It’s not necessary to isolate exercise in a gym, at a sporting event, or on your yoga mat. Moving is something we do all day. This should be good news for those who haven’t found their preferred “exercise” yet. It also doesn’t mean that every day movements can’t relieve pain, reduce stress, and reshape your body. You don’t really need “special” exercises but to do exercises differently. Everyday movements are an opportunity for you to lengthen and strengthen the muscles of your body while improving circulation. Over time they can relieve the chronic aches and pains you might be convinced you have to live with. By everyday moves I mean just that. Reaching for a cup, bending down to pick up something, emptying the trash, sitting in a restaurant, we are rarely if ever completely still.
The Miracle Ball Method works through your nervous system which is in a way quite miraculous. The way most exercise is taught is somewhat superficial. It works for some but not everyone. Many people find deep relaxation while using the Method. I ask people not to “try” to relax, but enjoy the feedback your body is giving you. Most of us are unaware how much we hold our breath and keep muscles engaged for extended periods in areas where circulation doesn’t reach. Many of us live with this feeling of anxiety and overwhelming tiredness that sometimes extends into a bad night’s sleep. When you do the Miracle ball Method the directions allow your body/brain to stop repeating habits that are not helping you. This relief can cause the deep relaxation while your body recalibrates.
What’s beneath the surface?
Our bodies are remarkably adaptable; they compensate for our alignment, injuries, or stress which can unconsciously make us hold our breath while tensing muscles. Bodies are meant to adapt—they do so without complaint with no warning system, until they begin to give you feedback. Ultimately, we are the ones controlling everything, much like the man behind the curtain in “The Wizard of Oz.” But no one gives us the antidote, we grin and bear it. Its just the way the body is. But that’s not true. Our body knows how to not only stop doing what hurts, but how to do it differently. But like our computers, we must feed it new information in the form of a kinesthetic experience.
The good news is we do have control. This is another way our bodies adapt. When we use the Miracle Ball Method or understand this process, we realize our bodies adapt to new information. The Miracle Ball Method provides new information, connecting us deeply to how we hold ourselves—our backs, our breath, our shoulders, habits we may have held for years. It’s a relief when we stop, allowing our bodies to feel the weight and the wave of breath coming like the tide. The body can be surprisingly resilient, but many of us lack imagination about its possibilities because we don’t believe they exist.
A simple start, find your parts.
In my book, I discuss the Body Dialogue—a tool you can use anytime. It brings unconscious adaptations to a conscious level. For instance, reaching for a cup on a high shelf can be done differently. It doesn’t have to be formal exercise; many exercises are done without considering these instructions. Most people don’t consider how they reach or how their muscles engage until prompted.
They don’t explore if their pelvis is engaged—a fundamental part of the body—we simply don’t engage it. We don’t even know its there.
I remember teaching a class once with James, a 70-year-old man. Using the Miracle Balls, he suddenly exclaimed, “I never knew I had a pelvis!”
Here’s the good news: bodies are not as demanding as we think. With a little information, they begin to change quickly. You might not notice the changes, as you focus more on superficial things—like someone telling you what good posture should be or what your exercise regimen should include. It’s like putting a child in a box and dictating their future preferences, limiting their experience and spending years trying to break free.
People do this with their bodies—imposing rules on how they move yet neglecting to give simple directives throughout the day. Let’s explore some everyday moves this week to start your own Body Dialogue:
Remember I’m not asking you to feel good, just feel. That would be too much stress! Begin to simply notice how you move, your limitations, your fears about moving, and how you breathe, or hold your breath.
Five Everyday Moves:
Its more important to sense how you move, than trying to fix what you don’t feel.
I’m not asking you to force anything—just feel these parts. Your nervous system integrates and coordinates them with your body. Don’t feel overwhelmed; simply notice these five parts and begin a dialogue. Even walking down, the street can be a time to start.
- Where is your head? Is it lifted, lowered, tilted left, or right?
- Am I standing on both feet comfortably? Do they feel different?
- Do I feel my pelvis? Is it engaged, connecting to my legs or lower back? Can I move it?
- Breathing: Can I feel my breath? Am I holding it? What if I let out a soft exhalation?
- Shoulders: Are they resting? Do I feel my hands at the end of my arms? How are my shoulders connected to my ears or the back of my neck? Is one side different from the other?
These are a few areas of the body that the Miracle Ball Method can help you connect with as you move. Remember, your body knows how to coordinate and move—it’s developed through movement, not something you force. I hope you enjoy exploring a bit, whether with the balls or simply by trying different movements—lifting, lowering, breathing, lengthening muscles, squeezing shoulders together.
Each of these moves creates more space for your diaphragmatic muscle, easing breathing, reducing stress, increasing circulation, and relieving chronic pain.
Join me for one of our free webinars at miracleballmethod.com. Register on the Home page. You can view past webinars as well. These webinars offer both information and a personal experience with the method—we can delve deeper and address your questions. I look forward to having you join me.