This is the third and final post in the sensory systems series. In the first one (see here), I introduced the reason why our sensory systems are an integral part of practicing Pilates. In the second (see here), I went into more detail about the lesser-known sensory systems and explored how they each relate to Pilates. So, in this the final post I talk about how Pilates and five well-know senses interact, or not!

Sight (Visual)

Most people understand visual acuity, as most of us have had our eyes tested and many people wear glasses or contact lenses. These help to improve visual acuity by providing corrective lenses that allow the eye to focus light on the retina for clear vision.

Visual processing is all about how our eyes perceive and make sense of the visual information from the world around us. It has two aspects to it:

• visual acuity – how clearly you can see
• ocular motor control – how well your eye muscles work together

Visual processing requires the smooth coordination of the muscles around our eyes. Problems with this can cause issues such as struggling to judge distance or focus on a single object.

We need our eyes to work together to give us the best possible vision. If the muscles on one side of our eye work harder than the other side, they can pull your eye out of alignment (known as strabismus). This affects many daily activities requiring depth perception, including making a cup of coffee and driving a car.

It’s important to note that somebody can have 20/20 vision, but have difficulties with visual processing (how your brain interprets information from your eyes).

Each time I introduce a new exercise to a class I do a demonstration of it. In my Pilates teacher training I was taught to do three repetitions of every exercise, the third of which should be silent so that people can watch without any additional sensory information. It’s important for me to know if a student struggles to watch and replicate a movement and may need additional verbal or physical cues.

Sound (Auditory)

Sound is received and processed as vibrations through our inner ear going to our auditory nerve and into the auditory centre in our brains.

Auditory processing is required in social settings, in conversation, in classrooms and workplaces, amongst many other situations. It involves three processes that promote healthy hearing:

• hearing sounds
• choosing which sounds to focus on (auditory discrimination) and
• figuring out which direction a sound is coming from (auditory localisation).

We all have auditory preferences – some people like to read in silence, others work with a musical accompaniment. Some enjoy gigs, others wear noise-cancelling headphones to sleep. As with our other senses, it’s healthy for us to discover, acknowledge and play to our auditory preferences.

This is hopefully reflected in class in my use of different types of cueing:

verbal – telling you what to do

visual – showing you what to do and

tactile – using my hands to assist you in moving your body how I would like it to move.

Touch (Tactile)

Your tactile sensory system interprets touch sensations from your skin’s sensory receptors. Tactile discrimination is your brain’s ability to make sense of pressure, temperature and pain. It’s how you know that a fly has landed on your bare arm. Or how you can feel the clothing label rubbing against your neck as you walk.

Touch is also required for the development of fine motor skills, such as writing, typing, tying your shoelaces, holding your toothbrush while you load the toothpaste or finding the pen in your desk drawer.

One of the things you agree to when you fill in my enrolment form is my use of tactile cueing  i.e. me using my hands to help you adjust your body to aid the exercises. I believe it’s one of the things that makes Body Control Pilates® different from other Pilates training providers.

Smell (Olfactory)

Most people have that one friend who always smells strongly of their chosen perfume – one hug later and you smell of them for the rest of the day! Smells are especially triggering for some people and this lies with the responsiveness of their sense of smell (olfactory system). It’s why I don’t wear any perfume when I’m teaching.

Our olfactory system works through chemical receptors within the nose. Nerves carry the smells to the limbic system within the brain, which stores information about and controls our emotions, memory, learning and sense of pleasure.

Within our Pilates classes, we don’t directly use our sense of smell, but it’s key during our after-class cake eating or at the annual December cake sale!

Taste (Gustatory)

Your gustatory system is the sense that helps you to taste everything you put in your mouth. It allows us to tell the difference between traditionally ‘safe’ (sweet, salty, savoury) and ‘not safe’ (bitter, sour) foods, as well as determine the flavours of the foods we eat. We have taste cells located across our tongue primarily, but also around the inside of our mouth. The gustatory and olfactory sensory systems work closely together and have a huge impact on food preferences and tolerances.

Oral motor skills also fall within this sensory category. These are the skills required for eating, drinking, sucking, blowing, swallowing and speech. The muscles of your mouth and jaw are vital to support your sensory processing skills, with sucking, biting and chewing being examples of how the proprioceptive system can sometimes help to calm someone with sensory difficulties.

How have your senses helped you to enjoy something this week? Maybe a fabulous meal out somewhere. Or a much-needed hug at just the right time. It could even have been that piece of music you heard in a shop that stirred an emotion in you. Our sensory systems play a significant role in our everyday lives. Try and take notice of these things over the next few days!