There are lessons on movement that we can take from the generation that is still learning how to function in a world that we are so used to navigating. Here are three lessons that we could learn from them.
- Explore your world on your hands and knees
Generally speaking, children crawl, scoot and move around their world on their hands and knees before they can walk. When is the last time you have been down there? Crawling itself is a great movement that is great for your entire body including your brain. Perhaps you do cat camels/cow stretch on your own or in yoga class. Take a step further and just move around. Stretch your neck, legs, and torso in ways that can get your vestibular system working on more cylinders. Vestibular what? Viola… watch and learn below.
Explore the Original Strength Youtube page for good material. Also from a trainers standpoint…if you got down to the floor, you have to get back up again! It is important that you practice getting down to the floor and back up again. This is an easy thing to do until it is not, then practice how to do it in ways that your body allows.
2. Do what you enjoy doing
Children have a gift of tunnel vision and are in the moment (yes for better or worse sometimes!). They enjoy little things, big things and all kinds of things. How does that pertain to you? You don’t have to follow the crowds and walk into a gym if you are not comfortable there. There are many ways that you can exercise that doesn’t involve going into a large gym. You could think on the smaller scale and look to see if there are some more boutique gyms that have a welcome environment for you to benefit from some personal training from. If any kind and size of gym is not the most welcome to you then try sports leagues like tennis or golf. Running clubs often have running groups for all levels and probably one for certain age brackets too. Think you are too old to run? Ask Ida Kneeling about that…
3. Do some unscripted movement
I dare you to turn some energetic music on and see a child not start reacting to it. Dancing is not the only type of movement that can be unscripted. They also run or move their bodies in various ways. If you have space get outside and get your hands dirty in the garden. Nobody is out there telling you when you move to the next station or how many reps to do when you are doing yard work. However, there are so many functional movements in yard work. If you don’t have space or ability to cultivate some life outside then find ways to move that don’t have to do with the stereotypical aspects of exercise. Volunteer, help build houses, find ways to move that you enjoy and can reconnect with your body.
Need some more advice from someone older? 🙂
