Since being back in school, I’ve noticed 3 things from a body perspective. I’m sitting and reading on a screen for extended periods of time and my breath is more shallow. It’s always better for me to have the kinesthetic sensation when figuring out how to feel better in the body, depending on the circumstances. I imagine this is what a body that works at a desk job might feel like.
When you don’t move around within each hour, it hinders your focus. I’ve started to have things by me in my virtual classes to do release work on myself (which is also great for my self-care). I’ve noticed a difference in what I’m able to absorb in my lecture classes. Also, using cupping, stretching and self-massage help me stay present in the moment instead of thinking about the other things on my to do list.
In my body I’m having hip and knee discomfort when classes are in person. Those joints don’t like static positions for long periods of time unless you’re lying down. In this month’s video, I’m sharing a different psoas release and also a nerve glide for the IT band. These would support hip flexor discomfort, tension in the front and side of the hips, IT band pain (this is on the outside of your thigh) and knee discomfort below your fingertips.
There are deeper iterations of these exercises, but those are better shared with me in the office. There’s too much room for error, so it’s not safe in this form. If these are areas of consistent awareness for you, I suggest you try them out and see if you notice a difference. It’s most helpful to see what change occurs when you test some range of motion that usually brings up discomfort or tightness before you try the exercises and then again after. This helps you understand if they worked or if you need to tweak the exercises to fit your body. If you know anyone that often has pain or feels stuck in these areas, please share the video with them.