THE BODY is just so interesting!

I have been teaching my FF Yoga for some weeks now and in it we do MUCH thoracic rotation (twisting from the mid back - think of the triangle pose if you know it). Last week my mid back was really SORE and stiff, so I figured it might be I am overdoing it. I then started to experience pain when I inhaled to over 50% capacity.

I have 'been here' before and this was years ago; WAY before Yoga so this needed rethinking!

I posted my problem on FB as I was foxed by it. Fellow traininers suggested stretching the thoracic (already done) foam rolling the thoracic (already done), and nothing resonated until a genuis told me to stretch my scalenes - now THAT made sense as I have not been stretching my neck at all.

Some weeks ago for Candlelight Pilates I asked the members what they'd like me to do for that session (a bit like a DJ asks what records you'd like him to play, I ask what member's muscles are tight). One lady said 'anything but neck Cat - it does nothing for me!'

Me being the slightly paranoid person I am (!), I then assumed EVERYONE was not 'getting anything' from neck stretches and ever willing to please,u took them ot for about 3 weeks. (this takes us to last week)!

MISTAKE.

1. Loads of members need to stretch their necks and

2. I DO and it is my party!!

So I took my ickle dog out that night and as he was running in circles around a field I thought "hey I should do those stretches while I have the oportunity". The stretches worked instantly, and I could breathe unhindered for the first time in days. HOORAY.

But I wanted to know more about WHY!! This is the classic case of Google ONLY WORKING if you have the end of the story before the middle or beginning! If I googled tight thoracic I got millions of stretches I already do/know. If I googled I cannot breathe I got loads on asthma! But if I goggled tight scalenes leading to thoracic..... I get this:

Shortened neck muscles can lead to compression of the neck vertebrae. This tends to make it more difficult to turn or tilt the head. To compensate, many people begin raising their shoulders to create some slack in the tight and restricted scalene muscles found at the side of the neck. Unfortunately, lifting the shoulders can, over time, create its own set of complex, painful and bewildering symptoms and should be avoided at all costs.

Restricted breathing may also be a troubling symptom. As the scalene muscles shorten, they are strong enough to raise the position of the first rib, which they are attached to. The lung is attached to the underside of the first rib. So, when the rib is lifted, it puts strain on the fascia covering the lung, making it more difficult to fill the upper portion of the lung with air. A feeling of restricted lung capacity can be the result.

BINGO!!
I love google too!
I am never going to forego my neck stretches again - it was a scary week!

If you'd like to know the stretches I do for necks (I know many highly effective ones) - please email me and we'll get a sheet to you!