If you sit at the mall or the airport for a while, you will observe many different bodies moving about in various ways. All accomplish the same task; some more efficiently and effectively than others. You wonder how some survive. Observe the asymmetries. Observe the postural changes gravity has affected. Keep in mind that many of these people have no idea what they look like when they are moving, nor do they easily perceive their body in space—that their torso is flexed forward, their feet shuffle, their knees hyperextend, one hip drops more than the other with each step, they lean their torso to one side to compensate for weak hip musculature.
Good, fundamental movement patterns are not a given for most adults and for many kids. I say most, not all. Many people would benefit from basic instruction in fundamental movements and how the body works most efficiently. It is like learning and practicing your ABC’s in grade school. You learn to print and write cursive. Then you learn to spell and develop a basic vocabulary. With this movement vocabulary, the athlete then expresses his or her creativity and sport skill via writing beautiful compositions. No two are exactly alike, but the trained eye sees the basic building blocks. Sometimes you have to go back and review the abc’s, vocabulary or fine tune some grammar, if there is an injury or a technique glitch.
The average person or the recreational athlete usually needs a bit more help with these fundamental movement building blocks. By actively teaching these building blocks, we help these people move well and avoid compensatory movements, maladaptive shortening (strengthening) or lengthening (weakening) of muscles and finally, injury. Unfortunately, the typical physical therapist doesn’t get to see these people until all of the compensatory changes have taken hold and the injury causes significant pain, impairment and possibly surgery.
My goal is to teach people their movement ABC’s and vocabulary from the beginning. Now how to do it without some silly gimmick or absurd promise of an ultra sexy body? Hmmm……
It's Saturday October 27, 8 am to 12 noon! Email me for questions and registration info. We'll have some fun and show you the mobility and stability necessary to learn and perform weightlifting movements. This is a hands-on gig, so come dressed to move (if you like) and bring lots of questions. Keep in mind, this particular event isn't about lifting big weights; it is about understanding these total body movements and learning to use your legs! We'll have some great video clips so you can see what the elite athlete looks like, and you will be able to evaluate your own movement patterns with video feedback via Dartfish.
