posture Archives - Tammie's Take~

Tips for Becoming a Better Dancer

While being a great dancer may depend on some inherent talent, it is possible to become a better dancer even if you weren’t naturally born to dance. No matter what your level of experience or preferred style, from burlesque-style cabaret like Suzie Malone has mastered to dance moves like Madonna’s or Bollywood’s Hrithik Roshan, these tips are sure to help you improve.

Increase Your Range of Motion by Warming Up and Cool Down

Don’t go straight to dancing – to reduce the risk of injury and increase range of motion, you need to generate heat by warming up through low impact movements. An effective warm up helps to prepare you mentally as well while improving performance, and the transmission of nerve impulses too. Once your muscles are warm that have more elasticity, allowing you to bend and twist easier.

Perform simple, rhythmical movements for 10 minutes before starting and before you finish, gradually reduce intensity. Afterwards perform gentle static stretches of all the major muscle groups to cool down.

Connect with Others

Dancing supports human connection, according to an article published in Scientific American. It does this because of cells referred to as mirror neurons, according to neurologist John Krakauer. He notes that this helps to activate movement areas in the brain, whether you’re dancing or watching someone else dance. Doing the same thing as someone else at the same time not only helps improve bonds and expand the sense of self, it can make you a better dancer as well as strengthening dance partner relationships.

Improve Your Posture

Proper posture is said to lay the foundation for optimal health. By understanding the body’s functional biomechanics, you can learn to optimize how you move at all times, including when you dance. As often as you can, think about how you’re standing – stand up straight, keeping your lumbar relatively flat while allowing the buttocks to protrude slightly. Keep your shoulders down and back, holding your head up. This will allow for more freedom of movement and can even help relieve pain. The spine will lengthen and settle naturally while you breathe.

Be Your Authentic Self

No matter where you obtain the source of your favorite style, be your authentic self. If you’re afraid to fail or embarrass yourself, you’ll be more afraid to dance which holds you back. There’s no need to fear the unknown and failures can be important steps on the way to mastering just about anything, including the dance floor.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Once you’ve learned a few techniques, practice as often as you can at home. The more you practice, the better you’ll get, and you’ll be developing your own style at the same time. You might also watch dancers on TV along with online lessons, taking note of body alignment and new techniques too. As you learn new moves, remember to continue to perfect the skills of each step of the techniques you’ve already learned.

Perfecting Your Sleep Posture

Reviews · April 23, 2018

Do you find yourself waking up a little more creaky than usual? Find trouble feeling like you are actually well-rested? The issue might be in how you sleep. Here, we’re going to look at the idea of sleep posture, and how you can improve it with the right habits and the right choice of sleeping environment.

Picture sourced by Free-Photos

Make sure you have room

One of the key issues that many people face in bed is that they simply don’t have enough space to get as comfortable as they would like or to get in the right position. Single beds aren’t really suited for anyone but children. Find king bedroom furniture sets that allow you to free up that space and move more freely throughout the night. Otherwise, you are going to find yourself fighting to get comfortable where you just don’t have the space that can allow you to do so.

Choose the mattress to fit your sleeping style

Have trouble navigating the world of all those different mattress styles out there? The key to choosing the right balance of firmness and softness could lie in your sleeping position. If you sleep on your back, for instance, it’s recommended you choose a firmer mattress that provides plenty of support to the lumbar region. If you sleep on your side, however, then a mattress that allows you to sink in and better wraps around your form can provide that support, instead. Look at mattress buying guides to choose the best fit for your posture.

Heads up

The mattress plays the key role when it comes to supporting your back, but when you’re talking about your head, you have to take a closer look at the pillow. If you don’t fluff your pillows regularly, now is the time to start. Not only does it make it feel more comfortable, but it helps those cushions better retain their shape in the night. Think about investing in pocket spring pillows if your neck is feeling a little sore in the morning, too. Your head needs to be elevated off the pillow otherwise it tends to sink a little lower than the rest of your body which can strain it throughout the night.

Make sure you relax

The physical stress you take to bed with you can stay during the night, too, making it harder to relax. A stressed head leads to a tight body, wound up like a spring. If your muscles are naturally tenser, this creates friction which can cause pain in the joints, back and neck. Try to relax at nighttime, whether this means having a warm, comfy bath, using aromatherapy, or taking the time to meditate. Create a nightly ritual that helps you feel de-stressed and ready for bed.

If your head or back aren’t supported as you sleep, pain in lower back and neck can become all too common. Left untreated for long, these issues can become serious, even chronic. Make sure your bed takes care of you and it will be easier to take care of yourself outside of it, too.