Relax and Let It Happen
I have been doing the Tai chi Circle Tracing exercises to stretch my arms for a while now. I didn’t realize how to apply the movements until I was explaining it to my students.
They not only apply to stretching in the arms but work well to enhance the muscles in the other parts of the body.
Tracing the yin yang symbol has expanded the range of the stretch.
The aha moment came when I was listening to one of my fellow students explain and exercise he does to help circulate the blood when waking. He tightens the muscles in his foot so that they squeeze the blood from the muscles through the veins to help the heart function.
First pushing the heal forward. Then the toes forward.
I tried this the next morning. It seemed to work but the tensing of the muscles caused cramps in my foot. I eventually got it to relax. I did it again and this time slowly and relaxed.
I tell my students when breathing that if you relax when doing movements the movements breathe for you.
Another aha. This also applies to blood flow. The movements themselves tensed and relaxed the muscles squeezing the blood towards the heart.
If this wasn’t enough I realized that if I traced the tai chi symbol as I did the movements it expanded the range of the joint in my ankle and caused greater blood flow.
As I began my morning routine I started stretching my shoulders… Why not trace the symbol as I do the movements. That is when another aha moment hit. These movements apply to all the joints too.
I did the next one with my neck. Not only did it get the blood flowing it stretched the muscles in a greater range then I was used to.
I did my elbows next. Then the wrists and even the fingers. I moved down the spine and onto the hips. From there I followed down the legs. The knees and ended back at the foot.
The flood of aha’s showed that the movements work on all of the other joints too.
If You want to get a great start to your day take a little time and give your body a treat. It will be a great addition to that boost of energy you get from that first cup of coffee.
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