Having rickets is not a desirable thing, but having it at the age of two or three years old guided my parents to a specialist for treatment. According to mom, the first thing the doctor did was throw my shoes in the trash can, advised that I go barefoot as much as possible, consume cod liver oil and spend a certain amount of time in natural sunlight daily. That was back in the mid-1950s. Simple reason for being barefoot -- it correctly aligned my leg bones which led to better balance, strength, and undue stress on various points throughout the body.
Later in life, the energy flow connected with the feet was brought to my attention in yoga classes. Even later in life, my line dance instructors explained the connection of stimulation through the bottom of the feet when dancing, running, etc., with improved vascular health. I broadened that lesson to how much better that stimulation might be, then, with also being barefoot while doing those activities so that I could experience the full sensation of touch without the barriers of socks and shoes. I believe that the pleasant sensations received from bare feet directly impact the pleasure sensors in the brain, producing a calming effect while also keeping the nerve firing pins active and strong.
It is exciting to see that the benefits of going barefoot has received more widespread attention. It also validates that what I have personally learned and experienced is a reality and not just bogus information I willingly accepted. Years ago I tended to think that being in shoes with added arch support for too long would be detrimental in the long run -- that it would cause the muscles to become too dependent and therefore weaken. It is an unconscious habit of mine to be either completely barefoot or in shoes/sandals/mocassins without arch support part of the day or night. I have sworn it makes a difference and, according to all the information that has come forth in the past few years, it does!
Showing posts with label body alignment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label body alignment. Show all posts
Monday, March 14, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Line Up
Common pains occur in knees, hips, neck, shoulders, and back. There is a variety of causes for the pain, and one might just be poor body alignment. Taking yoga, aquatics and tai chi, combined with having a medical professional assess my pain, has proven to be priceless for me. Having an instructor view how I am performing provides someone seeing what I cannot see -- leaning forward too much, not relaxing shoulders completely, bending my knees too far in front of my toes, not holding my head up as straight as it should be.
Take advantage of free or inexpensive evaluations commonly offered at local fairs or clinics. A couple years ago, a nearby exercise establishment allowed back specialists to give preliminary, visual evaluations. The lady I saw asked if I sometimes had neck/shoulder pain or discomfort on the right side. Actually, I did and had thought it was from sitting too long at the computer. Wrong. She pointed out that I have a tendency to lean my head to the left! Now conscious of that habit, I keep my head and neck more aligned with my spine, and there is no more neck or shoulder pain! Simple.
Yoga and tai chi instructors point out my tendency to draw my left knee inward when bending down and sitting. My general practitioner referred me to a physical therapist who gave me several exercises specific to me -- that take a total of less than 5 minutes -- to do daily to also get and stay aligned. My old habits are the culprit time of hip pain, and it returns every time I get sloppy and resort to them. But when I pay attention, I am pain free. These avenues give me relief from knee and back pain, and recently a bout of "tennis elbow." About 10 years ago, I suffered with back pain. A chiropractor realigned my back and taught me easy, fast exercises to stregthen my back. That pain has been under control and not a problem since practicing their guidelines. Again, exercise instructors tell me when I am learning too far forward or backward, etc., and instigating unwanted strain/pain.
Combining the knowledge of medical practitioners and exercise instructors of how to treat specific complaints (Do I use heat or cold? Do I massage or not? How much and how frequently should I exercise the injured spot?) has helped me attain and retain a much better qualify of life, thanks to reduced or elimination of pain.
Take advantage of free or inexpensive evaluations commonly offered at local fairs or clinics. A couple years ago, a nearby exercise establishment allowed back specialists to give preliminary, visual evaluations. The lady I saw asked if I sometimes had neck/shoulder pain or discomfort on the right side. Actually, I did and had thought it was from sitting too long at the computer. Wrong. She pointed out that I have a tendency to lean my head to the left! Now conscious of that habit, I keep my head and neck more aligned with my spine, and there is no more neck or shoulder pain! Simple.
Yoga and tai chi instructors point out my tendency to draw my left knee inward when bending down and sitting. My general practitioner referred me to a physical therapist who gave me several exercises specific to me -- that take a total of less than 5 minutes -- to do daily to also get and stay aligned. My old habits are the culprit time of hip pain, and it returns every time I get sloppy and resort to them. But when I pay attention, I am pain free. These avenues give me relief from knee and back pain, and recently a bout of "tennis elbow." About 10 years ago, I suffered with back pain. A chiropractor realigned my back and taught me easy, fast exercises to stregthen my back. That pain has been under control and not a problem since practicing their guidelines. Again, exercise instructors tell me when I am learning too far forward or backward, etc., and instigating unwanted strain/pain.
Combining the knowledge of medical practitioners and exercise instructors of how to treat specific complaints (Do I use heat or cold? Do I massage or not? How much and how frequently should I exercise the injured spot?) has helped me attain and retain a much better qualify of life, thanks to reduced or elimination of pain.
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