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I’ve got a really obscure personal anecdote. I have cerebral palsy. For all intents and purposes it’s really mild. It only really affects my left hand and sl

I’ve got a really obscure personal anecdote. I have cerebral palsy. For all intents and purposes it’s really mild. It only really affects my left hand and slightly my left foot. I’ve been an average runner at times in my life (10 minute miles up to 15Ks), a part time fitness instructor for slightly over a decade from my mid 20s to mid 30s extra. What I noticed when it came to anything highly choreographed like dancing or a complex fitness routine and trying to listen to the beat and stay on beat, even though I can physically do the moves, it takes me a lot longer to process choreography than most people. It was mentally much more challenging and tiring than anything I do at my day job (software development). I don’t see how simple exercise could be cognitive exercise. I could completely zone out while running.

robotresearcher 4y ago
Most of what your brain does is not available to consciousness. You can be zoned out and brain-busy. Placing your feet running on a rocky trail is an amazingly complex task.
- scarface74 4y ago
  Funny enough, walking on uneven terrain takes a lot of concentration for me - again the CP. But running on pavement a few miles allows me to zone out.
bjornsing 4y ago
Interesting. How about something like soccer?
- scarface74 4y ago
  I’ve been “fit” at various times in my life by various definitions - ie a decent runner, weightlifter, etc. But I’ve never been “coordinated” enough to be even average at any sport. Luckily in High School and college, I could choose swimming and weightlifting as my Physical Ed requirements, Even being a fitness instructor didn’t take dynamic coordination since I was in charge of the class, do moves I was completely comfortable with and rehearsed extensively. I was never a good student in a highly choreographed fitness class. I picked up moves here and there from other instructors and made them my own.
  - bjornsing 4y ago
    Interesting. I’m very similar myself. As far as I know I don’t have cerebral palsy or any other neurological condition, but I did grow up in a very “intellectually focused” family where any seemingly “out of control” activity was frowned upon. Have a feeling my brain just allocated a very large chunk of cognitive capacity to intellectual endeavors, and not enough to motor skills / coordination. At least not enough to be good at something like soccer.

robotresearcher 4y ago

Most of what your brain does is not available to consciousness. You can be zoned out and brain-busy. Placing your feet running on a rocky trail is an amazingly complex task.

scarface74 4y ago
Funny enough, walking on uneven terrain takes a lot of concentration for me - again the CP. But running on pavement a few miles allows me to zone out.

bjornsing 4y ago

Interesting. How about something like soccer?

scarface74 4y ago
I’ve been “fit” at various times in my life by various definitions - ie a decent runner, weightlifter, etc. But I’ve never been “coordinated” enough to be even average at any sport. Luckily in High School and college, I could choose swimming and weightlifting as my Physical Ed requirements, Even being a fitness instructor didn’t take dynamic coordination since I was in charge of the class, do moves I was completely comfortable with and rehearsed extensively. I was never a good student in a highly choreographed fitness class. I picked up moves here and there from other instructors and made them my own.
- bjornsing 4y ago
  Interesting. I’m very similar myself. As far as I know I don’t have cerebral palsy or any other neurological condition, but I did grow up in a very “intellectually focused” family where any seemingly “out of control” activity was frowned upon. Have a feeling my brain just allocated a very large chunk of cognitive capacity to intellectual endeavors, and not enough to motor skills / coordination. At least not enough to be good at something like soccer.