Living in a three dimensional world part II

At the end of the last post I mentioned that in addition to increased strength and injury prevention working our bodies and limbs through all potential angles was also good for the brain.


Here's why;  Our brains are interactive.  You probably already know this.  We take in information, analyze it, use it as seems appropriate.   You know that reading and learning throughout life helps keep the neurons firing and developing.  The old adage "use it or lose it" applies here.


While it is obvious in academic learning and in life it is less obvious in movement. 


In the case of movement the data is not external like reading a book or figuring out how to nail  together a door frame.  Learning movement is mostly internal.  In this case the data is sent to the brain by sensors we have throughout the body called proprioceptors.  These proprioceptors constantly feed information to our brain about how our body and limbs are aligned, how quickly they are moving and how much tension is being put on the muscles, tendons and joints. 


The more and varied the data the more the brain has to process and analyze and the more capeable it becomes. 


Instead of "push ups hurt my shoulder" the dialogue becomes "The left shoulder was higher than the right and the push up was harder on the left side"  The ability to identify subtle changes in the body BY FEEL helps performance but it also challenges the brain.




This subject was worth a two part talk because as neuroscience continues to develop we are learning about the very powerful interaction between movement and mental health.  We are moving away from a mechanistic view of ourselves and our bodies to an organic one where everything touches and affects everything else.  As we evolve our view of our bodies so we evolve our view of the world.


Stay tuned true believers. There is always more to learn.


All the best
Steve

Tools, Toys and Biofeedback

I am not a gadget person.  My cell phone is actually just a phone. My watch has an alarm and a stop watch; it can cover two times zones.  I have them both for Pacific. 

However, I like “stuff” for training.  I may have more stuff than any trainer I know.  TRX, Bodyblade, kettlebells, clubbells, bands, fitballs, medicine balls, tennis balls, airdiscs, etc.

Why?

As people start down the fitness path and learn by doing what their definitions and needs are they need new goals and challenges.

For example as a strength trainer works on heavier weights they realize that a weak link in the chain of a given movement, say a squat, is holding them back.  Activating a sleeping assistor muscle will take them farther, more quickly and with less injury than just digging in.  Perhaps side squats with band resistance will help with hip involvement, or a twisting motion with either the TRX or Bodyblade will help them engage their core more.

We are constantly discovering and rediscovering our movements.  We clean up, refine and explore. The various tools we have available to us dictate how efficiency we can explore these other roads.

Tools give us options, options give us the opportunity to explore, and what is exploration with movement but play?