As a Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist I see a lot of the same issues with muscle tension and soreness in almost everyone. The two most common complaints among clients are Upper Back, consisting of the neck and in between the shoulder blades, and Lower Back including the hips and area around the sacral and lumbar spine. Repetitive movements such bending and lifting or any motions involved in manual labor that continue on a daily basis can cause pain or discomfort due to over use. However being in one position for to long like sitting at a desk or standing on a hard surface and even sleeping positions can also cause muscle tension and stiffness. Massage reintroduces movement and circulation to the muscles to aid in the bodies natural rejuvenation process and cell reproduction. It is important to aid this process, not only with massage, but with regular stretching and exercise. Regular stretching will help to increase mobility and increase blood flow while exercise will strengthen and help support the body. When beginning new exercise and stretching routine it is important to start out slow and gentle and to not push the body too hard. I find that counter stretching i.e. the opposite of whatever your repetitive motion or position is. For example, if you are in a seated position all day, your core muscles are shortened, therefore you should try stretches for your abdomen. I recommend my clients to include the Cobra yoga pose in their daily stretching routine. If you are on a computer or driving in a car all day with your arms and shoulders reaching forward, you should include counter stretches in your daily routine that will open up your chest muscles. You can do this by squeezing your shoulder blades together, or my favorite doorway stretch below: Another important thing to remember about stretching, other than counter stretching, is that in some cases it is necessary to assist the stretch. Only assist the stretch it you do not feel like you are getting enough out of the stretch, never assist if it is painful or discomforting. The following photo shows a neck stretch that is assisted by dropping the shoulder while pulling the head down to create more of a stretch. I've created the following handouts with my favorite stretches and exercises for the upper and lower back as well as the chakras associated with these areas.
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It took me a while to get comfortable to go into meditation with Red Jasper. I immediately wanted to be in the frog yoga pose but didn't think that I could stay in the position for very long. I cycled from your basic meditation pose, to frog, to child's pose, joyful baby and finally landed on bound angle that later transitioned to supine bound angle. All of these poses are hip opening and root chakra stimulating, which is very fitting to be associated with Red Jasper. By using a crystal breath meditation (forward to 5:20 for mediation) to connect to Red Jasper I felt a very strong pull towards my feet and saw visualizations of sacred geometric structures and felt my body making slight adjustments to my posture. There was a strong sense of foundation, structure, and stability specifically relating to nourishing the muscles, bones, and root. When doing research on Red Jasper Judy Hall, in her book 101 Power Crystals, states that all Jaspers are "physical powerhouse"s supporting courage, wisdom, and nourishment. Jasper talismans were worn by warriors for protection and endurance. In mythology Red Jasper is thought to be the blood of the Goddess Isis and/or the blood of Mother Earth and is used for fertility and sexual stamina. Red Jasper not only supports the root chakra but more specifically the lesser known Earth Star Chakra which is located below the feet of our energetic field and connects us to our roots deep within the earth. Wear Red Jasper to stay grounded, to connect with the earth, or for fertility or menstrual issues.
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AuthorI am an herbalist, massage therapist, childless, wife just trying to live a healthy, fun, magical life in this crazy beautiful world. Categories
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February 2020
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