posture

Relaxation

~ claire ballardie

What is relaxation?

  • The ability to rest and recovery after work, physical effort, or mental challenges.
  • Doing something that you enjoy, for pleasure.
  • Finding a sense of peace, of fulfillment.
  • Feeling calm, safe, comfortable.

 

Why is it good for me?

  • It calms the nervous system, reducing stress, anxiety.
  • It slows your beathing and heart rate,
  • It reduces stress, improves sleep
  • It helps you to feel better about yourself, lifts your mood.
  • It improves rational thought, reducing the ‘what ifs’ and worries in your mind.

 

 

 

How do I relax?

  • Pay attention to your breath, focusing on calm, rhythmic breathing.
  • Send this calmness to where you feel tense in your body.
  • Move gently, stretching your muscles to shift tension.
  • Visualise a peaceful scene, imagining you are in a safe, calming place.

Summary

We can relax when we feel safe, and able to let go of our fears, our worries.

Relaxation is essential- without the ability to relax, we live in a permanent state of anxiety, you have need to ‘keep busy’.

So, let go of what you think you need to do right now, and just be present, pay attention to yourself. Feel safe, calm and take that deep breath right now. Relax.

Good Posture with Claire

~ claire ballardie

Good Posture with Claire

A short film to help with good posture.




 

 

Terms and Conditions

The Importance of Good Posture

~ claire ballardie

The Importance of Good Posture

Being aware of good posture on a daily basis has many health benefits. Tension can build up in the body so easily, causing postural changes. You can get rounded shoulders from spending hours hunched over a computer, or tension in the neck from driving.  Backache can be brought on by lifting, carrying heavy shopping bags, gardening, or spending a long time sitting down. Joints and ligaments are put under duress in sports. Poor posture increases this impact and reduces performance.

Ideally attending an exercise class, such as FLexercise which focuses on posture, and maintain the correct alignment of the spine while exercising. With understanding of good posture, this can be checked at home, by looking in a mirror.

What can good posture do for you?

Sitting

Being aware of how you are sitting, at home or at work, prevents back ache. It reduces tension in the neck and shoulders and improves the function of internal organs. Feeling less tired is aided by improved breathing technique- slouching over a desk prevents the lungs from being used fully.

Wellbeing

Standing tall improves confidence, and gives the appearance of being slimmer, even dropping a dress size: a sure way to get that ‘feel good factor! Lengthening the spine, and keeping the hips and shoulders in alignment, firming the central part of the trunk, the core muscles, giving more tone to the body. Being aware of maintaining an upright posture when standing improves overall balance, walking technique and the health and alignment of the feet. Paying attention to action of the feet, how they support the body, has a huge impact on overall posture, and the spine.

Sport

Correct posture in sport reduces strain on joints and ensures muscles work properly. It decreases stress on tendons and ligaments and improves muscle strength. Body function is improved, as is core strength and mobility. Muscles can work better: they develop strength, particularly in the back and stomach muscles, and the core.