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Amazing Discovery – Using Pilates to Relieve Chronic Neck Pain

Pilates Northern Beaches is a method of exercise and physical movement that is suitable for people of all ages & abilities, and is designed to strengthen, stretch and balance the body. Neck muscles becomes tired and stressed from long hours of holding the same position. It happens only when you sit for hours and hours in front of a computer. It’s no surprise that one of the most common health conditions of our time is neck pain.

Neck pain and sore neck are usual complaints associated with simple everyday activities like reading for hours in the same position, holding the arms still like carrying your babies when she or he is asleep. If your posture is bad, you don’t realize all these can place strain and stress on the muscles, tissues, tendons, and ligaments of the neck. These cause the tendons to shorten, ligaments to lose tensile strength, and neck muscles to undergo spasm.

Pilates pain relief exercise methods can help relieve you of all these aches and pains caused by your daily activities, be it at home or at work

Causes and Symptoms of Neck Pain
The neck spine, which we called “Cervical Spine” is a segment of 7 vertebrae – C1 to C7. It is basically made up of bones, joints, and discs held together by muscles, tendons and ligaments. The cervical spine is slightly curved as it comes down from the back of the skull and it is very easy to strain it if not careful. The musculature holding this section is sensitive and tires quickly because it has to support the cervical spine. So if any of these facets get injured, it is likely that you will suffer pain in the neck that may gradually increase over the following days or weeks, which could eventually lead to chronic neck pain.

It is also due to bad posture that contributes to most neck pain, such as sleeping incorrectly, on your stomach or sleeping with no neck support. Most people also get stiff neck by unintentionally sleeping on the wrong pillow or on their arms.

Many people find it hard to sit up with the proper posture for many hours. The hunched forward position for long periods of time means the spine is not properly supported. In fact, it is not in its desired position. Since the same routine happens every single day at work, it will eventually become a vicious cycle that will cause the neck muscles to become tense and sore.

Tips for Using Pilates for Neck Pain Relief

1. Good Form
The objective of pilates neck pain exercises is to release tension and stress and in time to teach yourself how to do it. If you are in some sort of pain, keep the movements soft and gentle. It is also crucial to be always mindful of your own form and posture.

To get an idea of the principle of good form, start by trying to maintain a long neck and a lifted chest that is open, soft and relaxed. To that, add space between the shoulder blades as well as the feeling that your arms are long and they hang lightly from the ends of your shoulders.

2. Train with Professionals
Train with an experienced pilates instructor who has worked with students with the same health history. They are more likely to be able to give specific exercises routines to help you achieve better results in a shorter time. It’s important to inform your pilates instructor about your neck condition so that the right approach can be initiated.

3. Start with Private One on One Session
Your best bet will be to start with private one-on-one sessions as it will cater to your needs better. Group sessions, though small may not help you to achieve your goals. You will have a lot to learn. The results depend on your understanding on how to build a strong sense of awareness. Everyone has a specific mix of reasons for neck and shoulder tension. Therefore, you will need your instructor’s undivided attention in order to learn this.

Pilates exercises for Neck Pain

Pilates focuses on alignment of the spine, engagement of the core muscles and good breathing mechanics, using stretching and strength building methods. The following gentle exercises can relieve the pain caused by tense, knotted neck muscles and at the same time improve posture.

1. Shoulder lifts
Sit on a chair with your back straight as in the tip 1 above. Relax your arms, neck and shoulders. Inhale while lifting the shoulders up, all the way to your ears. Exhale as you let your shoulders drop away from the neck. Repeat the movements five times while maintaining long extended neck alignment.

2. Neck Turns
Rest your hands on the thighs and hold your neck in neutral position, looking straight ahead. Check out that your jaw is straight and parallel to the floor. To start, inhale and exhale gently turn the head to the right side. Inhale again in this position while the neck is being stretched, and then exhale as the head rotates back to the center. Do the same movement this time rotating to the other side. Repeat this drill four more times while maintaining a long neck.

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Pregnancy and Fertility Nutrition Tips – Nutrients that Boost Your Fertility

Pregnancy vitamins can reduce the risk of problems in the baby’s development in the early weeks of pregnancy. Individual nutrients and their beneficial effects on both male and female fertility are well documented, with scientific evidence showing they can be very effective in re-balance hormones, regulating menstrual cycles, improving the quality of the sperm and offering protection against the free radical damage derived from toxins within the diet and as well as the environment. The most important nutrients are:

Folic Acid is an essential nutrient as along with vitamin B12 it works to ensure the baby’s genetic codes are intact. It is also important for the division of cells within the body and is vital in both conception and pregnancy, as this is a time of rapid cell multiplication. Folic acid has also been proven to help prevent Spina bifida in a baby. Leafy greens, brewers yeast, black eye peas & whole grain cereals are good sources of folic acid.

Zinc is an essential component of genetic material and a deficiency in this important mineral can cause chromosome changes in either you or our partner, leading to reduced fertility and an increased risk of miscarriage. It is also required for the reproductive hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Zinc is also found in high concentrations in the sperm where it is needed to make the outer layer and tail of the sperm and is, therefore, essential for the health of your partner’s sperm and, subsequently, your baby. Good sources of zinc include meat, fish, oysters, nuts, eggs and leafy greens.

Selenium has anti oxidant qualities which help to protect against the effects of free radicals within the body that can cause chromosomal damage. It is also needed to maximise sperm formation and is required for testosterone production. Brazil nuts, sesame seeds, tuna, cabbage and whole grains are good sources of selenium.

B complex – The B vitamins help to create new blood cells for the growing baby and are also key for brain development and cell division as well as the development of the nervous system, with vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 having specific important actions The B vitamins can be found in many nuts, seeds and whole grains as well as yeast extract.

Essential Fatty Acids These essential fats include the omega 3(fish oils) and omega 6 (seeds & oils), both of which have important roles to play especially in reproductive and immune health. They are also crucial for healthy hormone functioning. Essential fatty acids break down in the body to produce prostaglandins which healthy semen is rich in. They also help to promote good levels of healthy, mobile sperm. EFA’s are essential for the correct structural development and functioning of the brain and the retina of the eye.

Vitamin E has powerful anti oxidant qualities and it is this antioxidant activity that helps to make sperm more fertile. Vitamin E can be found in nuts, seeds, oily fish, avocado, beans and sweet potatoes.

Vitamin C is another nutrient with anti oxidant qualities and is essential in a male’s diet as it can help to prevent against agglutination of sperm (clumping together) and therefore aids in increasing fertility. It’s anti oxidant nature also helps to enhance sperm quality and protect sperm & the DNA within it from damage. Green vegetables, peppers, kiwi fruit, tomatoes, citrus fruits and berries all contain this vital vitamin.

Vitamin A There is a lot of confusion regarding the use of vitamin A. It comes in two forms retinol (from animals) and beta carotene (from vegetables). It is the retinol form of vitamin A which causes concern regarding foetal safety; however the beta carotene form does not carry any risks before or during pregnancy. Vitamin A has powerful antioxidant qualities, helps to protect against cell mutation and is required for healthy eyes. Beta carotene containing foods include carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, tomatoes, squash and watercress.

L-Arginine & L- Carnitine are two amino acids required for the normal production and functioning of sperm, aiding sperm quantity, quality and motility. Deficiencies in L-arginine are linked to immature sperm development.

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Buying a Pair of Good Quality Walking Boots – What to Look For

Buying a new pair of UGG boots for men Neumel Weather will treat yourself to comfort and style in the great outdoors, especially if you are new to walking, can be a little daunting. A good pair of boots that will last you for years will cost upwards of £100, no small investment.

Firstly, go to a good outdoors shop where the staff are knowledgeable. It is no good buying from a place where the staff clearly are not the outdoors types. Talk to the staff, tell them the sort of walking you will be doing and how often and they will be able to make some recommendations.
Below is a guide that could help you to avoid the bullsh*%t factor from sales assistants …
Starting at the front of the boot, check the toe box, that will save your toes from a battering when crossing rocky ground. A firm toe box is needed if you intend doing a lot of mountain walking, it is not so critical if you will be mainly on fells and farmland or other easy and fairly even surfaces.

Leading back from the toe you will find the rubber rand, this adds durability to the boot and protection from rocks; a full rand, such as those found on Meindl boots, helps keep the water out of the bottom of the boot when wading through shallow puddles.

Talking of waterproofing, a boot with a Gore-tex lining is the best, but only initially. The lining will inevitable fail well before the boot is worn out. It also can make the boot a little more clammy, despite its breathability. Leather treatments are getting better and better and you will find most boots will be pretty waterproof if treated regularly. A shop in the Lakes told me not to clean my boots before treating them as the dirt helps to seal them against water. I am not so sure about that, it sounds that could make them less breathable – I find that the waterproofing is absorbed better after they have been cleaned. Make up your own mind! One piece uppers are a definite if you are looking for waterproof boots – fewer stitching holes and seams to allow the ingress of water. Most boots now also have bellows tongues – the tongue is linked to the upper which also helps to keep water out.

At the other end of the boot, the heel cup is the next thing to consider. For mountain walking or walking over rocky ground, you need a stiff heel cup – this will hold the foot in place and reduce the likelihood of blisters. For the same terrain, you need also a boot with a stiff midsole. The midsole is hidden from view, between the sole and the footbed of the boot. Test the stiffness of the heel cup in the same way as the toe box. To check the midsole stiffness, try bending the toe up and also twisting the boot. If you intend to do winter walking using crampons, you need a very stiff midsole.

For walking on uneven ground, support for the foot is essential, to test this, either use something hard under your sole or use the corner of a step. Boots that offer little support in these situations will leave your feet fatigued and possibly sore after a day on an uneven surface. Consider also the ankle cuff, this can give useful extra support but if it is very stiff, it can easily rub your heel or ankles on a walk.

On the sole, look for deep, widely spaced lugs and grooves, a useful measure is the thickness of 2 one pound coins placed together. A softer sole will give better grip on rocks but will wear out faster.

OK, so you have selected your ideal boot but remember, it must fit properly and be comfortable! Check for tongue padding by lacing the boot up, you should not feel the laces through it. Check the fit is right by wearing your walking socks when you try on the boot, it should be about 15mm or a little less. A convenient way of testing this is to loosen the laces and push your foot forward, until the toe contacts the inside of the toe box. You can then check the gap at the back of your heel. When laced up, the upper should feel snug and comfy round your foot. If you are aware of the lace eyelets against your feet then that can lead to soreness. Squeeze the upper of the boot as well, a soft upper may be more comfortable initially but unless you are going to be sticking only to gentle walking on good surfaces, you are better with a stiffer upper.

To sum up, decide on your style of walking before buying a boot, take your walking socks with you and talk to the staff when you are trying on the boot. This short guide is not the definitive guide to buying a walking boot but it may help you to spot sales BS.

Disclaimer (probably not necessary but here goes …): This is intended for your information only, you need to accept the responsibility for your own purchase – we cannot be held responsible for any problems that arise from the purchase of your boots. We recommend that you take the advice of the sales person in the shop and make up your own mind about the boot.

For great idas about walking and more useful walking articles, visit A Taste of the Peak District, one of the leading web sites about the second most visited National Park in the world.

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