Archives / 14 post/s found
Examining Structure and Tension
We often think about structure and function affecting pain, and understand that tension only adds to pain, but we don’t often consider the impact that tension has on structure and function. Tittel’s muscle slings illustrate how we are wired from a structure, function and tension point of view. Tension can affect structure and function Whether it be due to fascial pulling, brain stem induced anxiety, expecting that cause and effect are always inextricably linked, or simple fear, too much tension collapses our structure and reduces our ability to respond. Fortunately, there is a solution. Systema Russian Martial Art incorporates a […]
Burst Breathing To Reduce Tension
Breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. The idea is that when you inhale from the nose you get oxygen quicker to your brain and that helps to reduce tension. While you may not actually be directly increasing oxygen to the brain with this technique, you are likely activating your autonomic nervous system (through a structure called the sphenoplatine ganglion) so that tension reduction, and increased oxygen delivery, does occur. Inhale through the nose to cut tension, exhale through the mouth to unlock yourself If you exhale from the mouth you recruit your rib cage and diaphragm […]
When Tests for Tension Are Not Enough
What might you do if traditional diagnostic testing is not enough? Certainly there are situations when just that happens. Consider the instance of tension. In this instance, while traditional tests may address anxiety, they don’t really address tension. When this occurs physical assessment techniques may be more fruitful. Examples might include trying to perform cross body movements, or muscle isolation exercises. Systema Health to Reduce Tension While we all have tension, and want to reduce it, most often simple, or popular self help techniques simply are not enough. So, how can we reduce tension? The Challenge and Choice program (see […]
Life After a Bad Knee
I hear it all the time: “I used to exercise but then my knee went bad”. It is common. Some just stop exercising and others look for alternatives but lack the enthusiasm they once had for their new sport or activity; many see their overall health decline. That creates internal tension as options are reduced. In the end everyone has to redefine themselves throughout life. It would be nice if we could create a system for ourselves to do that. Systema Health may be the answer. It borrows from Systema, a Russian form of martial arts that focuses on three […]
Personal Ownership For Health
Taking personal ownership in your health is not as easy as it sounds. Most people take their health for granted. Life can be so demanding that finding the time to take care of oneself can seem like a burden so when things are OK, why worry? But when things are not OK and we are unprepared. If only we took the time to do simple things like re-framing the way we deal with tension life would be better. In fact, if each of us practiced reducing tension as if it were a way of life, instead of a way to […]
Move and Maintain Your Square
Move your square. What square? Your torso. The portion of your body between your shoulders and hips. When moving your square its a good idea to maintain posture. Think of stature. Stand tall and keep your head balanced. Your ears should be over your shoulders (your head should not be in front or behind the rest of your body), shoulders over hips, hips over knees, and knees over ankles (they all should be in alignment). But moving your square also applies to your psychological and spiritual square. The psychological square is what causes you fear. Your spiritual square […]
Experience Freedom
Freedom from chronic pain, a life with less tension, fewer limits and more options are things all of want. The problem is we just don’t know how to get there. We need help to learn new tactics and strategies to help us get well. Sometimes in order to achieve such lofty goals we have to put in the quality time and sufficient energy to make a difference. It might even be required to develop a new system for life. One that is our own, one built upon our individual strengths and weaknesses. Systema Health is one of the treatment options offered at […]
Systema Health For Parkinson’s Disease
Recently there has been excitement regarding the use of three dimensional exercise to improve health in Parkinson’s Disease. And there should be. Three Dimensional Exercise is the Key At Piedmontpmr.com we have promoted three dimensional exercise programs including Systema Health and Brain Highways for sometime now. In each instance, exercises are employed that are intended to help grow new brain stem neural highways. With Brain Highways the focus is on enabling full development through childhood brain stem reflexes so as to free the brain from having to struggle to do something it was never intended to do. In Systema, a […]
Balance For Health
Balance is a simple word but it can have multiple applications when it comes to health. Of course there is physical balance. No one wants to fall No one wants to fall, at least not until they have been trained, and then falling can become fun. Maintaining physical balance increases awareness of your feet, legs, torso, square, and head position. Several things are necessary to maintain balance. Proprioceptive skills (knowledge of where your body is in space), and intact vestibular system (the gyroscope inside your inner ear) are two examples. We often don’t think about it much, but peripheral vision […]
Move Your Hips
Move your hips! How often do you consider if you move your hips enough? Even if you enjoy exercising, you many not have considered how important it is to move your hips. Naturally, learning how to do so will increase range or motion, flexibility and muscular strength, but it can also improve tendon and ligament resilience. While there are many specific exercises for the hips, to get the full benefit it can be quite helpful to think about the quality of hip movement, during the exercise. Consider things like did the hip lead the movement, can the hip move in […]
