Goodbye Pain

An estimated 80% of Americans will develop back pain during their lifetime. Many will keep a more limited range of motion in their athletic, yoga and everyday movements in order to avoid it. During a time of acute pain, limiting range of motion is necessary and practical. However,

even after pain subsides, there is a tendency to continue holding back on movement. We tend to fear pain so much that we create limited movement. We begin to disconnect from the body, distrusting it for fear of recurring pain. Prolonging this pattern makes it much more difficult to regain mobility. The body adapts and we lose our better movement patterns which also affects many other bodily systems. While there most certainly is a time and place for protection, there is also a bigger time and place for strengthening. Pain is often the result of weakness somewhere in the body. Sometimes, it originates not even from where we think. Avoiding movement isn't the answer to pain, although during a time when pain is intense, passive, supportive stretches and gentle twists can aid in mobility and in helping toward trusting your body again. When you're past acute pain, instead of simply staying in passive stretching, creating activation will better support and strengthen the entire body, find better range of motion and help you decrease your chances of injury and pain.