“The mind is like the wind; the body is like the sand. If you want to know which way the wind is blowing, watch the sand.” (Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen)

 Even when we are still, we are moving. Blood circulates, lymph flows, the heart beats, stomach juices swirl, cerebral spinal fluid pulses, cells migrate, rib case and lungs expand and contract. There is a universe of silent movement occurring inside us every second. There is no conscious effort to these movements. We do not have to decide to digest my food. If we eat something our digestive systems, governed by our brain, takes care of it.

 In contrast to these involuntary movements are the movements we decide to do, or voluntary movements. Voluntary movement is active; it requires consciousness, intent and will. When we decide to brush our teeth we must first have the intent and the will to perform that activity before we can reach out with our hand to grasp the toothbrush, put toothpaste on the brush and bring it to our mouths.