On our bookshelf at home, we have a book which I have been meaning to read for a few years now and always get sidetracked by another great book I need to read. The book is Daniel Kahneman’s - Thinking Fast and Slow.

The basic premise of the book (according to Wikipedia) is:

” Kahneman describes two different ways the brain forms thoughts:

• System 1: Fast, automatic, frequent, emotional, stereotypic, unconscious.

• System 2: Slow, effortful, infrequent, logical, calculating, conscious. "

Let's translate these to our movement practices. Hopefully we will be able to notice whether our movements are done fast (and here lies another cliché -"speed hides need”, meaning we do things fast when we can’t do them slow) or we take them at a steadier pace. Are we able to make our movements more mindful, to pause and take note of how we are moving and maybe sense a purpose behind what we are doing or trying to achieve. How do the Fast and Slow compare?

Most of our work tends to be with our arms in front of the body – think working on your computer, driving your car, or preparing meals. These are most often done with our arms internally rotated, where the elbows start to point out to the sides or even forward. Have you ever watched someone walking with their arms crossing the front of their body as they swing? That’s internal rotation. Our arm swings best backwards and forwards.

Pay a bit more attention to the placement of your arms, how you align them when doing postures and how best to use them when you put weight on them.