Conscious Proprioception.
Feel how to heal.
Proprioception - the basics.
(PRO-pree-oh-SEPt-shun)
Throughout the body, various 'sensors' produce sensory feedback (information) that is sent to the brain via our nerves.
The brain processes feedback about the body's position, balance and movement (our posture) for the sense known as proprioception.
Proprioception:
"The ability to sense stimuli arising within the body regarding position, motion, and equilibrium."
Your sense of proprioception will be running in the background, providing sensory information about your positioning so that subconscious adjustments can be made throughout the body to maintain a functional posture.
To improve your posture and reduce your pain, you need to be more conscious of how your body is positioned.
Conscious proprioception.
Conscious proprioception is when we are aware of this proprioceptive sensory feedback our body provides. When we can consciously sense/see/feel:
- The position of the parts of our body. Our posture.
- The motion of our body, and where we should be able to move.
- Our equilibrium - whether our body is balanced or not.
Conscious proprioception:
An awareness of your sense of position, motion and balance.
Feeling your posture.
Your Base-Line and conscious proprioception.
Increased awareness your sense of position begins by focusing on activating and extending your Base-Line.
→ The position of the rest of your body is relative to your Base-Line.
→ All movement should originate from your Base-Line.
→ The body should be balanced either side of the median plane.
Increased awareness of your sense of proprioception means you can work towards correcting your posture and a body that is balanced, aligned and free of tension.
Conscious proprioception & the body map in your mind.
Imagine a 3-D representation - a moving map in the mind - of the layout of your body.
Proprioceptive information received by the brain is applied to this "body map in the mind", giving us a mental image of the positioning of our head and limbs relative to our Base-Line.
Sensory feedback from the pelvic floor muscles provides the Base starting point for reading the map accurately.
Sensory feedback from the rectus abdominis muscles provides information about the positioning of the linea alba - the Line that orientates the map in the right direction.
This map is our innate knowledge of where our full range of movement should be able to take us - to where the body should be able extend from Base-Line. The map is of our full potential.
Conscious proprioception:
Connecting body and mind.
When the body is functioning at optimal - when it is dynamically balanced and aligned with a full range of natural movement - all proprioceptive feedback can be accurately placed onto the map Ability aligns with potential and we can see the whole map.
When physical restrictions are present on the body - when the body is imbalanced and misaligned - the sensory feedback cannot align with the map. There are 'blockages' and 'blank spaces' in the proprioceptive information we experience. The body is crumpled. The map distorted.
A distorted map in the mind means that motor commands are sent to the 'wrong' muscles, further adding to imbalance and misalignment.
As I focused on activating my Base-Line - longer and stronger with every in breath - I began to see 'the sparkles' which was the beginning of an awareness of my sense of proprioception, feeling a connection between my body and mind.
First Base-Line then working with the other main muscles of movement, little by little sensing these muscles, feeling my state of balance and alignment.
Conscious proprioception allows you to:
- Feel the relative position, motion and equilibrium of each of your main muscles of movement.
- Feel the relative positioning of your midline anatomy.
- Feel your state of alignment and balance.
- Feel where your full range of natural range of movement should be able to take you.
- Develop the connection between body and mind - being able to see/sense/visualise your presence in space.
- Feel how to move to improve your posture.
- Feel how to heal yourself.
midline markers linea alba nuchal & supraspinous ligaments
full range of natural movement