Why I will always cheer for you if you fall in my classes…

"Brainy What-Why-How"

Your weekly nibble of science-backed goodness to help you move better and feel unstoppable.

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How does falling make you feel?

On Move With Adell this month, we're working on our arm balances, and often gravity gets the best of us in those shapes #faceplant.

Here's why it's important to have a positive view of falling.

What (the TL:DR)

Celebrating failures such as falling, and changing our attitude from "oh no, that's bad!" to "awesome, that was actually okay!" can influence our natural brain chemistry to help us learn faster and better.

Why (the geeky neurology)

Our brains are really only wired to want to repeat things that we succeed at.

When we fall (read: fail), the dopamine levels in the brain change (⬇️) and that makes us feel like "ew...I do NOT want to repeat that."

Furthermore, with that decrease of dopamine, studies* show even if we repeat the task, we're less focused and more likely to make mistakes.

What this means is that we can use our neocortex (the part of our brain that makes us "human", which uses skills like logic) to override the more basic instincts and emotions of the old brain ("stay safe! Don't try that again!").

How (apply it to your life)

 By turning a fall (or any failure) into something worth being celebrated, something that feels like a success, you can help your dopamine levels give you more of an "I want to try that again" feeling.**

If you faceplant in your crow pose, think "woohoo! Now I get to try again!"

If you topple over in your tittibhasana, laugh and smile and take a deep breath and do it again.

By controlling your attitude towards the falling, your brain will do the work of helping you stay focused the next time you try it.

Today's newest upload on Move With Adell is a balance-focused flow for crow pose, with vestibular drills! So you may not fall, but if you do....*you know what to do 😉*

Not yet a MWA member?Get started HERE with a 7-day free trial,and get moving with science-backed tools today!*(if you enjoy my blogs, this is the best way to support me to keep 'em coming!)*

“Lean towards the pain and ask 'why does this hurt?'” - Dr Luana Marques

Thank you for reading!

And please share with a friend or colleague who might find this valuable.

Wishing you happy failures!

Adell