Main Text

Lesson 12 The Centers, Their Parts and Sub- Parts and Exercises for the Motor Center

Before we see how the different aspects or “parts” of your motor center function, let us look at a general diagram for all four centers so you can understand our whole system of practices more clearly. We have already done an overall exercise with t’ -, motor center by correcting the static and dynamic body postures in Exercise Series 1 and 2.

005.png

We have also worked in general on the vegetative “tone” with the complete breathing exercise. We will not do any other exercises on the vegetative center since its system is not normally voluntary; e.g. metabolism, healing, allergies, growth, etc., are all involuntary functions of the vegetative center.

006.png

To complete the diagram of the centers, we observe that just as each center has “parts,” each part also has “sub-parts.” Although this holds for all the centers, we will give an example for only one center, the intellectual center. As an example of how the sub-parts work in the case of the motor part of the intellectual center, try to imagine a house, and the visual image of this house is weak and not sharp or bright. This indicates that the “energy booster” or elevator of the motor part of the intellectual center needs more exercise and practice. On the other hand, if the image is bright and sharp, but unsteady and alternately appears and disappears, you lack permanence in maintaining the image, and the adhesor of the motor part of the intellectual center is what needs practice. Finally, if you try to recall the image of the house, and instead another image appears and the house is confused with some other object, the selector of the motor part of the intellectual center is not working correctly. To correct these faults, all of which are simply due to a lack of exercise of the particular function, you should regularly repeat the same exercise you used as a test. Your objective now is to make this part or sub-part function over and over again until it acquires new habits and you control it better. This diagram of sub-parts may be applied to all the centers by making corresponding adaptations. However, only the parts (not the sub-parts) of each center are tested and exercised in the lessons on Psycho-Physical Gymnastics.

Exercise Series 4: Motor Part of the Motor Center A) Get someone to throw a soft ball or object like a sponge at you from a short distance away, and try to dodge out of the way so the ball does not hit you. Repeat this several times, increasing the speed of the ball, and observe how rapidly and carefully you move in avoiding it. Take notes on how well you control your reflexes. B) Sit cross-legged on the floor. Have a person behind you clap loudly without warning. When you hear the sound, stand up as fast as you can. Repeat this and take note of how fast you respond. C) Get in a sprinter’s starting position -leaning over, one leg bent, and the other leg extended straight behind you, and both hands on the ground. At the sound of a clap, spring up as fast as possible. Simply jump up, but do not actually run off. Repeat this and take notes on the speed of your response. D) Stand up and close your eyes. Start walking by putting your left foot directly in front of your right foot, with the heel of your left foot touching the toe of your right foot. Then, put your right foot in front of your left foot heel to toe as you walk forward. Try not to extend your arms to balance your body. When you can balance and move this way, gradually increase your speed. You should be able to go at least two yards without opening your eyes. Take notes on any difficulties in keeping your balance.

Exercise Series 5: Emotional Part of the Motor Center As we have already seen, people acquire incorrect habits in both static and dynamic body postures during their lives. However, if you repeat the corrective exercises and maintain the new postures you learn, any incorrect habits will be overcome satisfactorily. We are now going to use new habits of posture and movement to help you achieve greater freedom, control and gracefulness in your movements. These practices work through “motor contradiction.” A) Sit down in your usual posture. Now, adopt different postures, none the same as your normal ones. Change these postures several times without repeating them. An interesting aid in doing this is to imitate other people. Note any difficulties you have and work to improve this exercise. B) Stand up and walk as you do normally. Next, walk in a completely new way. Again resort to imitating other people such as an old man or a sailor. Study the difficulties you have in breaking away from your usual habits of movement. Take notes and improve by repeating. C) 1- Sit down at a table with your fists closed and your index fingers extended, and lay your fingers on the edge of the table. 2- Move your left index finger vertically up and down, knocking on the table top. 3- At the same time, move your right index finger back and forth horizontally along the table top. 4- Now, keep making both movements simultaneously, but de-synchronize them. Then, increase the speed and complicate this further by starting double and triple knocks, etc. D) Sit down with your hands on your knees. Move your left hand to your nose and simultaneously your right hand to your left ear. Return both hands to your knees. Next, your right hand goes to your nose and your left hand goes to your right ear. Repeat this, increasing the speed each time. E) Stand up and put your right hand on your stomach and your left hand on top of your head. While you move your right hand in a clockwise circle, move your left hand up and down on top of your head in perfectly vertical movements. Then, reverse the direction you rotate your right hand and continue as before. Next, switch hands and proceed as before, with your left hand making circles on your stomach and your right hand going up and down on your head. Finally, repeat the same exercise while turning your head from side to side. F) Stand on one leg and describe circles in the air with your other leg, while you raise both arms beside you to shoulder level and then let them drop. As a variation, repeat this but raise your arms out in front of you. Repeat this and change legs. G) Repeat the exercises in the previous section, and add circular movements of your head, trying to keep your balance. When you master this repeat it with your eyes closed. Take note of any difficulties you have in each exercise of this series. Repeat the exercises and make corrections.

Exercise Series 6: Intellectual Part of the Motor Center These exercises initially require considerable attention. One must use a lot of “care,” and this has the interesting quality of improving the harmony and rhythm of your bodily movements. A) Stand up and balance a book on top of your head. Now walk around slowly and maintain the correct posture you learned in Lesson 10. B) Walk around and then sit down, still keeping the book balanced on your head. Stand up again. Repeat this, adding speed and grace to your movements. C) Stand up with the book on your head and turn around completely. Walk backward and forward, then move a few steps to the right, and then to the left. Repeat this and speed up your movements. Take notes on what happens. IMPORTANT: There are three Exercise Series in this lesson, each with several exercises. Summarize in your notebook your observations made during each Exercise series in your notebook, and take special notes on the exercises you found most difficult. Resolve to practice the most difficult exercises until the next lesson.