Everybody’s doing a brand new dance now. . .
Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion
I know you’ll get to like it if you give it a chance now. . .
Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion
When Little Eva invites you to swing your hips, is it "easier than learning your A, B, C's?"
Patterns of “Locomotion” develop and progress over the course of childhood in a developmental sequence, i.e., from head lifting to lifting onto hands in prone, rolling over, all fours, kneeling, ½ kneeling, standing, rocking back & forth, and finally “perambulating.” Running, jumping, hopping, skipping and the like follow along as the awareness of the body in space, its shape under and at its edges, and its relationship to the outer world including gravity finds experiences from which to learn. The body needs good input to generate good output.
We can become “scared stiff” or “nauseous with nerves.” When the brain picks up the body signal, it can interpret a physical problem when in fact it is emotional in nature. The cascade of events meant to manage the issue becomes an issue of its own. Prolonged pain and inflammatory syndromes can begin in this way and self-perpetuate in an ongoing positive feedback loop. Likewise, physical disability tends to make us feel depressed. This is why it's so important to keep moving. The brain needs feedback from the body that “We’re OK!”
How, then, should we move?
Our somatosensory system picks up many forms of input including vibration/oscillation, pressure, temperature, pain, tickle, itch, muscle length, changes in length of tendons/joints, and changes in position of the head in space. The sensors in the gut/organs and fascia/connective tissue give our perception the “quality/feel,” like temperature, pain, itch, and an emotional overlay while other sensors give information which is more “quantity” based, such as length, depth, location, and size.
Bearing this in mind, we should give quality input to the “feeling” perception of the nerves in the fascia & gut to cross-reference with the “precision” receptors in the skin, muscles, joints, and inner ear to recover from injuries (or stay healthy and vibrant).
Quality input begets quality output. It's as easy as your A, B, C's!
Movements should
1.) Feel good 2.) Provide varied positions of the body and head 3.) Provide compression to core and edges of body 4.) Vary in speed 5.) Have an abundance of oscillation/rhythm 6.) Be self-directed/modulated
Yog-a-Motion was developed to incorporate the benefits of Hatha Yoga with current research regarding integration of the senses felt from within the body (interoception). In addition, it utilizes reverse developmental sequencing and fun to assist in recapturing the “inner child/source” deep within us. Singing is encouraged. . . the vagus/relaxation nerve manages the throat muscles after all. Body scanning phrases are linked together at the end for a quirky but meaningful look at your personal “body language.”
Energy trapped in repressed emotion is gently liberated, i.e., e-(nergy) motion, to balance the forces in the body.
Inhale (Inspiration) balanced by Exhale (Expiration)
Expression (Motor Output) balanced by Impression (Sensory input)
Thoughts balanced by Feelings
Top-down processing (Force) balanced by Bottom-Up processing (Power)
Are you ready to play?
Moving in a fun, respectful, rhythmic, varied, and aware way informs the body in its response for improved balance/homeostasis, resilience (physical & emotional), and well-being.