Move Better in 2017

As 2016 begins to wind down, we are in the throws of the holiday rush. In the midst of all the chaos of shopping, holiday parties and traffic jams, you realize that your once ‘free’ time has been hijacked by the annual commitment to the season. Perhaps you’ve needed to skip workout or worse, used this time of year as an excuse to not start the program you promised you would. Regardless, when ‘ball drops’; we all pause to convince ourselves of resolutions to start the New Year off right. Before you jump in (or back in) to a workout routine, it’s so important that you do the exercises correctly. Failure to follow the old adage of ‘form before function’ will likely result in unnecessary stress on the body that will inevitably lead to an injury.

The funny thing about injuries we see at The Boston Bodyworker are that patients seldom realize that these injuries are commonly a result of poor form prior to loading the tissues. There are undeniable prerequisites to movements that should always be met before engaging in any exercise. When you incorrectly load the tissues of the body (muscles, ligaments, joints), you won’t always experience pain or any discomfort. However, when these movements are performed over a prolonged period of time and weight/reps are increased, you are increasing the demand on these tissues. This is when injuries can begin to reveal themselves. In a nutshell, everything you are doing right now, your nervous system is getting better at doing it. But what if you are doing it wrong? Your nervous system is getting better at ‘bad’ movements. Take the time to perfect movements before increasing the loads you place on them if you want to avoid injuries.

Check out some videos that demonstrate the proper movements associated with common exercises such as kettle ball swings, lunges, side-planks, dead lifts and more.

If your plan is to make 2017 the best year yet, I encourage you to take the time to move well. Pain is never a resolution anyone puts on his or her list.

Ready to #feelbetter?

You're just a click away from a wicked good massage!

Book Now!

Change the Angle of Your Stretch!

Change the Angle of Your Stretch! We have all heard time and again that stretching is a great way to reduce the risk of injury as well as aid in recovery from a work out. So why is it that we still get injuries and our bodies feel sluggish, even when we stretch? The broad…

Read More

6 Stretches to Reduce Back Pain

6 Stretches to Reduce Back Pain At some point or another, we all have experienced some form of back pain. As I have explained in some of my previous posts, the degree or level of pain that is experienced is subjective to the individual based solely on their own neuro-signature. Simply put, no two people…

Read More

Life Hack: Under Pressure

Life Hack: Under Pressure When we think of a “hack” to something, we typically envision some unique way of doing something better and more efficiently than normal. However, some hacks can simply be a means of saving money, not just time. Last winter, we added some new construction to our home of 15 years. The…

Read More

Just Keep Moving

Just Keep Moving If you are sitting at your desk right now reading this, you may be wondering how it’s already September and summer is (un)officially over. The kids are back in school. Students from all over the globe have reentered our neighborhoods and roadways. The traffic suddenly seems to be more packed. Alas, another…

Read More

Have A Dose

Have A Dose The readers of this newsletter are all patients of The Boston Bodyworker, so there is no reason to try and “sell” you on the benefits of massage therapy. However, often we hear our guests struggle over expressing why they get a massage on a regular basis. It is our responsibility to not…

Read More

Life Hack: Wall Angels

Life Hack: Wall Angels So, while your boss is away, and the office is emptying out earlier and earlier as we reach the apex of summer time in Boston, you’re still grinding away making the most of this opportunity to get ahead. But wait, what is that pain you’re starting to feel between your shoulder…

Read More

Actions Triumph Words

Actions Triumph Words Over the years, we have all found certain quotes or guidance to motivate, lift and energize our spirit and those of others. I have so many favorites, but there are three in particular that I have been repeating to myself, my kids and even the kids I coach, more than any others…

Read More

Preach; Calories In vs. Calories Out

Preach; Calories In vs. Calories Out Summer time is the time of year when we typically want to look our best. Let’s face it, despite the fact that we live in a world that is openly less critical of body types and encourages us to see each other for what we do and how we…

Read More

Life Hack: 4th of July!

Life Hack: 4th of July! With the fourth of July just around the corner, we though you might enjoy some Red-White & Blue Homestyle life hacks that are fun, crafty and some are even edible! Check out these life hacks from our friends at BuzzFeed. My personal favorite is #16. Send us your creation if…

Read More

Why Run When You Can Sprint?

Why Run When You Can Sprint? Time and again, I hear from so many that the reason why they don’t work out more is because they don’t have time. Well, what If I told you that you can achieve the same health benefits of a 30-minute run in less than 60 seconds? REALLY! As the…

Read More