Resistance/Strength Training is important to combine with a thorough
stretching program.  Yoga is an example of both stretching and strengthening the body.  Resistance training involves the individual using resistance tubes and/or small weights.
  The idea is to practice your sport or cardio program with added weight,
or tubing to create drag or additional weight to the body. The body and mind become connected as the body grows tired there should always be a deeper awareness to the movements being applied.   Resistance training is a excellent way to rehabilitate through ligament sprains and strains once in the healing process of applying active range
 of motion to the muscle and surrounding muscles.  
Resistance work is an effective way to relearn movement patterns to synergistic muscles, muscles that work together to carry out a movement, important after trauma, injuries,
 even sitting at a desk all day.   Muscle tension is stored daily on a subconscious level,
through poor postures, developed by injuries of the past/present, ergonomics,
 emotional and mental states.  
 Resistance training with a stretching program can consciously reconnect to
 the muscle groups involved, by guiding the muscle(s) through proper range of motion, providing length and strength of the muscles.

 

Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy is treatment on a hyperirritable spot in skeletal muscle.
 It is associated with a hypersensitive nodule, (known as a knot), in a tight muscle fibre(s).
  The spot is painful on compression and can give rise to characteristic referred pain,
 referred tenderness, motor dysfunction (muscle spasms, twitching).  
 The treatment therapy is to apply firm pressure to the tight nodule, within pain tolerance,
this will increase the referred and radiating pain.  When the nodule is releasing the
 discomfort will subside and eventually dissolve completely.  The sensation is an ease
 and relaxation through the muscle or muscles involved.   Restoring pain FREE range of motion.  Ask you Registered Massage Therapist more regarding referred pain. 

 

 

Postural Awareness is consciously becoming aware on correct biomechanics of the body.  How do we use our muscles to hold our bones and organs upright against gravity? 
 The attention begins in the roots of our body when standing and sitting,
our awareness of our feet.  Our feet carry our foundation, the body,
it is important to centre the weight evenly placed on the feet.
  A strong foundation, from roots,
supplies an aligned bone structure, working up the body,
 through the legs to the pelvis into the spine.  The pelvic region of the body is the keystone,
as it is the connector of our upper and lower body.  
It is important to maintain proper stretch to the muscles and strength. 
 This is not only working the muscles at the gym,
 more importantly learning how to use them on a daily basis.
   It is nice to have a toned, muscular body, however, it is the knowledge of how
 to use the body that prevents injury and discomfort to poor posture.   

 

--
Kelly Pearce, RMT
www.yogasensei.com