If we are not mindful to our posture our heart suffers the consequence. I am proposing that not only taking dietary, exercise and stress measures into account, that the burden of a forward head, collapsed chest, and rounded shoulders play a large part inhibiting our hearts functioning physiologically, emotionally and energetically. Poor posture causing restrictive pressure on blood flow could be a condition allowing plaque to build up especially in the heart. By lifting and extending our rib cage upward we are physically creating more space for our heart and lungs to do their job; that is to circulate oxygen via the blood to our entirety. If a part of us does not get its ample supply of blood we start to fatigue and hurt. Not knowing any better we may eat more to attempt to get the energy we need. When all we really need to do is lift our self out of out feet, our seats, and our pelvis’s. In this upright stance the lungs can inhale with much less restrictive pressure; the digestive system can fire up and utilize enzymes for better nutrient assimilation, which otherwise would be inhibited, peristaltic contractions would be optimize. And the heart would freely contract uninhibited.
As a practiced Neuromuscular Therapist I surmise that the heart like any muscle in the body has to operate in consortium and in balance with everything else. Muscles need to operate in concert with their opposing muscle groups. I cant speculate what that would be for the heart. But like skeletal muscles the heart needs to operate smoothly with the fascia, in this case the pericardium. If the pericardium is tight and restricted from years, months, weeks of poor collapsed posture, this would be analogous to the heart operating with a straight jacket on. Like conventional knowledge reasons that occluded coronary arteries from diet and/or inflammation eventually leads to cardiac arrest I surmise that a heart restricted from poor posture will also prematurely fail if not addressed.
One needs to take measures to counteract the sympathetic nervous systems tendency to contract and tighten up. First order is to enhance our breathing, take an inhalation like catching a wave (surfing) and ride it out by lifting the chest and creating space between our ribs. Lift the back ribs as much as the ribs of the chest. Feel the energy that an enhanced inspiration affords us and savor the enhanced relaxation effect upon exhalation. If you find yourself very inhibited get the help of a Neuromuscular Therapist who are trained to assist the release of chronically tightened soft tissue. We will mobilize the shoulders, rib cage, and spine to help free up restrictions that could be inhibiting the heart and breathing. Furthermore, we encourage movement awareness activities, be it a sport, walking, dance, yoga etc. Get out there breathe and celebrate life. Your heart will love you for it. Emotionally you will feel the world is yours, physically grounded and energetically inspired.
