Good Thursday to You!
I had a very busy, productive day yesterday.
I headed to the gym for a nice little circuit of Lunges (185 x 4), immediately into squats (185 x 4), followed by reverse Swiss ball crunches (x 10 for 4 sets) and medicine ball overhead tosses to a Total Gym rebounder (10 reps x two sets).
Start to finish I did six circuits. That left me feeling great. Not too tired and lots of energy to get my work done.
A LITTLE STRETCHING GOES A LONG WAY TO INNER-FREEDOM!
Stretching tight areas of your body can go a long way to creating ease in both your body and your mind. Like most people, I spend much of my day sitting.
I seem to be at a computer typing and coaching people by phone or Skype far more than I’m out and about.
Though I’m certainly healthy and fit, even the greatest athlete in the world finds sitting for long periods challenging to their body and feels the need to stretch.
Stretching doesn’t need to be complicated. A cat has no training in stretching methodology, nor does a dog, but we see them stretching regularly!
As you can see in the photo above, I like to use a stretching strap. It’s a useful stretching aid; I couldn’t possibly reach back with my arm to hold that leg up!
It only take a few minutes (preferably outside in the fresh air) to feel for where you are tight and stretch those areas.
By simply moving your body into the tightness and relaxing into the stretch with deep, slow breathing, you can have a painless, effective stretching session.
Always start with the areas you feel most restricted, as they are the areas most likely to be blocking the flow of your inner-energy or “chi”.
Remember Dan Siegel’s definition of “mind”: An embodied process that regulates the flow of energy and information.
The key point here is that the mind and body are one.
When your body is tight or uncomfortable, it represents the flow of energy and use patterns you have chosen.
If you are creating restriction in your body, they will eventually disrupt the natural flow and function of you mind.
I recommend getting up at least two or three times a day and giving yourself the gift of a little stretching to free your body and your mind.
It feels great too!
If you want more specific stretching instruction, and a means of determining exactly what muscles need to be stretched to balance your body-mind, I have all that information available to you in my book, How To Eat, Move and Be Healthy!
Enjoy your day and don’t forget to take a stretching lesson from a local dog or cat!
I’m taking the rest of the day today off to get a massage and a steam!
Love and chi,
Paul Chek
