Active Living....
If you want to exercise and stick with it, the best thing to do is to put the effort and energy into finding something you enjoy doing. What many of us want when we go on a search for exercise advice is what activities to do, how long and how to do the exercise?
So how do you figure out how much exercise you need? One place to start is with your goals. The three most common goals to achieve when exercising is to gain better health, prevention of weight gain and weight loss.
Our lifestyles have grown increasingly less active, affecting the condition of our bodies. Exercise experts believe that regular mobility would bring back the natural balance and coordination; improve our cardiovascular fitness and lymphatic drainage, strengthen the muscles and improve bone density as well as giving us a sense of well-being.
There are several types of therapy manipulation available to improve our bodywork, including:
Complementary Therapies such as Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Indian Head Massage are used to promote overall well-being for the Mental, Emotional and Physical stresses. However, the following Manual Techniques are also used for improving mobilisation and helping with sports injuries.
Massage often uses a technique called soft tissue mobilisation to loosen restricted areas. The body can also develop overly sensitive and tender points or trigger points, which can originate from or be made worse by physical overload or emotional stress. Pressure points may be used to help ease the pain associated with these sensitive areas.
For problems lying deeper in the joint structures, gentle joint mobilisation may be applied. It is important to remember, however, that most forms of bodywork are not intended to just treat the symptoms but to help address the underlying causes of our discomfort. Sometimes pain in one area may be initiated by a problem in another area or it may represent disharmony in the system as a whole.
Trigger Point Therapy is a technique whereby pressure is directly applied for a short period of time until the pain lessens. Knots arise from painful, irritated areas in muscles caused by accidents/injuries, everyday stress and tension; where lactic acid builds up causing decreased circulation, inflammation and pain. The pressure helps break up muscle fibres and releases toxins that have built up. Trigger Point Therapy has immediate pain relief.
Most forms of Compression techniques and Postural balancing within Complementary Therapies are used at the centre of the sessions, this involves a light pressure application of the therapist fingers or hand on the muscle. As your muscle sensory receptors detect the pressure, they send signals to the central nervous system which in turn sends a message to reduce the tension in the muscle. As the tension releases, the muscle softens and the hand sinks deeper, finding the next layer of tension.
Exercise improves the overall functioning of the body and quality of life. Exercise therapy may decrease stress, pain, fatigue and depression. Staying active keeps joints, tendons and ligaments flexible; allowing you to move more easily and avoid injury. Regular work outs contribute to your mental well-being. Working out is a great way to help relieve stress and anxiety therefore, increases more energy and endurance for everyday life.
Minimal and less time-consuming exercise is recommended. Using the Low-Stress Method, these exercises do not involve quick jerky movements, instead concentrates on the direct efficiency of the desired outcome, whether it’s for decreasing health risks or improving one’s lifestyle.
You may want to try these alternative, Low – Stress Methods:
Pilates includes the Eastern exercise philosophy, which involves the training of the mind to control the body. The Eastern exercises focus on stretching and flexibility. The Western traditions emphasise motion and strength.
Alexander Technique studies the posture, movement and balance. The Alexander technique encourages people to use their bodies and mind more effectively in the day-to day activities to avoid stress. The focus of the ATtreatment is the correct position of the head, neck and back.
So in March ………..
Ditch: the lie-ins.
Take up: Tai Chi for energy. Running for cardio, Trampolining for improving lymphatic circulation
Pat yourself on the back: Sticking to healthy eating plan.
Article by Mamuna Arshad
The Busy Girl’s Guide to Aesthetics
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