Sensory Experiences Shape Your Brain and Life
Sensory Experiences Shape Your Brain and Life
Dysfunction results from your limitations in perceiving what you are doing, and often, these concerns lie in the process of how. At these moments, you can find other options and possibilities to move beyond your limitations. Slowing things down enables you to pay closer attention without judgment to the conditions and begin recognizing what you are doing. This is the “dance of life” I speak of, and The Feldenkrais Method® offers strategies for finding other, more efficient pathways to move forward.
As infants, it is our sensory motor cortex (Cerebellum) that informs us of what is around us and how to maneuver influences a higher order, awakening the upper brain (Neocortex/Cerebrum). Brains learn and integrate prior knowledge with new information. These are feedback loops that help confirm and wire in this new knowledge. A patterning evolves, which you need to create greater speed and abilities.
Together, we are stronger and can help support each other in finding more efficient and optimal patterns. Here’s a simple way to recognize if what you are doing is efficient: Is it easy? If it’s easy, it’s more efficient and wastes less energy. While life is hard and can be very trying and difficult, it’s when you can begin to find a pathway of ease that everything improves.
Begin to awaken all of your senses. Your eyes offer a feedback loop, visually confirming what you see that allows your brain to integrate, remember and learn from experiences. Science shares that when you can return to your sensory learning, directed through your awareness, your nervous system becomes the key player in the integration of new knowledge. Can you begin to recognize the subtle yet significant awakening of a feeling telling you something to pay attention to? Allow this to awaken your awareness, slow it down, and then pay attention to more of your senses: hearing to listen, smelling to discern pleasure or danger, taste to clarify, and touch to validate your perceptions.
“All perception and sensation take place on a background of muscular activity. And though we are unaware of it, this activity is most strictly shaped by gravity. There are several systems cooperating in orientating our bodies, but the vestibular apparatus is the coordinating chef d’orchestre. The vestibular apparatus coordinates all sensory impulses that influence muscular tone and attitudes.” – Dr Moshe Feldenkrais, Body and Mature Behavior
Many of my senses were awakened when I learned of the recent passing of Mia Segal, a renowned Feldenkrais trainer and dear friend and colleague of Dr Moshe Feldenkrais. Many sensations arose with this knowledge and so below I share a portion from Beethoven’s Symphony #7 in A Major that inspired me as I thought of Mia, may she rest in peace.
Link here: Beethoven’s Symphony #7 in A Major
I hope this magnificent music inspires you as it did me and allows you to move forward with hope. We endure what we cannot change, so find a way to change just a little bit what you can and begin to awaken to baby steps that lead you forward.
I invite you to join me for Awareness Through Movement (ATM)® lessons, 4 weekly, private sessions whether live or virtual to awaken and find more optimal, easy pathways forward. Together we are stronger to support each other to find more efficient ways to move forward.
I hope I’ve earned the privilege of your time and attention and look forward to your reaching out with any questions, curiosity and invitations to join me as we explore gently together.
Warmest,
Peggi
