Your Brain on Rhythm (Postural Restoration Superpower)

The brain and body are governed by rhythm. Postural Restoration is walking and breathing, and walking and breathing are rhythmic, hence PRI is based on neuro-sensory-mechanical rhythm. Each individual is capable of creating rhythmic movement that can produce therapeutic outcomes that are more effective than traditional physical therapy.
Hey there, my name is Neal Hallinan.
The purpose of this channel is to help people understand and resolve chronic muscular and joint pain, primarily through the discipline of Postural Restoration.
As someone who lived with chronic pain for many years of my life, I know how debilitating and isolating it can be. But I also know it can be resolved.
I hold the following credentials:
Postural Restoration Trained (PRT)
Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCS)
Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)
Amateur Historian (AH, my own self-designation)
I live and work in the great state of New Jersey, USA.
I offer one-on-one training as well as online consultations via Zoom. The information can be found here:
pritrainer.com/on-line-consul...
/ neal_hallinan
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Subscribe to my channel here: / @nealhallinan
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For an example of typical exercises for a beginner program, you can look here:
pritrainer.com/pri-left-aic-r...
Please note, this is quite generic and not sufficient for everybody!

[@dopefullness7240]

I’m a musician ! totally understand what you are explaining!! totally Make sense 🎉 I'm convinced that the secret to rock stars and real musicians with good rhythms looking forever young is that they don't just experience rhythm passively, they have the ability to actively express it. Musicians and rock stars who are able to play rhythms evenly and sustainably are often highly athletic. I will also enjoy your other videos for sure!

[@SKALIVE_]

Please never stop with your videos 🥰

[@sportysbusiness]

Your videos have been lifesavers, I can now walk with minimal pain thanks to walking to music and your 4 PRI exercises. I'm getting better and better as my body relearns the correct patterns.

[@richardgreaney]

As someone with one incredibly poor eye, I would love to see more content talking about unique PRI things we can do to help ourselves restore balance.

[@jeanphillips1184]

Omg, omg, omg, you are one of the few who get it. I have been saying this for decades when I started power walking with music. It effectively changes the brain. Walking is so mentally therapeutic (setting is essential). I listened to my Walkman back in the day and power walked 5 miles in an hour (12 minute mile) to the same album every single day. The (brain) received the mental stimulation thru music but my legs did the physical work and the beats determined the flow. Was so fit and want to reintegrate the mind/body/spirit flow but I physically cannot walk till I get some help with PRI rehabilitation. I also danced for same and long to return to the joy I once had. Thank you for what you do

[@cassidys-ec1qp]

My mind is still blown by this! You are truly a champion in your field. Never stop doing what you're doing ❤️

[@NealHallinan]

Thanks for letting me use the video! I just needed to find the right context to use it.

[@cassidys-ec1qp]

@@NealHallinan of course! It's great content. I will be checking out those books!!! I hope this helps someone else in my position.

[@cassieopia532]

Testing at the end is wild! I’m old and can barely walk, no less dance… but I’m gonna try dancing in my mind. 😊 The brain is fascinating.

[@NealHallinan]

There is research on the benefits of visualization for brain function and I'm pretty sure that it showed that visualizing playing a simple piano tune resulted in positive brain changes. I have to find it.

[@GG33news]

That’s insane!!! Great Work!

[@dolphbade]

Oh my gosh. So cool. And so eye opening.

[@wendyphilpott9019]

Love this dance focus...Yes!

[@izzybella432]

Your videos amaze me EVERY SINGLE TIME! We need WAY, WAY more PRI practitioners! They are so rare! But watching and understanding your content also helps a great deal to take some of the assessment and correcting/healing into our own hands. Thank you very much!

[@Vicgnk]

This is so awesome 👏🏻 🎉

[@shamaniccolonic777]

The only thing that helps me more than dancing is gratitude 🙏

[@christinakennon]

Amazing

[@kanatmirza8034]

Thanks 4 sharing🙏

[@NealHallinan]

My pleasure.

[@wldflwr143]

this is so fascinating and really beautiful! music is so healing =)

[@graceabounds4554]

Wow, the order and beauty God has incorporated into humans and the world 🙌 I’m not musical or rhythmic but I need to incorporate it somehow. Thank you!

[@gharamg.h.5674]

WOoOW🤩🤩🤩🤩 this is a true meaning of MIND BLOWING !!! {Rhythm} my that's what's all about🙊 You just solved the dilemma of the connection between the brain and the body. I'm soo glad that you are here present in ourselves... and from the bottom of my heart, I give thanks to you.👐🏻🌹

[@niralivyas651]

Excellent, insightful, unique info... many thanks for sharing 💐💐💐

[@NealHallinan]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@lightfortruth]

You are a legend 🎉

[@-technodream-]

Incredible x

[@NealHallinan]

Thanks👍

[@pippamellon8678]

I used to be a dancer as a hobby..I had to give it up because I fell poorly..rhythm has been important to me….thank you.I have always been sensitive to stimulus ..I have very strong senses..my smell is like a dogs..🙌

[@maciejsiedziako2315]

Neal you're truly a dancing virtuo! You're just gliding while dancing. Like a scapula on a ribcage.

[@NealHallinan]

I can glide because my sense of rhythm is so good! My feet always know where to end up even if they stop moving.

[@laugary7054]

Hey Neal! Cool content as usual! I tried your thytmic method by asking my client to just tap on their laps (with last tap on the L side), their tests improved! This is just fascinating. thank you so much

[@NealHallinan]

Cool! In regards to bodily rhythm....."stuck" mandibles lock up the neck and thus take away the body's ability to walk "rhythmically". Oral cavity specialists are needed to inhibit "mandible driven" neck tension to free up the rest of the body for PRI intervention. If the neck can't rotate and sidebend because of open bites, crossbites etc... PRI intervention can't work on the lower body to restore rhythm.

[@honkhonk1555]

What are some signs of “Mandible driven” neck tension in your experience? How is it diagnosed, and what do oral cavity specialists usually do in order to fix it? Thanks so much in advance.

[@sarahmcg1976]

Your explanations are always incredible and typically leave me feeling relieved to understand a bit more of the puzzle, and excited about trying out a new idea (new to me, that is). This discussion and demonstration does all that and more…this one brings pure joy. Thank you.

[@NealHallinan]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, and gave you something new to think about.

[@blockparty50]

Another amazing video , thanks for doing what you doing. Sent you an email earlier in the week. Looking forward to hearing from you. Big fan in Alaska!

[@NealHallinan]

Oh, I just saw it. You know, I changed my email address for my PRI work so I haven't been as diligent at checking my old address. I will respond from my new address.

[@matthewcurtis3759]

Neil, when I consulted with you a while back, you said that musicians are notoriously patterned. I was a bass player, and playing bass would drive me farther into the pattern. The posture required to play the instrument was more powerful to my brain than the relieving power of the auditory stimuli. Interesting that bipedal motion seems to be required…

[@NealHallinan]

That’s a very interesting topic. I think the position in which you play, the repetitive nature of playing the instrument, and lack of appendage “freedom” all conspire against you.

[@marcus8710]

As a drummer, I tend to get right side 'twisted' - thankful for your videos. Practicing trying to play ambidextrous, even rolls (precise control quietly) seem to reduce inflammation in hands and even out rotation stresses.

[@brettgirl]

I am taking this as my queue to finally sign up for ballroom dancing (in conjunction with seeing my PRC PT of course)

[@pippamellon8678]

O.m.g..this is so interesting..

[@Ab_A60]

WOW, I just tried this. Currently on a PRI program and waiting to get prism glases. I also have a right torsion but inverted. Head tilt. Can't see ground through right eye. Lost right leg and struggle to get into right stance, even after doing PRI hamstring glute exercises. Listened to rocket queen and walked to the beat for 1-2mins and for the first time ever I felt right stance and could sink really deeply into my right glute. Afterwards I could feel both my K9s, I have no dental issues and usually only feel my right K9 due to my head tilt, and only feel both K9s with my right eye shut as this takes away the head tilt. It's been 24 hours. I can still feel both my K9s. My body STILL feels like it has a centre and two seperate sides. Feels like right and left are two seperate entities, but they work in unison to coordinate movement. I am truly blown away. Thank you so much for you work. Having access to a PRI physiotherapist to work with is one thing, but on top of that having your videos which explain things very clearly and intuitively is truly a goldmine!

[@NealHallinan]

Wow. This is quite a comment. As a recovering torsion myself, I know how difficult things can be. PRI is a pretty fast song. I always recommend songs between 100-106 beats per minute to begin with, and then working your way up. You have to find that "sweet spot" that is neither too fast nor too slow. 90's hip hop is great for this activity.

[@Ab_A60]

@@NealHallinan Thank you for the recommendation, I will try that. Yes, very difficult. I resonated a lot with your story about how you grew up and were too "inhibited". I had a lot of dysautonomia, PoTS symptoms, ADHD (diagnosed), anxiety, food intolerances - which all vanished into thin air when I aligned my ribcage and opened up peripheral vision through eye exercises (temp way to cope before I get prisms). Did you also have any of this? Interesting question; How does running tie into PRI? Could we maybe also try running to music, but choose music which has higher beats per minute.

[@RekkabAlaaDinTube]

Really the most valuable information you can get abt PRI and neurological assessment are here 🙏 thank you so much doc we need more of that 🫡

[@NealHallinan]

You’re welcome.

[@undefeat2000]

Man, I'm speechless. I always thought I need exercises to fix my tight back. But... what makes it tigut in the first place... It's the brain obviously. I just can't believe it, I'm used to think about my body as a mechanical system of pulls and levers and I just need to "strengthen it here, stretch it there", and it never worked in the long terme. Actually, the more obsessed I became the more tight I gotten. I just don't really know or just can't accept the idea that's it's all in my head literally. What do you think about mindfulness meditation or other types? I started practicing recently and my anxiety got much less. Could it theoretically help me to relax my body as well?

[@NealHallinan]

your tight back muscles have nothing to do with the back muscles themselves. They are tight due to respiratory dysfunction and the sensory input your brain is receiving and processing, and quite likely your obsessive thoughts about getting better (which just create more tension). Yes, meditation can help. My entire channel, and Postural Restoration in general, hopefully shows that "strengthen and stretch" is basically useless in the traditional way that it is used. It all comes back to what the brain is sensing, or not sensing.

[@tracyvision]

Undefeat, if you’re interested in the power of the brain over our movement also consider learning about Feldenkrais (and Hanna Somatics, the work of Thomas Hanna, a student of Moshe Feldenkrais). The channel Improving Ability has lots of free Feldenkrais content. Powerful stuff. And, of course, stick with Neal and learn about PRI!

[@thomas2081]

Yet again it is one of my favourites. Your input has allowed me to have a completely different input on football Neal. It has always made me wonder how why it is possible that as a middle-aged man I still have that 'footballing rhythm'. I had a long break due to injuries and biomechanical issues. However, as soon as I start playing I get back into a completely different rhythm and somehow 'it all comes back'. Is it because of the pathways that the brain recognises from the past? Your videos have allowed me to have a completely different perspective on coaching football as well. It is noticeable that when you play music with the right beats, it improves coordination, fluency and also creativity in young footballers. I also noticed that they improve as footballers when there is that 'violation' of the pathways that the brain recognises. It is all so fascinating. Thank you Neal and have a great week ahead.

[@NealHallinan]

It could certainly be that the old pathways are still there, and playing football is not "walking", it's a different type of movement. There is a video of Tony Bennet (famous American singer), he has dementia and very little memory of anything, but he can still sing songs with no problem. Songs from decades ago. I love what you are observing with football! If there is anything else you have observed, please send me an email with that info!

[@thomas2081]

@@NealHallinan Thank you Neal. I appreciate your reply. It is really fascinating to 'discover' all those things and recognise how wrong I was about many things in the past :). And of course I will be sharing the info:). Also, thank you for another recommendations for reading :).

[@phsfootball85]

I’m in the same boat brother. What you said word for word is identical to what I have been recognizing. After years of injuries you get use to adapting to specific ways in walking, standing, picking up something from the floor…something doesn’t feel right. I use to just imagine I was a teen again and my body just did it without me thinking. Very fascinating…passing over all knowledge to the players. Thank you Neal

[@megret1808]

I recommend to friends to give binaural beat entrainment a try to bring left and right brain hemispheres into sync. I liken it to tuning a car engine reducing friction, increasing efficiency. Lots of subtle changes can occur. I began to have immediate recall of phone numbers, for example

[@junobeachsoul]

I am binge watching your videos ;) If you have insights into how specific frequencies, tones, SCALAR energy, tuning forks (a la McKusic's biofield) or vortexed water (Schauberger, eg) and light influence/signal.posture, please post. I would like to find studies of frequencies (Solfeggios for example) on posture. i would add in tissue salts and gases (hydrogen) ... lots to explore where material body meets etheric energy.

[@ashdukesbear9700]

Reminds me of the Johnny Cash lyrics -“Get rhythm when you get the blues.”

[@antheapietersen6337]

I have no sense of rhythm, I'm a stiff dancer and can't sing. Watching this video of you and your partner dancing gives me anxiety as i stress over what i cannot do. Is dancing a learned thing. Can I get the things you spoke about into my body to gain all the interesting things you spoke about. I love your videos. I devour them all😂

[@NealHallinan]

Yes, dancing is a learned thing. I never took a dance lesson until my mid 20s and I had no clue I had rhythm. I then taught dancing for 15 years. Anyone can learn to dance and hear rhythm. Any good teacher can get you dancing and rhythmic. It takes work, but it's doable.

[@madameblatvatsky]

​@@NealHallinanthis is very true

[@BadCath0lic]

Classical guitar definitely twisted my body. Countless hours of contorted pressure

[@garrryman]

This is so true! Board sports are going along with music amazingly 😊 and I would say surfing can cover some of the check-boxes here even you pretty much can't have earphones in the water. You need to predict the wave pattern and adjust your movements flow and speed accordingly using momentum and constantly contracting and releasing your muscles to load or unload your body weight of the board 😊 and the stoke is real what is important 😂

[@NealHallinan]

Ah, very interesting! I've never surfed so don't know what it feels like. I have a friend that always feels amazing when she is sailing, but doesn't feel as good when on dry land.

[@garrryman]

@@NealHallinan I think this may have something to do with being static. We not supposed to be static, right? And when you are sailing you never static even if you sitting for example. But going back to land you loose this feeling of flow

[@romanvodjanicky6969]

Hi Neal, you are really game changer and you helped me after years of struggling with pain, thank you very much for your videos.I am also drummer and I have damaged my left eye since I was 9 years old. Can you tell me If she disolved her patern totally?

[@patrickmcdonagh539]

Wow im a first.. Il comment again when i watch the video.. Im sure its interesting as ever

[@NealHallinan]

It’s probably the best video I’ve ever made (for me, at least).

[@megret1808]

I was checking out a gym. The first thing they did was have me stand on a device with eyes closed and stand straight. Most people feel they are straight up but are actually leaning one way or another

[@jesusservin2395]

Do you recommend starting with all fours and and side-lying breathing techniques before doing the first three exercises??

[@filtr1967]

Hi, Neal. Why hamstring work much more when feet on chair then on wall in 90-90 and similar exercises?

[@shagybagy318]

Hi Neal, thanks for your amazing content if you had some time could you answer these 2 questions: -what type of dance would you recomend to learn to maximize PRI benfits ( I hace dancing studio close to my house) -Also what do you rhink about basketball, would be good from PRI perspective ( for example shooting/dribbling with left hand) ?

[@NealHallinan]

I think any latin dancing is good. Bachata is pretty easy. Salsa is hard but the best once you’re good. Basketball is a good sport, I’d think, for the reasons you stated.

[@shagybagy318]

Thank you very much for your answer, have a great day Neal

[@heatherdmountain]

Hi Neal....fascinated with your videos.....have a few questions. I heard you talk about having a client who was a salsa dancer and another one who was a professional dancer........if dancing is a solution .....how come dancers would have these kind of issues? I had a car accident when I was 25....I'm 68 right now. I had a cyst removed from my lung and since then my left ribs are out further than my right and my diaphram feels locked.....although because of somatics and hypropressive exercise over the last ten years I have much more sensation, mobiliy and balance in my body.......the issue right now is a pull from my left jaw, a pull under my left arm and tension in my arms and hands....which has improved over the years......are these issues that can be helped with your exercises. If it is about dance ....I LOVE to dance!

[@reneedebruin6236]

❤😇❤

[@trickpony111]

I wonder what this means in relation to a mother that rocks or sways with a baby in her arms? Something for sure. Also the movements experienced while riding a horse? Great channel!!

[@longhairmullet]

What does the right arm muscle test demonstrate?

[@reyanrafiqpir2058]

I have a very week glute medius on my right side, is that one of the many reason for my left AIC pattern?

[@shumwayalf]

thanks! and what sort of music influences the most? classical, i guess?

[@NealHallinan]

Depends on what you are looking for. For movement purposes, it wouldn't be classical. Has to have a strong beat.

[@heyfrej7618]

Is there any albums you can recommend to listen to while walking? Please say Marvin Gaye let's get it on.

[@NealHallinan]

I do love Marvin Gaye. It really comes down to the speed of the music. If it's too fast or too slow, it won't feel right.

[@honkhonk1555]

@@NealHallinan any recommendations?

[@stefaniebrocker8084]

I'm curious how this impacts people who are encouraged to dance starting on on the ball of their foot such as in zouk and salsa? Does it matter if it's on the heel

[@AnkurSingh-bc3jd]

Which of these books would you recommend for us to read to understand how rhythm affects us

[@NealHallinan]

Your Brain on Music. How I incorporate music into PRI is through my unique experience as a dance instructor. Not something found in any book.

[@vv7299]

Does anyone know how i can get in touch with Neal, like an email address that he checks regularly? I would like to share some material that i believe he might find quite interesting, and maybe get an opinion. If anyone knows, please share. Thanks, everyone

[@aashu5358]

Hey Neal, is it normal that after about 1 month of stopping all Pri exercises that I am back again in a pattern but by far not as severe as before. If I do the exercises once it's improving almost instantly. May that be an indication that something is still keeping me in the pattern or can that just happen if you have an office job and don't move much otherwise.

[@NealHallinan]

If you have an office job and don't move much....yes, you'll fall back into the pattern, but once you know what you are doing, it's easy to get neutral again.

[@aashu5358]

@@NealHallinan Yes I also noticed that, if I'm just a little bit aware of it sometimes I don't even get patterned anymore. Thank you for your response and for your videos. I have been watching for 3 years and in the last 6 months I finally could get neutral. My problem was the tongue, I left a long comment about it on the video regarding oral splints. A big big thank you from me, Neal!!! I think it's not possible for you to grasp how many people you're helping and lives you changing with your content.

[@abdulraheem-fv7im]

Hi Neal what do you think about full mouth rehab using crowns??

[@NealHallinan]

Not really sure I understand what "full mouth rehab" is.

[@abdulraheem-fv7im]

@@NealHallinan Its when your malocclusion cant be fixed with braces or invisalign dentists shave down all your teeth and put crowms in to correct your bite .

[@bolopho]

I would be really carefull before going down this route. Your teeth position will change a bit once you are less patterned through PRI exersizes.

[@ennabassa5233]

It's curious, I am having trouble with low stomach acid so I am taking Betaine HCL pills to try to regain my stomach acid for proper digestion. Recently I tried your rhythm walking concept and I noticed increased stomach activity. Today I decided to do the rhythmic walking immediately after a meal and I notice that every time I do this my stomach and throat start to burn from acidity! Which is very uncommon for me. I wonder if this rhythm stimulates my parasympathetic nervous system. So can one learn to gain the benefits of this permanently by dancing or walking on rhythm frequently? Thank you so much for all your content!

[@JRESHOW]

Out of all the books you showed, if you could only recommend one, which one would it be?

[@NealHallinan]

Your Brain on Music

[@JRESHOW]

@@NealHallinan haha, that’s the one that sounded most appealing to me. Thanks for the reply!

[@ate317]

Hey Neil, I am recovering from a TBI and have a crossbite. I am doing various therapies including rhythmic movement but for the slight crossbite I have gotten a custom made splint to fix it. My question is what if although the splint fixes the crossbite, some malocclusion occurs as a result; is one better or worse?

[@honkhonk1555]

Splint?

[@surenot1556]

So latin dancing is best ?

[@NealHallinan]

In my opinion, yes. Any dancing is probably better than no dancing.

[@vutat1443]

@@NealHallinan What about swing dancing (lindy hop, balboa)?

[@pippamellon8678]

I used to do ceroc..

[@taplubambhos2869]

You're a genius. Is there a particular bpm you feel is more suited to the natural rhythms of our body for walking

[@NealHallinan]

Good question! Everyone will have their preferred BPM, but most people I do this with are good somewhere between 100-110 initially, but then may be able to go faster.