Sitting + pain + emotions
USE IT OR LOSE IT!
We need to move, every day, for the lymphatic system to be able to do its job efficiently
THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM (LS)
-is part of our immune system, helping protect us from infection and disease
-the lymphatic system is our body's 'sewerage system', assisting in the removal of waste from the body
-it also helps keep body fluid levels in balance
-and it plays a role in absorbing fats and fat-soluble nutrients
So sitting still for extended periods of time reduces the ability of the lymphatic system to pump lymph around the body efficiently, effecting all of the above actions
Sitting for extensive periods of the day, whether you’re gaming, studying, working or driving, can also lead to reduced range of movement. This might negatively impact your golf game, a hobby or any activities of daily living
In a seated position we’re more inclined to hunch over, shortening the front of the body. This compresses our organs of respiration, digestion and reproduction so may contribute to reflux, stomach pain + cause the muscles around the chest to tighten. That tightening limits the ability of the rib cage to expand and causes people to take more rapid, shallow breaths. This can create anxiety!
Have a go of sitting in an exaggerated slump for five minutes and notice how it makes you feel energy-wise, mood-wise and notice how it squishes your organs. It can become an unconscious posture that we relax into every day, for hours on end.
FASCIA + STIFFNESS
The enemy of fascia, muscles, joints and general health and wellbeing, is extended bouts of stillness. To stay feeling fluid, supple and comfortable in your own skin, we require daily movement in the full range of movement. To counteract the effects of sitting, ideally we’d incorporate some neutral posture movements into our exercise routine + gentle backbends, forward bends, side bends and movement to get our circulation functioning optimally.
PAIN + GENTLE SOMATIC YOGA®
A slow, gentle somatic yoga® practice involves simple, easy movements to keep or bring back a broader range of movement, reducing the risk of injury and lubricating our muscles and fascia for greater comfort and ease in our daily life. The other benefit of Gentle Somatic Yoga®, based on the work of Thomas Hanna, is that it’s slow, safe + uses limited physical effort. It’s generally a safe practice even when experiencing mild pain (it depends on the cause of your pain so please enquire before booking with me). The only requirement is that you can get down on the floor and lie on your back, front and sides for short periods of time.
Maintain the health and flexibility of fascia, muscles and joints, well into old age to be able to enjoy as many activities of daily living as you can, for as long as you can.
The bodily decrepitude presumed under the myth of ageing is not inevitable. It is, by and large, both avoidable and reversible. I know this to be true, because I have seen it occur thousands of times… THOMAS HANNA of HANNA SOMATICS:
If yoga's not for you, Pilates, Hydrotherapy or Physio exercises may be.
