Blog of Rob Petherick, Body Stress Release Practitioner - Body Stress Release, Brighton & Hove

Is this how you feel?

25/7/2017

Feeling tired and constantly fatigued? You're body is probably carrying too much stress. If everything feels tight and aching, your body is using valuable energy to hold stress in your muscles. This will put pressure on the nerves and inhibit communication with the body, preventing the body from healing properly, leading to aches,pains and fatigue.

Body Stress Release is a technique that can help. By releasing the stress your muscles carry, BSR allows the body to heal itself in a natural way.

Roger Federer and the benefits of resting your body

18/7/2017

This time last year, it appeared that Roger Federer could be placed in the category of a once great champion in slow decline. His last grand slam title had been won in 2012.

Federer had previously enjoyed a remarkably injury free career, until he sustained a freak knee injury at last year's Australian Open, whilst bathing his children. The knee injury was aggravated during his Wimbledon semi final defeat to Milos Raonic, and Federer was forced to take six months out of tennis for surgery and subsequent recovery.

Incredibly, Federer returned to win the 2017 Australian Open, seemingly rejuvenated by his enforced rest period. Perhaps influenced by the positive effects of his enforced rest, he then took the unprecedented decision to skip the clay court season, including the French Open. The results were again stunning. Federer won Wimbledon for a record eighth time without dropping a set!

The beneficial effects of resting your body cannot be underestimated. A common mistake with sports people at all levels is to carry on continuously without a suitable period of rest. How much do you need? Everyone is different, but a general rule of thumb is around 24-48 hours after serious exercise. Listen to your body! If you are aching all over, you have probably put too much stress on your body and need a rest. If you are unfortunate enough to be injured, let the injury heal properly...the effects can be amazing, just ask Roger!

The Summer BSR Newsletter is here!

18/7/2017

The summer newsletter of the Body Stress Release Association UK

Win Free BSR Sessions!

21/3/2017

The Body Stress Release Academy is celebrating it's 30th Anniversary next month - here's your chance to celebrate with us and win FREE BSR sessions.

Anti-inflammatory may not help back pain.

3/2/2017

A new study indicates that anti-inflammatory drugs be be little better than a placebo in treating back pain...

It's not the cold that makes you ache!

24/1/2017

Well it's certainly chilly at the moment, but a new study show that the it's not the cold making your aches and pains worse!

There has been a long held belief that when the weather turns cold,we feel are aches that much more, however the latest study suggests we are just feeling the pain of learned association. According to Chris Maher, professor at The George Institute For Global Health, “Human beings are very susceptible so it’s easy to see why we might only take note of pain on the days when it’s cold and rainy outside, but discount the days when they have symptoms but the weather is mild and sunny.”

The study looked at a sample of 1000 back pain sufferers, studying pain levels in relation to the weather, and found no correlation between them. This suggests that, rather than blame the weather, we should look at the elements we can control.

Nerves and their function and the connection to the spine....

6/1/2017

Our nervous system is a complicated network with many functions. Continuous signals (nerve impulses) exchange between your brain and the rest of your body. The optimum functioning of this communication system is crucial to keep a constantly healthy andto maintain a balance and aid recovery.

Muscular tension can suppress the nervous system, causing distorted perception of bodily functions by the brain and the spinal cord. Disruption of the nervous system can adversely affect every bodily function. Nerves to the legs and arms can be irritated, and also nerves towards the organs such as the intestine and stomach.

Body Stress Release begins a process in which the body releases muscular tension, so that the body can recover from the strain and the nervous system can function normally again.

nerve function

Causes of Neck & Shoulder Tension

16/11/2016

One of the most common issues I hear about as a Body Stress Release practitioner is tension in the shoulders and neck. So why has this become such a widespread problem?

With so many people working in offices, one of the biggest culprits is 'computer hunch', the tension that builds up from too many long hours working on your PC (or Mac!). Sitting with our necks pulled forward, often with our shoulders up is not a natural position. Add in the mental stress that often accompanies our working day, deadlines, work overload etc, and you have a problem.

shoulder & neck tension

It's not just physical stresses that cause these problems, shoulder tension is frequently linked to emotional stress. The trapezius group of muscles, that covers the neck, shoulders & mid back is often the part of the body that carries the most tension. We've all heard of 'carrying the weight of your world on your shoulders', and there is a certain amount of truth in this. Often increased emotional stresses lead to shoulder tension. Our muscles are designed to tighten up during times of stress (part of our natural 'fight or flight' response), but often do not relax properly when the event causing stress has gone, leaving a residue of tension and tightness in the muscles.

Tension Headaches

Often, what starts as tight shoulders, lead to stiff necks, tightness in the back, and frequently, tension headaches. Many people experience this, feeling like a tightening around the head, or a sensation of pressure on the skull.

tension headachePicture

So, what can help? If you're working at a desk all day, be aware of your posture, try and sit up straight and position your screen to stop your neck pulling forward. Try and take breaks during your day, loosen the shoulders, stretch some some muscles, and try not to get locked in the same position too long. If you're getting the train or bus home, don't get in the same position you've been in all day by looking at your phone!

If you're tension is locked in, try Body Stress Release if you have a local practitioner, or try and find a similar complimentary health technique.

Body Stress Release UK Association, Autumn Newsletter

10/11/2016

Click to set custom HTML

Pokemon Go...a heads up

10/8/2016

Pokemon Go isn't the problem, if it gets gamers in the fresh air..great! It's the way you hold the phone when you're playing! The pressure you exert on your nerves, discs, joint spaces and the little bones on the sides of your vertebrae when you look down towards your computer devices, iPads, book or newspaper is huge! This can lead to headaches, pins & needles, and tension in the neck & shoulders. So, head's up for heads up!