“The body is smart and will do anything to survive and protect itself.”
~Anne Harris
When people come to me because they’ve been struggling with pain in a certain area, they often say, “I’ve stretched that spot, but it doesn’t seem to help.”
While I’m a big believer in stretching, I usually don’t recommend continuing to elongate an area that’s persistently tight. Instead, my first question is: Why is your body keeping that area tight in the first place? What is it trying to protect?
Our bodies are incredibly smart when it comes to protection. On an evolutionary level, we’ll always do whatever it takes to survive — whether that means running from a bear or compensating for weak muscles. For example, if your glutes aren’t firing properly, your back muscles may step in to get the job done, even if that creates pain later on.
So when you’re dealing with a chronic ache or injury, ask yourself:
What might my body be trying to protect?
What isn’t working the way it should, forcing another area to take over?
Sometimes the answer is obvious. Other times, you have to look somewhere completely different — often starting from your feet and working your way upward — to find the true cause.
If you’re struggling to figure out what your body is trying to protect, reach out to me. I’d love to help you get to the root of it.
Weekly Movement Motivation!
Onward & Upward my Friends…
