Neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) Hygiene

Book Excerpt from The Power of Doing What Matters

Every day, be sure to brush your brain. On your own, or with the assistance of your circle of advisors, identify and perform movements and exercises that make your nervous system come alive.

The primary criteria for NMS hygiene are that it’s thoughtful, slow, and follows basic neurodevelopmental patterns of movement. The breathing and one-leg stance exercises in the part II training section are examples of NMS hygiene. Most of us are very diligent and habituated to keeping the habits of washing our bodies and our face, and brushing or flossing our teeth.

These are fairly established modes of hygiene that help fend off disease. NMS hygiene serves to provide regular stimulation and activation to our muscles, joints, and, most importantly, our nervous system. It seems more than logical that if we are going to be consistent with our hygiene for our body, we would do some form of hygiene for the system that controls everything that goes on in our body: our nervous system!

Some is better than none. On mornings when I have not ordered my time well and I have allowed some hurry into my space, I will still get some NMS hygiene completed. I do not walk out the door without getting on the floor or on the table and stimulating my nervous system.

It is a must versus a should.