Mitch Stanley, DPT
When was the last time you got down on the floor and crawled?
Not as a workout. Not as a joke. Just as a way to move like a human again.
Most of us think fitness means harder workouts, heavier weights, or longer runs. But here’s the truth: the most powerful movements for your nervous system — the ones that calm your stress, sharpen your mind by sharing information side to side, and restore your body — are the ones you learned before you could even walk.
Yes: breathing, rolling, rocking, and crawling.
Why These Movements Matter
Before modern life put us in chairs, cars, and screens, we built our strength and coordination through primal patterns. These weren’t workouts — they were the building blocks of being human.
- Breathing deeply resets your nervous system and helps your body shift from stress to calm. Be aware of the resting position of your tongue. It’s brain candy when it is resting gently on the roof of your mouth.
- Rolling teaches your brain to coordinate both sides of your body. Not to mention the amazing benefits to your vestibular system….that one that makes you feel dizzy when you roll down a hill!
- Crawling sparks cross-pattern connections in your brain, improving focus, balance, and postural stability.
- Grounded movement (hands and feet on the floor) reconnects you to strength you didn’t know you’d lost.
When you revisit these movements as an adult, something amazing happens: your brain rewires. You don’t just get stronger physically — you reset emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually.
The Ripple Effect
The best part? When you change how you move, you don’t just change your life…you have a profound impact on those around you.
- Kids copy what they see.
- Partners feel the difference in your energy and presence.
- Even future generations benefit from parents and grandparents who move with ease, resilience, and joy.
One small reset today could create a generational shift tomorrow.
So… What Now?
Don’t worry — you don’t need special equipment, a gym membership, or hours of free time. You just need a little space on the floor and the courage to move differently.
Start simple:
- Take three deep belly breaths. Tongue resting on roof of your mouth.
- Roll slowly from your back to your belly. And then from your belly to your back.
- Spend 60 seconds crawling forward, backward, side to side, and in circles.
That’s it. That’s the reset.
Final Thought
Movement isn’t punishment. Movement is a conversation with your nervous system.
And when you start listening, everything begins to change.
Breathe Well, Move Well, Be Well my friends.