Posture begins in Lengthened Spine

Studying Z-Health functional applied neurology, I have learned more about balance and the brain than I had ever imagined.  The brain determines not only how we move through life but also how we see, balance and think.  This information is so good, I have to share tidbits that will help you move better, balance better and see better.

Today I am going to talk to you about posture. Posture is a reflex and posture is controlled up to seventy (70) percent by your vision!  Wow, think about those two statements for a minute.  Posture is reflexive. And posture is driven by your vision.

The Fall Prevention Lady's Lengthened Spine Demo

First, posture is a reflex.  For those people (and I used to train people this way) who throw your shoulders back, stretch chest muscles, strengthen neck flexors, hold your head level and even get massages to reduce tension in upper back, you know that the minute you walk out of the training session, your posture goes back to the way it was when you walked in.

That's because posture is reflexive.  In other words, your brain is focused on a level horizon and despite life circumstances (accidents, bumps and bruises) and occupational hazards (poor posture from a desk job), your brain is going to keep the horizon level for balance purposes.

As a result, your head will tilt, bend and turn to keep vision level.  The body will adapt physically to whatever is necessary to keep the horizon level.  If you slouch your shoulders and stick your neck out all day to keep the computer screen level, then your body will adapt to forward head, shoulders slouched and whatever is necessary to keep the horizon level.

The scientific phenomena known as the SAID principle states that your body gets good at whatever you do, however you do it.  If you look at the floor while practicing your drills, you will get really good at doing drills while looking at the floor.  Look up and your balance won't be good.  Cracks me up when I see people wasting money on 'balance manuals' that demonstrate people staring at the floor while doing the drills.

If you want to improve your posture, your balance and your vision, I suggest that you get into lengthened spine.  I start all of my classes discussing how people are carrying their head on their shoulders.  The average skull weighs between 8-12 pounds.  When perfectly aligned, your vertebrae are aligned and the spinal cord is lengthened.  When the head is jutted forward, the neck muscles have extra strain and weight of the skull.

Let me explain how to attain lengthened spine since how you carry your head directly impacts your vision, balance, posture and strength.

Lengthened spine: Sit or stand tall; both feet on the floor facing forward, top of the back of your head extended up toward ceiling, chin level and tucked back.  Here's the kicker, tilt your front teeth SLIGHTLY down toward collar bone.   NOT EXCESSIVELY but down where you see a level horizon.   Keep your chin tucked back and yes, you now have a double chin but you're in lengthened spine!!!!

Every time you so much as think about your posture, get into lengthened spine and keep your eyes on a vertical target in front of you at eye level.  Practice lengthened spine for every vision drill and try to maintain lengthened spine during balance challenges and all dynamic joint movement drills.

Posture begins with your eyes and is a reflex to life's imbalances.  In my classes, I teach vision drills, balance drills and movement drills designed to activate the parts of your brain that crave activation in order to move well, balance well and see well.

It all starts in lengthened spine; shoulders are down, chest is lifted, pretend you have a string on the back of your head lifting toward the ceiling, your chin is slightly down, and your eyes are focused on a vertical target at eye level....NOT AT THE FLOOR.

Do this exercise throughout the day. Anytime your even think about your posture, immediately get into lengthened spine.  Your spine and your posture will thank you.  So will your brain.

Brains and Balance with Peripheral Neuropathy

The nervous system is divided into two parts: 1. Autonomic 2. Central.  The autonomic NS runs vital organs at set speed; an easy speed determined by your brain.  The central nervous system is movement and action oriented; a physical expression of the health of your brain.

Neurology 101  

1. Receives input  2. Interprets input 3. Sends output

The better the input, the better the output

You can't read fuzzy writing.  Your brain doesn't know what to do with messages from a bad ankle. The brain sees a fuzzy message it can't understand.  Not sure how to respond, movement is jerky.

Your barefoot can feel every crevice in the smooth tile.  Your brain is connected at the level floor.  You feel your foot wrap around the cool tile.  Messages are clear and crisp as you squat down to press your palms on the floor.  You're strong.  Your brain knows what's next.  All cylinders are firing.   Message to brain: Safe. I got this.

You can't see anything.  You don't know where to reach as you stumble toward what you think is the hotel bathroom.  Where's the light switch?  Shuffle.  Stumble.  You know the story, you can't feel the floor.  It's dark.  You can't see.  Where is the floor under my feet?  Message:  NOT SAFE.

People who cannot feel their feet, hands, fingers and/or toes have a nerve problem.  The nerves in these 'far' extremities are not sending messages to the brain.  If messages are sent, they're slow and inconsistent.  Message?  NOT SAFE.

Precise training gets your precise results.  Your brain needs activation.  The more precise the method, the more profound results.  Performance is enhanced tenfold.  Bam.  All cylinders firing.

But I can't feel my feet.  Yeah but your brain remembers your feet.  Your brain knows feet are present but doesn't know how to make them work.  Rather than rely on messages sent upward, Brains and Balance sends a safe message from the brain to the ankles and feet.

The plasticity of the brain is remarkable.  And promising.  If your brain knows the foot is there and Increased prediction results in more efficient and reflexive reactions.

Reflexes trump any voluntary response.  In Brains and Balance Z-Training with Coach Kelly, she will train your reflexive neural tract as you voluntarily practice precise drills to improve balance.  Kelly implements the best of the best balance training methods in order to meet your specific needs.
Movement is LIFE.  It's your choice.

The Fall Prevention Lady