Are you feeling tired lately? Maybe experiencing mental lethargy? Could it be that poor posture is the cause? Athletes, dancers, physical therapy practitioners, voice coaches, and even business leaders who bring ergonomics experts into their companies for their office workers all seem to think so. Our posture matters.
The medical community has had concerns in recent years about the downward-facing position associated with frequent cell phone use. And, then, there’s the “couch slouch” and the “computer hunch”. Keeping the head and neck in one unnatural position for long periods can cause neck and / or shoulder tension. It can also cause shallow breathing, which does not allow for optimum amounts of oxygen to reach the brain.
In fact, I read recently that our posture can affect our mind, mood, and memory. The mind and body are one, and when one suffers, the other does, too. The mind and body also share the positive effects of thriving.
This is where I ask you to notice your posture. Are you sitting up straight? Are you hunched over? Are you sitting in your car, office, or workspace for long stretches day after day? How about at home and / or at your local café or coffee shop?
Massage therapy can ease tension that results from poor posture. Deep Tissue with Swedish massage does two things that help with that: It works in the deep derma, and it relaxes the distressed part of your body.
And for the parts of the body most often affected by hunching and slouching, at Nature’s Whisper Healing Arts, we offer a “Head, Neck, and Shoulders” massage to help temporarily mitigate these issues. Of course, for serious neck and back issues, you should consult a chiropractor or medical practitioner.
In the meantime, I have some good news: The body has a long memory. Just as it retains the “blueprint” for bad posture, it can be re-trained to remember the good posture that aids breathing and helps feed the brain with robust blood circulation. This means that there are things you can do to counteract the ill effects of bad posture.
For example, you can incorporate into your day regular stretching or yoga, and getting up from a seated position to walk around.
You can also do self-massage. Here are three self-massage tips you can use right now:
1) To self-massage your neck, place the four fingers of both hands below your ears and do circular motions toward your back and then the front.
2) Place the fingers of both hands on the top of your shoulders and, using circular motions, massage your shoulders, ending with a gentle squeeze and letting go. Repeat this process two more times. Alternatively, you can cross your arms in front of your body and work the fingers of your hands into your shoulders.
3) Hold on to each side of your neck and swing your head forward slowly from one side then to the other.
As a massage therapist, I regularly remind myself that we can all take better care of our “selves”. Remember: Self-care means being your own best friend.
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