Hi Friends,
What if the key to better balance, faster recovery, and more efficient movement wasn’t just in your muscles—but in how well your nervous system senses the world?
I recently came across this article from Naboso, Sensory Intelligence: The Missing Link to Better Movement. It explores the role sensory feedback plays in how we move—and it connects beautifully with what we practice in Loo Movement.
What Is Sensory Intelligence?
“Welcome to the world of Sensory Intelligence...your ability to interpret, process, and act on sensory input from your environment—especially from the ground up.”
When this sensory input is strong and clear, movement will feel more confident and efficient. When it's dulled by factors such as poor alignment, sedentary habits, or injury, your body will compensate, negatively affecting movement quality and endurance.
Loo Movement teaches you to improve overall alignment to help reduce compensations and support more efficient movement. The goal is to notice changes in how your body feels. It's not just about putting your body in a better position, it's about developing the awareness to recognize that position and learn how to return to it.
The Good News: Sensory Intelligence Is Trainable!
The article describes Sensory Intelligence as your body's skill in sensing and responding to the world. It includes recognizing how your body maintains balance through subtle shifts and knowing when you need more mobility to align properly, or more stability to maintain it. This is why the Loo Movement recipe is to start with mobility and then to add some stability for staying power 😊
Through embodied awareness, alignment techniques, and Counter-shapes, you learn to notice what's happening in your body, make adjustments, and feel the positive effects of those changes.
How to Practice Sensory Intelligence Through Loo Movement
MY RECOMMENDATIONS:
Here are some ways to apply these ideas to your own practice:
😩 Release restrictions. Like we do in class, gently roll and release tension in your upper back/torso and hip muscles, including your glutes and the muscles along your outer thighs (IT band), to support mobility. You can also release the bottoms of your feet with a half ball or tennis ball.
🧘🏽♀️ Get embodied. Pause and bring your attention inward. Notice sensations, areas of tension, and how your body is positioned. Practicing embodied awareness helps you tune in to information you might otherwise miss or overlook.
🥨 Practice your Counter-shapes. Another way to release restrictions is to use Counter-shapes that stretch and elongate tight muscles. Use your Sensory Intelligence to guide your practice and how you explore different angles. Rather than automatically repeating an exercise, pay attention to what your body needs and respond accordingly.
💪 Reinforce stability. Once you've improved your alignment by releasing restrictions, practice a few Counter-shapes that reinforce stability and help integrate those changes.
😌 Recheck your alignment. Return to standing after your Counter-shapes and notice what feels different. Do you feel more balanced, grounded, or at ease? This attuned transition back to standing helps you recognize the positive effects of your practice.
Three Ways to Bring Sensory Intelligence Into Your Everyday Life
1. Pause at your desk or throughout your day.
Take a moment to get embodied and notice what you feel. When you practice Loo Movement regularly, this simple check-in may be all it takes to remind you to make a helpful adjustment.
2. Practice a Counter-shape during your daily routine.
Choose one of your personal alignment corrections and practice it in the kitchen, while brushing your teeth, or just after getting out of bed.
3. Join us for a Loo Movement class or workshop!
The more you practice noticing, adjusting, and feeling the difference (especially when you join me in the studio!), the more opportunities you have to improve your body alignment... and you'll feel great!
The takeaway: Sensory Intelligence helps explain why awareness matters in movement... which is exactly what we practice in Loo Movement 🙌🏽
I look forward to continuing this exploration with you!
Stay curious,
Valerie Loo, PT
@loomovement
