Adapted from the book "The Feel Good Body" by Anna-Louise Bouvier & Jennifer Fleming.
Research shows that when global & postural muscles work together, they produce optimal results. A large number of issues stem from poor postural habits - If someone sits at a desk all day with their back shaped like a banana, the local/postural muscle system crashes & the global system needs to work harder to compensate for lack of stability. Over time, this can lead to body breakdown.
When you look at yourself in the mirror, you only see part of the muscle system - the moving/global muscles. There is another key system that's invisible - the local/postural system - that does the job of supporting the skeleton. These two muscle systems work together. While you can activate the moving/global muscles as easily as flexing a bicep, the postural system is a bit trickier, only switching on when the body is lined up correctly. If the postural system collapses because of sloppy posture, the moving systems step in to support the body. But because these muscles aren't supposed to be used for extended periods, they become tired & sore. This manifests itself as niggly aches & makes people want to slump even more.
It's important how you position yourself daily. If it is a routine slump, prop & lean, it means you are not using the postural system & are missing out on the opimal functioning of the muscle systems. The problem is, most people have forgotten how to "line up" properly. Activating the postural system isn't about exercises, but alignment and transforming bad postural habits into good ones.
BREATHING Factors, such as poor posture & stress can cause people to only breathe from the upper lobes of their lungs. It means they often can't get enough oxygen when exercising. The correct way to breathe is from the base of the lungs. A way to descibe this is to imagine that there is an umbrella opening at the base of the lungs. As you breathe out, imagine the umbrella is closing with the diaphragm contracting inward & drawing in the ribs. Breathing like this all day, every day correctly engages the core & ensures a more effective & efficient lifestyle.
NEXT WEEK: Step by step instructions on changing your breathing & posture.
Research shows that when global & postural muscles work together, they produce optimal results. A large number of issues stem from poor postural habits - If someone sits at a desk all day with their back shaped like a banana, the local/postural muscle system crashes & the global system needs to work harder to compensate for lack of stability. Over time, this can lead to body breakdown.
When you look at yourself in the mirror, you only see part of the muscle system - the moving/global muscles. There is another key system that's invisible - the local/postural system - that does the job of supporting the skeleton. These two muscle systems work together. While you can activate the moving/global muscles as easily as flexing a bicep, the postural system is a bit trickier, only switching on when the body is lined up correctly. If the postural system collapses because of sloppy posture, the moving systems step in to support the body. But because these muscles aren't supposed to be used for extended periods, they become tired & sore. This manifests itself as niggly aches & makes people want to slump even more.
It's important how you position yourself daily. If it is a routine slump, prop & lean, it means you are not using the postural system & are missing out on the opimal functioning of the muscle systems. The problem is, most people have forgotten how to "line up" properly. Activating the postural system isn't about exercises, but alignment and transforming bad postural habits into good ones.
BREATHING Factors, such as poor posture & stress can cause people to only breathe from the upper lobes of their lungs. It means they often can't get enough oxygen when exercising. The correct way to breathe is from the base of the lungs. A way to descibe this is to imagine that there is an umbrella opening at the base of the lungs. As you breathe out, imagine the umbrella is closing with the diaphragm contracting inward & drawing in the ribs. Breathing like this all day, every day correctly engages the core & ensures a more effective & efficient lifestyle.
NEXT WEEK: Step by step instructions on changing your breathing & posture.