Physical Impact of stress on the Body – Part 2.

The holistic approach has the view that we are spiritual beings in physical bodies; that we take on our physical form at our birth and return to the spiritual dimension after out death.  It is important to get ourselves out of the hurly-burly of everyday life and to expand our state of awareness and consciousness by becoming more away or our own spiritual nature.  People often suffer without realising it, from longing to connect to their own spiritual nature.  Religious belief, prayer and meditation are the most well-known way to expand out awareness, consciousness and reconnect with our spiritual nature. Often it is an intense shock of a diagnosis of a life threatening disease e.g. cancer that awakens people to the reality of their spiritual connection.  For the rest of us, there are often fleeting moment of spiritual connection when we are in nature, when we meditate, when we pray or experience moment of intense joy, beauty or pain.  Others feel the reality of the spiritual dimension through experiencing the loving presence of a loved one who has passed away, spirit guides or divine beings.  The purpose of mediums is try to contact this spiritual dimension to provide evidence of life after death.  For the skeptics amongst you  Michael Newton's books the Journey of Souls and the Destiny of Souls may provide more evidence to support the idea of life after death and a the concept that we are spiritual beings in physical bodies. Buddhists and Yogis believe that the material world and even our emotions are the illusion and that the spiritual dimension is the only reality.  They maintain that our preoccupation with the material world stops us from experiencing the bliss and freedom of the spiritual dimension. For myself, I believe we very much live in this material world with jobs to do, children to parent and bills to pay so I always try to have my feet firmly routed here on earth.  While I am not religious, I find being aware of my spiritual self and actively trying to increase my spiritual connection as it nourishes me and give me a sense of perspective and peach of mind which I find reassuring in my everyday life.   So while my feet are firmly routed here on earth my head is in heaven.  

Having spoken previously about why poor posture is bad for you, I wanted to move on to give you a simple exercise that helps promote good posture.  Brugger's exercise routine is devised to activate postural muscles weakened and simultaneously stretched by a prolonged sitting posture. Slumped Position Check the tension in your upper back and shoulders in the slumped posture and then in the Brugger's position, to see if you notice any difference as the muscle tension is dramatically reduced. Brugger Exercise Posture Step By Step Guide

1. Sit perched towards the edge of your seat; this will naturally place your lower back into a curve (lumbar lordosis) with your butt sticking out a little.  As you do this your breastbone (sternum) will naturally lift up.
2. Separate your legs to 45 degrees each side with your feet turned out slightly and in line with your knees.
3. Your shoulders are relaxed and down with your chin tucked in, making the back of your neck longer – imagine a piece of string is attached to the top of your head and someone is lifting you up.
4. Fully straighten (extend) both elbows and arms.
5. Make sure you keep your shoulders down and imagine your shoulder blades [scapula] are pushing down and together to form a V.
6. Turn your thumbs out (externally rotate), palms up.
7. Separate your fingers.
8. You should now be in the position show above in the Brugger's exercise posture picture.
9. Hold for 30 seconds.

Previously I have explained what DOMS is, and why it plagues some people and not others and given you some ideas on how to prevent it.  Given DOMS can be so debilitating and demotivating I wanted to give you more tips on how to prevent DOMS. 1. Omega 3 Fatty Acids Omega 3 fatty acids, like those found in fish and flax oil, are a fantastic addition to your recovery arsenal. Your body can’t make them, so you have to eat them, they are found primarily in fish and wild game, and to a lesser degree in certain nuts and seeds.  They are powerfully anti-inflammatory and pro-recovery, and are protective to connective tissue, nerve tissue, and muscle tissue. 2. Protease Enzymes A study by Innerfield in 1957 showed that protease enzyme supplementation may have anti-inflammatory effects, and others have shown them to be specifically effective at reducing DOMS.  Protease enzymes include trypsin, bromelain, chymotrypsin and papain, and they help modulate the pro-inflammatory response by blocking pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and stimulating anti inflammatory processes.  If you go this route, make sure you get a formula that includes that piperine. This is an ingredient extracted from pepper that increases enzyme absorption by up to 60%.  You need this boost because enzymes don’t absorb that well in the gut. 3. Compression Tights Research found that marathoners who wore compression gear in the 24 hours after a race reported less soreness. The technical fabric supports muscle groups, reducing movement, which can result in less soft tissue damage. Compression can also boost circulation. However, to ensure the right level of compression, you’ll have to work out the size you need using your height and weight. 4. Foam Roller Most people are familiar with foam rollers and know that using it on sore muscles can alleivate the pain.  Remember using a foam roller may be painful and shouldn't be unbearable.  Personally I prefer receiving massage to foam rolling my own sore muscles.   Both sports and deep tissue massage can help alleviate DOMS too. References