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Enhancing Kinaesthetic Awareness in Movement Training

I want to dive into a crucial aspect of Functional Patterns training (general movement training and sports): kinaesthetic awareness. 

Understanding and improving this awareness can significantly enhance our movement efficiency and overall training ability.

Understanding Kinaesthetic Awareness

Kinaesthetic awareness is our ability to sense the position, movement, and tension of our muscles and joints. This awareness is essential in movement training, where we often perform complex exercises to improve our fascial connections.

Building vs Improving Movement

When we talk about improving kinaesthetic awareness, it's important to distinguish between two focuses: external and internal.

1. External Focus:

This involves looking at yourself in the mirror, focusing on technique, and physically seeing what's going on.

Application for Beginners: For those new to training and/or Functional Patterns, this external focus is crucial. It helps in understanding proper form and technique through using visual feedback. If you’re a beginner you should pay attention to alignment, posture, and mirror cues to ensure you’re performing movements correctly. 

2. Internal Focus:

This is all about proprioception, or being aware of the position of your body without relying on visual cues.

Application for Advanced Practitioners:

As you become more experienced, you can shift your focus inward. This involves feeling the muscle and fascia tensions during training. Advanced movers and practitioners should concentrate on the internal sensations of their body, tuning into how their muscles and connective tissues engage and respond to different movements.

Practical Application

Practical tips to enhance your kinaesthetic awareness at different stages of your training:

For Beginners:

•Use Mirrors: Regularly check your form in the mirror to ensure proper alignment and technique.

•Knowledge: Know what you are looking for and what to avoid. This will develop overtime, but having a general understanding is important.F T

echnique: Break down complex movements into smaller parts and practice each component with attention to detail.

Visualize Movements: Before performing an exercise, visualize the movement pattern and imagine how your body should move.

For Intermediate and Advanced Practitioners:

Close Your Eyes: Practice some movements with your eyes closed to enhance proprioception. This forces you to rely on internal cues rather than visual feedback.

Body Scanning: Before starting your training, do a quick body scan to become aware of any tightness or imbalances.

Mind-Muscle Connection: Focus on the specific muscles or fascia lines you are working on. Try to feel the tension and engagement in these areas during each movement.

Slow Down: Perform exercises slowly to enhance your awareness of how your body moves and how each muscle engages.

Feedback from Trainer: If possible, get feedback from a trainer who can point out subtle form issues that you might not notice yourself. We are actively doing this during the classes but if you need more attention book a 1 on 1. 

Conclusion

Improving kinaesthetic awareness is a process that evolves as you progress in your training. By starting with an external focus and gradually shifting to an internal one, you can enhance both your movement quality and your overall physical development.

Continue to build your body and movement skills mindfully, paying attention to both the external and internal aspects of our training. 

Feel free to share your experiences and any additional tips you might have on this topic in the group