Signals & Interpretations

So, here it is, three days after my first Z-Health R-Phase certification. If I could only describe my experience with one word it would be...Awesome!

When it comes to the human body and mind, we all view things differently. This is true for pain, pressure, temperature, level of exertion, etc. So, as coaches and athletes, how do we deal with these interpretations? When is too much too much, or not enough not enough?

Understanding how the brain works is one method to understanding these differences. Cognitive thinking is our ability to actively change the way we feel or perceive things to be. For example, just because soup is steaming in our bowl when we take it off of the stove, does not mean that the soup is too hot for us to eat. Or, because we see snow on the ground outside we automatically assume the temperature is freezing, right? Well, through movement and cognitive thinking, we can actually begin to change the way our body perceives movement and how our mind perceives our bodies.

Pain does not equal injury. Have you ever met anyone who has "a really high pain tolerance"? Initially, we don't know what to think, and then this person stubs their toe and we get a real insight to how high of a tolerance they really have. Does that mean their toe doesn't hurt? Absolutely not. The amount of pain that they are feeling is comparative to how their body and mind perceives the pain to be. Intensity, duration, etc. If someone else stubbed their toe exactly the same way, they might hardly feel the "pain" at all. So, how do we begin to change our perceptions of what really hurts and what doesn't?

This is where movement and cognitive thinking can come into play. An individual with great body awareness might hardly find their toe hurting because they have a great body map in which to interpret the pain. This individual might also be able to "talk to themselves" in order to realize that the pain they are feeling isn't really all that intense. Communicating to your own body, within your own thoughts is a great way to get started on increasing the body-mind-pain connection. Specific, controlled movement is the best means in which to get your body and subconscious mind working together. Building internal trust so positive affirmations can be held true.

When in doubt, do something! Do something intentionally with your body so that your brain will sub-consciously begin to trust your conscious brain and your everyday actions.

Good Luck and Great Health!