A Full Range of Natural Movement.
A full range of natural movement is what your body should be able to do. Your full potential. Not what you are currently able to do.
With a full range of natural movement the body is dynamically balanced and aligned.
Movement flows through every possible position. Stable and controlled, without pain or tension.
A full range of natural movement is something to work towards. Something to aim for. An on-going process.
I didn't appreciate how much movement I was missing until I started to recover.
It's taken several years to get where I am now.
Every day being able to move a little more than the day before.
Releasing the pain and tension I had been carrying around.
Improving your range of movement starts from Base-Line.
The muscles central to healthy movement. Your core pillar of strength, from where the rest of the body extends.
Explore movement supported by your Base-Line muscles. Do whatever feels right to you.
The roll-down action was my go-to move during my recovery.
Focusing on your Base-Line will increase your awareness of your sense of proprioception (becoming more conscious of your sense of position, motion and balance).
Developing your sense of proprioception will guide you in working towards a full range of natural movement, dynamic balance and alignment.
Feel for your midline anatomy aligning on the median plane.
Picturing in your mind this line being as straight and smooth - as extended - as possible.
Connecting body and mind.
Do You Have a Full Range of Natural Movement?
With a full range of natural movement the head and limbs can all be moved independently whilst the rest of the body remains stable.
This is possible when the main muscles of movement can be fully utilised and the body is free of physical restrictions.
With a full range of natural movement the body can work at optimal, maintaining an ideal posture at all times, in all positions.
Restricted Range of Movement.
In my experience, very few people have a full range of natural movement.
Anything that causes a restriction in our connective tissues reduces movement and over the years restrictions build up.
The body is very adaptable, continuing to function with significant restrictions in movement. So much so you may not appreciate what you are missing. I certainly didn't.
There are multiple options for the body to achieve what appears to be the same pose (such as touching your toes or touching your nose). The body skips over painful positions and makes mini-adjustments throughout the body to imitate a pose, but it's "cheating", not using a full range of movement.
As you start to connect more with your body you will start to notice the kinks and twists, adjustments to reach a position or avoid a painful movement. Movement should be smooth and fluid. ass out, knee adjustment etc... avoidance tactics.
Life heaps trauma on us... have you stored the damage rather than releasing it by returning to a full range of natural movement? Injuries, inflammation.
If you don't use it - you lose it. Getting stiffer as you get older shouldn't just be accepted.
Old injuries that never quite go away.
Regaining Your Movement is a Process.
Improving your posture and regaining your natural range of movement is a journey. It takes time and effort on your part.
The more stored trauma you have, the longer it will take. But if you don't make the effort to balance and align yourself, the pain will only increase.
Little by little, releasing the physical restrictions, pains and tension by working with the right muscles.
Feeling how to heal.
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 but remember 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. It's about connecting with your body and doing whatever feels right for you at the time, guided by your Base-Line.
Keep moving (even if it's just wiggling your toes whilst sitting on the sofa) and breathing with your Base-Line to build the connection between body and mind.
You can only do something when your body is able to, so don't force anything.
Little by little progress is made.
A full range of movement is not just about big changes in positioning. Facial expressions, jaw movements, eye movements, wiggling fingers and toes all alter your positioning and increase range of motion.
Feeling for Balance and 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 proprioception.
Reclaim your full range of natural movement
by working from Base-Line.
