ROCK THE SPINE: THE REVERSAL OF THE GNARLY-HEADED COMPUTER HUNCHBACK
By: Janet Egerer

March 2, 2018, marked day one of my families Spring Holiday. As many of us know it takes some time to detach from work and attach to “doing nothing.” Naturally, that very evening I took notice of a table of 20 people, 18 of whom were slouching severely. Logically, I thought, ‘Wow this would make an interesting blog for PYP.’ The only two people that appeared to have a strong erect spine were a statuesque woman wearing a “rock the spine” chiropractic care t-shirt, and a very fit man sitting next to her who I assume was her husband, #gorgeousposture!

In today’s world we live in what I like to quantify as ‘INation,’ hand-held electronics, laptops, desk tops, smart phones, gaming systems… Evolution and technology has allowed for cessation of movement and a deterioration of vital strength and replaced it with speed and efficiency. We are no longer moving as we were designed and our overall biomechanical function is more in tune with inaction than it is with action. There is now a continued rise in the trend of obesity, a deterioration of musculature and a rise in disease. Our culture is now fraught with what in the fitness industry is known as Kyphosis, or excessive curvature of the thoracic spine causing neck and back pain, you may know this better as, hunchback. With even more need to ‘get the job done’ sedentary life is our now norm, sitting at a desk, checking emails, designing websites, making sure our SEO’s are just right, keeping up with social media, you get the idea. These self-put-upon pressures have taken our upright and mobile society to a pain stricken and obese world.

So how is this relevant and why the hell am I reading this? Does any of the above ring true to you? Because PYP can help. Many of these postural deviations can be reversed with attention. The PYP team are huge proponents of, ‘we move this way now, so we can move this way later.’ We want to give you a digital detox, a turn around on your T-spine, a step back in to mobility and functional movement. We know that the intervertebral discs make up 25% of our spines length. The more we sit, as we age, the less we move, the more decrease we see in our spinal column length. Maintaining a fluid, hydrated and healthy spine requires movement, so maintaining a healthy exercise prescription is critical to our vitality. Look to explore some type of yoga practice if you find that you are constantly seated and huddled over your device. Yoga provides, the meditation and mindfulness we all so very need in our ever-demanding lives, along with the strengthening and stretching that is essential in our physical well-being. Perhaps consider taking Pilates Reformer, for lengthening and strengthening the limbs, stabilizing your core strength and reproducing a powerful and strong posture. TRX and the suspension trainer is another superb modality that gives the body all the right tools to strengthen, stabilize, mobilize and integrate balance with options for both high impact and low impact movement should you choose.

Take notice if your fingers are the most mobile part of your body from all of your typing, if so, then we encourage you to consider exploring alternative ways to move. Reverse the degeneration of your spine and increase your overall body and mind power with mindful, functional and biomechanically safe movement at PYP. Move more, sit less, breathe more and be free of stress.

A doable at home exercise tip…

Lay flat on your stomach, extend your arms over your head like superman, take a deep breath in as you exhale engage your core and lift your limbs off of the floor as you keep your gaze on the floor
Repeat 15 times two times through

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