Growing up in an athletic and health conscious family I was inundated with the importance of keeping my body in good shape. Feeding it 'premium fuel' so it could run it's best, and keeping it conditioned were at the top of the list. Spirituality was also a major part of keeping my mind/body connections functioning optimally. The one thing I always thought was a serious waste of my time, however, was STRETCHING. Stretching my body didn't seem to do anything for my physique, or my performance. I just didn't get it. So I basically didn't ever do much of it. A little here and there during warm ups, but that was the extent of it. Once I found myself running track at the collegiate level, I realized all of the continuous pounding I was doing on my body was starting to take it's toll. I developed a few athletic injuries that slowed me down for a short period of time. I knew then that I had to be missing something, but I pushed through. During an international fitness event in Las Vegas I ended up tearing my hamstring muscle. Now I was certain there had to be something wrong with my total fitness plan. Turns out stretching was the missing piece. Many years later, I now know that stretching does so much more for the body than just warming it up. In fact, without stretching, you're bound and determined to find yourself hunching and crunching over slowly but surely as you age. The good news? No matter how tight or old you are now, you can change the progression almost instantly! Here is where you need to start, and why…

Nearly everyone is dealing with tight pectoral muscles, scalene muscles (in the neck), and psoas muscles in the hip/groin area. This is due to working at computers and sitting all day. When these muscles tighten, your spine begins to round forward and your almighty hypothalamus is cut off from it's supply of essential cerebrospinal fluid. Many issues can arise from this short supply alone. Your entire body breathes via movement of the 3 diaphragms. There is one in your perineum area, one under your lungs, and one in your brain. The posture we are discussing here does not allow for proper flow of vital life force through your body. Do you think you can function optimally with a short supply of vital life force? Not happening. As an aside, if your perineum has been cut via episiotomy (during childbirth), you are also dealing with a decrease in life force energy. Oh, and by the way, if you have hemorrhoids, you can thank your toilet. That's right, although going to the bathroom in a friendly seated position seems comfy, it is not ergonomically correct. Have you ever watched your dog have a bowel movement? Their tailbone actually turns under as they squat. That opens up that perineal diaphragm perfectly and promotes an easy evacuation. We were actually built to squat as well. If you are dealing with 'bathroom issues', you might want to use a stool under your feet in order to better promote the correct posture. So anyway, these three diaphragms must all be uninhibited and able to move freely. On another note, evidence now suggests that you may store your emotions in physical form in your tight muscles, tendons, and joints. So you can understand how just a bit of tension can cause an array of physical and mental issues (most of which will have to be saved for another article).

To incorporate the very basics of a good stretching routine, try to take these steps several times daily. 1. Stretch your neck (no room for a complete description, but go ahead and YouTube it). 2. Stretch your pecs. My favorite is the corner stretch. Just put both hands and upper arms including elbows on the wall facing a corner and lean into the corner with your body. Hold stretch for 15 seconds minimum and do at least 3 times each session. 3. Stretch your psoas. Runners lunge is a great way to get this one, and/or on your back with one leg bent and under your rear. 4. Stretch your upper and lower diaphragms. Squeezing the anal canal is the best way to get the perineal diaphragm flowing. When you start squeezes, you should feel it pumping a bit in your head. Then you know you've reached the diaphragm in the brain. Know that this is different than kegels ladies. This is the anal sphincter, not the vaginal canal. 5. Stretch your middle diaphragm. The best way is DEEP breathing exercises and oddly enough, letting things go. By that I mean, forgiving (remember, forgive to free yourself, not necessarily the other person), and not allowing things to get to you. There is a connection between a large tendinous structure in this diaphragm and your liver which I won't get into here, but just know that letting things go is key!

If you need specific help and/or if you have an episiotomy, gall bladder surgery or appendicitis that may have effected any of your diaphragms, you need to come and see me or a practitioner that works with scar therapy. For this life, you need 100% of your amazing innate life force energy!. Also, check with your doc or practitioner to make sure you're okay to do these stretches/exercises, as sometimes there are certain medications, joint issues, etc that may be contradictory. Go YOU!