So, I’m incredibly clumsy. It’s gotten better over the years, but you know those cliche movie scenes where the protagonist is learning to use a sword? And their mentor says “Think of it like an extension of your arm?” I have trouble feeling like my limbs are extensions of my body. I quite literally forget where they are in space. As I’ve gotten older, I have learned to space myself farther away from people to account for that.
Team sports were a disaster. Not totally! I actually had marginal success in volleyball. Positions on the court were clearly delineated, and people called out when they went for the ball. That was fine, usually.
All that being said, I have done better in martial arts and dance. The martial arts schools I’ve been to relied a lot on building fundamentals with solo footwork drills, so I had a grounding in the basics before I ever had to make physical contact. Grappling went well, too. In dance, I’m either dancing alone or am in near-constant physical contact with someone, which also seems to ground my limbs.
I do find a lot of the benefits that you outline here in structured physical activity. Activity that has a “play” feel to it, even though it’s incredibly hard. The camaraderie, the post-workout “highs,” and massive improvements in my day-to-day coordination are all noticeable. My recent dance class has been more effective than talk therapy at treating my depression and anxiety. I haven’t been measuring, but I also know that evidence points towards cognitive benefits too.
So, I’m incredibly clumsy. It’s gotten better over the years, but you know those cliche movie scenes where the protagonist is learning to use a sword? And their mentor says “Think of it like an extension of your arm?” I have trouble feeling like my limbs are extensions of my body. I quite literally forget where they are in space. As I’ve gotten older, I have learned to space myself farther away from people to account for that.
Team sports were a disaster. Not totally! I actually had marginal success in volleyball. Positions on the court were clearly delineated, and people called out when they went for the ball. That was fine, usually.
All that being said, I have done better in martial arts and dance. The martial arts schools I’ve been to relied a lot on building fundamentals with solo footwork drills, so I had a grounding in the basics before I ever had to make physical contact. Grappling went well, too. In dance, I’m either dancing alone or am in near-constant physical contact with someone, which also seems to ground my limbs.
I do find a lot of the benefits that you outline here in structured physical activity. Activity that has a “play” feel to it, even though it’s incredibly hard. The camaraderie, the post-workout “highs,” and massive improvements in my day-to-day coordination are all noticeable. My recent dance class has been more effective than talk therapy at treating my depression and anxiety. I haven’t been measuring, but I also know that evidence points towards cognitive benefits too.