The Way we move matters to our Nervous system

The FunDaMental Movement: Harnessing Bilateral Movement to Lower Stress and Cortisol

The FunDaMental Movement is Australia’s only health and wellness programme fully dedicated to nervous system health. At its core is the therapeutic power of bilateral movement—rhythmic, cross-lateral body activity designed to restore balance to the stress response system. This paper explores the science behind bilateral movement and its role in lowering cortisol, regulating the autonomic nervous system, and supporting holistic healing. Integrating somatic therapy, neurobiology, and ancestral practices, The FunDaMental Movement offers a unique, research-backed approach to nervous system resilience.

1. Introduction

In a fast-paced world where burnout, anxiety, and chronic stress are becoming the norm, The FunDaMental Movement offers a much-needed paradigm shift. Rather than managing symptoms, this innovative programme works at the root—retraining the nervous system through simple, powerful, body-based practices.

As Australia’s only dedicated nervous system health programme, The FunDaMental Movement blends bilateral movement, natural rhythm, rewilding, and trauma-informed somatic tools. One of its core principles is the use of bilateral movement to reduce cortisol, regulate the stress response, and foster long-term emotional balance.

2. What is Bilateral Movement?

Bilateral movement refers to the rhythmic use of both sides of the body in a coordinated fashion. These cross-lateral patterns stimulate communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, promoting integration of thoughts, emotions, and sensory processing.

In the FunDaMental Movement, bilateral movement is practiced through:

• Animal-style crawling and primal locomotion

• Rhythm-based games and bushcraft

• Cross-body walking and barefoot movement on natural terrain

• Bilateral drumming, stick play, and somatic movement sequences

• Nervous system reset rituals involving bilateral stimulation

These activities not only build physical coordination but also quiet the survival brain, activate the vagus nerve, and support safe embodiment.

3. Cortisol, Stress, and the Nervous System

Cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone, produced by the adrenal glands when the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is activated. While adaptive in short bursts, prolonged cortisol elevation leads to dysregulation of sleep, immune function, digestion, and mental health (McEwen, 2004).

The modern stress epidemic is largely due to chronic overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system—the "fight or flight" state. Without accessible tools to regulate, many people remain in a loop of overdrive, inflammation, and exhaustion.

The FunDaMental Movement addresses this by repatterning the nervous system through bilateral, grounding, and relational movement practices.

4. How Bilateral Movement Regulates Cortisol

4.1 Cross-Hemispheric Brain Integration

Cross-lateral movement stimulates the corpus callosum—the communication bridge between left and right brain hemispheres—supporting integration of logic and emotion (Schore, 2012). This balances the internal environment and reduces neurological stress.

4.2 Parasympathetic Activation via the Vagus Nerve

The FunDaMental Movement's rhythmic bilateral activities stimulate the vagus nerve, promoting parasympathetic dominance. This helps shift the body into "rest and digest" mode, naturally lowering cortisol (Porges, 2011).

4.3 Trauma Regulation and Somatic Grounding

Bilateral movement also mimics innate trauma discharge mechanisms seen in animals. Participants often experience improved body awareness, emotional release, and a sense of safety, crucial for regulating stress physiology (van der Kolk, 2014).

5. Supporting Research

The FunDaMental Movement is grounded in robust neuroscience and somatic therapy research:

• EMDR therapy, which uses bilateral eye movements, has been shown to reduce trauma symptoms and cortisol levels (Shapiro, 1989).

• Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) use rhythmic muscle tremors and movement to down-regulate the HPA axis (Berceli, 2005).

• Field (2013) found that bilateral dance/movement therapy significantly lowered cortisol and improved mood in adolescents.

• Basso et al. (2015) showed that bilateral aerobic activity increased brain plasticity and decreased cortisol in older adults.

The FunDaMental Movement uniquely blends these approaches into a cohesive, real-world program, deeply rooted in movement ecology and connection.

6. Real-World Applications

The programme is designed to be adaptable for children, adults, and families, with applications in:

• Mental health and trauma support

• Chronic pain and inflammation reduction

• Classroom and homeschooling regulation tools

• Community rewilding and resilience workshops

• Workplace stress reduction

These practices are low-cost, nature-based, and universally accessible, making nervous system healing available to all.

7. Conclusion

The FunDaMental Movement is leading a revolution in nervous system care in Australia. By returning to the wisdom of the body—through bilateral movement, rhythm, and rewilded connection—this programme offers a research-supported and embodied way to reduce cortisol and heal from stress.

It is more than exercise; it is a return to biological coherence, where body, brain, and environment re-sync. As awareness grows around the importance of nervous system health, The FunDaMental Movement offers a grounded, effective, and joyful path forward.

References

• Basso, J. C., et al. (2015). “The Effects of Acute Exercise on Mood, Cognition, Neurophysiology, and Neurochemical Pathways: A Review.” Brain Plasticity, 1(2), 127–152.

• Berceli, D. (2005). The Revolutionary Trauma Release Process. Namaste Publishing.

• Field, T. (2013). “Exercise Research on Adolescents.” Adolescent Psychiatry, 3(2), 173–179.

• McEwen, B. S. (2004). “Protection and Damage from Acute and Chronic Stress.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1032(1), 1–7.

• Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation. W.W. Norton.

• Sapolsky, R. M. (2004). Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers. Holt.

• Schore, A. N. (2012). The Science of the Art of Psychotherapy. W.W. Norton.

• Shapiro, F. (1989). “Efficacy of the Eye Movement Desensitization Procedure in the Treatment of Traumatic Memories.” Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2(2), 199–223.

• van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score. Penguin.

Bilateral movement is the approach The FunDaMental movement is dedicated too if you would like to learn more book a free consult to discuss A program that would suit you moving forward. Our initiative is dedicated to Nervous system health and offers the only catered health and wellness program in Australia for this. Book here to learn more