Cheryl Whitelaw is a functional movement specialist, Feldenkrais practitioner, and martial artist with a black belt. Cheryl delves into her experiences and philosophies on movement, emphasizing the importance of maintaining functional mobility throughout life.
Addressing the Myths of Aging and Movement
Cheryl shares her observations about how aging often gets prematurely associated with physical decline. She noticed that many of her peers and friends started to accept limitations at a relatively young age, attributing it to aging. This acceptance troubled her, especially after she met Feldenkrais practitioners who moved with youthful energy regardless of their age. Cheryl points out the significant impact that efficient movement can have on minimizing inflammation and wear and tear, stressing that maintaining mobility is not only possible but also essential.
The Importance of Functional Movement
Cheryl explains that her work focuses on helping clients improve their movement across their entire lifespan. She observes that many individuals adopt "good enough" movement patterns, which can create problems as they age or engage in new physical challenges. By leveraging her background in the Feldenkrais Method, Cheryl helps clients refine their movement and achieve their physical goals. For instance, Cheryl uses the example of a passionate golfer with a history of shoulder and knee issues. By breaking down the golf swing into core movement templates, she helps her client make subtle but impactful adjustments, enhancing overall performance and reducing injury risk. Cheryl emphasizes the importance of addressing not just movement patterns but underlying habits and emotional states that influence physical actions.
Training Movement Capacity
Cheryl contrasts the traditional approach of training specific movements with her method of enhancing movement capacity. She underscores the role of neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to reorganize itself—in developing new movement patterns. The brain thrives on novelty, requiring thinking, feeling, sensing, and moving to keep movement fresh and effective. By engaging all these aspects, Cheryl helps clients move beyond rote movements and cultivate a richer, more responsive way of moving. This approach is especially beneficial for activities like Aikido, where the dynamic nature of interactions requires constant adaptation and quick decision-making.
Making Movement Accessible and Joyful
Cheryl discusses the need for a more inviting and accessible approach to fitness, particularly for older adults. Cheryl advocates for functional, enjoyable activities that resonate with individuals' interests and daily lives. She highlights the importance of social connections in making movement enjoyable, pointing out how activities like walking with a friend can be both physically and emotionally fulfilling. Cheryl encourages fitness professionals to adopt a more inclusive approach, focusing on what individuals enjoy and can sustainably incorporate into their lives. She emphasizes the need to create an entry ramp into fitness that is welcoming and accommodating, rather than intimidating or overly rigorous.
Fall Preparedness: Building Resilience
Fall preparedness is another critical area Cheryl focuses on. She prefers the term "fall resilience," which encourages a more expansive, responsive approach to falling. Drawing from her Aikido training, she teaches clients how to make the ground feel friendly and how to distribute force more evenly when falling to minimize injury. Cheryl uses creative exercises to help clients develop a better relationship with the floor, starting with simple movements from lying down. By building this foundation, clients can improve their balance and reaction times, making falls less likely and less harmful.
The Move Freely Program
Cheryl discusses her Move Freely program, which includes one-on-one sessions and group classes that cater to clients' interests and needs. She provides customized guidance to help clients address specific concerns, such as chronic neck pain from prolonged computer use. By exploring and addressing underlying habits and tensions, Cheryl helps clients find alternatives that improve their overall movement and well-being.
Embracing Lifelong Movement
Cheryl's journey into the world of movement began with a deep interest in transformational learning—understanding what happens at the moment of profound learning and change. She has since combined her expertise in education, martial arts, Feldenkrais Method, and integral coaching to develop a holistic approach to movement. Cheryl's passion for movement extends to her own life. At 56, she is preparing for her black belt test in Aikido and has plans to explore parkour next. Her approach to aging well centers on maintaining choices in movement, ensuring that individuals have the freedom and capability to explore new physical activities throughout their lives.
Cheryl Whitelaw's insights offer a refreshing perspective on aging and movement. By addressing functional movement, enhancing movement capacity, and making fitness accessible and joyful, she provides a path for individuals to maintain mobility and vitality at any age. Cheryl's work underscores the importance of curiosity, joy, and adaptability in creating a lifelong movement practice.
Links for Cheryl:
Website: https://www.peaceandpower.ca
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