Sensory integration is the process by which we receive information through our senses, organize this information, and use it to participate in everyday activities
It has been said that many people often take their senses for granted. After all, that is why we should be considerate of those who have been born blind, deaf or mute.
It is all the more reason we must be very grateful to have working senses in order to go about our lives. The problem, however, is that it is not merely enough to assume we are using them correctly. Most people often stop at just knowing that all their senses are connected to their nervous system and their brain.
Have you ever wondered what really happens when you see a cup and reach out a hand to hold it? How about when you balance your feet as you get on a bicycle?
All of these things are possible because of sensory integration, the ability of our brain to simultaneously receive input from all the different senses and allow us to coordinate a response with our bodies.
The thing is, we are not always very in tune with this (hence, our moments of clumsiness, slowness and disorientation). Here are some activities that can help you be more sharp and alert with what your senses are perceiving:
Asides from the five senses, your body also has both the vestibular sense (sense of the body’s direction) and proprioception (the senses of your muscles).
Exercises like yoga challenge you to use these other senses while also being very aware of the way your body is positioning and supporting itself. The same can be for tai chi, chi gong and other activities that emphasize flexibility, gentle movement and posture.
Whether it is tennis, football, basketball or even just foosball, getting good at any of these ball sports require you to pay very close attention to hand-eye coordination.
And if you’re already engaged in any of these sports, then take a moment to really be aware of how your body moves when you play. Pay attention to how your eyes are focused on the ball rather than how your hands or feet are moving to catch it.
That is fast-paced sensory integration at work.
Whether it’s just moving to the rhythm as you go or doing a whole, complex dance routine, music has a powerful effect on us that goes beyond the ears.
The way our bodies respond to the beat of favourite and familiar tunes makes for quite a party in our brain. As our brains process these melodies, certain areas of it are then instantly triggered and we move our bodies to respond.
Similar things happen even when, instead, we’re playing musical instruments. Our brains have created a relationship with sound that has synchronised our ears, our fingertips and our voices to play a song.
When you are engaged in an activity that greatly uses more than just one or two senses, it really brings to mind just how amazing both the body and the brain can be when they work together. That’s the beauty of sensory integration.
And the more you are in tune with it, the more you can even improve the way you perform. Give the above activities a try and pay really close attention to the incredible interplay between all your senses!
If you need any advice or support on sensory integration, then know that we at the Australian Tomatis Method are still here to help you. Please reach out if you need to, either by email at info@tomatis.com.au or by phone to Francoise at 0414 444 915.
Official Representative of Tomatis Developpement SA in Australia, Asia and South Pacific, Director of the Australian Tomatis® Method, Registered Psychologist, Certified Tomatis® Consultant Senior, Tomatis® International Trainer and Speaker, Co-author of the Listening Journey Series, 40 Years of Experience, Neurodiversity Speaker
