The Power of Cross Crawling To Balance Your Body & Mind

What Is Cross Crawling?

Cross crawling is when we use the two sides of our bodies in opposition or mirroring movement. The automatic sequencing of upright muscle movement (walking and running) is supposed to be coordinated the same way. You’ll have experienced this, as an adult, if you’ve ever practiced climbing, yoga, walking, crawling, swimming or running. We’ll use the left arm in conjunction with the right leg, or vice versa.  As a child, this is how we learned to crawl and walk.

Cross crawl exercises offer a way to reprogram the nervous system, spinal muscles and various systems to work together, in optimum flow.

This physical movement provides a link or bridge in between the two sides of the brain.

As a result, electrical impulses and information can pass freely between the two sides. It’s important to have this free movement in order to benefit from physical co-ordination and the ability to learn new things, such as a language.

Even crossing our arms or legs while we’re writing, working or playing a musical instrument allows us to make that connection between our two brain hemispheres.

We Have Two Brain Hemispheres – Let’s Use Them!

Our brains are organised into two different hemispheres: left and right. The left side of our brain physically controls the right side of our body. Leaving the right side of our brain to physically control the left side of our body.

These two hemispheres look after different functions within the mind and body.

It’s fair to say that we were given two brain hemispheres for a reason. What’s more, they work better when they are in balance; specifically when we can move freely between the two. We want to be able to integrate things consciously and unconsciously.

It’s More Than Just Physical

There are a few ways that we can improve are ability to function across both hemispheres seamlessly. One is mediation, another is hypnosis. However, if you’re interested in a physical approach to connect the neurons on both sides of your brain, for healthy function, you might be interested in cross crawling.

Why Do Cross Crawling?

There are many proven benefits of doing regular cross crawling exercises; the main one is a significant improvement in physical co-ordination. Moreover, cross crawling delivers both psychological and physical benefits.

Cross crawling is also proven to be highly supportive in finding a solution to learning disabilities, allergies and poor muscle tone.

It’s A Natural Process

Of course, when we first crawled as a child we set out on the cross crawling process. Crawling began the storage of complex messages in our entire nervous system. These messages helped us learn when to switch on and switch off specific muscles so that we could move our bodies seamlessly and maintain balance. And funnily enough, unless we’re yogis we rarely do cross crawling as adults, outside of walking.

Nerve cells are very much alive and are constantly forming new signals with electrochemical messages. The more we cross crawl, the more were instructing our bodies to find our optimum state; both physically and mentally.

Just like when we were learning to walk or to crawl, the more we did it, the stronger the nerve connections. The stronger the nerve connections the more seamless the movement.

When Should We Cross Crawl?

In short, every day. If you maintain strong connections in your nervous system, your body and mind remain balanced and healthy.

Furthermore, if you have an emotional or physical trauma, cross crawling is a good way to start the road to recovery.

Some people use a cross crawling technique whenever they feel they need a boost in their energy levels.  Why not give it a try and see what you think!