Body Stiffness: It May Be Your Fascia

Sitting is the new Smoking

Many of us are now experiencing the winter weather when it’s harder to be outdoors, and you are likely to be spending more time sitting.  Most of us know that sitting is not good for people.  Some medical professionals have concluded that “sitting is the new smoking.”  There are many reasons to put forth this comparison.

The most important reason is that sitting can cause the body to stiffen and muscles to shorten, resulting in aches and pains.  Further, it should not be a revelation to us that our bodies are not designed to sit for significant amounts of time.  Not only do our muscles need movement, but our bones get stronger, and our vascular system benefits from mobility.

Also, there is something called fascia, which is connective tissue under the skin.  Fascia holds everything in place: the muscles, bones, nerves, and internal organs.  The fascia does so by exerting 2,000 pounds per square inch of pressure on various internal body parts.  Fascia is flexible, elastic, and is also deeply entwined in the muscle structure.  Think of fascia as a second skin that adjusts to help enable our movements.

The possible fascia connection to Fibromyalgia

Researchers are trying to determine if Fibermyalgia patients have fascia that exerts too much pressure on the body.  This added pressure may be responsible for the muscle pain that these patients experience.

Fascia benefits significantly from many of our movements, stretching and strengthening to keep the fascia working correctly.  Toxins get wrung out in the process so that new nutrients can hydrate the fascia, a process similar to ‘squeezing a sponge.’

According to Robert Schleip, Ph.D., at the Fascia Research Project in Germany, fit and resilient fascia is accomplished by stressing, stretching, compressing, and twisting the body in multiple directions.

How yoga can help

One role of yoga is to help stretch and hydrate the fascia.  Healthy fascia allows the sliding and gliding necessary so that one’s body can move, resulting in less pain and stiffness, as well as restoring function.  How much stretching and stress our body needs depends on our habits, lifestyle, tasks, and body type.  As a result, some of us are stiffer, and some of us are more supple.

The key take away is that we all benefit from varying our daily movements in ways that challenge our fascia to maintain a healthy body, which is the foundation for experiencing less pain and stiffness.

If you would like help on your wellness journey, schedule a private consultation.

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