Conscious Proprioception.

Feel how to heal.

Proprioception:

(PRO-pree-oh-SEPt-shun)

"The ability to sense stimuli arising within the body regarding position, motion, and equilibrium."

outline of human figure seen from the front. Showing the network of nerves thoughout the body. The central nervous system consisting of the spinal cord and brain. A web of smaller nerves from the extremities feeding into larger nerves, transmitting the sensory information about the body's position, motion and balance which is processed for our sense of proprioception. Conscious proprioception is when we experience this sensory feedback our body has for us. Seeing the sparkles, feeling the position of the body relative to base-line, instinctively knowing where our natural range of movement should take us.

Proprioception - the basics.

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.

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 your day-to-day posture.

To improve your posture you need to become more conscious of your sense of proprioception. This allows you to judge your positioning for yourself and feel how to move in order to work towards a body that is more balanced and aligned.

good posture body alignment and balance

Conscious proprioception.

Conscious proprioception is when we are aware of the proprioceptive sensory feedback our body provides. When we can consciously sense/see/feel:

The position of the parts of our body.
The motion of our body, and where we should be able to move.
Our equilibrium - whether our body is balanced or not.

Conscious proprioception and your Base-Line muscles.

Increased awareness your sense of position, motion and balance begins by focusing on activating and extending the body's "core pillar of strength" - your Base-Line muscles: Pelvic floor Base, rectus abdominis Line.

Base-Line muscles

● The position of the rest of your body is relative to your Base-Line.

human skeleton seen from the front also showing the base-line muscles. the pelvic floor at the base of the body. The rectus abdominis muscles from pelvis to rib cage up the front of the abdomen, either side of our midline anatomy of the linea alba. Midline is drawn on the figure, splitting the body into equal left and right halves. The rest of the body should be thought to extend from our Base-Line muscles. Feeling the relative position of the rest of the body from a base-line reference. Connecting body and mind.

● All movement should originate from, and be supported by, your Base-Line.

human figure seen from the front, looking up the body with the baseline muscles shown. The base pelvic floor muscles, a basket of muscles within the bones of the pelvis that provide the solid foundation for the body. The rectus abdominis muscles extend from the pubic symphysis of the pelvis, up the front of the abdomen to the ribcage. The rectus abdominis muscles are like to 2 parallel stacks of panels of muscle, blocks side by side, from base to mid chest either side of the linea alba. These muscles are the body's core pillar of strength, from where all movement should originate and be supported by.

● The body should be balanced either side of the median plane.

Image of a human figure viewed from the front. Showing a line straight down the middle. The body is split into left and right halves from head to pelvis. Left and right sides of the body are balanced either side of this line. Our midline anatomy is at full extension and in alignment to lie on this line which is known as the median plane.

the median plane

Connecting with our Base-Line and then working with the other main muscles of movement too, increases awareness of the proprioceptive information our body has for us.

main muscles of movement

What if I don't use my
main muscles of movement?

Being conscious of our sense of proprioception allows us to experience the body map in the mind and to really feel our posture and judge our state of balance and alignment.

The body map in the mind.

Imagine a 3-D representation of the body, demonstrating a flow of movement through the innumerable positions the body is capable of when functioning at optimal. A moving map in our mind of our full range of natural movement - of the body's full spatial potential when it is dynamically balanced and aligned.

full range of natural movement

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.

linea alba

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 and twisted. The map distorted.

A distorted map in the mind means that motor commands are sent to the 'wrong' muscles, further adding to the body's imbalance and misalignment.

Active engagement of the Base-Line muscles creates a positive feedback loop, increasing awareness of:

Voluntary activation of muscles. Building the mind to muscles, body to brain connection.
The body map in the mind. Sensing our potential for a full range of natural movement.
The proprioceptive feedback that is compared to the map. Seeing the sparkles.

conscious proprioception - technique tips

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.

my body-mind connection