Location: WeWork, NYC
Speaker: Sean Light (Day 2)
Topics discussed:
- The Neocortex.
- Homeostasis v. Allostasis.
- The effects of chronic stress on vision with treatment protocols.
- The effects of chronic stress on audition with treatment protocols.
- Weight room application.
Sean Light and Pat Davidson teamed up to deliver a 2-day workshop, right here in NYC. I unfortunately couldn’t attend Pat’s presentation on day 1, but was fortunate enough to make it for Sean’s day 2 presentation. If you don’t know Sean, he is a health and performance specialist, who has spent many years in professional sports (NBA, MLB) as a strength and conditioning coach. Sean owns and operates 4A Heath Performance, an education company committed to providing health and fitness professionals with high level, unconventional continuing education. Not only did Sean deliver amazing content, but he is a dynamic speaker, super funny, and one of those guys you just want to hang out and be friends with. Spoiler alert!...Every part of this workshop absolutely rocked, especially when we found a toy lightsaber (I swear we used it for therapeutic purposes).
Sean’s presentation was titled “Real Recovery”, and covered a TON of ground. During the first half of the day, we discussed the stress response spectrum, fundamentals of the neocortex, cellular memory and homeostasis v. allostasis. Sean presented all of this information through the lens of the strength coach and therapist, and what really stuck out at me was the way he compared the homeostatic-focused trainer or therapist to the conventional medical model of treating symptoms and categorizing injuries and diseases. Allostatic-focused trainers and therapist view injury and disease as a problem with the system, and treat the system as a whole, much like the unconventional medical model which will eventually save society from disease, disability and bankruptcy (I hope.) The parallels are undenyable.
After lunch at Chipotle, we dove deep into visual, auditory, and anatomical considerations for people and athletes living in a chronic stress, modern environment, which Sean dubbed “Sagittalism.” What a phenomenal term. So obvious, so explanatory, so immensely impactful, yet I’ve never heard anyone use it before. Maybe I need to get out more? Either way, brilliant.
When discussing visual system consideration, Sean compared a myopic diagnosis to problems associated with tight hamstrings. Chronic stress, coupled with postural compensations, pain, and a loss of movement variability. He explained how environment, audition and behavior ties into all of it, and provided orthopedic and non-orthopedic recommendations to influence an overstressed or tonic visual system. As the best scientific interventions always are, these strategies were simple, yet significant. He took two volunteers, tested hamstring flexibility and glenohumeral internal rotation. After the “Blind man” intervention, movement variability in the shoulder improved and the hamstrings allowed for greater passive hip flexion. All this from walking around with the eyes closed, sensing surroundings with a stick. Fortunately for us, we couldn’t find a broom stick, but found a random lightsaber. So fitting for the fun, lighthearted vibe we had going that afternoon.
When discussing audition, Sean spoke about environmental and lifestyle influences which can cause a tonic auditory system, much like with the visual system. He spoke of practical application, and we then played a great music recognition game to put it all into action. Fun stuff. I downloaded a bunch of movie scores the next day and crushed squats and bench press to the epic sounds of the Gladiator soundtrack. I don’t have to convince you that music can greatly affect mood. This stuff matters so much, but nobody talks about it!
Lastly, Sean showed us his tools to gauge physical readiness, utilizing rock mats, and some old school visual toys I used to play with as a kid. His tools give him feedback on the person using them without them even knowing it. They allow him to better understand stress levels and remove the potentially negative consequences of having to say to a professional basketball player “You’re not physically prepared to play today.” I love seeing people trick kids into exercise by making it a game. This is the physical readiness equivalent. So cool.
Sean discussed so many more things that you just have to hear for yourself. Aside from the workshop being reasonably priced, Sean gave us two rock-star books, as well as free access to the incredible Visible Body anatomy app, which ain’t cheap. Overall, I would attend this very same lecture all over again and can’t recommend it enough. If you are a personal trainer, therapist, or anyone that helps people with pain and movement, Sean’s workshop is a must. You won't be disappointed!