Born to Move: Reflexes, Development, and Your Body’s Inbuilt Intelligence

Each of us is born with a natural blueprint for movement.

Right from the start, we’re equipped with primitive reflexes that help shape how we move. These reflexes, such as the Moro (startle) reflex and the Babinski reflex, are automatic responses designed to support early motor development.

They are part of the body’s natural system for building coordination and interacting with the environment.

Early Movement and Development

In infancy, movement is largely reflexive and instinctive. Reaching, grasping, and crawling are not random behaviours. Rather, they follow a clear developmental sequence.

The nervous system guides these behaviours, helping build strength, balance, and coordination. Each new movement stage builds the foundations to support the next one.

Learning to roll over for instance, supports core strength, which is important for crawling. Crawling then helps develop the coordination needed for walking.

When Natural Patterns Are Affected

However, modern lifestyles and habits formed in adulthood can gradually undermine the efficiency of our foundational movement patterns and compromise balance and mobility. 

For instance, long periods of sitting can affect core strength, joint mobility, and overall body awareness. 

Lack of movement variety in daily life can also limit sensory input needed for the brain and body to maintain efficient, natural patterns.

Prolonged screen time often leads to postural changes, such as a forward head position or rounded shoulders. 

These shifts, while seemingly minor, can directly impact the comfort and movement efficiency of our bodies over time.

Supporting Healthy Movement Patterns

The good news is that it’s always possible to improve how we move by reintroducing natural movement patterns into our daily life.

Engaging in some simple, functional activities that involve balance, coordination, and sensory input can support movement quality. The aim is to build awareness and help the body function better in everyday tasks.

Here are a few examples:

• Play-based movement: Activities such as dancing, climbing, or ball games are enjoyable and help develop agility.
• Barefoot walking: Walking without shoes on safe surfaces will stimulate foot proprioception and foot muscles increasing body awareness and control.
• Basic functional exercises: Movements like crawling, squatting, or rolling can help reinforce control and stability.
• Check your posture: Pay attention to how you sit, stand, and move throughout the day.

Movement Through Awareness

Your body is built to move—efficiently and with purpose. 

Improving posture, coordination, and mobility starts with awareness and a commitment to varied, intentional movement throughout your day. It doesn’t have to be complex. 

Small, consistent shifts in how you move can restore comfort, improve function, and reconnect you with the patterns your body was designed to follow.

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