“AHA” Moments: Getting A Little Touchy Feely. Maybe Just The Feely…

Introduction

I remember a bit back, when I first did the Movement’s Biomech 1 certification, how blown away I was by Frankie Faires presentation of “everything” physical. Although I was trained in Z-Health, one of the main programs Frankie was involved in; I believe the Movement took a far better approach in all regards (understanding, teaching, and drilling movements) than I was ever taught in Z-Health

Why I believe so, is for another article, but one of the big things I remember was how many questions I was left with. Many of which I am still exploring to this day.

One of the big questions I had for Frankie after the cert, was should we try to never feel any movement? His answer, although at the time cryptic, was simple – sensation and motion are coupled. You can never not feel anything, nor is it something you may want.

Feeling, It’s Good For You

At the time I confused feeling with fatigue. Rather than feeling simply as feeling. Frankie explains during the certification process that as we learn to better act on our sensations, so too do our sensations get better as well, and continues on an endless cycle of better sensations and better motions.

What does better sensations mean?
Separating the feeling of “go” vs. the feeling of “stop.”
Separating the feeling of “go this way” or “go that way” in terms of direction of movement (lines, circles).
Separating the feeling of “go this way” or “go that way” in terms of micromovement variations within a macromovement (pushing up vs. pushing diagonally up as an example during the same set).

Of course there’s more…But Anyway.

So, What’s the Point – Re-Coupling Better Sensations to Better Motions

So to get to the point.

As some point in our exercise journey,
I believe sometimes we learn to associate the right sensations, to different motions.
And this causes us to decouple what was once the right sensation, to the right motion.
And couples the right sensation, to the wrong motion.

This may be a (not the only) reason Bodybuilders are better at building muscles than others.

Although they may be internally focused, they better follow the sensations that help them build specific muscles. Because those sensations lead them to working specific tissues based on the way their body is set up, not the way “experts” think they’re setup.

As an example: I’m beginning to build my chest muscles, although not through presses as many gurus espouse. But through fly variations with far less weight and reps per arm than I ever used when doing incline/flat/decline presses with varying implements. I also use far less ROM than typical flies, but my chest has grown much more significantly than compared to MORE ROM, MORE WEIGHT, and MORE REPS, even when they tested well.

Recoupling what was Decoupled
Don’t try to feel.
Focus on the movement, and let the feeling come to you.
As Frankie says, “Be externally focused and internally governed”

Yup, It Fits...

For now, I simply suggest that you understand that all movements have associated sensations.
If I move a joint forward, I should “feel” it in the front.
If I move a joint backward, I should “feel” it in the back.
If I move a joint to the left, I should “feel” it on the left.
If I move a joint to the right, I should “feel” it on the right.

The feeling may be weak or strong…but there most likely will be something.

For me, I have issues…

Certain motions aren’t paired well with their feeling counterpart.
If I have them, you may have them.
All I’ve done when I feel a decoupled pairing is test towards a better pairing.

A better pairing for me comes from:
Smaller ROM
Less SPEED
Increased ROM in a different area of my body
Lighter WEIGHT

I think this will make you better.
More specifically,
I think this will make you better at understanding what you feel.
So you can better navigate how you move.

Do I think you should try this, no.
Do I think you can you test this, yes.
If you want to and it tests well, try it out.
And if you do, you may get better.

Darryl

Check out the follow-up on how I’m using this idea to help with my neck pain…click here.

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Tags: Biofeedback Training, Easier Strength Training, Feeling, Gym Movement, PREveryday, Sensations, Sensory Experience