But trigger points and muscle tension don't just sprout on their own. How well we move is the very driving force behind tension, tightness and trigger points.

 

 

 

 

Consider this: the upper body tone doesn't just keep the joints of the shoulders, elbows, and wrists stable and operating smoothly. Optimal tension in this area is responsible for keeping the upper (thoracic) spine upright.

Without this tone, the upper spine begins to spill forward.

 

Structurally this can lead to forming a hump around the base of the back neck.

Neurologically, this puts an undue strain on the nerves of the upper body, potentially contributing to headaches, neck pain, and even trouble down stream - in hands and wrists. ( this will be discussed in great detail in Saturday's workshop.)

 

Take it a step further: neck and throat area is a critical part in the body. Circulation to the brain, lymph node waste removal, thyroid function, swallowing, and voice cords all require supple, flexible muscles to work optimally.

 

 

Most people support their arms with tension along the shoulders and in the neck - so the arms, quite literally, are hanging off the necks. (That's why neck tension usually dissipates the moment we prop up the arms in therapeutic classes).

 

What's more, in the majority of our daily tasks, our arms and hands spend their time in front of us. Whether typing on a keyboard or peeling potatoes, we literally live our lives with our arms in front of us - so overtime, our bodies adapt to this frequent, narrow pattern of use.

 

It is no surprise then that our soft tissue has frozen in place in parts of our neck, arm and shoulder joint: tightening in the front to withstand the overuse, and weakening at the back from never being used...

 

 

Once you can let the weight of your arms be supported by your shoulder blades and back, the neck can relax, the headaches often dissolve, and the entire shoulder girdle feels more connected to the body.

 

Once your shoulders are free to move, impulses from your core can be clearly communicated to your arms and hands, reducing and even eliminating many types of arm and hand pain, setting you free to do whatever your heart desires to do - computering, peeling, planking, or lifting weights.

 

 

 

 

Ball rolling is just the beginning....