Movement - What Does That Mean To You?

Is it getting from one place to another?  Is it sport specific?  Should we have pain when we move?  Are our bodies efficient at moving us? 

We take movement for granted and to some degree we should.  Consciously asking our body to move one foot in front of the other would be exhausting – just watch a one-year-old learning to walk!  It takes a child 13-14 months (on average) to learn how to stand up, support their body, and then move themselves forward.  That is a lot of work!

So, as you read this, take a slow breath in… and a slow breath out.  What is the first thought that came to your mind?  How did your body response?

Did you sit up taller?

Did you shift in your seat?

Did you look out the window?

Likely, a sense of calmness was introduced into your body and you are now thinking, ‘How well do I move?” or “I wish I could [insert activity] without pain” or maybe “I am happy with the way I move!”

If you are not completely satisfied and you think you can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your movement, here is a great starting point!

The first functional movement that we learned was DIAPHRAGM BREATIHNG – we used all our might to cry when coming into this world and started to breathe air. From there, the neurological development would exponential grow.  The first 3 years of our lives are the most developmental years; we will never learn the same amount in the same time period again. 

Revisit the following movements to determine your efficiency:

Breathe with your diaphragm

Roll from your stomach to your back and vice versa (and both ways)

Be on all fours and crawl

Side plank

Lunge

Squat to stand

Walk

If any of the above gave you a challenge, then you might be setting your body up for inefficiencies, dysfunction, painful movement, and/or injury. 

Listen and be kind to your body as you only have one!