Gateways to Relationship: Movement

Last month we explored our sense of touch and as stated in September’s blog, movement and touch are our first senses to develop. Our ability to sense and send that information to the central nervous system feeds into a movement output. As we move, new sensations arise which again feed into the sensory-motor loop.One of the first nerves to myelinate in embryological development is the vestibular nerve. From a developmental perspective, the earlier a nerve receives its fatty coating (myelin), the more significant that nerve is to survival. Ponder that for a moment! 

Information from nerves that sense movement in joints, tendons, muscle spindles, fascia, and interoceptors in our organs, plus information derived from our vestibular system in the inner ear (am I accelerating? decelerating? rotating? side bending? etc) travels to the brain stem….to be relayed to the thalamus… then to the cortex (‘higher’ level of our brains). This offers us a type of body weather… telling us where we are in relationship to gravity, time and space and from that, we make choices in movement (either consciously or not).Let’s explore:

How’s Your Body Weather?(~ 30 minutes)

• Individually or with others: Begin by walking through space: walk – pause – walk – pause – change levels (sit or lay down) – pause – get up, walk, dance, climb… . Vary your tempo. Can you add a small little balance? What about a quick spin?
• While you are moving notice information that comes to you from your muscles… tendons … joints … ligaments … receptors in your tendons … how does your stomach feel when it slides by your pancreas in a twist? Notice sensations in your heart and lungs.
• Notice how you feel in relationship to gravity? (is the floor your ‘friend’?) … Do you brace yourself against the force of gravity (defending)? When can you sink into the support of gravity (bonding)? How do you experience bonding with space? How does that manifest in your movement?
• Notice when movement feels ‘yummy’ to you. What does it mean to you to bond to your own self in movement? Are there moments and movements which cause you discomfort or pain? How do you defend against your own self? In these moments of discomfort, can you find a way to go ‘under’ the pain to find comfort? Notice your movement here.
• Where does your curiosity about your own self in movement lead you? If you are with others, notice how you relate in movement. When and how do you bond with others in movement? Are you more comfortable to be in close proximity or farther away? What does defending against others or the environment show up in your body? What do you notice from an interoceptor or a vestibular perspective?

Now use this experience the next time you ride the C-train, or pick up groceries, or have coffee with a friend, or pet your dog/cat/horse, or… . Movement is a profound and fundamental way in which we relate to our selves, to others and to our environment. Enjoy!