Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be – Robert Browning
So now that we understand how other mammals retain their youthful flexibility throughout their lives how can we make use of it? The key is to perform simple movements slowly with conscious intention. Done properly this allows us to reset or reboot our subcortical brain, allowing our cerebral cortex to regain control and relax those muscles. This is sometimes known as somatic exercise which is a term coined by Thomas Hanna who largely developed the technique. From my experience I hesitate to call them exercises as this invokes thoughts in people of hard work. Exercise means sweating and working your muscles, which is the exact opposite of what we are trying to do. Rather than working your muscles we are attempting to work your mind so that we can reset it. This is why from now on I will only refer to somatic movements rather than somatic exercises.
The somatic movements you are about to perform all fit within a five-point pattern that you will perform each time. They are:
Prepare – Get you body in the required position so that you can perform the somatic movement. It is always a good idea to close your eyes and keep them closed throughout the movement so that you can concentrate on how the muscles are feeling.
Move Slowly – Gently and slowly perform the somatic movement. Always keep your mind focused internally on how your muscles are feeling.
Release Slowly – Typically means to reverse the movement you have just performed.
Relax – Perhaps the most import part of the movement. Simply take a deep breath through your nose and relax. If you felt any tightness in your muscles focus your mind on relaxing them.
Repeat – For most of these somatic movements I provide you with a minimum number that you should perform. However, always remember these are only guidelines. If you sense that your body needs more feel free to do more. These are not exercises so you cannot tire yourself out. Do as many as you feel are helpful.
Following this five point protocol will allow your cortical brain to re-assert control over your subcortical brain. It is deceptively easy to do but therein lays the potential danger. If you do not perform these movements slowly and with intention you run the risk of using your subcortical brain, which will completely defeat the purpose. Always remember that when your brain is focused and paying attention you are using your cortical brain. When you are doing things on automatic pilot you are likely using your subcortical brain. The former is desirable while the latter is not.