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Rethinking Movement for True Health

Rethinking Movement for True Health

Rethinking Movement for True Health

TLDR

This month’s newsletter explores The Meaning of True Health: The Science of Movement & Spatial Awareness. We examine how refining movement awareness prevents injuries, enhances performance, and improves long-term well-being.

Stibens Jimenez

Stibens Jimenez

Preventative Health Specialist and Educator

With over 15 years of experience in preventive health and ergonomics, Stibens Jimenez specializes in transforming movement science into practical strategies for better living. Passionate about improving human movement, Stibens’ educates with a creative, accessible approach. Outside of work, Stibens enjoys staying active through running, cycling, and playing the drums.

Mastering Movement The Smarter, More Intentional Approach

For over 15 years, I’ve worked in movement behavior, pattern recognition, and kinesiology, helping people optimize their mobility, prevent injuries, and move more efficiently. Over time, I’ve realized something critical—many clinical practices fall short in truly educating clients on movement and body awareness. Too often, we’re given generic solutions rather than personalized, intuitive guidance that fosters real, lasting change.

The truth is, movement is a language, and to speak it fluently, we must refine our awareness, our patterns, and our intention. This is what Spatial Motion Training is all about—training the mind and body together for deeper connection, efficiency, and longevity.

The Three Biggest Lessons I’ve Learned

1. Slower is Smarter

 

Early in my career, I saw countless people—including myself—rush through movement, believing speed and intensity meant progress. The reality? Poor mechanics, wasted energy, and increased injury risk.

When I slowed down and focused on precision over force, my movement patterns improved, my strength became more efficient, and pain disappeared. Moving better always beats moving more.

👉 Try This: The next time you perform an exercise—whether stretching, lifting, or even walking—slow it down by 50% and focus on every micro-movement. Notice the shifts in weight, the engagement of muscles, and the connection between breath and motion.

 

2. Patterns Over Randomness

 

One of the biggest flaws in traditional fitness and rehabilitation is the overemphasis on isolated muscle training rather than movement sequences. But real-life movement doesn’t happen in isolation—we don’t use one muscle at a time.

In my practice, I’ve shifted toward spatial sequencing—training patterns, not just muscles. This approach has led to improved cycling mechanics, stronger posture, and fewer repetitive strain injuries in my clients.

👉 Try This: Instead of focusing on an individual muscle group, train full-body movement patterns—for example, instead of just working on quad strength, focus on how your entire leg, hips, and core engage in balance and coordination.

 

3. Awareness is Everything

 

The missing piece in most movement practices? Conscious awareness.

The way you carry yourself, breathe, and interact with space has a direct impact on joint longevity, cognitive function, and injury resistance. I’ve seen firsthand how simple shifts in movement awareness help people heal faster, improve performance, and build resilience that lasts a lifetime.

👉 Try This: Next time you sit, stand, or transition between movements, pause and notice how your body is positioned. Are you balanced? Are you holding unnecessary tension? Small adjustments today prevent bigger problems tomorrow.

Beyond the Science—The Human Element in Healing

– Movement is more than biomechanics and exercise—it’s about teaching, learning, and connecting. In every session, I remind myself:

– Empathy matters. Healing requires listening, patience, and intuition.

– True learning requires attention. The best solutions come when the practitioner and client are fully engaged.

– Innovation is key. Many solutions lie outside traditional clinical models—we must be willing to adapt, refine, and rethink movement.

– This is why Spatial Motion Training is the future of preventative health. By refining awareness, patterns, and intention, we create a movement that is smarter, healthier, and longer-lasting.

Ready to Experience It?

💡 Challenge of the Month: Slow down one movement today and notice how it feels—walking, standing, lifting, or stretching.

💡 Need Guidance? Book a Consultation to learn how to train your movement smarter, not harder.

👉 Mastering movement isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing better. Let’s redefine movement together.

Empowering Movement, One Conscious Step At A Time

Legal Disclaimer 

At SiMotion (Spirals in Motion), our services are designed to promote education, prevention, and well-being through movement behavior, ergonomics, and preventive health strategies. It is important to note that the information and guidance we provide do not constitute medical advice or diagnosis.  SiMotion adheres to all applicable privacy laws, including HIPAA and OSHA regulations, ensuring that your personal information and health-related data are handled with the utmost confidentiality and care.

Training Movement Like Training a Dog

Training Movement Like Training a Dog

Training Movement Like Training a Dog

TLDR

Applying dog-training strategies to our movement routines can make us more aware, patient, efficient, and adaptable. By treating ourselves to rewards, practicing self-control, and taking short, focused sessions, we build a stronger mind-body connection and improve overall physical resilience. The takeaway? Next time you see a dog mastering a trick, take notes—your own movements might just benefit from a little “paws-on” approach.

Intro

The Surprising Parallels

Training a dog can feel a lot like training ourselves when it comes to movement behavior. You’re teaching them attention, patience, and control—principles that translate surprisingly well to human movement. So, what if we approached our movement habits with the same techniques? By applying these “dog training” strategies to our own routines, we might unlock some powerful, lesser-known benefits.

Five Benefits of Training Movement with Dog-Like Techniques

Enhanced Body Awareness: Just like dogs learning to sit, stay, or heel, training your own movement through focus brings an increased awareness of each body part and how it moves. This awareness can actually strengthen the neural pathways that control motor skills, leading to better balance and coordination.

Better Patience and Endurance: Ever tried teaching a dog a new trick? It takes patience—on both ends! Practicing movement control also cultivates patience and resilience. The more time we take to practice small, controlled movements, the more endurance we build, which helps our nervous system regulate movement under pressure.

Stronger Mind-Body Connection: Dogs respond to training when they feel connected to you, and it’s the same with our bodies. Building this connection makes us less likely to overdo it or get injured, as we start sensing when something is “off” or when we’re pushing too hard.

Smoother, More Efficient Movements: Just as a dog learns efficiency in movements (saving energy while keeping pace), we, too, can learn to use only the muscles we need. Over time, this leads to smoother movements, reducing strain and conserving energy, especially during repetitive tasks.

Increased Ability to Adapt Under Stress: When we practice staying calm and focused on movement patterns, we’re less likely to react with tension. The result? Our bodies respond to stress with improved flexibility and ease, just like a well-trained dog that remains calm amid distractions.

Five Techniques to Train Yourself Like a Dog (With a Dash of Humor)

Find Your “Treats”: Every dog trainer knows that treats are key. What’s your “treat”? Whether it’s music, the outdoors, or a satisfying stretch, find what makes moving rewarding and sprinkle it throughout your routine. Treats keep us coming back!

Use Short, Focused Sessions: Just as short sessions keep dogs engaged, break your training into manageable bursts. Working on fine-tuning your movements for just 5-10 minutes can do wonders for muscle memory without tiring you out. Consistency beats length here!

Set Clear Cues and Signals: Dogs respond to cues like “sit” or “stay,” and our brains respond to cues as well. Use a signal to remind yourself to correct posture or focus on breathing. With time, this internal “cue” will prompt better form even without conscious effort.

Practice Self-Control Exercises: Dogs master self-control with time, and so can we. Try exercises that slow you down, like moving through a balance drill extra slowly. Practicing control over small movements builds the muscle memory and patience needed to avoid rushing—and injuries.

Reward Small Wins: Training takes time, so celebrate each milestone. Did you keep a steady posture all week? Reward yourself! Just like dogs thrive on encouragement, reinforcing each small victory builds motivation, keeps things positive, and helps keep up the habit.

Lesson Learned

Turns out, training movement is just like training a dog—it’s all about patience, rewards, and focus. Find your treats, celebrate small wins, and don’t be afraid to sit, stay, and perfect each move. The result? A happier, more connected mind and body!

Stibens Jimenez

Stibens Jimenez

Preventative Health Specialist and Educator

With over 15 years of experience in preventive health and ergonomics, Stibens Jimenez specializes in transforming movement science into practical strategies for better living. Passionate about improving human movement, Stibens’ educates with a creative, accessible approach. Outside of work, Stibens enjoys staying active through running, cycling, and playing the drums.

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The Foundation of Spatial Awareness and Cognitive Development

The Foundation of Spatial Awareness and Cognitive Development

Movement patterns are fundamental sequences of motion that form the basis of all physical activities. These patterns are deeply rooted in human development and are essential for maintaining functional mobility, preventing injuries, and enhancing overall well-being. Understanding and training these movement patterns can improve our spatial awareness, sensory-motor integration, and cognitive development.

Neurodevelopmental Movement Patterns

Neurodevelopmental movement patterns are sequences of motion that follow the natural progression of motor development from infancy. These patterns are critical for building a healthy nervous system and include activities like crawling, rolling, and cross-pattern walking.

Crawling:

Crawling on hands and knees helps develop coordination between the upper and lower body and enhances spatial awareness.

Rolling:

Rolling from back to front and vice versa integrates the vestibular system and improves balance.

Cross-Pattern Walking:

Involves coordinated movement of opposite limbs (e.g., right arm and left leg), essential for efficient locomotion and cognitive development.

Primal Movement Patterns

Primal movement patterns are the basic motions that humans have evolved to perform for survival. These include bending (hinging), squatting, lunging, pushing, pulling, twisting, and gait (walking). Each of these movements develops in a specific sequence from infancy and continues to be refined throughout life.

Bend (Hinge):

This movement involves bending at the hips while keeping the spine neutral. An example is the deadlift exercise, which targets the posterior chain muscles.

Squat:

Squatting involves lowering the body by bending the knees and hips. This pattern is utilized in everyday activities like sitting down and standing up.

Lunge:

Lunging involves stepping forward or backward and lowering the body by bending the knees. It is essential for activities that require stepping and stabilizing.

Push:

Pushing movements involve extending the arms away from the body, such as in a push-up or bench press.

Pull:

Pulling movements involve drawing the arms towards the body, as seen in pull-ups or rowing exercises.

Twist:

Twisting involves rotating the torso, which is crucial for turning and reaching activities.

Gait (Walking):

Gait is the pattern of walking or running, fundamental for locomotion.

Sensory-Motor Development and Spatial Reasoning

Sensory-motor development refers to the ability to integrate sensory information (sight, sound, touch, proprioception) with motor commands to produce precise and coordinated movements. This integration is crucial for developing spatial reasoning, which is the ability to understand and navigate three-dimensional space. Spatial reasoning is closely linked to cognitive development. For example, activities that enhance spatial awareness, such as puzzles or obstacle courses, also stimulate cognitive processes like problem-solving, memory, and attention. Research has shown that motor skills are highly related to other developmental domains, particularly in early childhood, and continue to influence cognitive abilities like mathematical thinking and executive functioning as children grow older.

SiMotion’s Approach to Preventative Health

SiMotion’s approach to preventative health focuses on developing and training spatial awareness through a combination of movement education, ergonomic solutions, and mindful practices. By integrating principles of spatial motion and neurodevelopmental movement patterns, SiMotion helps individuals enhance their proprioception, coordination, and overall body control.

Movement Education:

SiMotion offers programs that teach fundamental movement patterns, emphasizing proper form and technique to prevent injuries and improve functional mobility.

Ergonomic Solutions:

By assessing and optimizing workspaces, SiMotion ensures that individuals maintain healthy postures and movement habits, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Dedicated Practices:

Incorporating consciousness and techniques, such as breathing exercises and body scans, helps individuals develop a deeper connection with their bodies and enhances spatial awareness.

Fostering Cognitive Vitality in the Aging Brain

Fostering Cognitive Vitality in the Aging Brain

Fostering Cognitive Vitality in the Aging Brain

 

As we age, our bodies and minds undergo a myriad of changes, some more subtle than others. One aspect that often goes overlooked is the profound impact of movement on cognitive function and overall well-being. Neurodevelopmental movement, a concept rooted in the natural progression of human development, offers a powerful tool for maintaining mental sharpness and physical resilience as we navigate the aging process.

The Neurodevelopmental Movement Approach

Neurodevelopmental movement is based on the fundamental movements that infants and young children naturally perform as they develop and integrate their sensory and motor systems. These movements, such as crawling, rolling, and cross-pattern walking, are not merely physical activities but rather a symphony of neurological stimulation and integration. By replicating these primal movement patterns, individuals of all ages can tap into the brain’s remarkable capacity for neuroplasticity – the ability to reorganize and create new neural pathways in response to experiences and environmental demands.

The Cognitive Connection

The relationship between neurodevelopmental movement and cognitive function is profound. As we engage in these primal movements, we stimulate various regions of the brain responsible for memory, attention, spatial awareness, and executive function. The act of crawling, for instance, engages the prefrontal cortex, which plays a crucial role in working memory and decision-making.

Cross-pattern walking, which involves coordinating opposite arm and leg movements, activates the corpus callosum, the bridge between the brain’s hemispheres, facilitating communication and integration. Furthermore, neurodevelopmental movements challenge our proprioceptive and vestibular systems, enhancing our sense of body awareness and balance. This heightened sensory integration has been linked to improved cognitive performance, particularly in tasks that require spatial reasoning and visual-motor coordination.

Motor Control and Movement as Behavior

Movement is not merely a physical act; it is a manifestation of our cognitive processes and a reflection of how we perceive and interact with the world around us. Motor control, the ability to coordinate and execute movements, is intrinsically linked to cognitive function and decision-making processes. By engaging in neurodevelopmental movements, we are essentially training our brains to think differently about how we move. We challenge our motor control systems, forcing them to adapt and develop new strategies for navigating our environment. This cognitive engagement not only enhances physical abilities but also promotes neuroplasticity and cognitive resilience.

The Aging Brain and Neurodevelopmental Movement

As we age, our brains undergo structural and functional changes that can impact cognitive abilities and motor control. However, neurodevelopmental movement offers a powerful countermeasure to these age-related declines. By stimulating neuroplasticity and promoting the formation of new neural connections, neurodevelopmental movements can help preserve cognitive function and mitigate the effects of age-related neurodegeneration. 

Additionally, the physical and cognitive demands of these movements can enhance balance, coordination, and overall functional mobility, reducing the risk of falls and promoting independence in older adults. Neurodevelopmental movement is not merely a physical exercise; it is a holistic approach to maintaining cognitive vitality and physical resilience as we age. By tapping into the fundamental movements of human development, we stimulate neuroplasticity, enhance motor control, and promote cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and spatial awareness. As we embrace neurodevelopmental movement as a way of life, we redefine our relationship with movement, viewing it not just as physical activity but as a pattern of thinking about how we move and interact with our environment. This mindset shift empowers us to take an active role in preserving our cognitive and physical well-being, unlocking a path to a more vibrant and fulfilling aging experience.