Would you like to know how to make most strenuous physical movement easier? Here’s how.
Around fifteen years ago I had back surgery for an excruciatingly painful damaged spinal disk and pinched nerve. I had to take Physical Therapy sessions as part of the recovery. The Physical Therapist told me that for every move I made, to “brace” my core. What does that mean, I asked?
She said that whenever I did a physical movement that took any effort, to consciously tighten and tense my mid-section and focus on a location about 2 to 3 inches below my naval. She said it would make the movement much easier to do and lessen the possibility of injury (For the record, in martial arts language, that point is know as your “Hara” and martial artists use it not only as a “bracing” point to initiate their own movement, but they watch opponents telegraph their movements through that point.
The Physical Therapist told me that the bracing movement happened naturally in any movement, but to make the movements even easier, add more emphasis and energy to the bracing part.
I did it and it worked. I’ve been doing it ever since and have since learned how important that bracing effort is, particularly for older people who exercise.
How does that apply to you?
You will recall in my last SeniorFlow Moment, I emphasized standing up and sitting down from a chair as a simple way to begin strengthening your legs. What I didn’t mention was that if you focus your mind on an area about 2 to 3 inches below your naval and tighten and tense that part of your body as you stand up or sit down, you will find that the movement is significantly easier.
Give it a try. And do the same thing during any physical movement you make as part of your everyday life. You’ll discover how much easier those everyday movements can be.
So what should you do now?
1. Practice consciously “bracing” every time you move, particularly when putting any real effort into the movement.
2 .Do simple core exercises like sit-ups, crunches and leg raises to strengthen the core muscles involved in bracing. Even just bracing as an independent exercise may help strengthen your core and make life easier for you.
Give it a try and feel it work.
This has been a SeniorFlow Moment. Thank you for reading.
