delight.
4. Wake-up your spine with gentle mobilizations
Easy, gentle small movements helps to rebuild and maintain the capacity of the spine.
The more gentle you are, the better you can tune into both – the how of how you are moving – and what the feelings in your back provide as feedback.
Certain neurological feedback loops can be targeted to enhance your ability to free up the back.
So let your back warm up easily and gently – and feel as much as you can in terms of how your spine can adjust (or not) before going full bore with the rest of your day.
5. Update the movement software
Our computers and devices can get bogged down if the software isn’t updated.
By paying attention to your feelings and awareness, you can change the structure of the brain through a movement software update
This way you can enhance the memory and the information to the muscles, tendons, joints and fascia – which has many sense receptors .
A conscious movement update can smooth out the kinks and let us remain flexible
This will help maintain the spine’s ability to function when you need it most.
6. Floss your back joints
Your spine is a series of joints where you can take the plaque out of it.
Feel both sides of the spine and notice if you can feel each segment or notice if there are any blank spots in terms of feeling each segment.
Gentle movements joint by joint (or in each group) from top to bottom and on each side helps to maintain comfortable freedom.
7. Breathe as you move
Consciously play with your breath as you move to add in another level of difference so the brain can enjoy the novelty of different ways to breathe and move.
Or don’t breathe and feel what happens to your ability to move your spine.
A Comfortable Back
Mindfully paying attention to the little movements you can do helps build and maintain a foundation for overall comfortable, easy, effortless movement.
Getting in tune with the building blocks of movement helps us become more familiar with the nature of movement itself.
It is here to serve you to feel free and in control.
In nature, healthy vertebrate animals have the good sense to program and reprogram via the act of pandiculation.
For the human animal, we’ve made it simple to naturally move easier with a conscious mindful 3 step method where you delve deep into the nature of movement.
So go ahead and explore small, minute adjustments which can make all the difference to keep the back feeling good.
Ever feel like your body, brain or mind is close to the tipping point when it comes to pain?
Small injuries or minor physical setbacks might not seem like a big deal when they happen.
Yet your brain might go haywire and instead of helping, it begins to work against you.
See, your personal history of injuries (big and small), infections, emotional set backs, and traumas of all sorts can lead a brain to over respond even as a small injury heals.
The brain can go hyperactive and keeps sending chemicals of inflammation to the rescue, after the fact.
Cells called microglia acts as the immune system of the central nervous system.
To protect the brain, they swell up to create a buffer while they take care of the bad cells.
The good cells, however, can keep turning “on inflammation”, which is what we see happening in anxiety, chronic pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, etc.
In other words, when we keep getting stressed, tensed out or we repeat certain physical activities with no relief, the microglia show up and create negative inflammation.
Not nice at all.
Minor or major stress can magnify the situation and get activated.
Not a Big Deal
Even what we might think is not a big deal such as “I was standing there, holding a piece of paper, not doing anything and I moved a little – and felt a little pinch”.
Initially, this may not be a big deal, but then throughout the course of day, this little thing starts to get worse, gets tighter and tighter and become more painful.
Even to the point of later preventing us from doing a little movement.
This period of activation can remain “on” for extended periods of time.
Then this can get set as a program which can lead to medical conditions such as chronic pain becoming the norm.
Press Play, Rewind
It’s no wonder some of us struggle with discomfort, injury or stiffness longer than we think it oughta be around.
Each week I see and hear athletes telling me about how they have to stay in the game, otherwise if they are substituted out and then go back in, they’ve re-tightened up by simply cooling down for a few minutes.
Unfortunately, this has been accepted as normal – when clearly it is not even though many deal with this program replaying itself over and over.
As the program continues to go haywire–say an accident happens–followed up by surgeries, pain medications and having to cope with the stress of getting it together undermines our ability to completely get over it.
Even though we think we oughta be able to handle it, we aren’t addressing the physiological mechanism to change and reverse the course back to our more comfortable self.
This can further make us feel down and bums us out.
Getting Pushed Past the Tipping Point
One by one. An slight bump here, a little bruise there, a sprain, a spasm, groaning to get up out of the chair, feeling old before we’re there, getting old and grumpy, a knee gone bad, stress on the job, tension at home, divorce, and the internet goes down (yeah not a big deal though it could stress us out), and so on.
The sum of our life experiences add up one by one to push us past the tipping point so the brain replays its response.
We get our negative experience yet again to the point of being chronic in many ways.
Can the tipping point be reversed?
Yes!
When we go back to what mother nature affords us to restore and revitalize in our central nervous system, then we have a chance to reverse the tipping point and successfully climb out.
In many cases, you can reprogram both the brain and body so it can create comfort instead of amplifying pain, discomfort or stiffness.
How To Reverse the Tipping Point
This can be done via the sensory-motor system and a conscious reprogramming act called a pandiculation.
This works with the central nervous system to reset tension levels so you can feel more relaxed, comfortable and in control of your well-being.
This is facilitated by simple to do mindful motor control exercises done where you regain control of the brain and body while at the same time, you get to feel and experience deeper states of relaxation and how your muscles coordinate more easily for freer movement overall.
Recently, the American College of Physicians have come on board and are saying “this is the first to do to relieve pain“.
So when we go about this systematically, then we can re-right the ship and help get things back in order and in balance.
Then we life throws us another curve ball, we can rebalance readily.
The reverse on-off switch to turn back the tipping point
You see, you have the inherent ability to decrease stress and lower tension by increasing it consciously using your awareness.
This concept may sound backwards or counter-intuitive, yet in practice – physically speaking – this is how you turn what is negatively “on” positively “off”.
By consciously turning “on” the central nervous system by waking it up.
You change the painful, stiff or discomforting “on” signal “off’ by detuning or fine tuning it down so you can idle more in neutral and restore tension levels back to the comfort zone.
Similar to how a thermostat works to regulate the air temperature, your nervous system can be programmed to aid you rather than keep the on going program working against you.
The Shift
While it isn’t easy to live in pain, constant stiffness or with high stress levels and chronic discomforts, there is a way out.
When our normal relaxed attention and focus is taken away, you can feel it shift or you can get used to it over time even though in the long run that is undermining our ability to restore ourself.
So if you can consciously tune into what it is you’ve either become accustomed to – or what is not healing in the way you think it oughta – like taking a little no big deal tumble or not being able to sit comfortably…
That very signal is the clue and target to tune down the brain and body going haywire.
Comfort Zone
Since force won’t help, a more laser focused and mindful use of the power of the brain and body lets us reach a personal comfort zone which can be secured with a little conscious practice to hit the target of feeling better.
By dialing into the haywire signal, you can fine-tune the pain activating signal or mechanism so it can reverse course.
Reset
The resetting and recalibrating begins to happen with what some have called conscious micro-movements or professionally known as motor control exercises where you move with minimal effort while dialing into the subtle tiny adjustments and feelings or sense perceptions so change happens readily.
There is both an art and practice to get back to your former happy pain-freer self which nature has set up for you to access at any minute.
Through a series of trial and error easy, gentle movements and a systematic approach, the ability to feel relaxation returns.
The fact is you can tune down what is turned negatively “on” because the switch has been activated to inhibit and end the pain, stiffness and discomforts by starting small in order to get back to living more fully.
Afterwards the nervous system acts to continue to decrease the output or charge so relaxing feelings return. It’s like giving yourself a hot tub treatment using your brain and body.
Nature
In nature, this is how all healthy animals with a spine self-regulate to remain agile, comfortable and nimble.
Use the brain and body together to move well with daily reprogramming that most of us aren’t aware of, even though it is built into our living system to tap into.
When the human animal gets back to tuning in and restoring this lost art or natural process to calm the system, you get the:
relief,
relaxation,
and the knowledge you can replicate feelings of comfort.
You can do this as often as you need or when necessary to take out stress and tension from everyday life events which accumulate in the course of our busy lives.
While you can’t escape stress, you can take control of your central nervous system as best as you can and further the possibilities of a comfortable felt-sense of living.
When you remember how to do this – you can let things roll off of you like a duck ruffling its feathers.
You’ll have what appears to be an uncanny ability to regenerate.
This is how nature sets it up for us to learn how to wield this ability and not be held outta control by feeling how control needs to be regulated to move well.
Evidence
Since there is evidence that your microglia cells “remember” prior assaults and turn things up painfully when necessary. They can stay on and fire up more quickly.
Same goes in the opposite direction.
The better you get at using the brain and body, you can bank on turning on those chemicals of relaxation on much faster too.
The American College of Physician have finally recognized that progressive relaxation, mindful-based stress reduction and motor control exercises are the way to go where you can even drop the acetaminophen for back pain.
According to Dr. Gary Kaplan, these 3 things seem certain:
√ The source of inflammation are tiny cells called microglia.
√ Your history of physical & emotional assaults add up and increase inflammation.
√ Chronic pain and depression are neurodegenerative conditions.
How to Reverse the Tipping Point Yourself
Knowledge is power. When you have the self-help tools to learn what to do for yourself. You can self-regulate the brain and enhance the nervous system to work for and with you.
Fortunately, we’ve systematized an approach to use both brain and body with gentle, small micro-movements (motor control) along with mindfully fine tuning coordination with a certain level of awareness to take you into deeper states of relaxation which restores the nervous system and your body’s basic feeling of comfort and well-being.
Now that you have a better understanding of the tipping point, you can choose to naturally heal, self-protect, self-learn, and have the self know-how to prevent and maintain your healthy state of living.
Can too much sugar wreak havoc on the best of our efforts to remain healthy?
From coast to coast, the New York Times and Seattle Times recently reported on how dietary recommendations have been formed to guide us in what can appear as conflicting information.
So we may have to clear our way through the maze of 30 years of nutrition misinformation to get back on track.
Those efforts pay the dividends of living an easier life.
At the heart of our practice in Somatics Exercises is the notion of self-regulation to ease discomfort and regain comfort so it can be maintained.
While our main focus has to do with the application of conscious brain-based movement towards refining our self-perception and the subtle feelings which can flow as a result of natural processes.
This intimate knowledge gives you a leg up on how you feel and how your body responds to life.
When we eat, our senses can be fooled and we can simply overindulge without knowing why since the brain is getting tricked.
So our healthy efforts are like moving 1 step forwards, 1/2 a step back or more.
It’s no wonder the majority of us are weighing 25 lbs. more than 20 years ago.
Look at this about our fat intake (from the Bitter Truth).
Our brain’s are having to deal with food-beverage trickery and our body, well you know the story.
Heck, when I won a t-shirt for winning intramural sports at the University of Texas in the late 70’s, I was given a large.
A couple of years ago, I was given a Wall of Fame large t-shirt to commemorate the past.
Wouldn’t you know when I compared the present to the past t-shirt. The large got larger.
Doing the Right Thing
So, at sporting events for young and older duffers like myself, I continue to see how athletes (and many people in general) are moving backwards, though they “think” they are doing the right thing.
Having kids hydrate with Gatorade is not in their best interests for the long run since their brains too can begin to form a stubborn habit to change.
Our subtle senses, which serve us through feedback mechanisms, can go through an ongoing temporary battle over a longer run causing a disarray and host of unhealthy problems.
Self-regulation
Self-regulation is about learning and tweaking to live the fully healthy life you deserve. So some of those best efforts and right things to do have to change.
Plus, it can be fun where we come to understand how sometimes the simple things in life are quite powerful.
When it comes to regulating sugar – which can be difficult in these times – watch the Bitter Truth below.
This is heady stuff so you can watch the long version below
Not nice to have our brain think it is starving and take us on that path.
All that sugar consumption is helping to continue a downward spiral in healthy activities. Bummer!
For a another and shorter version, watch this.
Learn more how we self-regulate and bring the brain and body up to speed so you can stay on a healthy track.
Seen this or done that before?
This is something we do – in this country – if we feel pain, are sore from an injury or we over do it.
If you watch tv sports, been at a local kids soccer game, seen runners, softball players or know people who’ve had injury or experience pain.
Icing seems to be part of the game (of life) in the U.S and has been a big part of sports medicine.
How did this become our way?
Rice stands for:
• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation
This has been a mantra on playing fields since Dr. Gabe Mirkin came up with this formula back in 1978.
Since then he has changed his tune for this earlier “misinformation”.
Rest is out.
Now there is evidence ice can even delaying healing.
This might come as a surprise. It’s more than likely better to avoid icing.
Using ice does not fix the problem other than numbing an issue in our tissues. It may even do more harm than good.
Since many people use ice to block pain.
It’s likely they don’t know how to effectively relieve or control pain on account of ice being the prevalent cheaper alternative.
The Rest of the World
Interesting to note that most of the rest of the world does not use ice to manage injuries.
When I mention using ice to many of my foreign soccer playing friends, they simply shrug their shoulders and give me that “really” look.
Recovery & Performance
Since ice is still the accepted method and highly popular among recreational athletes to help recover, relying on this method is at best a band-aid approach.
There is usually little benefit derived from post exercise icing as well.
During an event, you may actually numb yourself and then push through pain rather than using this signal to begin to turn things around. This can increase the risk of injury.
Even performance can be altered since it is likely that icing interferes with the information highway of the nervous system.
The info can get slowed down and can change how our muscles respond. Not a good thing when you are either trying to do some work around the house or participating in one of your favorite activities.
Inflammation
People might think inflammation is a bad thing, yet is part of the normal restoration process.
While we can have a pain in the knee for instance, have you ever seen someone’s knee swell up or experienced this yourself?
Swelling is a normal part of the body attempting to get back to square one or homeostasis in this case.
We might think the swelling is too much or keeps snowballing, so of course, a lot of people will think ice is the solution.
What’s going on?
The lymphatic system helps reduce swelling.
So when we see or feel what we consider an excess of swelling, the drainage of the lymphatic system is kind of clogged and is in slow-mo mode.
Going backwards
To use ice to speed it up is counter productive.
Thawing out of this mindset may not be easy.
So you can check out the illusion of the ice age.
What Speeds Up Healing?
Since the lymphatic system helps to reduce swelling, it’s when we begin to contract, tense or mobilize the surrounding movement system.
M.I.C.E stands for:
M = Mobility
I = Ice
C = Compression
E = Elevation
M.I.C.E. has replaced R.I.C.E.
Now given what we’re discovering with ice, we can drop our freezing ways.
A conscious use of the muscles helps to push the fluid back into the cardiovascular system.
Movement System
The movement system is not just the muscles, it includes the nervous system or highway of information which can be altered.
It’s also the fascia which surrounds the muscles and is connected in a variety of patterns throughout the body.
The muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and bones have sense receptors where we can change the output through mobility and where we can change the offending output to our muscles and movement system.
When we apply mobility in a more conscious manner, then the myth of ice can fade like the ice age.
Is is time to give up the myth of icing?
Give up the Myth of Icing
Find out what to do to help injuries, pain and stiffness leave.
Click here to access Conscious Mobility
… and chuck the ice to feel warmer too!
When you play with the brain in a mindful way, the body can get a boost.
Targeting the brain’s sensory-motor cortex can help relieve stiffness, stress, ease pain, and improve the body and mind.
The brain’s motor cortex sits atop the brain adjacent to the sensory cortex.
The motor part is where you can “turn on” the motor of movement. The sensory part lets you perceive or feel a variety of sensations or feelings about the quality of movement itself.
This feedback loop of information can help you in effect, move well and be freer to move around.
This little guy is called the homonculus, the little man.
This represents how our body parts are reflected in the brain in terms of how we use them and sense them.
As you can see from this representation:
The hands and mouth have the largest areas in terms of how we sense ourself.
In order to help both the brain and body as you age, you can zero in on your sensory-motor cortex so both a movement in and of itself and the quality of how you move your body is addressed by paying attention to the information you can perceive or feel.
Plus, you can do this in a playful type of manner without a lot of hard work.
You see, the brain functions better with a variety of movements which opens up the possibilities of new neural connections since the brain itself can be changed, formed, and reformed.
Brain Exercises
Normally, we think of brain exercises like doing a crossword puzzle or doing some type of cognitive training. Any number of ways can sharpen us mentally such as learning to play an instrument, trying new recipes and good old fashioned doing math in your head.
Regular exercise itself, is good in general, and can help the brain too.
The brain thrives on novelty and our 600 muscles and 17 layers of muscles and fascia (which surround the muscles) can be used in a unique un-exercise approach by focusing our awareness on the conscious nature of movement itself.
This wakes up the brain and body since we can tap into the flow of information in our nervous system.
This non-traditional approach can augment any traditional type of exercise and can actually let us exercise pain free or be able to do the necessary movements you engage in with less tension and a different felt sense of ability.
Less Tension
The brain can be used to lessen tension through a natural process of updating our movement software.
When we have less tension or when we can sustain more neutral levels of tension, then we can move easily and agilely over the long run.
So when our brain gets challenged with paying attention, our body can actually feel the difference. Even when small, easy, gentle micro-movements are used to help set up or be the foundation for the moveable building blocks of overall coordination of movement.
Slow movements help brain functions
Watching someone do small movements, is similar to watching grass grow.
We might think not a lot can be accomplished by little or slow movement.
When you shift upstairs to target your motor cortex and do conscious specific types of movements slowly, gently and with as much awareness as possible – the brain can help the body make a number of changes.
A slow movement practice is about how you pay attention to a number of areas of the body.
The conscious application of movement done slowly forms the system of somatics exercises which is essentially brain based.
9 Advantages of a Brain Based Practice
1 – Pain Relief Using the Brain
Since the brain thrives on novelty, the brain and body can be used in unique ways to affect the flow of information in the nervous system.
This is set up with simple movements that can be done in a lazy, gentle manner where the mind is highly engaged.
One of the brain functions of the motor cortex is that it can reset the resting levels of the muscles. The muscles are left more relaxed.
As the muscles become more relaxed, the brain creates more feelings of relaxation and pleasure.
2 – Improved Memory
Movement is memory.
The lower part of the brain, the cerebellum remembers much like a programmed computer program which does our quick, fast movements. We don’t have to think about it, we get up and go.
Using the brain’s motor cortex allows us to change the program by noticing what is happening in our overall quality of movement as well as the actual movement.
By improving the quality of how well we can move at any age, the brain functions at a higher level since the brain’s software is getting updated.This helps us remember and experience our former youthful movement.
3 – Gain Strength
Normally we exercise our muscles to get stronger.
Strength is also resiliency and flexibility.
So rather then a brawn approach, you can use the brain to lose excessive or amped up tension and stress.
Our body becomes more balanced. We remain strong like animals in the wild who reset their muscles naturally since the slow movements are done along certain chains of connections which help us move more effectively.
4 – Posture Changes
We can change our shape.
By losing compensations such as a curved spine which has our belly hanging over or the reverse when we’re too slumped.
Our new appearance results from letting go of the tension which held us in place by the lower brain and its programmed ways.
Change Posture, Gain Strength, Improve Memory and Find Pain Relief – the Easy, Brain Way
When the brain remembers to reset to neutral, the brain functions much better and now we appear more easily upright and relaxed.
5 – Natural Stress Alleviation
The brain can create powerful chemicals of relaxation.
Healthy animals with a spine tap into this natural source.
They do this through the act of pandiculation as they target the brain and body.
You can zone in on the brain in a similar conscious manner to create natural chemicals of relaxation so you’re left feeling content, relaxed and in control.
6 – Regain Natural Flexibility
Regaining flexibility is not about getting longer or going for range of motion.
Simply being able to squat is one thing, getting up is another.
When we let go of the binds of stress, tension and long held-injuries and compensations, the body knows where to reset to neutral so it can in effect move easy and be in comfortable positions.
You can move more freely and naturally by reprogramming the brain so a natural flexibility can be easily maintained.
7 – Improve the Immune System
When we’re constantly triggering flight or fight response in our busy lives, we’re not giving our self the chance to calm things down.
Resetting our brain and body so we can ramp it up and then back it down, allows us to live more easily with a nervous system which can be reset so our immune system is less burdened as the inflammatory response is cooled down.
This allows more good feelings to flow through us so it can aid in healing, for instance.
8 – Sleep Better
Tuning down tension levels using the brain relaxes our body.
The body and brain functions much better when we can rest easy so our tissues can repair.
Resting easy happens when we feel calmer and can let go of the body and the mind.
9 – Greater Sense of Peace and Tranquility
When you use the brain to reset the entire body system of movement, you can move with greater ease and comfort like any other healthy vertebrate animal.
As our earlier sense of freedom returns, movement can nurture us towards more tranquil states.
This also brings us a vibrant sense of confidence to move, relax and have a calm mind.
As you use the brain and target certain functions, you can return again and again to levels of comfort where you can fully understand or appreciate the mind and body connection.
Better brain functions
When we go back to the well of movement itself and harness the power of the brain to tap into our very awareness.
The brain’s intelligence is aroused (with a little practice) so you end up with a better brain and body.
When you reset yourself with a certain level of conscious awareness, the brain functions at levels which may continue to delightfully surprise you as you age.
Get the Brain and Body on Your Side
Feeling good is your natural birthright.
Yet as we age our share of aches, bumps, dings, stiff feelings and various types of pain can add up depending upon our circumstances and the activities we choose to do or not.
To reverse the accumulation of life’s hurts and recapture the full pleasure in your body on a daily basis can happen when you remind yourself to…
Move Like an Animal
You see, all the healthy animals on the planet with a spine, tap into the brain to reset tension levels so they can move with comfort, agility and grace.
The human animal can too with a simple conscious 3 step plan to get the brain, body and nervous system revitalized to restore feelings of confident comfort.
So whether we feel stiff from everyday life, work or even the games and activities you enjoy or grind our way through.
There is a natural way for the brain & body to reverse stiffness and pain so we won’t have to beat on our muscles, ice, heat or use any of those balms just in order to be able to move a little easier in the first place.
Given our present understanding of the brain and how it’s like a piece of software we can change and modify.
We’ve been able to systematize what works in nature in order to upgrade both the brain and body so it can be programmed to ease tension, pain and stiffness naturally.
In the book, Move Like an Animal, you will learn:
• The 3 Simple Steps to Reduce Stiffness & Feel Pain Free
• How You Can Restore Your Natural Birthright to Feel Comfortable and in Control
• How Your Brain is Waiting for You to Regain Flexibility & Mobility Quickly and Easily
In what I call, the issues in the tissues, you have the ability to use your brain and body in symphony to restore and recover those lost feelings of–feeling like your self again—even if things presently continue to stay amped up, stiff or painful.
You’ll discover:
• The One Key Movement to Feel Better Now
• How to Relieve Stress & Tension Confidently
• and Overcome Compensations which can be a Factor
In the animal world, healthy animals set themselves up daily for successful movement.
The ability to be agile, flexible and move in balance and grace is set up by the same natural neural mechanisms you too can access.
If you want to:
– Maintain comfortable mobility
– Restore natural flexibility
– and Bring back the feelings of pleasure back in your body,
Then Move Like an Animal is for you.
Feel Free Again
Through a unique, counter-intuitive approach, you can feel how to:
• Loosen Up Tightness
• Release Stiffness
• and Feel the Binds Melt Away.
“The old traditional approach is sadly behind the times in preparing our bodies for strenuous activities and in rehabilitating the discomforts that impeded our life and competitive efforts. The new frontiers of understanding brain plasticity have given us exciting insights that can be controlled through brain-altering stimulation. This exciting application of the latest brain science will benefit healthy and recuperating people alike on all levels.”
-Timothy Berger, BA, MA, RN, ATC. Professor of Sports Science, Muskingum Univerisy
Since there may be those times when we may be guarding to protect a sore, tight or painful area.
Having the know-how to release it—is of great value when you need to let high tension levels or feelings of stress in the body simmer back down.
The Nature of Movement Itself
This is inherently different since it’s not about the range of motion – its more about the quality vs the quantity.
The quality and nature of movement itself are what is at stake to remain comfortable for life.
See, those wonderful animals have got this part down.
No quality. They’re a goner.
For the human animal, less than optimal quality can bring all sorts of types of pain and the various binds, stiffness and restrictions we can’t seem to shake in the long run.
Using a series of unique, gentle, conscious movement patterns targeting a specific part of the brain can restore childlike feelings of freedom.
All of this set up by the brain so you can remain comfortable as you age.
Even if you over do it, your brain and body can change quickly without even resorting to pills.
“A doctor gave me muscle relaxants and pain medication for a painful incident at work. Instead, I did a few movements and my pain was gone and I’m back to normal. It’s amazing, this works.”
-Debbie Elliott, Registered Nurse
Since animals know how to relax and let go of tension on a daily basis…
The good news is. Your brain & body is waiting for you to tap into this same conscious power source to:
– Feel more relaxed,
– Contented,
– and Be able to sleep more easily too.
“Filled with practical advice. This is a very useful book for anyone who wants to move and feel better. I will recommend this book to my clients.”
-Dr. Del Millers, author of Fitness & Spirituality
What Move Like an Animal is About
The book begins with the ‘Animal Secret’ act that even the human animal did as a baby.
Once we remind ourself of this forgotten or lost ability, the brain remembers what to do to reset similar to the way we update our computers.
Down the Rabbit Hole
The brain is described as the one big muscle working with various feedback loops you can use to reset both stiffness and pain.
You’ll learn which ones those are and how to access them to return to the comfort zone.
A shift from the revved up sympathetic state to the more relaxed parasympathetic state of calm happens when you tap into the specific part of the brain
See, from a more relaxed state, the muscles are ready to be used rather than starting from a somewhat or higher rate of tension. This is what fatigues and wears a lot of us down.
We’ve lost that ability to de-rev naturally since the brain will keep certain programs running like a car idling in 2nd or 3rd gear, instead of neutral.
Compensations
In the exercise and therapy world, compensations are readily seen and can throw us off center. Even though we can figure out how to use our body. We may be struggling or use more energy un-necessarily.
Compensations can shift as tension levels abate since the muscles are more relaxed to allow the bones to fall in place so we don’t end up fighting or struggling against gravity.
Then exercise or physical activity actually becomes freer and easier.
Proprioceptive Police
Proprioception is how we feel our movement and the positions we find ourself in.
The proprioceptive police may show up with signs of mis-alignment, pain, discomfort, tightness and on-going stress which further wears us down.
-Edward Barrera, Move Like an Animal
Brain Based Approach
You’ll get a birds-eye view as how this is the complete reverse to most approaches – since it is brain based.
Rather than going for range of motion, which can actually reinforce tension and keep certain brain programs in check.
Even painful events like a muscle spasm can be reverse engineered, released and restored to comfort on account of targeting the brain.
Making the Connection
Sensing, feeling and probing around gently opens insights as to how you are connected among your 17 layers of muscles and fascia.
The fascia which has more sense receptors than the muscles are part of the movement system.
When you delve deeply into the sensory-motor system, lost or forgotten connections begin to wake-up so that even sitting becomes more comfortable.
What to do about Oops, Falls, Strains and Traumas and How A Squirrel Offers a Way Out?
You’ll get to learn how a squirrel opened my eyes to the very method I was learning about and how this act can restore things in ways we may not have thought possible.
The binding process starts.
As we age, the stiffness, the binds and high tension patterns may have been or begun as a result of some type of trauma to our body.
We can accumulate these patterns which can be layered over other traumas.
We can think of this as a temporary ongoing phenomena since the signals to hold on, keep doing their job according to the set program for many, many, many years in some cases.”
-Edward Barrera, Move Like an Animal
R-O-A-R Your Way Back
To recover over any restriction (R-O-A-R).
Free up stiffness, postural or movement difficulties, niggling injuries, high tension levels and the like can be felt when you recognize how the brain is set up to serve you, so you can remain comfortable for life.
Bonus
For those of you who really want to take things another step further.
Check out the back of the book where you can get access to the free audio version of the movements.
By listening, you’ll tap into another part of the brain which will deepen your experience to heal, restore and revitalize like a human animal can.
Ready to Move Like an Animal Again
After having lived a life of chronic pain and earning the label of fibromyalgia, I can say “it feels great to have more good days than bad ones”.
It’s my great pleasure to have Amazon bestseller, Move Like an Animal, out now in paperback and digital so you too can R-O-A-R back into life and feel the full pleasure of your body returning and maintaining even as you age.
Your brain and body can feel free, relaxed and in control.
So are your ready to Move Like an Animal for the rest of your comfortable life?
Wouldn’t you agree that your neck, shoulders and head oughta move freely, easily and without pain or discomfort?
Simple, easy head movements done with a certain level of awareness can give you a:
• more comfortable neck,
• ease tension in the shoulders,
• and this can shift good feelings to other parts of yourself too.
Hijacked by tension
If your head or shoulders have been hijacked by tension, there is a natural way to release the build up muscular tension.
However, it might have to do with the fact that an important and vital connection may be “off”.
By lying on the floor, you can find out for yourself if:
a) you can do a particular movement comfortably and
b) if you can feel or sense the connection.
Watch the video below and see if you can feel the connection.
Head movement and connection
Have you checked in with your noggin like that lately?
If you haven’t, it’s never too late to dial in.
You see, if we’ve endured enough head and neck pain, that movement among others can prove to be difficult.
When my years of neck pain felt like a hard sore block that wouldn’t budge or let me move freely. Moving my neck seemed like it was one of the hardest things to do.
Yet when you consciously remind your body of the available movements that you can do, your brain can release neurochemicals of relaxation.
Making the connection – even if it isn’t there initially – will come with a little practice.
Not just 1 muscle
Mobility – the ability to move freely and easily – can be restored by regaining necessary function of a number of muscles involved, not just one specific muscle.
So if we are limiting our movement on account of pain or high tension, then this type of splinting or guarding can actually reinforce it since the brain is subject to programs and will begin to feed in information to keep things held in check.
Counter-intuition
Of course, it might seem counterintuitive to move, if it hurts.
So instead, you can imagine the movement taking place since that way you won’t upset the apple cart, yet the brain and nervous system will get the idea that the possibility to move, still exists.
The brain doesn’t know the difference between an imagined movement and an actual movement. The information and nervous system pathways turn “on”.
You can even go so far as imagining the connections too.
This all helps to prime the pump for eventual successful comfortable movement.
Head movements and the connection to the rest of your body is evident when you play with mindful ways to feel or sense your self as to how it relates with the rest of your body.
We are one piece, last I checked. The more you check-in in a different way, the far easier it is to self-adjust and turn down pain, discomfort and tension naturally.
Somatically speaking
When you move somatically, which is where you fully experience your connections and subtle feelings or sense perceptions.
You can experience the freeing up of pain, stiffness and aches as you fine tune further and deeper into your information highway of the nervous system.
This type of internal exploration is what you naturally did as a baby and child.
You were exploring deep into your sensory and motor system of both movement and the subtle feelings of small probing movement.
And if you recall or watch any baby, there’s a heckuva of a lot of exploration with misfiring, falling over and work to do to get a movement down pat.
Remember how long it took us to snap our fingers? What a triumphant moment that was.
Besides, if you’ve lost your snap, you can get it back.
Of course, as we age it can feel like ages to get it back, but it doesn’t have to be that way when you begin to experiment and tinker again.
What’s It Take
So if you go to the well of stored memory and spend some worthy time to reopen some dusty files and connections, then comfortable feelings in movement can be restored as easily and as effortlessly as it used to be.
It just calls for some quiet internal observation of your present ability.
When done in a specific “slow manner”, the part of the brain which can make the necessary changes of tension, will move the body back towards comfort and control.
To be more comfortable, may take a variety of easy, gentle movements so the connection is clear and you regain the ability to maintain comfort for life.
So have fun and keep that head sliding, gliding, turning and twisting comfortably so by feeling and making the connections.
