Proprioception - Our Sixth Sense
This "sixth sense," as it's sometimes called, is present in all of us.
Nerve endings in our muscles and joints send signals that help coordinate our movements, guiding how we move each body part and how much strength to use.
Proprioception is heavily relied upon in daily life, helping us with activities like walking, writing, typing and playing musical instruments. When eating or drinking, we apply the right amount of force to direct food accurately into our mouths, even though we can't see them. We learn to perform these tasks without having to constantly watch the body parts involved.
Among athletes, gymnasts are often credited, and quite rightly so, with having an acute sense of proprioception - the ability to know where their body parts are in relation to each other..
Movement practices like yoga help us consciously use our body awareness to coordinate movements and maintain balance. This, in turn, helps us perform everyday tasks - like filling an empty kettle under a tap - confidently and safely.
More Than Six Senses ?
Traditionally, we recognise five primary senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. However, ongoing research by philosophers and neuroscientists highlights the complexity of human perception, suggesting that we may have a broader array of senses. These include:
Interoception – Awareness of internal bodily states.
Proprioception – Sense of body position and movement.
Equilibrioception – Sense of balance.
Nociception – Perception of pain.
Thermoception – Perception of temperature.
Awareness of our bodily sensations is a major experience in yoga and we take a closer look at interoception here
Further Reading
A Back Strengthening Sequence : Spinal Strength
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