Strength, Flexibility, and Balance

From those of us who can bench press 200 poundstissue, muscles, and organs. Orienting yourself around
to those of us who can barely bench the bar, fromyour center allows you to move out into the world
those of us who are contortionists to those of usfrom this place with ease and grace. From here any
who can only touch our toes when our knees are atexercise you choose to do to build muscular strength
a 90 degree angle, we all know that strength,will support integration, balance and harmony rather
flexibility, and balance are important factors inthan more tension through the fabric of your being.
preventing injuries from sports, accidents, andFlexibility, not to be overshadowed by muscular
everyday life. But, what about when an injury doesstrength, also markets itself as a tool for healing. Our
occur - catching you off guard and sneaking into yourbody has natural methods of healing stored within,
body before you can swat it away - what happensand flexibility plays a vital part in making these
then? Can the balance between strength andmethods work to their fullest capacity; flexibility is like
flexibility you've worked at maintaining help you toadding grease to the wheels. It greatly improves
heal faster?circulation, which rushes nourishing blood to the areas
Renew your gym and yoga memberships, thecrying out for help. Circulation also rushes antibodies
answer is yes.and endorphinsto the area of concern.
When it comes to muscle strength, the benefits areIn addition, flexibility can help develop self-awareness,
almost limitless. Not only does greater muscle masswhich helps you to become aware of, and
facilitate metabolism and booster immunity, whichadequately cater to, any injury you may sustain. It
helps heal injuries, but it also improves oxidativealso improves both physical and mental relaxation; a
capacity of muscles, rushing the life force of oxygenperson who is relaxed and at ease will heal much
to the area in need of attention. Additionally, muscularquicker than one who is rigid and tense. And, like
strength supports cardiorespiratory fitness, helpingmuscular strength and inner strength, it lessons the
your heart to deliver minerals and nutrients to theaccumulation of stressors on the body, which can
point of injury.greatly hinder the healing process.
From an emotional standpoint, having a body filledWhile they might not prevent all injuries, cultivating
with strong muscles can help relieve stress, andstrength, flexibility, and balance will help limit the
produce confidence in your body and its ability topower of your injuries, keeping them from getting
heal itself, both of whichare factors in reboundingworse,as well as aid you in a speedier recovery
from an injury at an accelerated rate.process.
Strength is often viewed as muscle mass and bulk,TWISTED is a medical yoga studio at the Center for
but true strength is the ability of a muscle toOsteopathic Medicine in Boulder, Colorado. Twisted
contract when it needs to work and to relax when itintegrates osteopathic medicine, hatha yoga and
doesn't. If your muscles are always working you willmindfulness practices to teach optimal balance
soon become fatigued and have no inner strength tobetween physical, mental, and emotional health. It
deal with the most basic stressors of everyday life.aims to educate and help people to live a healthy life
Inner strength doesn't have all to do with musclefrom the inside out. Rehabilitation programs offer a
strength; it also has to do with your ability to findcomprehensive treatment regime for the whole
your center in gravity: to feel the balance of yourbeing, empowering each person one breath at a time
skeleton in the matrix of surrounding connectiveto stimulate the body's natural healing potential.