Have you ever watched a baby on the floor, lifting their head, pushing up with their arms, and exploring the world with curiosity and ease? Those early movements are more than adorable milestones—they’re a blueprint for how we learn to be grounded, balanced, and self-supported in our bodies.

As adults, we often lose touch with this innate wisdom. Our busy lives, stress, and habitual postures can create tension, misalignment, and a sense of disconnection from our own bodies. But what if we could re-learn the movements that babies naturally develop, using them as a standard to restore body awareness, energy, and self-support?

Why Developmental Movements Matter

When babies lift their heads, push through their arms, roll, and reach, they are activating key meridians in the body—like the Stomach (Yang Ming) and Spleen & Lung (Tai Yin) meridians—and training their organs, muscles, and nervous system to work in harmony. This is how they naturally:

• Build a springy, buoyant center in the body
• Develop balance, coordination, and self-support
• Learn to distinguish themselves from the external world
• Establish the foundation for energy flow, vitality, and resilience

For adults, observing and practicing these same movements can help you notice areas of imbalance or restriction, and gently re-teach your body to restore its natural rhythm and alignment.

How to Explore Developmental Movements

Here’s a simple way to start:

1. Get on the floor, lying on your belly.
2. Lift your head and chest, supporting yourself with your arms—just like a baby discovering how to rise.
3. Notice the upward force from the ground flowing into your inner organs. Allow them to expand and create a springy, supportive centre.
4. Breathe into the sensation, feeling how your energy moves upward and outward, giving you stability and vitality.

As you practice, pay attention to where your body feels restricted or lacking support. These moments show you exactly where your body can benefit from a little re-training. Over time, these movements can help you feel more grounded, balanced, and connected to your own body intelligence.

Why This Work is Important

Reconnecting with your body through developmental movements isn’t just a physical exercise—it’s a way to cultivate awareness, self-support, and presence. By restoring these foundational qualities, you can:

• Move with more ease and confidence
• Protect your posture, joints, and energy
• Respond to others from a place of balance rather than tension
• Deepen your experience of self-care, Shiatsu, or other bodywork practices

Join Me to Explore This in Person

If you’d like to dive deeper into these principles, I’m running a Movement Shiatsu workshop on Saturday, October 18 in Enfield, North London. Together, we’ll explore the developmental movements, connect with the wisdom of your body, and practice ways to restore balance, self-support, and vitality.

Your body already knows the way—you just need to give it the chance to remember. 🌿Reserve your spot today:info@heartfelthands.org | WhatsApp 07398 665632