Differentiated movement patterns provide a key to unlock muscular imbalance, repetitive motions, and compensations. Even regular exercises or the lack thereof can lock us into certain restrictions or worse. Loss of neuromuscular function (for the time being),
Since no two people have the same structure, let alone movement patterns, history of injuries, etc. We find ourselves subject to the very movement habits we’ve learned and continue to do.
Without changing those patterns, the brain atrophies where we can unknowingly run ourself into the ground.
While some people do some form of exercise. Running or lifting more, doesn’t do anything to increase the intelligence of your movement.
Challenging the diversity in your movement changes the nature of how well you can articulate your joints or move your spine.
The form of movement we use is called Somatics Exercises. Which is a bit of a misnomer.
Since your brain thrives on novelty. We approach this (somatics) system of movement with differentiation or diversification of your movement portfolio.
If you think of movement as a system. The brain needs different stimulus until it finally integrates different movement into a more cohesive movement syste.
Good new is that can be changed, updated and improved at any age. That is what neural plasticity is about.
Somatics (exercises) moves into the specificity of your motor-sensory system so that you’re able to re-program your capacity and potential to move as effectively as you can.
When we were young. We played with creating and planning movement. We probed, we tried, we failed. We succeeded. Then this knowledge base get stored as learned patterns. That way we no longer have to think about it. We just move.
Think About This
But If we stop playing in this natural realm of evolving our movement patterns, are we bringing the entropy and decline within ourselves at a greater rate?
As children, no one had to tell us to move.
As adults, we are a nation of overweight, couch potatoes ever limiting our movements to a desk, office, room, automobile, and possibly sitting in front of a television set/phone/tablet for hours at a time.
Our brain is getting wasted in terms of its capacity to grow via movement and the conscious use of the motor-sensory system. We are in a way. Putting the brakes on our own evolutionary process in terms of the ability of our joints, the movement of our muscles, and the usefulness of our bones.
How to improve our movement portfolio
You can’t get there by sitting there, nor can you improve by repeating the same movement/exercise patterns over and over.
OK, you could visualize movements or do them with incredibly subtlety in the manner of many Somatic traditions which focuses on sensory awareness and different ways to move.
When you have to closely pay attention to your movements with a conscious awareness, then you are engaging in the process of voluntary movement which is rather complex.
Look at how these muscles are grouped as a system.
This system and with its 17 layers need to be used to remain functional. And obviously or not so. This system is refreshed through a natural resetting process where tension can easily be relieved. Thus, giving the movement system a refresh or cortical update.
With injuries (small and large) or the same posturing day in and day out. This can continue to further our decline and decreases the value of vital functional movement.
Of course, we can keep moving the way we always have. Or you can shift and pay attention to your movements with a keener awareness. This can affords us a glimpse into the many different ways we can manipulate ourself.
But who is really going to spend time doing this?
If you don’t, your brain will just check out and leave the possibilities in the dust bin leading to an eroding value in your movement portfolio.
Creating, improving and inciting new neural pathways leads your brain towards health, vibrancy and it’s need to continue to learn.
Not only are creatures of movement. We are creatures of learning.
You’ve got 600 muscles which require use or some attention among the various levels even if it means simply giving attention to your hamstrings and how they relate to the various layers of your muscles and movement system.
Can this be done on your own?
Yes! When you’re paying attention as you once did as a child by sensing/feeling movement at a subtle level. That is what led us to the delightful feeling of comfort and ease.
It’s a shame and a sham that many adults can no longer feel truly comfortable for any length of time.
I often hear of the aches and complaints of why I can’t do this or that. Or that getting older means pain and stiffness. The answer is simple. Wakeup the brain’s sensory-motor cortex. Engage our mind and body together so we are aware of this cortical relationship which can improve our sensation and feelings of well-being.
So if you go back to the well of where things began, that is on the floor and go back to the natural process of restoration. Your brain can re-wire, re-adapt itself, and you can continue your evolutionary process of well-being even if things have gone a little south over time.
Who knows? You may even increase the value of your movement portfolio so you won’t remain sedentary, desk-bound, home bound, injury ridden and add to decay.
Evolve, Evolve, Evolve Otherwise Decay at Your Own Peril
You can utilize the brain in a conscious, differentiated manner so you can move easily and freely with patterns your brain is changing and perfecting to move with greater ease.
Somatics exercises uses a natural movement process (that we’ve known about since the time of Hipocrates). Where today you play with conscious differentiated movement patterns that we’ve mapped out.
And you all have to do. Is follow an easy 3 step method which gets the brain to change the body.
Diversify your movement portfolio and find out for yourself what can happen.
