Like a well-oiled machine

[clevermanka]

A lot of body talk today, folks. Breaking Muscle has been throwing out good articles lately, and I'm gonna link a few that are all applicable to me, and also, I bet, to more than a few of y'all.

First, a list of five daily life habits that can undermine your general health as well as your exercise performance. I'm a former stomach-sleeper, so I know, believe me, I know how hard it is to change your sleeping posture. But it is possible, and you will feel better. Eventually. I'm considering removing the pillow I usually place under my knees to see if that helps with my lower back issues. I'm thinking maybe the new mattress provides enough cushion for my heels that I don't need it, and the slight bend in my knees is not doing my quads and adductors any favors. I also need to find a way to stop grinding my teeth. I don't do it hard, but I often become aware of a tension in my jaw and I gotta figure a way to stop that.

I am a constant advocate for mobility, and is this Whole9 article on flexibility for strength has some good suggestions on incorporating flexibility training. I disagree with some of his statements, like "Over the years it has become increasingly obvious that due to our sedentary lifestyles, the biggest limiting factor in strength is not mind/body unity, it is not muscle tension or conditioning, it is flexibility," (well, maybe not and could I please have a citation on that?), but his attention to different aspects of mobility and his shout-out to motor patterns (a topic I've recently started to research more) make up for some of his problematic statements.

And speaking of motor patterns, here is an article on getting your glutes to fire properly. Since we spend so much of our lives sitting and even when we're walking, we're often doing it poorly, our posterior chains have forgotten how to turn on.

Remember! Fitness is a matter of priority and it's okay to be selfish about some of your priorities.

Finally, today's Tumblr is Tuesday, January 2: Hearts.

Comments

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

Love the way I have my Feedly set up, because I was skimming many of those articles too. Good stuff, sometimes overwhelming, because I feel like no matter what I do, I'm somehow damaging myself. Probably time to step away from over-reading the research and just Do Some Shit. Finally not weepingly tired here. Planning a lifting session while the ballerina is in class this evening. Woo.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I feel like no matter what I do, I'm somehow damaging myself

Over-reading is a problem, yeah. I think the trick is to know your body well enough and to listen to it. I knew from repeated trips to the chiropractor (and her finally telling straight out) that I had to stop sleeping on my stomach. And I also know I feel so much better--more powerful, more mobile--when the motion of my walk is generated by my glutes and hamstrings instead of my quads.

And of course, the best way to know your body is to use it!

[msmitti.livejournal.com]

I was happily surprised to find that I don't do *all* of the bad habits. I almost didn't open the link because I am feeling badly about myself today and didn't want to add fuel to that fire.

Now, to figure out the correct form for moving things around. (I grind my teeth at night, so I'm not really sure how to fix that one. Even with a special mouthguard, I grind.)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yeah, teeth-grinding is SO HARD to stop. Ugh. If you find something that helps, lemme know. And I'm the same as you, I just chomp down on the guard, so.... =/

[pointoforigin.livejournal.com]

Ooh, pretty hearts! Being a little more selfish about my priorities is a biggie for me. Even harder to change than one's sleeping position!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

That's a tough one for mckitterick, too. Maybe it helps to be an only child. =D

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I clench my teeth when I sleep on my back. I do it less when I sleep on my stomach. I feel much more rested sleeping on my belly than on my back because of this.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Gee, talk about having to pick between two evils...with your teeth, though, I'd say good for you, doing whatever you need to save them!

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I just got to finish reading the article and I'm amused at the last one which presumes I pick things off the floor by going into a squat. If it's small and I'm not wearing shoes, I pretty much always pick stuff up with my monkey toes and pass it off to my hands.

This is also what I do in performance if I want to pick a veil off the floor....

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

How fun! Small items I pick up like a Good Morning because that just feels really good in my hips. Anything larger, though, I squat.

I once picked up a veil from the floor by doing a backbend and then a turkish drop, then picked the veil up from behind me. It was a pretty great move.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Showoff! :D

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I was amazed and thrilled when I actually pulled it off in performance since I only managed a successful grab of it half the time in practice. Here's the video:


Veil pick-up is at 2:29. When I told you about it, I forgot that I changed the choreography kinda last minute. I nixed the turkish drop b/c I didn't want to tear the ridiculously flimsy skirt I was wearing, so I just sorta went down to my knees and did a backbend. Still amazed I was able to grab the ends so evenly, though.

Damn, that was a really long time ago.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

That was an excellent grab. So controlled.

Your hair is totally bitchin', too.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Once in a while I miss my short hair, but MAN I was so glad when my hair grew back.