The Body Will Find a Way
One thing that is so brilliant about our bodies is their persistency. We will continue on, we will make it work — this is survival.
This built in capability to make it work at all costs is a wonderful attribute in times of crises and emergency, however when this continues on over time, this persistency will not fix the original problem and most likely will create more problems in the body.
For instance, not all, but a lot of bunions are caused by improper foot patterning and pronation while walking. As weight gets put on the medial side of the knee and on the foot our foot tends to open outward to create balance so we can stand and ambulate. Once the foot starts to make this turn your body realizes that it needs more anchoring on the inside of the foot so it starts to create another big toe. Smart, in fact brilliant. It will get the job done and you will still be able to get around. However, the above example is a very painful one and leads to days and future days with pain and discomfort.
The same situation will happen if we have an acute injury. For whatever part of your body that is hurt, the rest of your body will have a compensatory reaction to either protect the area with not bearing weight or reducing the range of motion. These compensatory actions are great in the beginning when the injury is new and you need to survive however, gone unchecked these changes in the body start to become new patterns of movement as our bodies learn quickly. It is very important if you have an injury to not only tend to the area that is injured but also the rest of the body to ensure that new off balance patterning is not occurring and gaining ground as the new way of moving.
Even the fact that most of your population sits at a desk for the majority of their day can lead to compensatory patterning that enables the body to sit for long periods of time but causes new patterning that creates imbalances that gone unchecked will create stiffness and pain.
Given the above examples, I cannot express the importance of a full body tune up that addresses alignment and proper muscle function. A weekly to daily practice of Pilates is the cure for this. When your body is able to discern things on its own you may be able to “get by”, but for how long and to what cost? The mindbody connection and the conscious ability to know where you are in space is crucial for optimum living. Living is being in a body that is pain free, moving smoothly and prepared for whatever may come. Existing is the exact opposite, letting whatever your body decides to be the way you function. As Joseph stated: “Good posture can be successfully acquired only when then entire mechanism of the body is under perfect control.”
In my humble opinion, our physical bodies are one of the most amazing beings on the planet. Living in a smooth moving and functioning body makes life for more pleasant and amazing. I invest in caring for my alignment and functionality daily and I reap the benefits. I live pain free and in a body that feels joyous. This adds to all of my other experiences in life and makes this journey called life, that much more exciting and wonderful to behold. Be the master of your body and reap the benefits.
Bodywise — making your body as wise as your mind.