Now.  Think about your toes.  Yes, your toes.  Since you are reading this newsletter, I am going to assume that you are sitting.  Therefore, your toes are not presently necessary for balance, or propulsion.  So then, are they relaxed?  Give them a wiggle and then try to totally relax them.  Ahhhhh.  Next, move to your feet and so on, all the way to your head.

The contraction or tone of a muscle can have many different variables.  Stress, injury, personality, hydration, nutrition and neurological conditions are among the many factors when considering muscle tone. Most of these factors are beyond your mental control.  One that can be affected by thought, however, can play a big role in your overall muscle tone and when left unchecked can contribute to hyper-tonicity and muscle dysfunction.  Unnecessary muscle contraction is the act of engaging a muscle that is not required for the action at hand.

Now, think about your toes…  As you check your body for unnecessary muscle contraction, you may be surprised at how many muscles you are “holding”.  Getting them to relax and STAY relaxed can be quite a challenge. How long to you think this has been going on?  It has probably been going on longer that you would expect. So, be patient with yourself as you re-train these muscles to relax.  Check yourself periodically and you will be surprised at how those muscles will begin contracting again without you being aware of it.  Continue to practice relaxing.

When a muscle “behaves” a certain way over extended periods of time, this behavior becomes normal for that muscle.  When this happens it can create pain in the muscle from over-use and fatigue.  The result from pain can be a spasm in the muscle.  Unlike unnecessary muscle contraction, a muscle spasm is an involuntary muscle contraction.  This often creates a pain-spasm-pain cycle, which usually requires some sort of intervention, such as massage, to break. Computer work is an action that can be a good example of unnecessary muscle contraction.  When doing so, you only need to be primarily moving your fingers and wrists.  Most often, however, we find ourselves involving our neck and shoulders whether it is due to improper ergonomics, intensity or stress.  This is unnecessary “busy work” for your muscles, which often results in muscle spasms in the neck upper back and shoulders and the pain that accompanies it.

So, think about your toes.  Are they considering going on strike?  What about the rest of you???  Keep checking yourself and practicing relaxation…

Technorati Tags: anxiety, massage therapy, shoulder pain, Stress, tight muscles, woodstock ga

“Hustle and bustle” hardly describes the stress we can experience during the holiday season.  Between the work related angst of reaching year-end projections and the nutrition depriving noshing at the social gatherings, our bodies take the brunt of the abuse during the five week endurance event that is the holiday season.   Here are some tips to help you go from surviving to thriving this holiday season:

Drink plenty of water – you should be drinking half of your weight in ounces of water per day.  You should also consider drinking an additional 8 oz for each dehydrating beverage (soda, coffee, alcohol) you consume each day.  Water is a major component of healthy functioning muscles.  A dehydrated muscle is more prone to spasm, pain and injury.

Take time to stretch and quiet your mind – mental and emotional stress can cause tight muscles.  When this tension is left unaddressed it can perpetuate itself into what is called the “pain/spasm/pain” cycle.   Taking the time to begin and end your day with a few quiet moments of stretching can help prevent emotional related muscle spasms.

Fuel your body – make sure to give yourself proper nutrition.  Planning our meals often goes out the window during the holidays.  Make sure to eat well as often as you can to offset those naughty nibbles at holiday parties.  Remember you are what you eat and if you eat poorly, you will feel poorly.

See your healthcare provider – make sure you follow through with your healthy practices.  It is even more important during stressful times that you take good care of yourself.  Continue your wellness plan and see your Massage Therapist, Chiropractor or whoever is best capable to ensure your good health during this holiday season.

I hope you can use these tips to help get the most out of your holidays.  Remember to live in balance, reduce the excess and give yourself a break from time to time.  Taking the time to take care of yourself this holiday season can help you make it the best year ever.  Have a great (and safe) holiday!

Yours In Health -
Ashley Wilson
NMT, LMT
~Inspire Someone!

Technorati Tags: holiday health, holiday stress