A Full Range of Natural Movement.
A full range of natural movement is what your body should be able to do, the body's full potential - not what you are currently able to do.
With a full range of natural movement the body can work at optimal, using the ideal posture for the task at hand. Movement is smooth and controlled, flowing unrestricted through all positions without pain or tension. The head and limbs can all be moved independently whilst the rest of the body remains stable.
The body is dynamically balanced and aligned.
A full range of natural movement is something to work towards, something to aim for.
A full range of movement is possible when the main muscles of movement can be fully engaged and the body is free of physical restrictions.
Inspiration for Movement.
There are clues about what the body is capable of everywhere.
From Pilates exercises, the asanas of yoga, the movements of tai chi, ballet and other forms of dancing, the list goes on.
Watch a selection of videos for ideas (YouTube is a great resource). Take a few classes if there's something that appeals to you.
It's not about doing a set number of repetitions or getting into a certain pose or keeping up with the rest of the class. Do whatever feels right for you, exploring movement supported by your Base-Line muscles. Strong and long from where the rest of the body extends.
The roll-down was the fundamental movement during my recovery.
A full range of movement is not just about the big muscles and big changes in positioning. Facial expressions, jaw movements, eye movements, wiggling fingers and toes all alter your positioning and increase range of motion.
Keep moving (even if it's just wiggling your toes whilst sitting on the sofa) and breathing with your Base-Line. Little by little progress is made.
You can only do something when your body is able to, so don't force anything.
Feeling for Balance and Alignment.
Dynamic balance and alignment go hand in hand with a full range of natural movement.
When there is a sense of balance in left and right of each of the main muscles of movement.
Feeling your alignment.
Use different parts of your body in contact with each other to give you more sensory information about your positioning.
- Hands on hips, ears, over your eyes ...
- Armpits or elbows to your knees...
Making contact gives you more feedback about the relative positioning of the bits of your body and helps to develop your sense of conscious proprioception.
Restricted Movement.
The body is very adaptable, continuing to function with significant restrictions in movement.
There are multiple options for the body to achieve the same 'pose' (such as touching your toes or touching your nose). It can skip over painful positions and make mini-adjustments throughout the body to imitate the 'ideal' pose. As you start to connect more with your body you will start to notice more of these. kinks and twists. ass out, knee adjustment etc... avoidance tactics.
Life heaps trauma on us... have you stored the damage rather than releasing it?
Reclaim your full range of natural movement
by working from Base-Line.
I had no idea how much movement I was missing until I started to recover. Over the years, less and less movement, more and more pain and tension.
I was considered 'bendy' and flexible. The way I sat, they way could twist my hips and turn my feet. I constantly figited (could never get comfortable) but I was already missing a lot of movement in my upper body by the time I started school
I had no upper body strength, I never trusted my arms to support me, monkey bars. I struggled with anything that involved curling my abdomen, whether it be gymnastics at school (I've never done a cartwheel), tumble-turns when swimming, doing sit-ups properly.
My upper body was rigid. I didn't turn my head, I had to turn my whole torso. And I only turned one way. My arm span was severely limited, the tenson across my chest back and neck stopping my trapezius muscles expanding to their full extent.