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Poise: Have You Lost The Art Of
Natural Movement?
When we say someone has poise it can mean several things. They may appear calm, relaxed and able to handle difficult situations. Or it could mean they stand, sit and move well with little perceived effort. Alternatively it could describe someone ready to make the most of a situation.
Gait and posture are terms that are often interchangable, but they do actually describe two separate states. Posture is a term to describe shape whether good or bad. You are either poised or not at any moment so to describe it as good or bad is to misunderstand its meaning. The term posture is generally accepted to relate to the dynamic relationship of the body segments in activity. Poise is a state; an ability to maintain appropriate muscle tension at all times in both movement and static positions.
How To Promote Poise
Poise is not acquired through conventional exercises that generally concentrate on muscle. As discussed in the page on
posture
, many exercises lead to loss of poise through the piecemeal approach to developing individual muscles or muscle groups in isolation.
Poise comes with an understanding and experience of free movement. Balance is vital for poise. The common response to perceived loss of balance is to stiffen in order to prevent a fall. We need to feel at ease with movement to remove the fear of falling. When we use inappropriate corrective actions in response to a perceived loss of balance we increase the risk of a fall.
Regardless of the condition of the nervous system, balance can be improved by learning how to eliminate the unnecessary preparatory acts that we usually associate with a given movement. Applying the wrong kind of effort leads to a misuse of our mechanisms for movement. Once our complex systems for balance are impeded all resulting muscular actions will be corrupt and inappropriate. Poise can only be attained when the habit of interfering with the mechanisms for balance is removed.
How to promote poise and coordination
So much importance is placed on strength but little on the fitness of your muscle to perform its function. Poise and coordination go hand in hand and you can't have one without the other.
The Alexander Technique and stress free activity
Probably the best (and only) technique to promote natural movement. A remarkable system that truly recognises the workings of the human organism.
Your posture and your health
Many now recognise the impact of poor posture on your health. But many techniques to correct posture are based on misconceptions and do not value the importance of coordination.
Back pain may be caused by how you move
If you drive your car badly, you cause mechanical faults. Our bodies are more resilient than a car but that means the damage can go on longer before we realise something is wrong. Is your movement storing up problems for the future?
Core stability and gait: a compromise
We believe that exercises that focus on building strength in muscles individually will destroy your natural movement. They are very popular but does that guarantee their methods?
Coordination Fitness Test
How do we know if we have lost the art of movement? Are you biomechanically sound? Take the one minute test and find out.
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More on Posture
If you think a good posture is about effort, exercise and 'standing up straight'
- think again!
Click here here to discover
the single, most effective way
to a better posture.
Assess Your Posture
How is your posture? A good one has many benefits for your health, fitness and image.
Check yours with my quick Posture Assessment Guide.
Poor Posture and a Stiff Neck
So What Is Good Posture?
FREE Fitness Program
Try something different! My FREE Body Awareness Fitness Program may give you a few surprises about your body and help with your posture.
Click here for more info.
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Get A Great Posture Without The Hard Work!
It's a myth that getting a great posture involves lots of exercises and hard work! My program is based on 15 years of teaching proven techniques that work fast - and there isn't a single exercise in the whole program!
For more information see how to improve your posture.
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About Me
I've spent 15 years teaching sports people the Alexander Technique. This remarkable movement system helps to improve performance, posture and mental awareness whilst reducing the risk of injury.
To read more about me and my approach, please click here.
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