Does the cue "lengthen your spine" actually help?
"Brainy What-Why-How"
Your weekly nibble of brain-based tips to help you move and feel great!
What:
Lengthening your spine can help with overall stability!
Why?
Axial extension of the spine -- i.e. when you lengthen your spine and slightly straighten the natural S-curve -- activates the midline cerebellum, which facilitates the stabiliser muscles.
The brain-body connection goes two ways: from body to brain (afferent) and from brain to body (efferent).
So the muscle activation required to lengthen your spine sets off a part of your cerebellum: *ping ping ping* (that's the sound of your midline cerebellum lighting up).
This sends signals to other stabilising muscles to activate. *grrr* (that's the sound of your muscles switching on, making you feel stronger, lighter, and better balanced)
This makes for more efficient movement!
How:
Try it yourself: stand relaxed and then move into a tricky balance (example: close your eyes, tilt your head, and move to one foot)
Then try it again AFTER lengthening the top of your head up towards the ceiling.
Was it easier the second time?
This activation can also be achieved in other spine positions, such as rounded forwards like you're moving into a Crow Pose -- the movement focus on Move With Adell in August!
I'll be reminding you several times throughout this month (which will also act as a 31-day Arm Balance Programme) to keep that long spine so you get the benefit of this added stability.
Not yet a MWA member?
Get started HERE with a 7-day free trial,
and get moving with science-backed tools today!
(if you enjoy my emails, this is the best way to support me to keep 'em coming!)
"Ultimately wellness is more about our relationships with ourselves than it is about our routines or eating habits"
- Cara Lai
Thank you for reading! Please share with a friend or colleague who might find this valuable.
With best intentions and axial extensions,
Adell
Want to go way deeper on all of this geeky brain stuff?
• My NeuroYoga TTC is now on sale! Click here for more information or get in touch if you have any questions!
• Check out the courses from Z-health, where I learned all of this. Click here for my discount codes on their first 3 courses!