February doesn’t have to be the ‘slump month’
Feeling a bit down in the dumps? Has your motivation for your resolutions run out? Coughs and colds taking their strain, or just feeling the cumulative effect of damp, cold, short days? February can be a challenging month for us, hence it’s often referred to as the ‘slump month’.
It doesn’t have to be like this, lets shake things up and put the thrill back into the month of love!
Stress, illness, poor nutrition and no exercise causes tissues to become inflamed and congested. Inflammation is like glue in the body, it is sticky and reduces the natural slide and glide between the tissue layers.
The body begins to feel heavy and sluggish and our physical and mental energy deteriorates, leaving us feeling foggy headed, tired, bloated, constipated, slow to heal and prone to infection.
To generate freedom of movement within the fluids of the body, we must generate freedom of movement outside of the body.
We can do this by improving how we move, stretch, relax and unwind each day.
Our immunity suffers when our bodies our congested. The immune system relies on an efficient lymphatic system, but unlike the circulation of the blood, it doesn’t have a big heart pump, but relies on body movement to be the pump.
The lymph system has areas of nodes, which are like little filters for the white blood cells, mainly found in the neck, arm pits, chest and groin. Interestingly, the areas for most of the nodes are situated near a joint – an area of maximal movement.
Or should be an area of maximal movement!
But of course, what happens with lots of working, driving, sitting and sedentary time, these nodes don’t get enough stimulation and the lymphatic and immune system become compromised.
So, I bring you this node-squishing-releasing exercise routine designed exclusively to target the joints where the nodes are most abundant.
Go to my YouTube channel to follow along with me for a deeply nourishing 6 minute movement flow:
Stockbridge Osteopathic practice
www.youtu.be/1AJWpy4CXs4
Other fantastic options to support your immunity and boost energy are:
· a good brisk power walk
· a cold-water blast in the shower or sea
· a plate piled with organic colourful roasted veg, herby multi-grains and fresh fish sprinkled with toasted seeds
· focus on slowing your breath for 10 minutes while in the bath or sauna
· a deep and refreshing nights sleep in a screen-free and cool bedroom
· some restorative osteopathy sessions to un-stick you
Dump the slump and welcome freedom of movement!
Emma Wightman
www.the-sop.com