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A Micro Pause to train you to become aware of subtle sensation in the body. When we work with the neck, we work with small muscles, and consequently sensations will be less. When we apply a lot of force on these structures, such as pulling them to get a stretch, the result is often more tension. It takes a bit of practice to really become aware of subtle sensations in the body, and the rewards for doing the practice are great.
This last Micro Pause on the lower back program is a lesson in self compassion. It is also a lesson in giving your self an inner massage, a very practical form of self compassion. Why being kind to yourself matters the most: its all about the nervous system. A common misconception is that muscles become too short and that we need to stretch them out into their full length. Instead, muscles can be contracted or extended, and sometimes they get “stuck” in contraction. Stretching the muscles wont make them longer, what they need is for the nervous system to believe that its safe to extend the muscles. When we do the inner massage, we gently stretch muscles, then release them and in doing so we tell the nervous system that it's safe to extend the muscles, resulting in greater relaxation.
In this Micro Pause we explore the relationship between the lower back and the hips. Increasing the mobility of the hip joins often have a positive effect on lower back pain. We make a rather strong exercise, focusing on strengthening the muscles on the back and sides of the hips. Why strengthen? A strong muscle is an agile muscle! In this lesson you get to fire them up so they can start doing their work in carrying the weight of your body. When we work on strength, we also increase mobility.