Welcome to Spring 2021, the sun has been shining, the daffodils are delightful and the blossom blooming. This month holds several important dates, St David’s Day on 1st March, International Women’s Day on 8th March, Mothering Sunday 14th March, St Patrick’s Day 17th March and the Spring equinox on 20th March which means we are half way towards the longest day. These are days to dust off the trainers take time to walk and breathe the fresh Spring air.
Support – Women in our lives, be that Mothers or Mother in laws, Daughters Wives, Friends or Colleagues, are an incredible support network and have been vital in these days of lockdown. As a gift to you incredible Women I am offering a free 30 minute webinar on Monday March 15th at 12.30pm, you can bring another person who you would like to experience 30 minutes of self care in their busy schedule. Please email me deborah@totalhealth4u.co.uk to receive a link to the event.
Another way to thank the Women in your lives is through the giving of a gift voucher, this is the time to give and to receive.
Movement – Here is a simple stretch to warm up those legs and get moving. Firstly we need to oxygenate the body by taking deep breaths – Inhale deeply into your belly for the count of 4 then blow out through your mouth and nose for a count of 6. Repeat 8 times.
Full body stretch – Bend forwards gently to try and reach the floor, notice how far you reach. Then sit with one leg crossed over the knee of the other leg and work from the toes to the heel by massaging the foot using circular movements. If there are any tender spots press into the spongy layer and hold for 8 breaths. This can be repeated until the tender spot has lessened or gone. Then repeat on the other foot. Stand and bend forwards again notice how much further you can bend as the leg muscles are now more flexible and you are ready to ramble.
Structure – Many of you have heard me talk about Fascia, the silken stocking or soft skeleton of the body. It is an incredible structure made up of elastin to give it the stretch and collagen to give it the strength and known as a tensegrity structure.
It weaves through our entire body to give us support to our organs, glide and movement over our joints, Structure to our skeleton.
The fascia also needs care and attention – water for hydration to maintain its elasticity, long held stretches to unlock kinks, movement such as walking, dancing, cycling to encourage fluidity and movement of the structure.
Enjoying activities even changes the biochemical structure of fascia. During stressful times adrenaline is released into the blood stream ready for the fight, flight or freeze response and calcium is released to activate the nervous system response. When that event is over the body will recuperate and remove the biochemicals through rest or movement. when the stress is ongoing the bio chemical deposits can lodge in the fascia causing tender spots, stiffness, lack of glide over the joints and an inability to have a full range of movement over that joint leading to pain.
That is where I can help. Teaching you online to work out the tender areas, encouraging the long stretch and being accountable to remember to move. You have the power and ability to change your fascia structure!
Hands on work, all being well, can recommence on Monday 12th April and I am taking bookings now.
I look forward to seeing you all soon.
Yours in health
Deborah
