Range of Motion
It's
in your head!
For the last few years I've been taking classes in Embodied
Yoga that incorporates into yoga the principles of Body-Mind-Centering.
One of my fav topics lately has been the functioning of
muscles. While BMC
is a deep dive facilitated by a deep understanding of the
actual way things work, I'm beginning this series of articles
from an entirely different perspective -- namely, you don't
have to consciously know how things work in order for them to
work.
As the teachers are fond of saying, "Your
body never didn't know how to do these things."
An example
Your muscles' range of motion, which might be considered
the flexibility or looseness in your body, can be increased
through mental visualization -- want to try it?
This is a really old example that used the turning of the
head to illustrate the principle. It used to be out on
the internet but I can't seem to find it anymore. There
is one version of a hypnotist talking folks through this which
is really good. If you find it, have a listen!
The Technique
- Pick a side to turn your head towards
- Because the body likes to know it has 'learned,'
- look in the direction you've chosen, gently,
stopping when you reach the end of your range of
motion before you feel a stretch or any discomfort
- Notice what your nose is pointed at.
- Bring your face back to the front, with your
nose lined up over your midline or thereabouts.
- Gently begin the movement of turning your head to the
side, moving it just a fraction
- Repeat this several times noticing how easy it is and
how freely this small movement is
- You may continue with this small, easy, freely moving
small movement throughout.
- Now imagine, maybe
with eyes closed, without physically doing it that through
out your full current range of motion you have this same
ease and freedom. Play this in your imagination
several times marveling at how easily and freely everything
moves.
- Continuing in your imagination, notice the freedom and
ease of the movement allows you increase the range of
motion beyond the range of motion you had
originally. In your imagination, turn your
head several times.
- As you continue turning your head in your
imagination,
- for 3 or 4 turns, pretend you are like an owl
and can look over your shoulder.
- for 3 or 4 more turns, as an owl you can now look
behind you even
- then for a few more turns, pretend somehow you can
look almost all the way around to the other shoulder.
- Now come back to neutral
- With your eyes open notice how far you can freely and
easily turn your head.
Chances are, it's better. Either you can move the
same amount more freely and easily or you can even more more
than before with freedom and ease.
How does this happen?
We are asking the body to do something and trusting it can
do it and the body is delivering on that request.
Just as we don't have to know the mechanics of how to walk
in order to learn how to walk, we don't have to know
everything about how muscles work to improve their function --
but maybe what we do need to know is how to be gentle with
them. Ask, trust, allow, let ... see what you get.
L
(Oh yeah, have a go with the other direction and with other
limbs!)
Pic From the internet
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Are you looking for something more in your riding?
Something that really connects the inside and the outside?
Sometimes a hands on experience can do a lot to clarify
something written.
I've studied horse and human anatomy for twenty five years.
I started with Centered Riding and that is solidly based upon
how bodies work and how brains process information. I
know Alexander, Feldenkrais, Trigger Point, myofascial, Ortho-bionomy,
how to develop resistance training programs, and more recently
I am incorporating concepts from Body-Mind-Centering.
I've done yoga for more than forty years, studied (and used)
the chakra and meridian systems for over twenty.
Sometimes I don't go into theory because in the middle of a
lesson it would detract from the practical learning of how to
ride, but I do clinics where I share this information along
with how to incorporate it into your training program.
And if you really don't mind listening to me yak forever, I
can easily do that during a lesson, too. It's just most
folks want to ride!
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