spine stability x curling up on the couch
Cc: post-Thanksgiving meal (subject: consume responsibly, in gratitude, while honoring Indigenous Peoples).
Welcome to a season of slouching – which is only natural as the weather cools down in the Northern Hemisphere.
I, too, scrunch my shoulders and curl up into a ball to ensure body heat, which never ends up feeling very good in my muscles, joints, and organs to boot. I repeat – it’s all interconnected.
There are many ways to warm up without aggressively flexing the muscles, for example: hot water bottles, cooking with warming spices, moving your body, drinking warm versus iced beverages (even water), layering with thick sweaters and socks, wrapping yourself into a blanket burrito, etc.
*Other related mind-body wellbeing products can be found on my curated Amazon storefront (I earn from qualifying purchases). The acupressure mat is great for back care!
In order for the body to function optimally alongside these other warming wellness hacks is to sustain a supported spine.
Many of us probably know what it feels like when our back is out of whack – it, in a word, sucks. Back pain can affect the muscles around the internal organs, pelvis, shoulders, and neck; it can result in headaches, nausea, and general stress / dis-ease.
When our back is stable and spacious, it creates stability and support around the nerves (even the nervous system), digestive tract (in lieu of crunching the abdominal area when one curls up into the aforementioned ball of body heat), lungs (breathing is, as we know, both wonderfully calming and generally imperative), and more.
Like our physical and physiological interconnectedness (to ourselves, our planet, and each other), there are component parts (i.e. surrounding joints and body parts) that contribute to and can further support our posture.
It is also worth noting that optimal posture can be paramount to longevity. We are more likely to be mobile, agile, and balanced as we age (no one is exempt from this) if we prioritize our physical wellbeing, even in these simple ways. And think about how you feel emotionally just by standing taller.
It’s all interconnected (again!).
Below are a few suggestions you can practice throughout the season to cultivate a tall, steady spine – whether you’re seated or standing; in motion or still.
By paying attention to these various tips starting from the ground up, you’ll enjoy snuggling and getting cozy that much more since your back won’t morph into creaky, cranky knots of pain in the aftermath.
Let’s explore some posture pointers in 6 parts…
Read the full post and subscribe on Substack!
As always – reach out for support via 1:1 sessions. Think of it as your own personalized postural assessment.
Take good care,
S
No Comments