Let’s Coordinate!
In this article, I’ll talk a little bit about the importance of coordination in fitness. Then you’ll have a chance to make your posture and coordination better by taking online posture classes with me. Skip to info about the classes.
Fresh out of chiropractic school, I taught kinesiology, which looks at the way anatomy plays out in real life. You could call it the science of movement.
I was scared to death, but thank God there was an excellent class plan to teach from.
One thing that surprised me, though, was their definition of fitness: “the balance of strength and flexibility”.
Balancing stretch and flexibility is crucial, but that’s not enough to make you fit: to help you maintain your balance and do the things you need to.
The cardinal role of the nervous system is coordination. That’s true in every part of the self, but it’s very clear in human movement.
You need the strength and stretch to be able to move in space, to do whatever it is you’re doing. To be specific, I’m picturing you walking backwards on a tightrope holding a tiny li’l pink umbrella, but feel free to ‘do you’.
Beyond the pure strength to make the move, though, you need to not fall over, and you need to smooth out that movement to account for distractions and impediments (like a cheering crowd and a wavering tightrope) so that your movements are precise, efficient, and graceful.
That’s coordination.
You’ve seen those people, in movement as in human interaction, who look strong but lack grace. They’re uncoordinated. Everything is more awkward and difficult for them and the people they interact with.
I went to chiropractic school with a woman who appeared to have no muscle at all. She was slim, and what there was of her flesh was very soft. But when we did tests of functional strength such as balancing on one leg and bearing a pretty heavy weight, she outperformed the jocks (and me, but let’s not go there) by a huge margin.
Did I mention that she had been a virtuosic professional singer and was the best student in the class? Her nervous system was flexible and resilient in multiple ways. Coordination is everywhere.
Graceful movement and balanced posture do not result solely from having large muscles or being able to touch the floor with your palms. While larger muscles generate movement, true grace and balance come from the ability of small muscles deep within the spine and other areas to engage and disengage rapidly.
Once you start wavering on the tightrope, those small muscles – the first responders – have failed. You may not drop your li’l pink umbrella and fall into the safety net, but your movement will be much more swervy and awkward, and the body responds with those tiny muscles, and you never even know they were challenged.
Stand still with your feet together (or for more of a challenge, toes of one foot touching the heel of another like you’re taking small steps on a tightrope). You’ll soon realize that “standing still” is actually falling and catching yourself. Close your eyes and you’ll be even more aware of this. When the unseen muscles help you catch yourself, it’s seamless, and you neither see nor feel it. If the nervous system isn’t coordinated enough, you will swerve.
You: OK, Dr Russell, so how can I improve my coordination so I can leave my career as a finance bro and join a traveling circus as a tightrope walker? (I might can the umbrella, no offense.)
Dr Russell: (Hearty masculine laugh and manly back slap) No offense taken.
If you are willing to work on your posture, take my online class either Wed night 7:30-8:45pm EST or Fri morning 10:30-11:45am EST.
- You’ll work on all aspects of fitness.
- You’ll improve body awareness.
- Your balance will be better.
- Your movement in daily life will be easier and more efficient.
- All aspects of your life will be affected by better physical coordination and connection.
- Children and animals will instinctively be drawn to you (I guess, that’s not a guarantee).
The class ends with a guided meditation, which trains the nervous system to recognize the changes that have happened in your body to help you sustain your new alignment and coordination.
You: I’m sold! I’ll sign up by clicking here!!!!!
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“Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection.”
— Attributated to Mark Twain
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