Learning to Mindfully Move the Body in Time and Space 

 What does this mean? 

Understanding how our bodies move is crucial. Our bodies naturally take the path of least resistance. 

For instance, when you bend over to pick up something heavy and place it on a counter, you don't consciously think about which muscles to use. Your body automatically adapts to the task at hand. 

This adaptability is an amazing feature of our bodies. 

When injured, our bodies instinctively compensate by recruiting other muscles to perform necessary movements. 

However, factors such as lifestyle, habitual movement patterns, and injuries can lead to muscle imbalances. Certain muscles become overdeveloped and take over tasks they weren't designed for. 

One common example is the trapezius muscle, often overdeveloped due to its role in compensating for movement. 

During exercise, as movements become challenging, the trapezius tends to engage, indicating that other muscles are being recruited. 

When I was trained by my mentor Michael Thurmond, the focus was initially on contracting specific muscle groups for aesthetic purposes. 

While this is valuable, I believe exercise is much more than just looking good. 

Over time, I noticed improvements in my clients' functionality and freedom of movement, which motivated me to delve deeper into understanding the true value of exercise. 

Learning to move your body mindfully—contracting specific muscles—helps build balance and freedom of movement. 

While it's impossible to consciously engage all 600 muscles in the body, focusing on key muscles can enhance strength and balance.  

I'm always striving to elevate my mind-body awareness, not only to better assist clients but also for my personal health. 

My goal is to maintain an optimally functioning body, allowing me to live pain-free and enjoy activities with my family. 

As an older parent, I want to stay active and not be held back by past injuries or poor posture. 

Recently, I began a program called Foundation Training, which emphasizes moving the body in specific ways for foundational strength. 

Although some concepts overlap with yoga, this program has introduced me to new techniques, taking my understanding to a deeper level and I'm excited about the lessons to come. 

I recently worked with a coach focused on building muscle. Over 12 weeks of resistance training, I gained significant muscle and strength, yet felt weaker due to neglecting stretches and foundational exercises. 

Seeking something new, I started Foundation Training, and after just five days, I already feel its effectiveness. It's a 30-day program, and I plan to repeat it monthly for six months to gain a deeper command of my body in time and space. 

This deeper understanding of body movement is my personal goal. I believe it's important to share for context. 

I've worked with many individuals who have exercised their entire lives but lack awareness of their body's movements. 

They perform exercises without understanding, resulting in overdeveloped muscles and an unbalanced body.

Learning to isolate and contract specific muscle groups is vital. It helps prevent overcompensation and promotes balance, making everyday movements more efficient. 

This is where a well-designed program and knowledgeable trainer become invaluable. 

Intense workouts that focus solely on exertion often reinforce muscle imbalances and increase injury risk. 

My aim in writing this is to encourage you to understand how your body moves, helping you achieve freedom of movement and a better quality of life. 

I hope you found this helpful. There's much more I could share, but that would require a book—maybe one day! 

Live long, live healthy.