STRETCHES TO REDUCE PAIN
One of the primary concepts underlying Building Better Balance is to address pain by relieving the tension it causes. For example, if you have bone on bone arthritis in your knee, it is helpful to stretch the back of the leg. Stretching there increases circulation in the joint itself which reduces inflammation, often reducing pain in the process. Stretch the muscles that pain has tightened.
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Lower Back
Joint Pain Neck Headaches Emotional Pain |
Stretch the hips, a technique so important that it is taught in each of the Building Better Balance DVDs.
Stretch the muscles surrounding the joint after first releasing the joint itself. Also stretch and release the joints adjacent. (Learn how to do this in the Building Better Balance DVDs. Stretch the trapezius (back of the shoulders) and the muscles on the sides and back of the neck. Stretch the muscles of the face, eyes and jaw. Stretch the face, tongue and especially the front of the rib cage and concentrate on improving breathing. Our natural response to sadness and despair is to tighten the rib cage as a way of protecting a hurting heart. Reversing that physical reaction by instead lifting the heart and stretching the front of the chest helps to interrupt the pain/tension cycle. |
With any pain, stretch the "stress muscles", those areas that tighten up in response to difficulty:
- The back of the shoulders and neck.
- The front of the rib cage.
- Breathing always helps.