InnerMotion – The Guidebook – Core Impulse

The Core Impulse is a natural way to initiate dance from your body’s center - the abdomen, back, and pelvic region - often regarded in martial arts and somatic practices as the primary power source. Anthropological and neuroscientific research suggests that our drive to move rhythmically in response to music is deeply woven into our genetic makeup, evolving to enhance social cohesion and communication across human history. One aspect of music that compels movement is its beat - repeating pulses that we predict and entrain to through interconnected brain regions (e.g., the auditory cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum), collectively “locking in” our bodies to the rhythm. By syncing your core with the beat, you tap into an intrinsic flow of energy, making movement feel effortless and connected. This is not just instinctual - it’s a deep-seated human impulse, shaped by evolution to enhance movement, bonding, and expression.