Feel the Movement

Mabuhay!

In a world that is focused on technology that requires less movement, it takes constant and conscious effort to be filled with agility and enthusiasm to exercise. Before we become aware of it, minutes and hours have passed being in front of the computer or gadget screens. With a quick #throwback and reminiscing about one’s elementary and high school days, the experience of participating in a cheerdance routine, any dance performance or even sabayang pagbigkas na may kasamang kumpas for Buwan ng Wika has been a part of one’s growth experience. These activities prove that synchronization and hours of practice can become taxing. However, it is an amazing adaptation that we are able to incorporate muscle memory, physiological responses and corresponding feelings when we move.

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Recent research showed that proprioception or our bodily awareness is not just limited to movement and its physical manifestations. Interestingly, its associations with internal processing of memories and emotions are also explored. For example, it has been consistently proven that the movements of facial muscles, despite not explaining their meaning, induce particular emotions (Strack, Martin & Stepper, 1988; as cited in Stepper & Strack, 1997). Strack and colleagues tasked participants to use their mouths to hold a pen in place, in a manner by which a smile was formed or inhibited. After which they had to rate the funniness of cartoon clips, and their assessed amusement was in line with the assigned expression (either smile or frown).

The experience of “feeling” did not necessarily have to be positioned in the spectrum of negative or positive valence such as happiness and sadness. Researchers investigated the effect of non-interpreted proprioceptive cues on the subjective evaluation of new affective experience (Stepper & Strack, 1997). They focused on whether a change in posture can affect one’s feeling of pride. Citing the perspective of the evolutionary theory of Darwin, it has long been manifested that a straight posture shows pride. Disguising their experiment as one focusing on ergonomic working positions and its effects on task performance, they had to go through three tasks. First of which was to accomplish an achievement test, followed by a motor skills test and lastly, form-filing. The participants were given a heads-up that they will need to adjust to different positions for various tasks.

One is the controlled condition (no manipulation), upright-posture condition (outright instruction to keep a straight posture) while the other is the slumped-posture condition (subtle cues by utilizing a relatively low table. They measured the pride levels of the participants by using a subjective adjective scale, with filler adjectives such as cheerful, amused, depressed, angry and “pride” was one of the ten. They found that those in the upright-posture condition have higher pride ratings than those in the slumped-posture condition, when they are given successful. They were able to affirm that the co-occurrence of external positive feedback and internal cues of bodily awareness can produce the heightened feeling of pride. The researchers further acknowledged Helson’s findings (1964; as cited in Stepper & Strack, 1997) that the effect of posture is optimal in certain situation and decreases over time. With the natural flow of habituation, they stressed that it is the change in posture and not simply its occurrence (Deutsch & Deutsch, 1973; as cited in Stepper & Strack, 1997). Additionally, they concluded that the combined effect of physical movement and brain processing that allows for a complete emotional experience.

Smitt and Bird (2013) tackled how proprioception plays a significant role for dancers and musicians. He cited instances that improved awareness of one’s bodily positions and movements lessened the risk of injury. Cole and Montero (2007) further explored how professional dancers, athletes and musicians are able to gain pleasure from not only the aim, but also the means by which they reach that certain goal. Interestingly, they also mention that the level of processing is deepened when dancers cognitively become aware that the dance steps they do are aesthetic. They also mentioned of the role of mirror neurons that make us appreciate and find watching synchronized performances and movements to be pleasing (Gallese et al, 1996; as cited in Cole & Montero, 2007) They described it to be “the act of being able to internally mirror one’s movements,” as such in a groove of a dance performance (groove) or the replication of head movement in a soccer match (Cole & Montero, 2007).

First Time to Try Anti-Gravity Yoga! Ohm...

circa 2013

Defying Gravity

with the help of the hammock

Level-Up-Side-Down

circa 2015

In trying out anti-gravity yoga for the first time, which was developed by Christopher Harrison offered at Beyond Yoga here in Manila, there is a mix of excitement and nervousness involved. Do you trust the hammock to carry you and cradle you? We were assured that it may carry up to the weight of 2000 pounds or up to a baby elephant! It is a unique experience to be upside down and (yes, cue music – I’d like to try defying gravity). When doing inversions and other poses upside down, our yogis (or yoga teachers) also use concrete locational cues such as the studio side, mirror side and speakers side, instead of the typical “right and left” instructions. As to where we have to place our hands and feet is also a challenge when we are in a 180-degree tilt. After a few sessions of practice, there is a feeling of ease and familiarity already with the movement.

Moreover, benefits of this exercise includes a natural decompression of the spine due to the force from gravity (thanks, Physics + Psychophysics!), increased proprioceptive awareness and aiding the flow of blood to the brain, which is said to help make people look younger in general. There are also routines when we are allowed to simply swing back and forth, as if playing in the playground, and to maintain the swing by curling one’s legs backward and pointing our feet when moving forward. Those who are experiencing hypertension, heart ailments and certain eye conditions are discouraged from trying this out because of the sudden change in pressure.

The aforementioned studies also show how crucial the role of physical play is in developing proprioception. With the accessibility of free downloadable games and other virtual reality games, it is becoming rare that children are able to appreciate running around and interacting with their neighbors.

As the year is about to end, some points to ponder on would be:

How can one remain grounded, while being able to defy the challenges that come one’s way?

How do we encourage movement amidst the convenience that technology brings?

Cole, J., Montero, B. (2007). 9(2), 299-317. Affective Proprioception. Janus

Head. 300-317.

Smitt, M., Bird, H. (2013). Measuring and enhancing proprioception in

musicians and dancers. Clinical Rheumatology. 32(4), 469-473. doi:

10.1007/s10067-013-2193-7

Stepper, S. Strack, F. (1993). Proprioceptive Determinants of Emotional and

      Nonemotional Feelings. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 64(2), 211-220. Doi: 0022-3514/93