When we think about longevity, clean eating, good sleep habits and frequent workouts are usually what come to mind. But what if some of the most significant longevity practices were also those that focused on three of the smallest parts of your body which are your feet, wrists and neck? Those areas silently assist your body every single day, from standing and walking to typing and looking around. Yet they often get neglected until either or both the pain and stiffness kick in.
So read on to know how building strong and resilient feet, wrists and neck throughout life can improve the quality of your life and keep you going later on in life by improving circulation, preventing injuries as well as potentially adding to the length of our lives. Even if you are taking Yoga Classes in Chennai, or anywhere for that matter, your daily practice can benefit from these minute movements.
Our Feet
Our feet are the link between you and the ground. They literally carry you through your life. There are 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments in each foot. But modern life leaves them cramped in shoes and inactive.
Your knees, hips, and back are all going to be affected if you have weak feet. As your feet lose strength, your balance becomes compromised and you leave yourself open to falls with age, which is one of the greatest threats to long term health and independence.
By conditioning your feet with basic yoga poses or mobility exercises, you:
1. Improve balance and stability
2. Improve circulation in the lower part of your body
3. Decrease joint discomfort and stiffness
4. Increases arch support and stops flat foot formation
Practicing yoga is beneficial especially for women as it includes balancing poses such as Tree Pose (Vrikshasana) and Mountain Pose (Tadasana) to activate the small stabilizing muscles of your feet. Joining yoga classes for ladies can help, particularly for women who stand for long periods or wear heels, as it corrects imbalances and build strength in their lower body.
Our Wrists
Our wrists might not seem like much, but think of how much they do for you everyday right from, cleaning, cooking, typing or holding your phone. Repeating the same action daily for years causes stiffness, weakness and, in some instances, carpal tunnel syndrome.
If you ignore wrist strength and flexibility, your body will find ways to make up for it, typically at great expense to your shoulders or neck. You need your wrists not just to function independently, but for good grip strength and hand health, all very important as you become older.
One of the safest means to toughen up your wrists, is also one of the most natural, which is through yoga. Poses such as Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) and Planks (Phalakasana) will work on wrist strength, while gentle stretches in tabletop can aid in flexibility.
Nowadays, most yoga classes in Chennai and all around the world also cater to holistic joint health, and functional movement. The key is progressive loading. Not pushing the wrists, but training them slowly through mindful practice.
Our Neck
Our neck is more than just the bridge between your head and your body, it’s an important highway for your nervous system. Bad posture, nonstop smart phone usage, and all of that built up stress means long term tension in the neck which disrupts blood flow to the brain, resulting in headaches, fatigue and even mood disorders.
When you train your neck by getting it to bend, stretch and arch through the full range of motion in which it was designed to move, you’re going to see better posture, less tension in your entire spine, more mobility, fewer headaches, reduced stiff necks and shoulder tightness. A neck that is at ease increases oxygen supply to the brain enhancing focus, energy and emotional balance.
Neck awareness is especially important for women. Hormonal changes, desk work and trying to juggle too much on a daily basis can lead to chronic tension in the cervical spine. Yoga Classes for Ladies can add in movements such as gentle head rotations, chin tucks and fish pose (Matsyasana), all of which help release tightness and keep the neck and shoulders mobile.
Summing It Up
Longevity is not just about adding years to our life, it’s about adding life to our years. It might sound simple but it’s the key to how we age gracefully. It leads to better posture, greater vitality and fewer aches and discomforts.
So step onto your mat, stretch with purpose and show love to the areas of your body that silently support you day in, day out. Whether you are taking up yoga classes or practicing by yourself, keep in mind, the secret to long lasting health is often hidden in the simplest of habits.