Tag Archives: Mental State

Introducing the Cerebellum

Posted on June 3, 2020 | Leave a comment

Cerebellum is a Latin word that when translated into English it means little brain. The circled part of brain pictured here is the Cerebellum. It is located behind the brain stem just under the two lobes of the brain.

Early in my Feldenkrais training a video was shown of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais working with an infant who was borne without a Cerebellum. Her name was Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s parents had been told by numerous Doctors after her birth that she would never be able to learn, walk, talk or think. Their predictions and recommendations were dismal. In their first meeting Dr. Feldenkrais told Elizabeth’s parents that she was far more intelligent than her earlier Doctors had predicted. As it turns out Elizabeth did grow up and attend University and had the ability to walk independently. Thankfully her parents didn’t listen to all the earlier diagnoses and continued their pursuit of supporting their young child to reach her potential!

Why am I writing about the Cerebellum today?

This body part became a dominate focus of attention in meditation this morning. While sitting I guide my focus of attention through my body parts for a sensory check in, especially if I feel agitated. My intention is to discover where the agitation is located. Having a strong Kinesthetic sense means that if one part of body function is agitated balance is off. This sitting and scanning pattern allows for awareness of what is out of balance and gives the opportunity to pause and observe the agitation.

Usually recognizing it without going into story or strategies is enough to clear it. If not, this recognition cultivates awareness of how this imbalance may influence the days functional abilities giving more choices of how to respond versus reacting.

It’s important to increase understanding of the impact the Cerebellum has in our moment to moment living experiences. It governs key functions such as speech, mood, fear and pleasure response, balance and posture, mental function, movement, motor learning, and vision. It receives information from other regions of the brain and body to coordinate and control voluntary movements. Recognizing the world events is influencing my cerebellum gives me pause to consider that it will be a major influence in others current experiences as well.

The Cerebellum is known as the fear and anger center which communicates with the pre-frontal cortex. Five tangible ways you can choose to increase the window of tolerance in the fear and stress responses of in the cerebellum region:

#1

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#3 & 4

#5

Awareness Through Living

1st Level – Getting Started (Introduction & Pattern)

2nd Level – Getting Intouch (Experiencing & Connection)

3rd Level – Integration (Embodiment)

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by Renee Lindstrom

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by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP @ Inside Awareness, Living in Natures Love Blog

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Calming Fright, Flight, Fight reactions through movement techniques

Posted on September 9, 2017 | Leave a comment

by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP

Mindfulness through Movement

Observing people’s posture in standing and walking for the past 10 years has been educational. I have begun to notice subtle posture nuances that clearly indicates ones state of mind and their physical and emotional well-being. The most common condition I am observing in people is a separation between what one thinks and a connection to physical movement.

Generally I notice ones focus of attention is on interpretation of what is happening versus actual experience. For me this means having a fixed perspective, opinion or belief. If a physical ailment surfaces there is a fixed belief to go and have someone fix it or use tools to make physical movement easier. Tools like a cane, walker, scooter, special chair and bed. What’s missing is an easier possibility! This is the exploration of how to move differently. I am not referring to practices such as yoga, therapy, stretching or exercising as the difference is that you are following a limited structured pattern. I am referring to increasing awareness of feeling how you move in the process of moving. This includes increasing your ability to focus your attention on how each bone and joint movement can be sensed.

When mobility increases I notice that there is an increase in coping. The mask of fear, anger, pain and anxiety is replaced with a peaceful and open appearance.

Recently I wrote about settling the fight, flight, fright experiences of the Hippocampus from the perspective of communication. I have noticed that another more effective way to settle these reactions has been through the application of Feldenkrais® Movement.

Working with three ways to settle ones flight, fight and fright reactions I find the application of Feldenkrais Movements the quickest and most effective for shifting and integrating change. It engages more immediate functional connection between ones physical, mental and emotional states of being. Many times I have experienced someone in a series of 6 classes for balance where after the first or second class someone has given up their cane. They describe that they are less fearful to stand and support themselves.

This year a trend has been the lack of connection to feeling one’s legs. I had to purposely show someone that they dragged a leg behind them when there wasn’t any physical reason for this. It turned out this leg had been broken years before and this person forgot how to use this leg. This resulted in collapsing. When life became too difficult to enjoy they requested an operation, however there wasn’t anything to operate on!

Recently I encouraged someone to consciously shift weight purposely into one of their legs and their reaction was to say that this leg couldn’t support them. I asked them how they had walked all these years and suggested that this leg must actually be supporting them. We spent a few minutes practicing shifting weight from foot to foot and their fear was tangible. A short week later the leg that was not trusted appeared stronger and I smile as there was no hesitation in using this leg. The fright, flight and fight reactions were not visible!

What is exciting as a practitioner giving guidance to explore patterns of movement is that there it bypasses the stories in ones mind and focuses them on discovering their movement process. It teaches them ways to feel the movement. It increases present awareness (being in the moment).

To other ways for calming ones state of flight, fright and fight can be through increased understanding of your emotional and intellectual functions and your environment.

Learn more about workshops, classes and personal appointment opportunities:

Awareness Through Movement: Easy-to-Do Health Exercises to Improve Your Posture, Vision, Imagination, and Personal Awareness Paperback – by Moshe Feldenkrais