Wellness through Movement

Movement is at the heart of who we are: it expresses who we are to the world and leads us to where we are going. How we move has a major influence on both how we feel and what we are able to achieve. Even the way we hold ourselves has a major effect on the way we feel. If you are not convinced, try walking around with your shoulders rounded and hunched up, looking down and with shallow breathing. Notice how different it feels to walking with your head high, chest open and your back straight and breathing deeper breaths.

Most people who try this begin to feel depressed if they stay in the first posture. Maintaining the second generally results in an increased sense of wellbeing. How do you normally carry yourself? How aware are you of why you carry yourself this way?

Have you ever made the link between your muscle tone and your posture? Think about it, it’s hard work keeping good posture and carrying yourself well if the muscles required to do so are out of tone. So it makes sense that toning the muscles involved can lead to an increased sense of wellbeing: because you will have an increased ability to hold good posture and move yourself with grace.

Pilates is a low impact form of body conditioning designed to improve muscle tone, and hence, posture and correct muscular imbalances. It increases flexibility, balance, co-ordination, concentration, joint mobility, stamina and endurance and of course leads to a better overall sense of wellbeing. More about Pilates.
 

Dance Therapy    "Dance-Movement Therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process, which furthers the emotional and physical integration of the individual... it effects changes in feelings, cognition, physical functioning and behaviour. "[American Dance Therapy Association] It can release emotional and/or physical tension and stress, and bring healing and a sense of freedom and self-empowerment. It can be used simply to enjoy one’s creativity and self-expression and for artistic purposes. Many experience the joy of discovering oneself in a new way and freedom to move with new life energy and vitality. More about Dance Therapy.
 

Move to Learn Science has now shown that the development and integration of our brains from birth depends on movement. Movement actually stimulates the brain to grow by promoting the laying down and coordination of neural pathways. Any developmental stage that has been missed, for example crawling, results in an underdevelopment of specific neural pathways with diverse consequences in later life. Educational experts are now teaching reparative exercises to overcome such deficits with great results. To find out more about this approach to learning difficulties see www.movetolearn.com.au