Last week my low back and hips let me know they didn't appreciate spending so much time in my desk chair. I took a few extra walks, practiced all my favorite moves to loosen them up, added in some extra abdominal exercises for strengthening. . . and felt great.
This week. . . I've got a whole new set of achey parts! While my hips feel better, my neck feels terrible and that stiffness in my low back seems to have simply moved up and settled into my mid and upper spine. UGH!!
Does it ever feel like your body is playing a game with you?
You think you've got it all figured out. . . and then some new mystery arises?
Me too.
That's why we keep moving. We stay curious - exploring what makes us feel better and what actually makes us feel worse. Our bodies aren't machines and they aren't designed to be beaten into a perfect shape. They're part of us - the physical manifestation of everything we hold inside. They know when we're stressed, aren't sleeping well or haven't been taking care of ourselves. Those aches and pains might be annoying but they're also signals, asking us to pay attention and do something differently.
How would you do things differently if you viewed your body as a friend and those pains as an accountability partner encouraging you towards your greatest health and wellness?
Holding that in mind, here's some steps I'm taking this week:
More foam roller release work for my mid-back (Check out my Pilates with a Foam Roller Class if this sounds like something you could use too)
Gentle neck and chest stretches
Yoga and Pilates practices to counteract the hours spent hunched over my laptop with my head in my hand (oops - thanks for the signal neck - I'm on it!)
This week's new classes are a collaboration with my aches and pains, designed to fight the effects of slumped posture so that we can all stand a little taller, breathe better and move with more ease through the day.
What signals is your body sending you? What kind of movement is your body craving? What's tight and in need of some extra relief? Let me know!
This week’s classes for Upper Body Relief. . .
Missing your Reformer and Tower Pilates classes in the studio? This one is for you! Adding a resistance band will challenge your core strength and stability while allowing you to incorporate arm and shoulder exercises commonly performed in the studio.
Are Roll Downs and Teaser a challenge for you? Here the resistance band can offer support allowing you to focus on engaging the deep core muscles and articulating the spine without cheating or overworking your hip flexors.
Fix your posture after a long day (or many days) in front of your computer, on your phone, behind the wheel or sunk into your couch!
This 55 minute practice is designed to help you breathe better, stand taller and eliminate the aches and pains in your neck and shoulders.