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We all know that in order for the heart and blood vessels to be healthy, it is necessary to tone up blood circulation, which means moving more. We know — and we try a variety of cardio loads: jogging, cycling, swimming, dancing — in halls, studios and even parks. But when is it beneficial, and when is it harmful?
What should you pay attention to if you decide to try your hand at energetic cardio? First of all, on your posture — whether your shoulders are straightened, whether your chest is free. Why is it vital?
If we slouch, the volume of the chest is reduced. And there, inside, it’s already quite crowded: the organs are “packed” as tightly as possible. The more we stoop, the tighter the heart is there and the harder it is for it to get food.
If, at the same time, the load on the heart is increased, it will begin to work in conditions of even greater nutritional deficiency. Hence — complications in the form of tachycardia, high or low blood pressure. It’s the same reason marathon accidents happen when athletes ignore the warning signs and push on.
Risk factors for heart disease: self-diagnosis
In Chinese medicine, heart health is associated with an active point located in the region of the seventh cervical vertebra — the base of the neck. Normally, this area should be flexible: move freely and have the ability to both bend and straighten — so that the position of the head is proud, beautiful, the top of the head looks straight up.
In the modern world, where most of us spend most of our time motionless at the computer, posture has become relatively normal, in which a small hump forms at the base of the neck. The head and neck are pulled forward towards the monitor, the seventh cervical vertebra protrudes prominently.
In Chinese medicine, it is customary to talk about energy channels. If the energy circulates freely through them, the organ is healthy and strong.
This posture is an indicator that the heart is undernourished and that we have problems with pressure and heart rate, although we do not yet know about them. If at the same time you start doing cardio exercises, the first symptoms will appear much faster.
The second risk factor that hints that the cardiovascular system is experiencing discomfort is the position of the shoulder joints. In Chinese medicine, it is customary to talk about energy channels. If the energy circulates freely through them, the organ is healthy and strong. If the flow is blocked by tension, there is a risk of developing diseases.
The energy channels of the heart, among other things, pass through the region of the shoulder joints. And the most common violation of posture — when the shoulders are stooped, as if «wrapped» forward — impairs the flow of energy through the channels of the heart.
Posture Improvement Exercises
So you can’t do cardio with bad posture? Not at all! It is simply important to combine them with exercises that will open the chest, make the spine more flexible and free, free up additional space for the heart and lungs, so that the increase in circulation intensity has a healing effect, not a destructive effect.
What exercises to choose? First of all, relaxation practices are needed — such as qigong for the spine Sing Shen Juang (Xinshen). Muscle tensions that have become habitual need to be found and relaxed. As soon as the muscles relax, they let go of the bone structures — and the «frame» will take on a new, ergonomic, correct shape.
Help from a psychologist
The shape of the chest is directly related to the emotional state. For example, sadness is associated with the position of the shoulders (someone who is often sad tends to slouch), and anxiety makes us pull our heads into our shoulders. Regular exercise will help you learn how to relax these tensions, however, in order to build a stable beautiful posture, you may need to work with a psychologist.
Often, work on posture alone can change the emotional background: when we straighten our shoulders, it becomes more difficult to be sad, and with a proud head position, there are fewer reasons for fear. These relationships can be surprising and, with regular practice, delightful results. Track them and use them to regulate emotions in difficult situations, as well as to even out the background mood.