How our childhood will affect our spines as Adults
The Human Spine is different from other mammals as it exhibits both primary and secondary curves. The primary curves are Hypnotic and Sacral, the secondary are in the lumbar and cervical.
True bipeds require both curves, this is why tree swinging, knuckle walking animals have no lumbar curve, just some cervical. We need the lumbar in order to balance the body in an upright position. When a baby is inside the womb it’s in a primary curve, it experiences its first feeling of a secondary curve as it enters the world (cervical), the cervical continues to develop while the baby is learning to balance its head at 3-4 months and the curve will fully form at 9 months. After crawling and creeping around the floor the lumbar curve will develop in order to bring the weight onto the feet.
At 12-18 months the lumbar spine then straightens out from its primary kyphotic curve. By 3 years of age the lumbar spine starts to become more lordotic or concave anteriorly, although this won’t be outwardly visible till 6-8 years. Its only at the age of ten the lumbar reaches its adult shape.
The worst thing we do is to force our children to walk too quickly missing out really important crawling movements, which are responsible for our biomechanics in daily movement plus our Yoga. In infant development we start the gait, stretch, use lats, fire gluts, stretch, develop thoraculumbar fascia. We crawl like a mammal and develop side flexion; we use the lats, seratus anterior in order to stand up. Lunging and squatting proceeds gait. Don’t rush a baby to walk, develop the curves using tonic muscles.
As a movement practitioner and therapist it is evident that when I work with clients that they have missed the vital stages of crawling and moving. There are seven basic Primal Pattern™ Movements. These are:
Lunge
Squat
Bend
Pull
Push
Twist
Gait
Isolating these movements will develop strength, we then need to integrate them to develop multiple biomotor abilities. I have attached a funny video, but are we really helping our children by rushing them to walk by putting them in baby boomers etc.
Automation of primal patterns and general motor skills will prevent orthopaedic injury through improved static and dynamic postural engram programming. It will also develop higher motor skills and give the ability to focus on game strategy or the task at hand due to freedom from the physical body.
Nisha is a certified level 3 Chek practitioner and holistic lifestyle coach specialising in Pilates and Yoga. Her journey started when a visiting Laban teacher introduced her to Pilates at Dance College in a contemporary class during her first year.
Its effects were forgotten but she then re-discovered Pilates through Michael King eleven years later whilst running her dance school.
Her background spans over 32 years with formal training in classical ballet, modern dance, tap, national choreography, stage production and theatre.
Her formation includes Pilates, Thai bodywork, Yoga, GYROTONIC, GYROKINESIS, Garuda and anatomical studies. Her particular interest is fascia, and the connective lines and movement patterns that allow a full moving structure rather than the isolation of bones and muscles.
Her fascination with questioning the traditions of modern medicine and fascination with searching for meaningful answers has taken her in many different directions and has offered her an abundance of opportunities gaining a wealth of knowledge. “I tried many movement modalities and extended my search after experiencing fascia, because of its connection of movement. Quickly, I noticed my own body changing, as well as the bodies of my own clients. In the last 32 years of teaching I’ve developed my own movement and lifestyle philosophy".
Throughout her studies Nisha has done numerous dissections with Julian Baker, Mel Cash and Cery Davies and has the opportunity to take lectures and courses from James de Silva, Robert Schleip, Joanne Avison, Tom Myers, Matt Wallden, Leigh Brandon, Emma Lane, Gary Carter, Paul Chek, Dan Hellman, Peter Blackaby plus many more.
Nisha's teaching method promotes reflective self-discovery and provides the requirements to integrate a shift in consciousness for attaining individual goals.
Nisha teaches in her own studios in St. Helens and Manchester, plus she also has an online following. Throughout her career she has also taught Sting, Sir Ian McKellen, Cirque de Soleil, Will Young and Belinda Carlisle. She has also worked in professional football and both Rugby League and Union for over 20 years. Players she has provided a specific program for were former Manchester Citys Vincent Kompany, Everton's Steven Pinnear and goal keeper Jonas Lossi.
She maintains that an attitude of compassion, consistency and joyous humour are excellent components to growth and expanded potential.
She welcomes all level of movers from the beginner to the seasoned athlete who have a desire to increase their skill potential, also teachers and students. Her specialties include assisting post rehabilitative back pain individuals, injury prevention for athletes and spine health for everyday people.
