In yesterday's post, we discussed why tight muscles, muscles that can't relax, feel sore. Today's mission is to distinguish between YOU being relaxed and the condition of your muscles.
Basically it's apples and oranges. While it's true that your personal state of being influences your general muscle tone, it doesn't carry over inch by inch across the body. Here's why.
When you say, "I'm relaxed," you're discussing your state of being. What you mean is, "I am in a state of relaxation." [Learn more about states on the WordCures site.] It is true that your state of being affects your muscles in some very obvious ways.
For example, if your state is "anxious" or "enraged" or anything along those lines, it's likely that you'll also experience muscle tension. When your state is "relaxed," you will most likely experience less muscle tension.
However state isn't the only thing that affects the condition of your muscles. Another major player in determining the relaxed or tense condition of your muscles is your body mechanics and posture.
Here's a simple explanation. When you've got one body part going south of its normal position in space, something else has to migrate north or you're likely to fall over. Your body is smart enough to realize this. So smart, in fact, that it has reflexes that will keep your muscles tight until your posture becomes balanced and your movement patterns return to normal. Then it can really relax.
For a more detailed explanation, check out the guide How Structural Bodywork Works.
In short, if your goal is to get your body comfortable and out of pain, it's helpful to manage your state and stay relaxed. But it's not the whole game. Your body's too smart for that!
More Q & A coming in the next few days. Remember, you can ask, too!
Elizabeth
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