Baby Boomers Here Are Some Fluid Movements for a Healthy Spine

September 15, 2008

Fluid Movement for a Healthy Spine
Written by Guest Writer
Anita Boser

How well we treat our bodies determines what we will be able to do—or not—as we age. Sure, accidents, genetics, and bad luck can get in the way of an active life, but daily abuse can be even more damaging. No matter how much you’ve neglected, misused, or cared for your body, you can improve your future potential by learning a skill from the world-champion swimmer, Michael Phelps. It’s not the breaststroke or crawl, and it doesn’t even require getting in a swimming pool. This vital skill is the fluid movement of undulation.

Phelps’ ability to undulate is what makes him faster and more powerful than other swimmers. Even if you’re not interested in swimming, this fluid motion will nourish your joints and keep you limber in a way that many other exercises cannot. What’s more, anyone can undulate without equipment or getting into a swimming suit—or even into exercise clothes for that matter.

There are many types of undulations; most of them are easier than Phelps’ swimming pool turn. Here are a few to try.

Simply sway side to side and notice your spine as you move. Where is the movement easy? Where are you stiff? Stop and start again, but this time let a stiff place start the movement. It will probably be awkward and less coordinated, but give it a minute and soon you will lubricate that part of your spine and it will move more easily.

Also try moving your spine forward and back, letting your chest drop down toward your thighs and then straightening up one vertebra at a time. Or you can just wiggle around in a way that gets more of your spine involved.

Even simple, every day tasks like getting out of a chair are difficult without a limber spine. The discs between your vertebrae and the cartilage on the end of bones do not receive direct blood supply, and they often get stiff and arthritic because of frequent periods of stillness and repetitive motion. Gentle undulation movements bring nourishment and fluidity to restore your body.

It’s surprising how much this easy movement relieves aches and pain and the stiffness that comes more often as I get out of bed each morning. Undulation is easy enough for people in chronic pain, but also helpful for serious athletes. After all, we can see how much it helps the world’s most decorated Olympic athlete.

To learn more about undulation, visit Undulationexercise.com. This post was written by Anita Boser, LMP, CHP a Structural Integration practitioner from the Seattle area and author of Relieve Stiffness and Feel Young Again with Undulation. Structural Integration combines deep tissue bodywork with movement education to help people more with more ease.

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Thank you so much for those great tips Anita. You are a treasure.

Anita has agreed to write more for us so stay tuned and subscribe to get the Latest Posts from BBAC Via Email…(top right corner of the front page).

Baby Boomers, the reason I asked Anita to be a guest writer for us, was that I had found her on her Seattle PI blog GracefulAging and did her undulation exercises and it helped me immensely . Having Lupus, some days are not good and stiffness has been an everyday occurrence for many years now. BUT, these really simple exercises did help me and now I do them when I get up, during the day and when I go to bed. In fact, I think I will do one right now…I know they will help you as well.

~The Baby Boomer Queen~

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