Several years ago, I stumbled across a series of articles that looked at postural imbalances in the neck/shoulder and hip areas. I was intrigued because I had never heard of the phrase upper crossed syndrome before.

Very quickly into the series, it was like a light bulb went on and I realized that not only did it explain my own symptoms, but those of so many of my clients as well! And it changed how I approached treatment and home stretches for clients.

What exactly is upper crossed syndrome?

In a nutshell, it is an imbalance between weak and tight muscles.

Weak muscles between your shoulder blades (rhomboids & lower traps); tight through upper chest (pecs) & front of shoulders (anterior deltoid); weak neck flexors (muscles along the front of your neck); and tight neck extensors (basically from the top of your shoulder blades up to the base of your skull).

With upper crossed syndrome, you end up in a posture with your shoulders rounded forward and your head forward as well. Think about being pulled forward and down. It also makes maintaining good posture a challenge because the weak muscles can not counteract their tight counterparts, nor are they strong enough to hold neutral posture without fatiguing.
(For more on efficient neutral posture click here)

Now that we know what the problem is, what can we do about it?

Most importantly you need to stretch the tight muscles and strengthen the weak (and keep doing it!) Then, in your massage treatment we work on addressing those same tight muscles and soothing the fatigued weak muscles.

Once you start addressing the muscle imbalance, it is important to regularly check your posture. It is really easy to slide into old patterns & back into the round shoulder, head forward slouch.

​So, who’s ready for some more efficient posture??

Hands up … who has ever been told they have bad posture?

Is your hand up? Because mine is, and I have to tell you, I’m not really a fan of my posture being judged as bad or good by anyone.

Posture is defined as “the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting”. This definition doesn’t actually give us a start point to qualify good vs bad, it’s just a position.

So maybe we need to look at posture as efficient or inefficient vs good or bad.

Efficient posture, would be the ability to hold or move your body in a way that puts the least amount of strain on supporting muscles and ligaments; as well as the ability to move into and out of any position easily and without discomfort. Efficient posture is very dynamic, allowing for minor corrections and adjustments by core supporting muscles to create balance.

Inefficient posture, would be the inability to move out of one posture into another (not being able to stand in tall neutral alignment from being hunched forward); also included in this would be the “it hurts to sit up straight” and discomfort or pain when moving into or out of a posture. Inefficient posture is often static, meaning that certain muscles don’t have to work at all to maintain the posture which in the long term means those muscles weaken.
Inefficient posture comes from a combination of weak and tight muscles, and placing your body long term in positions of great load. Weak muscles simply don’t have the strength and endurance to hold against the pull of gravity and tight muscles restrict your range of motion and flexibility.

We all fall victim to inefficient posture at one point or another, but the more time we spend in these positions, the harder it becomes to straighten up into a neutral posture and move without discomfort.

So, what exactly does neutral posture look like?

Standing, with your torso in a neutral position (neither flexed or extended), your ears sit above your shoulders, shoulders above hips; chin parallel to the ground; arms by your sides, palms facing thighs, shoulder blades retracted (flat against your ribs), elbows hanging just behind your midline; spine elongated, shoulders symmetrical, chest open; core muscles engage to form a natural corset; knees under hips, ankles under knees.

Sitting is virtually the same until you get to the hips. Ears over shoulders, shoulders over hips; chin parallel to the floor; shoulder blades retracted back (flat against your ribs) so that elbows sit at your midline or just behind; pelvis in neutral alignment, tailbone tucked under, no anterior/forward tilt; weight evenly distributed on sits bones (ischial tuberosity); knees bent at slightly greater than 90o; ankles under knees, feet flat on floor.

Remember, as soon as you shift forward or back you increase the work load on one set of muscles over another, which can lead to muscle fatigue and often pain or discomfort. Prolonged periods in these postures will ultimately lead to inefficient posture … some muscle groups having to over work to keep you upright, rather than all muscles working together in balance.

Efficient posture can take a little work and practice in the beginning, (you will most definitely find muscles you had long forgotten about) but trust me when I say that the effort is entirely worth it!

​The first step is becoming more aware of what your posture actually looks and feels like. Second is regular posture checks. And the third step is correcting the muscles imbalances that prevent you from achieving truly efficient posture.

*stay tuned for Postural Imbalances 1 and Postural Imbalances 2

Self care is often something that gets pushed to the side as we try to take care of everyone else. But you can’t take care of anyone if you aren’t taken care of.

You can’t pour from an empty cup.

One thing we tend to forget though, is that self care doesn’t just come from big expensive spa days that have to be planned months ahead of time. Often, the most powerful self care comes from the little things you have intentionally chosen to include in your week.

That is where most of the days in this challenge got their inspiration from. Choosing Joy or Love and lighting up your soul. Intentionally making time to be present in what is happening right … at … this … moment.

You can do this yourself, with a group of friends, or better yet include your whole family.

​We can all use some self care, and kids in particular need to see you living by example (they are always watching & learning from you).
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Make the commitment to choosing You, to taking care of You, to loving You!

The challenge starts Mon August 10 ... follow me over on Instagram @bacmassagetherapy for day by day prompts!

I tell people all the time, at the clinic, to do an Epsom salt bath after a massage, heavy workout or physical activity. But I never really take the time to explain why it's a good idea, so here we go.

Why Epsom salts?

Epsom salts are made up of the minerals magnesium and sulfate, hence it’s chemical name magnesium sulfate.

Magnesium plays a very important role in the human body. It helps to regulate more than 300 enzymes that are responsible for everything from muscle control and electrical impulses to energy production and the elimination of harmful toxins.

More specifically magnesium eases stress and improves sleep and concentration; helps muscles and nerves function properly; helps prevent artery hardening and blood clots; helps body use insulin more effective; reduces inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps; and improves oxygen use.

Sulfate is also an important mineral in the body. It is necessary for many biological processes, to help flush toxins from the body and to help form proteins in brain tissue and joints.

How do Epsom salt baths work to ease muscle aches?

The theory is that the water breaks Epsom salts down into it's two chemical components, magnesium and sulfate, then both get absorbed through your skin.

The absorbed magnesium could help trigger your muscles to relax and aid in removal of toxins that can make you sore and stiff. Most people find they feel extra relaxed and sleep really well after an Epsom salt bath as well.

It is an excellent idea to have an Epsom salt bath in the evening after you have had a massage because it helps to further relax your muscles and clear out and toxins released as a result of your massage that could make you stiff or sore.

What is the best way to enjoy an Epsom salt bath?

Add 1-2 cups of Epsom salts to warm/hot water in a standard-sized bathtub (double the Epsom salt for an oversized tub), 3 times a week, soaking for at least 12 minutes.

Make sure to have a glass of cool water handy as well as a cool cloth in case you over heat.

After soaking, make sure to rinse off. This will remove any toxins from the surface of your skin that the Epsom salts may have pulled out. It is suggested, that turning the hot water down until you’re using primarily warm/cool water, rinsing legs first, then arms, then back, then chest, and lastly head, neck, shoulders and soles of the feet, will give the maximum benefits after your soak.

​Also, make sure to drink plenty of water during and after an Epsom salt bath.

So lay back, relax and soak up the benefits!

Meditation, although currently gaining popularity in the western world, is not a new trend. It has been present in all religions, across the globe, throughout history.

In fact, the first written evidence is actually from 1500BC.

Meditation is a way to step out of a busy, chaotic life and find a moment of peace and tranquility.

It could be as simple as a couple of conscious breaths or a prayer, or more in-depth like a vision quest or seeking your higher self. Regardless, these are all forms of meditation.

To see the most benefits from meditation, try to build your practice up to 5 days out of 7 (ultimately aiming for 7 days out of 7); starting with 4-5 minutes each time and building towards 20 minutes as you become more comfortable and confident in your practice.

And it is a practice, you will have some days where it comes easily and some where it definitely does not, but the more comfortable your become, the easier you will find it to settle in and experience the benefits.

Is there a perfect time of day to practice? No, its completely individual, what works for me might not work for you and vice versa. Any time of day can work, although be careful if you choose the evening when you are tired because the goal isn’t to actually fall asleep during your practice. If you can make time, the start of your day is a great place to start as it sets up a wonderful start to your day.

When first establishing a meditation practice, make sure to put some energy in to setting the scene. The room should be quiet and warm; choose the most comfortable way to sit or lay (there is nothing worse than a sore back pulling you out of your meditation); turn down the lights; put on some soft music; light a candle or diffuse some essential oils.

Setting your meditation scene, the same way every time can become part of the ritual and help you settle into meditation more easily.

Choose a style of meditation that feels right for you. Explore 5 different types of meditation practice here. These are all ones that I have tried in my own practice over the years and really enjoy (although I tend to gravitate towards 2 of them for my regular practice).

The most important step is to quietly observe how you feel at the end of each practice.

Did you find it simple to do? Do you feel calmer and at peace? Did it feel forced at all? Where you uncomfortable? Do you feel amazing?

​Use your responses and other thoughts to guide your future practice. It’s all about feedback not failure. If it felt off at all, you may consider changing up one of the variables – time of day, type of meditation, physical position, location, etc.

Right now, is the start … When you say I am worth it and choose to make time for meditation to happen.

Be gentle with yourself, no one starts out as an expert.

If you find your mind wandering bring your focus back to your breathing … Relax & bask in the serenity.
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Namaste.