MOVE
Movement & our bodies
We look at the body as a series of interacting systems. It is not a machine with specific delineations between parts, but an organism working as a whole that sometimes gets out of balance. The body is usually very good at returning to a state of balance, but sometimes it can benefit from a bit of help. Here is one of my greatest belief : the body is a physical being, so lets get physical.
Think movement.
Now is a good time to embody a practice of increasing the movement density of every moments. Whether working on a computer, eating a meal, being with family, or watching movies, now is the time to make these events more dynamic.
Move to feel better, don't wait to feel better to move.
Movement is magic! It really is. It is one of the cheapest medicine, available everywhere, no need to go anywhere else than right here, right now. We are not used to moving in our homes, we are more used to going to other places to move (yoga studios, gyms, climbing halls). Staying well while in one place begins with creating dynamic spaces in our homes. Maybe you can make your living space as movement-rich as possible, which will free up more space for everyone. You can remove some chairs / sofas / benches so you create more space on the floor for rolling around / squatting / sitting cross-legged. These small changes will make more use of your legs and core as you get up & down, and you will be able to stretch different floor-sitting muscles. If you have children at home, they will absolutely approve of this new space to move!
We need movement just as much as we need good nutrition.
As a massage therapist, i really see & feel the difference between a moving body and one that doesn't move often. I am not talking sports, but general regular movement. In the same way that a single whole food meal doesn't constitute a full healthy diet, a daily hour of exercise (although better than nothing!) does not constitute a full healthy movement plan. Think of regular movement as important as vitamins, iron and other essential nutriments. Movement is not only great for the body, it can also keep stress and anxiety down and positive vibes up.
Shake it ! ! !
Getting your heart and breath up is truly vitalising, and when paired with awesome music, it can be simply pure joy! Find music you love and just let her out! Jump, swing and shake out your yayas!
As part of a good healthy relationship between movement & our bodies, it is essential to also consider our lymphatic system. Your lymphatic system is your body’s built-in cleaning center, the plumbing that carries away and filters out waste products from every cell, tissue and organ. It absorbs fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the digestive tract and delivers them to the cells of the body. It is also an essential part of the immune system that maintains fluid levels, fights infection and produces white blood cells. It’s kind of a big deal!
The lymphatic system is amazingly all over the whole body. From just beneath the skin & the lymph nodes to deeper into the bone marrow, spleen, liver, intestines, heart, lungs… it’s everywhere!
Pump your lymph
Unlike the circulatory system where the heart pumps the blood through the vessels, the lymphatic needs some movement to go around the body. Proper lymphatic flow requires deep breathing and body movement – the contraction of skeletal muscles force tiny one-way valves to open and close and push the fluid. Here are some tips to make sure your lymphatic system is happy.
Breath
Although the lymphatic system has no pump like the heart in the circulatory system, the movement from the act of breathing is a lymphatic pump in itself and can help direct lymph through the chest. Proper breathing is the most important facilitator of lymphatic function. Constant shallow breathing leads to lymphatic congestion. So take some deeeeeeeeep breaths!
Drink Up
Hydrate like you’ve never hydrated before. Water, tea, broth—drink it all.
Keep the body moving
Take walks, dance, chop wood, carry water. Remember to make your home a playful space. As soon as it warms up, jump on a trampoline if you have one. Any type of steady rhythmic movement is good. All the better if it brings you pleasure as well. Endorphins produced by movement also help to keep our mood level and nourish our immunity.
Soak it in
Soak your feet and calves in warm water with or without epsom salt in the evening to encourage lymphatic drainage. If you have it available, you can add a few drops of a relaxing essential oil such as lavender or rosemary.
Stretching and yoga poses are especially effective for moving the lymph.
Life is partly defined by movement, so for all things living, movement and life go hand in hand.
