Author: Michael Devon

Natural Movement and Contralateral Reciprocation: A Perfect Harmony

Posted on by Michael Devon

When we talk about natural human movement, one of the most fascinating and essential concepts is contralateral reciprocation. This is the biomechanical process where opposite limbs (e.g., right arm and left leg) move in sync during activities like walking and running. It’s a fundamental aspect of how our bodies are designed to move, playing a key role in balance, coordination, and efficiency.

What Is Contralateral Reciprocation?

Contralateral reciprocation refers to the natural, coordinated movement of opposite sides of the body during locomotion. For example, when you take a step with your left leg, your right arm swings forward. This movement pattern is not random; it’s an integrated response that our nervous system has developed over millions of years of evolution.

This coordination allows us to move more efficiently and maintain balance. As one leg swings forward, the opposite arm counterbalances it, reducing the amount of twisting or rotating forces on the spine. This not only makes our movement smoother but also conserves energy, enabling us to walk or run for longer periods without tiring as quickly.

The Biological Basis:

Contralateral movement is deeply rooted in our nervous system. The brain and spinal cord are designed to coordinate these opposite limb movements through a network of neurons and reflexes. When one limb moves, signals are automatically sent to the opposite side of the body to engage the corresponding muscles.

This cross-body communication is what makes activities like walking and running feel natural and effortless. It’s also why these movements are prioritized in our workouts, as they are deeply embedded in our motor patterns.

The Importance of Contralateral Reciprocation in Daily Life:

In everyday life, contralateral reciprocation is essential for efficient and effective movement. It helps us maintain balance when walking on uneven surfaces, navigate obstacles, and even perform complex tasks that require full-body coordination.

Training and reinforcing contralateral movement patterns can enhance athletic performance, improve posture, and reduce the risk of injury. Exercises that emphasize cross-body movements can help fine-tune these natural patterns, ensuring that our bodies move as they are designed to.

Benefits of Embracing Natural Movement

By focusing on and enhancing contralateral reciprocation, we can achieve numerous benefits:

– **Improved Coordination:** Reinforcing these natural movement patterns sharpens overall coordination and motor skills, making everyday tasks easier and more efficient.

  

– **Better Balance:** Contralateral movements help distribute weight more evenly across the body, reducing the risk of falls and improving stability.

  

– **Enhanced Athletic Performance:** Athletes who train with an emphasis on contralateral movement patterns often experience better performance in activities that require full-body coordination, such as running.

– **Injury Prevention:** Proper contralateral movement reduces strain on the spine and joints, decreasing the likelihood of overuse injuries.

Contralateral reciprocation is a powerful reminder of the elegance and efficiency of natural human movement. By understanding and embracing this fundamental aspect of our biology, we can move through the world with greater ease, balance, and grace. Whether you’re walking, running, or training, paying attention to the harmony between your limbs can unlock the full potential of your body’s natural movement capabilities.

The Evolutionary Benefits of Running: How Our Muscles Are Built for It

Posted on by Michael Devon

Running is more than just a modern fitness trend; it’s deeply rooted in our evolutionary history. Our muscles, bones, and cardiovascular system have evolved specifically to support this high-endurance activity. Here’s why running is not only beneficial but also a natural part of who we are as humans.

Evolutionary Background: Born to Run

1. **Human Anatomy and Endurance**: Our bodies are uniquely designed for long-distance running. Unlike most animals, humans can run long distances thanks to our upright posture, long legs, and efficient cooling system (sweating). These traits helped early humans hunt and scavenge over vast terrains.

2. **Muscle Development**: The muscles in our legs, hips, and core are optimized for running. The large gluteal muscles (glutes) stabilize our hips, while the long tendons in our legs act as springs, storing and releasing energy with each stride. These adaptations make running an energy-efficient way to travel long distances.

3. **Cardiovascular Efficiency**: Running requires a well-developed cardiovascular system, and our hearts and lungs are up to the task. The ability to sustain moderate to high levels of physical exertion over extended periods likely played a role in our ancestors’ survival, allowing them to outrun prey or persist until the prey was too exhausted to continue.

•Physical Benefits: Tapping into Our Natural Potential

1. **Improved Muscular Strength and Endurance**: Running regularly taps into the full potential of our muscle groups, particularly in the lower body. This not only strengthens the muscles but also increases their endurance, enabling them to perform efficiently for longer periods.

2. **Bone Density and Health**: The repetitive impact of running stimulates bone growth and density, a trait that has been critical for our survival in the wild. By running, you maintain and even enhance this natural bone strength, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

3. **Efficient Fat Burning**: As an evolutionary advantage, running promotes fat burning by utilizing it as a primary energy source during prolonged activity. This process helped our ancestors survive in times of food scarcity and continues to be a highly effective way to manage weight today.

•Mental and Psychological Benefits: Built-In Rewards

1. **Natural Stress Relief**: The “runner’s high,” characterized by a release of endorphins, is an evolutionary reward system that encourages continued activity. This natural high helped our ancestors stay motivated during long hunts and now serves as an excellent way to combat modern-day stress.

2. **Enhanced Focus and Cognitive Function**: Running improves brain function by increasing blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. This evolutionary trait likely developed to help early humans stay alert and focused during endurance tasks, and it continues to benefit cognitive health today.

3. **Improved Mood and Mental Resilience**: The regular practice of running boosts mental resilience, a trait that was essential for survival in challenging environments. Today, this translates into better emotional regulation and a stronger ability to cope with life’s challenges.

Conclusion: Embrace Your Evolutionary Heritage

Running is not just a workout—it’s an activity deeply embedded in our evolutionary history. Our muscles, bones, and cardiovascular system have evolved specifically to make us excellent endurance runners. By running, you’re not only staying fit but also tapping into the very essence of what makes us human. Embrace this natural ability and experience the profound physical and mental benefits that come from moving the way our bodies were designed to move.

How Our Muscles Evolved from Walking: The Foundation of Human Movement (Part 2)

Posted on by Michael Devon

Walking is more than just a daily activity; it’s a fundamental movement that shaped the evolution of our muscles and overall physiology. Our ability to walk upright on two legs, known as bipedalism, is one of the defining characteristics of being human. This evolutionary milestone not only set us apart from other species but also influenced the development of our muscular system in profound ways.

•The Evolution of Bipedalism

Millions of years ago, our ancestors transitioned from moving on all fours to walking on two legs. This shift was driven by various factors, including the need to cover long distances efficiently, free up the hands for tool use, and adapt to changing environments. As we began to walk upright, our bodies underwent significant changes to support this new mode of locomotion.

•Key Muscles Developed from Walking

1. **Gluteal Muscles (Glutes)**: The gluteal muscles, particularly the gluteus maximus, are among the most prominent muscles developed through walking. These muscles are responsible for stabilizing the pelvis and powering our stride. Over time, they evolved to become larger and stronger, enabling us to walk and run efficiently.

2. **Leg Muscles**: Walking helped develop the muscles of the legs, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. These muscles work together to propel us forward with each step. The strength and endurance of these muscles were crucial for early humans who needed to travel long distances in search of food and resources.

3. **Core Muscles**: The core muscles, including the abdominals, obliques, and lower back muscles, play a vital role in maintaining balance and stability during walking. As our ancestors began to walk upright, these muscles became more developed to support the spine and prevent injury.

4. **Foot and Ankle Muscles**: Walking also influenced the evolution of the muscles in our feet and ankles. The arches of our feet, supported by various muscles and tendons, act as natural shock absorbers, while the muscles of the ankles provide stability and mobility. This adaptation allowed humans to walk on diverse terrains, from rocky landscapes to soft grasslands.

•The Impact on Human Evolution

The evolution of our muscles from walking not only made us more efficient walkers but also laid the foundation for other forms of movement, such as running and climbing. These adaptations provided a survival advantage, enabling our ancestors to hunt, gather, and migrate across vast areas.

In modern times, walking remains a fundamental exercise that continues to engage and strengthen these evolutionary muscles. Regular walking promotes cardiovascular health, improves posture, and enhances overall mobility—benefits that are deeply rooted in our evolutionary past.

Our muscles evolved to support walking, a movement that has been central to human survival and success. From the powerful glutes to the supportive core, the muscles developed through walking are a testament to our evolutionary journey. By walking regularly, we not only maintain the health of these muscles but also honor the legacy of movement that has shaped who we are today. So, the next time you take a walk, remember that you’re engaging in an activity that’s been essential to human evolution for millions of years.

The Benefits of Walking: A Simple Step to a Healthier Life (Part 1)

Posted on by Michael Devon

Walking is one of the simplest and most accessible forms of exercise, yet it offers a multitude of health benefits that can have a profound impact on your overall well-being. Whether you’re taking a brisk stroll around the block or a leisurely walk through the park, integrating this low-impact activity into your daily routine can lead to significant improvements in both your physical and mental health.

•Physical Health Benefits

1. **Improved Cardiovascular Health**: Walking regularly helps strengthen your heart and improves circulation. This can lower your risk of heart disease, reduce blood pressure, and improve cholesterol levels.

2. **Weight Management**: Walking burns calories and can be an effective part of a weight loss or maintenance plan. It’s a great way to stay active without the intensity of other workouts.

3. **Enhanced Muscle and Bone Strength**: Walking engages multiple muscle groups and helps maintain bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and other age-related conditions.

4. **Boosted Immune Function**: Regular walking has been shown to boost the immune system, helping your body fend off illnesses more effectively.

•Mental Health Benefits

1. **Stress Relief**: Walking, especially in nature, can reduce stress and anxiety levels. It promotes the release of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters.

2. **Improved Cognitive Function**: Regular walking has been linked to better memory, enhanced creativity, and improved cognitive function. It can also reduce the risk of cognitive decline as you age.

3. **Better Sleep**: Engaging in regular physical activity, such as walking, can help regulate your sleep patterns, leading to more restful and restorative sleep.

4. **Increased Energy Levels**: Contrary to what you might think, expending energy through walking can actually boost your energy levels, making you feel more vibrant throughout the day.

•Social and Environmental Benefits

1. **Social Connection**: Walking can be a social activity, providing an opportunity to connect with friends, family, or even meet new people. Group walks or walking clubs can enhance your social life and provide added motivation.

2. **Environmental Impact**: Choosing to walk instead of drive, even for short distances, reduces your carbon footprint and contributes to a healthier environment.

Incorporating walking into your daily routine is a simple yet powerful way to enhance your physical health, boost your mental well-being, and even contribute positively to your community and environment. Whether you’re just starting out or are already an avid walker, each step you take brings you closer to a healthier, happier life. So lace up your shoes and start walking—your body and mind will thank you!

What’s Your Excuse?

Posted on by Michael Devon

Common reasons people don’t exercise:

⁃ Kids

⁃ Stress

⁃ Work

⁃ Pain

The reasons you should exercise:

⁃ Kids

⁃ Stress

⁃ Work

⁃ Pain

When you see it like this, it makes sense. Don’t be the person who always comes up with excuses- find a way to prioritize your health… you only have one body, don’t take it for granted.

Take care of your health while you still have a choice; before your current habits catch up with you and you’re forced to deal with your health on your doctors terms, physical therapists terms, big pharma’s terms, or your surgeons terms.

When you prioritize your health your body works more efficiently as a system, from better energy to more physical strength, and you can spend this on your kids, your stress level, your job, and other obstacles life deals you.

Life isn’t stopping until you’re in the grave. So you can be miserable for however long your life is, or you can take steps towards a healthy, fit, and fulfilling life. It all starts with how you take care of your body.

Your Fundamental Movement

Posted on by Michael Devon

Our exercises load the patterns of the gait cycle. Which means the mechanics of the exercises carry over to the mechanics of walking and running. This is important because as humans we walk daily, it’s one of our most frequently used movements so our goal is to get your body strong in that fundamental context; which will carry over to other aspects of function.

Bipedal contralateral movement is what developed our muscles and why they function the way they do. Modern times have made it difficult to keep our muscles functioning the way they were designed because we use the wrong lifting patterns when we exercise, we’re sedentary… and then we SIT on an exercise bike for “exercise”, we stretch the wrong way resulting in flaccid muscle tissue. All of these variables effect the way your body functions in real life.

In our gym we train your body to move the way your body naturally moves in life outside the gym. Simple looking, but not so easy to perform (correctly) when your body has been out of touch with these foundational movements. It takes time and repetition to reconnect your muscles and get them working optimally.

Contact us to set up an introductory session to assess your current movement patterns and why they’re causing your body problems. Learn to solve those problems with exercise that simultaneously builds strength and mobility, while addressing dysfunctional mechanics and correcting your functions back to optimal so your body can move well and perform without pain.

Good Form on a Bad Exercise

Posted on by Michael Devon

You can’t get your body to do what it can’t do… unless you teach your muscles how to do it.

If your body doesn’t have the contractile potential to move a certain way (correctly & efficiently) then it will compensate and use other muscles to achieve a certain function or range of motion, resulting in dysfunctional & suboptimal movement patterns.

From the simplest of exercises to the more advanced sports scenarios, we believe this is the leading cause of injuries and chronic pain. From dysfunctional movement on the tennis court to repetitive movement patterns done incorrectly and lead to wear and tear on your body over time.

The precision required to reprogram your mechanics and prevent dysfunction is more than any “functional” group class or pain management program provides. It’s requires more than fatiguing a group of muscles, but coordinating your brains connection with how your muscles function (or don’t) to move your structure.

The next time you’re exercising, consider how you’re moving and if that movement is reinforcing the posture you’re already stuck in, or if it’s developing new muscles to build a resilient structure. Hint; it goes deeper than just having good form on a bad exercise.

This is why our training dives deeper into the pattern of the exercise and the way you’re performing the exercise. Exercise patterns that go against your natural movement patterns send the wrong message to your muscles and how they need to work. Learning to strengthen your body for the way it moves will result in a structure that’s not limited to certain ranges of motion, because every muscle tissue is potentiated when exercise aligns with your biological blueprint.

Can Exercise Be Medicine?

Posted on by Michael Devon

What’s the point of having a “6 pack” or a strong chest if you can’t function at a basic level and walk more than a city block without some form of pain or discomfort; or if you are exercising regularly but regularly suffer from a stiff back or achey knees. Exercise is medicine for all of that- when implemented correctly.

Wake up and recognize that if you’re in some form of pain or your body doesn’t feel quite right there is something you can do about it. Educate yourself with Functional Patterns, the evolutionary standard in the fitness industry, find a new trainer, and rediscover your body and the way it was meant to move and feel- even as you age!

Working with a trainer for over a year without noteworthy changes in strength, most importantly strength gains without pains, is time and money you can’t get back. Not stronger arm muscles, but an entire body ready to function- function without any knee pains or back aches.

You only have one body and unless you’re on an active pursuit to take care of it and treat it right, the mainstream fitness industry will get the best of you. Tricking you into thinking that building muscle and getting stronger means you have to lift massive amounts of weight, or until your body “adapts” your joints might hurt and your lower back might feel stiff until it gets “stronger” etc.

FYI, your body WILL adapt… to whatever stimulus you’re putting it through. So if the way you train (or the way your trainer trains you) is harming your body then your brain will think it’s supposed to be that way and program it as normal. Then you’re stuck in the vicious cycle of trying to workout and be healthy but also hurting, poorly conditioned, and living with aches and pains. Spending more time and money “supplementing” your training with massages, chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, acupuncture, and cryotherapy to recover from the gym. Only to go back to the gym to do the same harmful things that landed you there in the first place.

A trainer who’s evolved their skills with Functional Patterns techniques work to mitigate the need for all the “supplemental” practices and heal your body with a holistic approach to strength, flexibility, cardio, rehab, prehab, posture, and wellbeing all in one. A program that is sustainable and promotes longevity.

Challenge your trainer and insist on results that matter to you (playing tennis without knee pain, living without daily back pain, exercising without joint pain) or find another trainer!

Hurting After Exercise Is Not Normal

Posted on by Michael Devon

It’s one of those days, you just finished a grueling workout at the gym and your joints are aching, your lower back is stiff, and your tendonitis is flared up.  Your workout buddies deal with the same aches and pains so you write it off as normal, just part of getting old, and what it takes to stay in shape.

We’re here to tell you that it is not normal, getting old doesn’t have to feel painful, and if you really were “in shape” your body wouldn’t be in a state of chronic aches and pains. Although all the above is commonly experienced by the majority of gym goers, it’s not supposed to be that way. In fact when you move correctly and your muscles contract properly you experience a state of wellbeing.

Imagine this; you just finished an intentional workout, your body is feeling light and springy, you feel a pump all over your body like your muscles are getting stronger, yet you feel like you just stretched out your entire body, your spine feels decompressed, and your shoulder and knees don’t hurt.

This is what your body should feel like after exercising, and it can once you learn how to use your muscles to move correctly. This is what our trainers teach; we don’t count reps, we make sure every rep counts. We train you to intentionally move your body against your default mechanics to override dysfunctional patterns and optimize your movement.

One thing is for sure, our training is not like what you see in the mainstream (maybe that’s why so many people are in pain) or like anything you’ve felt before. Come in and learn what you need to be feeling to fix your body, with our beginner friendly introductory session!

Your Guide to Squats

Posted on by Michael Devon

It’s time to educate yourself on the relevance of the squat. Prioritizing this movement in your training routine when it makes up a small amount of daily movement, neglects movements that you do majority of the time, like walking. Think about it… outside of the gym how many times a day do you squat compared to how many steps you take?

We aren’t kangaroos, we’re humans. We move around by transferring our weight from one leg to another in a contralateral pattern. Whereas a squat is going to keep your legs confined to a bilateral position. We aren’t saying squats aren’t important, but in the real world when you need to bend over and pick something up it happens a fraction of the time, it usually doesn’t happen repetitively, and you’re doing it for a specific purpose that normally doesn’t make up your entire day (unless your job or sport requires that, but we’re talking about general function).

When you use the squat as an exercise, you’re performing it for numerous reps with the intent to build muscle and get stronger. The problem with using squats (or any bilateral/sagittal based exercise) as the bulk of your leg training is that you’re building arbitrary muscle mass, meaning it doesn’t serve a purpose. The strength you built doesn’t carry over outside of the squat pattern, so the way your body moves most (ie; walking) doesn’t have the support it needs.

Come train with our trainers to learn how to build muscle that aligns with it’s function. Carrying over the strength you build in the gym to a stronger body outside of the gym. You’re human, it’s time you start training like one.