#MovementisMedicineMondays

I do a lot of bending in my bodywork and I know a lot of you are bending into all kinds of shapes to get your work done every day, whether it be sitting at a desk and bending the spine and neck forward to look at the screen or bending into an impossible corner to build or repair something. Perhaps you are farming/gardening and squatting and bending that spine.  There are an infinite number of possibilities for movement. For me, as a bodyworker, it is easy to get out of my own head and be so focused on my client’s experience that I can forget to be aware of how I am using my own body.  I’ve become aware recently that I am bending my spine in the center and rolling my shoulders forward.  This is causing me tightness and soreness in my lower back at the end of the day.  There had to be a better way!

I then noticed an email from the Gokhale Method detailing a simple change in movement…. it utilized the joints as hinges for movement and takes the unnatural curve and therefore, the stress out of the spine bearing weight at precarious angles. I’ve been experimenting with this ever since and it works so well.

We were designed to move our bodies in a myriad of ways.  The problems can occur when we hold one position interminably without changing position.  We all know what repetitive motion injuries are, but have you stopped to consider that we could have injuries, pain or discomfort from repetitive stillness?  This video gives you a powerful tip for dealing with how to use awareness of your body’s movements to lengthen the spine and hinge from the joints.  It’s simple and changes the way your gluteal muscles have to work and opens up the hips instead of putting undue stress on the spine.  Try it!  Let me know how it helps you!