MASSAGE IS A WASTE OF TIME
MASSAGE IS A WASTE OF TIME – INSTEAD WE NEED TO LEARN TO MOVE PROPERLY.
BY DOCTOR POSTURE, ROGER GOLTEN.
Are you wasting your money on massage?
A massage can make you feel good – but how long does it last? Pampering is pleasant enough, but does it make a difference? Our modern, more sedentary lifestyles with hours spent at keyboards and computers, on laps and at desks, means it is vital that we learn to do the simple arts of movement, especially sitting, in a better way.
Heads falling off shoulders, ribcages collapsing and backs slumping all contribute to the build-up of chronic tension which doesn’t go away with a massage. We’re talking structural stress here, so a more methodical approach, which works with the deeper postural muscles as well as the superficial layers, is needed.
You will feel 10 years younger, look slimmer and have more energy to spare when your body is re-aligned.
To make a difference that really lasts you have to look at the whole system of the body. Tinkering with the parts will only give short term relief. By adding movement awareness training and then taking these principles into action in activities such as swimming, cycling and even getting in and out of your chair, we can initiate a life-long learning process which will continue to improve your well-being over time.
As well as servicing the vehicle, we also have to educate the driver!
We should think of sitting, or standing, as a 2 stage process. Next time you want to sit down from standing, hesitate a moment. Keep your weight on your feet as if you are going to squat without there being a chair and let the chair interrupt that very natural movement. Only after you can feel it under your bottom should you then transfer your weight and complete the process in a soft landing.”
To stand up, reverse the process;
1. Transfer weight onto your feet without lifting your bottom off the chair (so that you could take the chair away without falling)
2. Use your leg muscles to press down into the ground and leave your neck & back alone!
How many times a day do you stand up and sit down? Imagine what a difference it could make to your muscles, posture and alignment if even that one simple movement was carried out in a way that supports the body rather than puts stress on it.
About the Author
Dr Posture, Roger Golten has over 30 years of integrated structural bodywork. He uses a combination of Hellerwork and Zen Swimming. Zen Swimming is an integration of Hellerwork, the Shaw Method and Alexander Technique, with sessions taking place both in the water and on dry land.
See: www.zenswimming.co.uk