By Melanated Glow
On the surface of the Earth it is stated that the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.81 meters per second squared (9.8 m/s2). This means that gravity causes speed to essentially increase at a rate of 9.81 meters per second every second. So every single second, there is an invisible force added to all movement due to gravity. According to the Principle of Vibration : “Nothing rests. Everything moves. Everything Vibrates.” Nothing stays the same. There is always change. But if everything is always in motion, what is moving and where is it going?
I had a conversation with a young man recently regarding his height. He is so tall! I asked him how tall he was as I stood next to him in amazement. He responded with 6 feet 7 inches. In his presence I knew that this large stature had to be genetic, so I proceeded to ask him about the height of his family members. He told me that his father was taller than him but as he aged, he shrunk, and now is shorter than he is. He said that his father has lost at least 5 inches in height over time. I continued the conversation with the discussion as to what would make his father shrink in efforts to help the young man avoid this fate as he continues to age.
Gravity is always present. The force of gravity is always being applied whether we are mindful of it or not. This powerful force can be used to assist us or work against us. In this situation, I advised the young man to stretch regularly. I explained to him that his father’s height reduction is due to gravity and his body being pulled to the Earth without an offsetting energy to balance it. We always need balance and the body always desires homeostasis which is attainable when given the proper conditions.
We are upright for most of our lives. When our upper body is not upright, most likely we are laying down flat. When we are laying flat, most likely we are on something soft. The softness of the bed forces muscles to tighten or contract to support the body on the softness. We are made to lay on naturally firm surfaces. This is easily observed by taking a nap or going to sleep on the ground especially when camping!
Based on how we live today, we are consistently in an unnatural posture. Sitting in a chair without the proper arch in the back, shoulders back, and erect spine, we are putting stress on our postural muscles, especially the ones that support the spine. Our Peripheral Nervous system extends from the spinal cord and is essentially responsible for controlling the body and sending signals back to the brain. It is the pressure on the nerves that cause us pain. It is the immobility around the spinal cord and other nerve plexuses that creates the pressure on the nerves negatively impacting our range of motion.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in massage therapy is increasing at about 20%. I have personally experienced people receiving their first massage of their lives in the last year or so. This increase is natural based on the increase in inflammation due to the lack of movement or circulation in the body and the excess inflammation in the body due to the consumption of food with inflammatory characteristics. We now need massage, a chiropractor, yoga, and a host of balancing practices that we didn’t need before. Our food was different before. Our professions required different from our bodies. We were more active. We were outdoors more. We didn’t have a cell phone in our hands forcing us to flex our neck muscles repetitively. We lived different.
Fast forward life to today where we have majority of people living in this nation dealing with pain. Our muscles are made to perform specific actions but some of them are consistently in a contracted state while the opposing muscle is in an extended state causing pain. Gravity is naturally causing the body to shrink. Being aware of all of these factors, we can intentionally increase our activity to increase circulation in the body thereby reducing inflammation and pain. Our mindfulness will be that catalyst to offset the force of gravity! Stretch or invert your body today!!!
Be the first to comment