I presented some Strategies for Moving Younger at the Linn-Benton Senior Resource Network last week. Participants had a chance to experience a bit of slow, attentive movement, within a comfortable range and with less effort, like we do in class every week. I pointed out that these hallmarks of our approach are consistent with increased neuroplasticity in the brain, the ability to change and improve -- even in the face of serious injury. As discussed in Dr. Doidge's new book, this approach increases learning, improves movement and even helps relieve pain.
Someone asked about getting a flatter belly and it got me thinking. Apart from the broader health implications of extra weight that must be addressed:
* we sometimes get focused on a flat belly and may tend to hold our belly in. This is extra muscle effort that is not carried into movement and which often impedes our breathing, leading to other less-than-good outcomes.
* sometimes our way of standing contributes to more of a "belly". Using our bones for support and utilizing the full length of our spine in a well-aligned skeleton may result in our being taller and carrying our weight in a different way. The Feldenkrais Method can help with that.