|
FALLING OFF THE BALANCE BEAM We often here someone say, “I feel out of balance.” Usually they are referring to the way they are feeling spiritually or emotionally, but if you observe them closely, you can often see that the emotional or spiritual imbalance is causing them to be physically out of balance as well. Tight neck or shoulder muscles may cause stiffness restricted motion. Tight back muscles or back pain may be causing a pelvic tilt or restricted spine movement. When our body is out of balance, we are fighting gravity, which often exacerbates the pain. Everything in our world seeks balance. As children our bodies were in balance and moved freely. As we mature we develop poor posture, poor health habits and life stresses, which cause us to loose our balance. Consider the fluidity of a child’s motion versus the difficulty of an older person. The child, in balance, like a top, moves freely. An older person, like a top that is wobbling, is being pulled further off balance by gravity. The most important activity one can do to counteract physical imbalance is to maintain a good level of physical activity. For some this could be sports, running or walking. Yoga, tai chi and other oriental practices also aid in maintaining balance and flexibility. Joints and extremities that have balance and flexibility are less prone to injury and pain. The improved breathing helps to keep the lungs healthy and improve oxygenation. Increased circulation aids digestion and keeps the body organs healthy. Movement is often difficult and painful for someone who is injured, or who has been inactive for a long time. To regain what has been lost, it may be necessary to work through the pain. Acupuncture, Asian energy work, cranial sacral, polarity therapy, hypnotherapy and massage are wonderful healing methods to help rid the body of pain and provide balance. These should be done with the guidance of your physician or therapist. By starting small you can accomplish major changes that will keep you on the “beam”. Tom Stempel, MD is the former Chief Surgeon for the Phoenix Indian Medical Center. He founded Dynamic Pathways Wellness Center @ 333 E Virginia Ave. Phoenix 85004 http://energeticpathways.com/ 602.254.0071
|