We First Know the World by Touch!
Elizabeth Andes-Bell
“As we train this capacity, we move better, age better, respond in space and time more accurately…”
Proprioception is our ability to perceive and respond to the world around us. Habits and customs leave imprints in our bodies and minds that can dull and narrow our ability to perceive.
As we train this capacity, we move better, age better, respond in space and time more accurately, and make space to grow ourselves anew from a place of belonging.
We First Know the World by Touch
All living creatures first know the world by touch. It’s the link between us and our environment. It’s how we experience ourselves contained as a body, how we receive feedback and make adaptations to survive.
Interoception is a big umbrella that includes proprioception (the ability to know where and how we are in space). Together, they constitute the two poles of perception, our inner consciousness and our outer experience.
Proprioception is how we perceive movement and spatial orientation arising from internal stimuli.
Proprioception is the result of sensory input through the skin, bones, joints via mechano-transduction. It communicates instantaneously through the entire fascial matrix, causing movement even before the spinal cord and brain can receive and respond.
The root ‘proprio’ means ‘one’s own.’ So, literally, one’s own way of perceiving.
Proprioception is not neutral or fixed. It changes.
Habits and customs leave imprints in our bodies and minds that can dull and narrow our ability to perceive.
Inactivity, repetitive movement, scars, strain, poor diet, physical and emotional trauma diminish our perception and our ability to respond quickly.
The Good News
We can train for this capacity at any age.
When we do, we move better, age better, respond in space and time faster and more accurately, and make space to grow ourselves anew from a place of belonging in the body we remember.
