The study of epigenetics (how behaviours and environments can change the way our genetic information works and gets passed on to future generations) opens the gates to a plethora of new questions about how neuronal development might affect how we develop and ultimately how we move and why we move.

Complex genetic and environmental information shape the basic material of our brains in our early years of development. However, during the course of our lives, our interactions with what’s outside of us helps further enhance our neural circuit that far exceeds the genetic info we are born with.

In Donald Hebb’s research (from 2020 - Molecular Brain, movement learning in rats showed optimized results when they learned in an environment that was familiar and homely to them in comparison to the rats that learned in a lab. As often, lab experiments are done on animals and not humans so we introduce psychology to create a union between the two.

There is evidence that links movement to memory and if the individual expresses joy when in movement, the memory will be retained. That being said, we use our memory of the past to guide our future decisions, but how can we go back and change our memory to a more positive one to encourage movement for the future?

Van der Kolk talks of creating a safe environment to revisit painful memories of past events in order to change the outcome in the future. Could we introduce this concept when it comes to pain and fear of movement?

By helping individuals feel a sense of comfort and reassurance, we can change the dialogue encoded in their memory and introduce movement. This is what we strive to do at The Cornerstone Pilates

Our exceptional attention to detail and compassionate approach is what makes us who we are. Visit our studio and meet one of our specialists if you’re unsure on how to start.

The Cornerstone Pilates

hello@thecornerstonepilates.com

905-631-8352