Body Testing through Gentle Stretches and Joint Mobilizations

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Apart from actively exploring the six body attunement domains, you can also regularly perform a quick body test as part of cultivating Conscious Body Listening, which — through gentle stretches and joint mobilizations — evaluates your current body abilities and limitations.

In the accompanying body testing video further below, you will see me performing a gentle twelve-minute stretching and joint mobilization sequence, which starts with the neck, proceeds with the shoulders, arms, and torso, and finally ends with the legs. The test is carried out entirely seated, and can best be done on a stool.

Body testing can help inform you about existing bodily imbalances (for instance, between your left and right sides), your range of motion abilities, flexibility, and any muscle or joint tensions, pains, and discomforts. This will guide you in what areas may possibly need improvement or need “to be worked on.”

Keep in mind that the sequence most likely involves working with muscles, postures, and movements you’re not typically used to. This may cause some initial muscle and joint soreness, which is why I recommend resting your body for at least two full days before repeating the body test.

The body test is not meant as a deep stretching or joint mobilization exercise sequence. Perform the exercises slowly, gently, and mindfully and repeat each test/exercise two times. Try to really “listen” to what your body has to tell you.

Before doing the body test, I advise you to take certain precautions and contraindications into account. That is, if you have severe and/or structural pains, are wounded, have a high fever, are bleeding, notice worrying body anomalies, or in any other way feel seriously unwell, I advise you to first seek help from a licensed physician or other appropriate healthcare provider.

In addition, if you have artificial organs or joints, take medication, have recently been ill or had a surgery and are still recovering, or in any other way have a serious medical disorder or dysfunction, I likewise advise you to first contact an appropriate, official healthcare provider to find out if there are no objections to exploring your body, testing your body, or resolving issues in the way I describe in the context of cultivating Conscious Body Listening i.e., Conscious Body Awareness.

I also think it’s best to do this test when your body is somewhat warmed up. Hence, I recommend not to do this test immediately after getting out of bed early in the morning, but rather somewhat later on the day.

At any rate, here below then the body testing video:

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