Asking the Right Questions: Body Awareness and Stretching

Asking the Right Questions: Body Awareness and Stretching

“The expert in anything was once a beginner.” I truly take that to heart. Body Awareness takes time, but we can all achieve it.

Since I was young I always tried to be active and I was really flexible. It wasn’t until I got into weight lifting that I noticed how flexible I was. Because of the weight lifting I got very thick and stiff, and I saw that I could not stretch as far back as I wanted. So, I started to listen to my body and I realized it does not want to be so big and bulky. It just wants to function and be healthy.

To have Body Awareness to me means that you are one with your body: that you are listening to what your body is telling you, and are exploring how you can help it. Take a second to scan over your body and see what areas seem to be tight, or need some attention. Check in with your body by asking yourself questions.

Take neck pain as an example. You want to ask yourself questions like:

·         Why does my neck hurt?

·         In what direction is it bothering me the most?

·         Is it only when I do a certain activity?

By asking specific questions you will be able to feel out where the muscle is hurting or is sore. Instead of saying “my neck hurts,” “my shoulder or my back hurts,” you will be able to say “my back only hurts when I reach above my refrigerator” – now you have more detailed information to work with, and you are starting to be aware of what movements are bothering you.

Once you are choose to listen to your body, you will get a better understanding of what areas need stretching. Whether you sit all day or your lifestyle is more active, the best thing for you to do is stretch, because it helps prevent injuries and gets blood flowing to the area in need.

Let's look at quick routine for neck pain:

First, place your arms behind you and reach for your elbows. Doing this will lock your arms and bring your shoulders down. If you cannot reach your elbows, then grab your hands behind your back and pull down. Remember to have your shoulders down.

Next, gently bring your ear to your shoulder; you should feel the stretch from just under your jaw line down to your shoulder. Repeat on the other side.

Then slowly point your chin down to the one side of your hip. This should stretch more of the side of your neck. From this position you can also look up. This will stretch the front part of your neck – the SCM or sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Finally, you can simply look down. Try playing around with it - move your neck in different directions, but move gently into the stretch. Don't just rush into it.

After you finish the routine, ask yourself: “how does my neck feel?” “Does it feel looser? More fluid? More blood flow? Lighter?” These are important questions to answer because you always want to be aware of how you feel. If you feel stiff, the muscle is not performing at its best - you could get cramps, or in the case of the neck, you can get headaches.

Wish you could feel looser, or know what stretches to do and when to do them? Then give us a call to set up a Bodywork Session at Evolve Restorative Therapy! When you come in, we will be able to personally show you more specific stretches, and tailor them to your specific needs. At Evolve, our mission is to teach you how to listen to your body and what are the best ways for you to take care of it.

Call 908-233-2226 to book your Bodywork Session and start stretching your way to better Body Awareness!

Diego Trejos is a Licensed Massage Therapist, graduating from Sanford Brown Institute of Iselin, NJ in 2009. With 950 hours of education at Sanford Brown he was trained in traditional massage techniques such as Deep Tissue, Swedish, Prenatal, Hot Stone, and Sports Massage.