Stand Up Straight
In October 2014 I went to Miraval Spa in Tuscon, Arizona with friends. Miraval is
one of the top fitness and wellness destinations in the world and offers the
opportunity for you to explore every facet of your physical, spiritual, and emotional
health in a beautiful setting. I fully embraced this experience; I signed up for classes,
lectures, and spa treatments. I believe Miraval was a gift not to be wasted but
appreciated, and I came away changed in so many ways.
My biggest take away from Miraval was the importance of “balance” to our health.
When I speak of balance, I’m not talking about a balanced lifestyle but a balanced
core. The core at the center of your body that keeps you balanced and strengthens
your back, protects your knees and so much more.
Think of our bodies like a tree. Similar to a tree and its trunk, your core keeps you
upright, but overtime the tree’s trunk may bend or break. This comes from age and
as they say, “normal wear and tear”. If we don’t stake the tree in an attempt to
straighten the trunk, the bending will continue. As one of the instructors at Miraval
informed me, both young and old will be walking with a hunched back like our
ancestor the caveman if we don’t strengthen our core and stand up straight. Without
a strong core our balance will ultimately put all of us at risk for falls and injury. A
weak core can also lead to back and joint issues, and numerous other health issues.
So is there a solution?
On the advice of my daughter I recently began an exercise program that focuses on
strengthening your muscles. I chose the Bar Method, which” improves posture by
working the core muscles in your back, abs, and glutes” as part of my exercise
program. I find the classes challenging but so rewarding and helpful. This is one of
many hot trends in exercise options. All of these programs offer and opportunity to
pay particular attention to your core and strengthen your muscles. Yoga, Pilates,
Barre Classes, whatever you choose, commit to strengthening your core.