Exercising the SMART way

Exercise is actually a scientific discipline. Who's surprised? Most of us hate discipline(s) so really, are you surprised at all that exercise, which most of us also disdain, is a discipline? Moshe Feldenkrais originated one method of neuromuscular re-education. A Russian-born physicist who grew up in Palestine and was educated at the Sorbonne, Paris, he conducted some of first experiments in atomic research and is acknowledged to be first European to receive a black belt in judo, having written 5 books on its technique & theory. Feldenkrais began his study of human movement development in 1942 as a result of personal sports-related injuries and having received a dismal prognosis regarding walking. His new approach to physical improvement resulted in his own recovery and he continued to practice judo until age 68. He died at age 80 after developing thousands of unique movement lesson designed to access the motor learning centers of the brain, exploring the profound link between the brain and the body.

If we think back to our elementary school science classes, we have to remember that nothing occurs in the human body without the brain telling the specific organ or muscle, tendon, ligament, etc to respond. The human body is one big Pavlov's Dog machine, based upon stimulus and response, after all. Feldenkrais simply felt that if he had once learned to move, speak, etc., he could relearn it and retrain his body. Like the cliche goes, a jounrey begins with one small step. His re-education of his body began with small movements.


Subtle Movement Awareness Re-Training

This leads us to discuss the SMART exercises. Try them if you like but remember, I'm not a trained physiotherapist, physiologist or anything remotely connected to such. Movements should be very small! Do these exercises gently. They are of great benefit in increasing flexibility of the muscle without stretching it. They loosen and relax muscles that get tight when kept in one position for prolonged length of time - like sitting watching television! C'mon...we've all realized that it gets harder to stand up and take that first step after watching an NCIS marathon the older we get, right? Now we know why!

These exercise can, in fact, be done while watching television. Remember the goal is for small, controlled movements. No one should really be able to tell you're doing them. Let's start with the first exercise. Sit in a chair with your feet on floor. Push your right knee forward a little. Return your right knee to a resting position, moving left knee forward and then return it to a resting position. The basic movement is this: right knee forward and pull left knee back. Return & repeat this pattern 5 times. Then, repeat w/ left knee going forward (right back) 5 times.

Let's move on to one best done in the shower or in front of the bathroom mirror. Drop your jaw slightly, relaxing your muscles and separating your teeth. Place the tip of your tongue between your teeth and run your tongue from right to the left side and back 5 times. Move your eyes in the opposite direction to your tongue.

What you are doing is teaching your brain and muscle to work independently...again. Babies learn this during their first two years of life but, due to our reduced movement as we age or possibly due to an injury, we lose those "learned abilities". Muscles begin to atrophy or wither in ten days. LAck of use leads to lack of ability to use.

Very few of us really get excited over exercising but all of us value to ability to move. Use it or lose it was never more true than when applied to our bodies! So get up, get moving, and google Feldenkrais for more of his wonderful exercises.

Remember, it's our life and we need to remember to invest in ourselves each and every day!