Palms Up!

Want a simple way to:

• Improve your posture

• Align your spine

• Decrease neck pain

• Boost your breathing

• Tone your core

Invert your palms.

That's it. Invert your palms.

If you've been on your phone, invert your palms. If you've been on your computer, invert your palms. Stopped at a light while driving, invert your palms. Watching TV, invert. your palms. Relaxing before bed, invert your palms. 10 or 100 or 1000 times a day, every time it crossed your mind, invert your palms.

When the palms are facing up; the muscles on the front of the shoulders lengthen open rotating our arms backward which creates more space across the front of the neck, chest and upper torso. When the shoulders are open, the spine realigns creating more space between the vertebrae and more evenly supporting the torso. With this extra space, the lungs can expand and breathing becomes easier. The spine moves in a chain reaction, so realigning the middle spine automatically causes both the lower and upper spine to realign as well. This moves the base of the skull into the best position for the neck which improves muscular support of the head and minimizes neck pain. When the lower spine is properly aligned, the glute muscles can engage in moving us forward so we don't overuse quads and hip flexors which can aggravate knee and foot pain, and throw us off balance.

It's clear, the simple act of inverting the palms creates a chain reaction of improved health in our bodies. So today, every time you think of it, invert your palms to face the sky or the ceiling. Then consider taking a deep breath and enjoying the sensation of spaciousness and alignment in your body.

Suzanne Andrew, LMT (FLMA51338), CTYMT, RM, CAYT helps her clients live vibrantly in their bodies, minds and spirits.