By: Kerrie Murphy | 12/07/2017

Smell, Sight, Hearing, Touch, Taste… what’s missing here? Kinaesthesia.  As skin is the organ for touch, fascia is the organ of Kinaesthesia – our 6^th sense, Movement Sense.

Intellectual, instinctive, intuitive, emotional, physical, anatomical – “Fascia is the fabric of our form… It is instrumental in holding us together literally and symbolically.” -Joanne Avison

Fascia is the richest and most important sensory organ for feeling changes in our body. It constitutes a tensional network of communication sending signals and messages throughout the body, modified and balanced by innate kinaesthetic intelligence.

Kinaesthesia can be differentiated into proprioception and interoception signals to the central nervous system.

Proprioception: conscious/unconscious ability to perceive body alignment and move in a well-coordinated manner.

Interoception: unconscious/conscious ability to modulate and sense quality of movement, as well as its effect on the body and emotions. The signals provide the brain information about the condition of the body.

Homeostasis to physiological needs: To motivate or adapt behaviour to regain equilibrium and interoceptive sensations: warmth, coldness, heaviness, hunger, heartbeat and relaxation.

Emotional states: Decision making, perception of time, perception of somatic spaciousness and the space that surrounds you.  The interoceptive response is also linked to creating a sense of peaceful wellbeing and social belonging.

Proprioception: Sensing body alignment, movement and timing.  Interoception: How we feel about our proprioceptive abilities. Feelings have two distinct areas:

Sensation: Feeling something.  Emotion: How you feel about it.

“Emotional awareness is the dance between Proprioception and Interoception”

Dr Emily Splitchal

An example of this in movement could be the action of reaching forward to touch your toes (proprioceptive). How you feel when you reach forward to touch your toes (interoceptive) is your unique experience of this.  It may feel restrictive, painful and uncomfortable for some. For others it could feel easy, sense of satisfaction, light.

In minded movement like Pilates, you discover that all the sensations you encounter are relevant to our lived experience.

When we take the time to listen attentively to our kinaesthetic sense, not only what you feel, but how you feel about it creating space to make informative choices on how to respond to the physical sensation.  Reinforce the positive and break the habitual loops, changing your body behaviour. Move away from a life of less discomfort towards more happiness and ease.

Literature references

1. Book – Dr Robert Schleip and Amanda Baker 2015. A Fascia in Sport and Movement.
2. Book – Joanne Sarah Avison. 2015: Yoga, Fascia Anatomy and Movement
3. Article – Karin Gurtner 2017: Fascia –The 6^th Sense and ‘organ ‘of kinaesthesia
4. Webinar – Dr Emily Splichal 2017: Interoception: The art of controlling emotion with motion
5. Podcast – Peter Blackaby 2017 Your movement is your lived experience. https://www.liberatedbody.com/podcast/peter-blackaby-lbp-067

Discover ways to create space in your body for a more positive movement experience through your 6th Sense. https://www.infinitypilates.com/news/workshop-live-a-fuller-life-through-your-sixth-sense/