As a mover at Sense of Space you know that you are working on more than just muscles, you are working on all the vital body systems, one of them being your fascial network.

Fascia is an integral system with which you sense, move and stabilize your body. It works in synergy with muscles, but also has a life on its own (figuratively speaking).

Tom Myers and Robert Schleip, two amazing scientists, presenters, bodyworkers and movers have created a great analogy for the genetic fascial predisposition that divides us in 2 types:

• The Viking and the Temple Dancer.

  

VIKING & TEMPLE DANCER

• The Viking has denser fascia that is less elastic and creates a lot of friction, therefore more heat for the body, which comes in handy in Northern climates.
• The Temple Dancer has looser, more elastic fascia creating less friction, which suits the more Southern climates. Of course now it's all mixed up and globalized.
• A Viking's body is naturally more stable than the body of the Temple Dancer, who naturally is more mobile and flexible.

 

DO YOU FEEL LIKE A VIKING IN A TEMPLE DANCER'S BODY?

Do you feel a bit soft on the outside, but tight on the insight? Or not as athletic as you would like, but your instructor tells you to relax more?

Don't get mixed up with muscle strength or personality type versus your "fascia body". Being a Viking doesn't mean you are determined, fierce and super toned all over, nor is every Temple Dancer mellow, fluid and super bendy.

You can train part of your body to be too lax or too tight and therefore it would have the appearance of being part Temple Dancer, part Viking. But no, your fascia predisposition seems to be something that is over all the body and is genetically determined.

  

BALANCE THROUGH MOVEMENT

Ok, what does that mean for movement?

No Pilates Essentials and Pilates Flow lessons anymore, from now on it's either going to be a Viking or a Temple Dancer class - I am kidding..... J

But I am serious when I say that a Viking and a Temple Dancer ideally need a different kind of training or at least training focus, therefore our classes always include a balance of stability, strengthening, active stretching and release exercises to cater for both the Viking and the Temple Dancers amongst you.

With appropriate training a Viking can be very graceful, supple and elastic in their movement. Core stability exercises with low load, active stretches, rhythmical mobility exercises and releases with spiky balls and the Roller are excellent to complement a Viking's tendency to being on the stiff side.

A Temple Dancer certainly can be stable, toned and athletic, but again, the type of training will contribute greatly towards a balanced body. For different reasons core stability exercises are as important for Temple Dancers as they are for Vikings. Strength work with low repetitions and appropriate loading (start low and progress slowly) is great, as well as active stretches that maintain length and tone at the same time.

For both types awareness to their body and movement is the key to a balanced body.

If the Viking keeps working harder and harder because it feels natural, he or she will become stiffer and shorter, und movement will lose its natural fluidity and elasticity. The body becomes tight and movement hard work.

If the Temple Dancer indulges in lots of end range stretching the body becomes unstable and compressed. But pushing hard to look like a toned Viking doesn't lead to balance either; instead some body parts will become tight, while others remain too mobile.

 

APPRECIATE ALL YOU ARE & ALL YOU DO

Long story short; next time you attend a Pilates class really, but really enjoy and value core stability, strengthening exercises, stretches and releases equally, because they all give you equal benefits no matter if you are a Viking or a Temple Dancer.

 

A LITTLE QUIZ JUST FOR FUN

What do you think we are?

I will let you ponder for a while and give you the "answers" at the end.....