Aches? Pains? Stiffness? Most of these problems are caused, not by injuries, but by our basic habits of living. Even problems stemming from a lot of injuries, can be erased doing three simple, easy to add, easy to do lifestyle changes.
Stand and move in better posture (no added time) -Vid available belowIncrease joint Range of Motion (5 min per day) -Vid available belowIncrease muscular flexibility (15 min per day) -Vid available below
Stand and move in better posture
The first 2 years of our lives, we are pushing; pulling; squatting; bending; twisting; and walking our way to perfect posture. (pic of emma standing)
After that, we continue to live our lives doing things that ruin this perfect posture. We sit to drive; we sit to work; we paddle with relaxed abs and flexed backs; we repeat motions over and over again; we slouch; we workout and don’t stretch; and more depending on your lifestyle.
This leads to rounded shoulders; hips out of place; chin to far forward; abs relaxed; compacted lower spine; improper walking gait; and more.
These daily imperfections built up over time causes (now see if any of these apply to you):
Sore MusclesSpinal Curving (Forward jaw, or deep lower back curve)Spinal Subluxations (Where your vertebrae literally move out of place)Vein Constriction (Poor blood flow)Nerve Constriction Leading to Shooting Pains in the Back, Neck, and Legs as well as Numbness in Arms and LegsKnee, Ankle, and/or Hip Pain
What you might not know!!!! Poor posture also causes:
SHORTER LIFE EXPECTANCY
So here are some tips to stand in better posture. If available, skip ahead and just watch the video.
Your feet should be hip width apart and straight (Watch for toes going in or out)You should always have a slight bend in the kneeRoll your thumbs out to the side, keeping arms next to side (Feel how the back of your shoulders pull tight)Pull the back of the top of your head up as tall as possiblePull chin backTilt hips forward until abs feel “on”
Increase your Range of Motion (5 min)
Poor range of motion can lead to poor posture and all the problems that it brings, including:
Tight musclesIncreased risk of injuriesLimited use of jointsPainAnd more…
I recommend doing 5 min or so worth of really easy drills in the morning to realign your posture and open up the circulation and nervous system channels. Watch the video below.
Increase muscular flexibility (15 min per day)
Flexibility isn’t just for gymnastics. Athletes, pro or amateur, and even those who never participate in activities NEED flexibility. Tight muscles causes difficulties in maintaining proper posture, therefor leading to all the problems we mentioned earlier.
I recommend 15 minutes of stretching before going to bed, as well as stretching after a workout or strenuous activity (including long bouts of sitting).
We ran a post on 8 stretches for your full body. You can add some more if you please.
Conclusion
Try this over 1 day. Even the first day will have you feeling better. You might be in a better mood, you might have less pain, YOU MIGHT LIVE LONGER. So give it a go. 20 minutes a day for a higher quality of life.