Why speed matters in movement (plus: one way I've altered how I teach!)
"Brainy What-Why-How"
Your weekly nibble of science-backed goodness to help you move better and feel unstoppable.
🧠
What (the TL:DR)
Changing up how we move helps us activate the brain in more ways. But "change" doesn't just mean what movements. It's about how.
Plainly: Speed matters!
Why (the geeky neurology)
Do the first move of a sun salutation (standing: bring your arms from by your sides, to reach them overhead).
Done it? Okay.
The speed you moved your arms at is called "Coordinated speed".
Basically: the speed where you feel comfortable and easy moving; where it feels natural.
But if I asked you to do the same movement...
➡️ super slow,
➡️ or super fast,
how would it feel? Different, right?
This is because we have different mechanoreceptors (nerve endings that sense movement) for different directions as well as different velocities. Cool huh?!
🧠 So as far as your brain is concerned, moving through that SAME movement either faster or slower than what feels natural is NEW (or at least different!) That means
- more brain activation
- more neural clarity in that movement,
- and thus, better proprioception*
- awareness of where your body is in space; read: owning that movement instead of feeling lost in it.)
How (apply it to your life)
How to apply this? Well, I think you'll love how I've started putting together my Dynamic classes on Move With Adell -- and there's a new one here!
As a teacher who's always aiming to learn and grow and not be afraid to change how I do things,** I've recently adopted a new way to guide these fast movements:
Instead of counting reps, I set a timer.
So this way, you get to choose how fast or slow you move through the explosive movement (maybe you choose not to make it explosive at all!) I'll be there encouraging you the whole way.
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This Dynamic Legs & Prana Flow is just 16 minutes long -- easy to fit into your day and elevate your heart rate AND your brain power!
And on this topic of moving in new ways, let's not apply the Yama Ahimsa to it. As Lori Deschene says:
"We can’t hate ourselves into a version of ourselves we can love."
Thank you for reading! Hit reply if you have any questions 😉
And please share with a friend or colleague who might find this valuable.
Wishing you and all your mechanoreceptors a lovely week,
Adell
- *New information coming out SOON on my next NeuroYoga Teacher Training. Make sure you're on the waitlist to get special offers and be the first to know!
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