Habit of the Week - Put your head on top of your body

 

Our heads are very heavy. Even heavier when we look down. When we have our head forward or buried in a phone, we can't see our periphery very well either.  Mary Bond says watching for the bigger picture improves our posture and helps make us be more creative. 

Here is an update of a previous blog post.   

The Guardian , 25th November 2014 had a great article Homa Khaleeli:- " Tech Neck,  How smart phones are damaging our spines".

We now know that "tech neck" gives us a pad of fat just below the neck, as well as the headaches and back aches between the shoulder blades.   Head forward posture is the gift that keeps on giving.  No thanks.

Here's the graphic from the article:- sorry about the pounds.

Posture Ideas from Mary Bond

"The New Rules of Posture: How to Sit Stand and Walk - Talks at Google  - Mary Bond"

"Pandiculation -Most mammals do this 50 times a day. We feel a little sheepish doing this in public"

It is the stretch and the tension at the same time.  Mary suggests we probably do some form of this when we wake up.  I have this combination when I yawn. It does feels good.

Another interesting thought from Mary Bond:-  Our periphery.  

Those human ancestors of ours had to forage and hunt. So we are very good at regarding the periphery while we do another task.  For instance, unlike the famously clumsy Gerald Ford, we can walk and chew gum at the same time.  Or we can easily walk AND talk. Mary says when we take in our wider horizon, even while we look at the mobile, we are more creative.  

Micro movements

Discover what these movements in the "Google Talk".  Here is the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7emPAZByLk

An easy entry to Gratitude Practise

Last week, in class, we discussed Andrew Huberman's insight into gratitude practise.  He is professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

By using this simple technique, our mind enters into a state of gratitude - It is a shortcut to a meditation session. 

The whole session needs only last two minutes and it involves two parts - 

Firstly, focus on a person. It can be a famous person or not, someone who inspires you..  Someone who has been kind.

Secondly focus on a story about this person that shows gratitude.  

Sit with this feeling of gratitude for a minute or two.  

Here is the link to the YouTube:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F6HoCxQonE&t=361s

Let me know how it goes for you.

The Stack Sit - Habit of the Week - HOW

Bonjour,

You know that I am a  "posture tragic"..  Like a cricket tragic, but much more interesting. At the beginning of 2020, I was trained in the Gokhale method.  My sister-in-law just showed me some Alexander Technique postures and poses.  It is very similar.  

Here is a link to a short video featuring Esther Gokhale, herself.  

Esther Gokhale Stack Sit

I can recommend the training.  It is thorough and interesting.  If you are interested, let me know and I will forward information about training dates in 2022.  

Meanwhile, she has also given a TED talk.  It is well worth a watch. Here is the link:-

www.Ted Talk

Habit of the Week 

Sit at the front of a dining chair in a stack sit pose.

An interesting take on Motivation

 An interesting article by Dr. Emily Balcetis, Professor of Psychology, New York University for the BBC. The title of the article is "How to run faster" which is a bit off-putting for me. However, it is really worth a look, for the average person.  It  asks - "why don't we exercise?".  They have turned to neuroscience for the answer.

A solution to the problem could be found in a simple technique. Look at the finish line.

I strongly recommend that we take a look at this video clip. To paraphrase its message - begin with the end in mind.

Here is the link:-

https://www.bbc.com/reel/playlist/the-science-of-fitness?vpid=p09r61yn 

Outstanding Article about the Brain from BBC

 A class member recommended an article from the BBC.  Wow, it is so interesting. 

Good news for class members:- Squats are a great exercise to increase blood flow to the brain and thus to maintain brain health that fights off dementia.  Wooohooo

Here is the link:-

BBC article on brain health

  

Bras in the News

 A news item from the ABC featured a discussion about bras. The Australian Olympic team were measured up for proper bras. (I am assuming it was only the females.)  Even then, a very high proportion of them were not necessarily comfortable.  The conclusion was that more work needs to done - not only for the women athletes, but all women, to ensure their bras fit correctly.

Here is a recent news article from the ABC 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-07/research-many-elite-athletes-wearing-properly-fitting-bras/100424746

Here is a very helpful Ted Talk that discusses bras.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrxJ-9_qXeM