THE YOGA, STRETCHING HEALTH AND WELLNESS PANACEA (Part 2/3)

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Clearing Fluid flow blockages: At the frontiers of the modern perception of the dysfunctional organism

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We first need to understand more about the “original” view of health, its challenges, and the traditional causes attributed to health conditions. Then, we’ll delve into how muscle and ligament stretching techniques can address these issues based on ancient knowledge.

The “Original” View of Health

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In ancient times, health was perceived differently than it is today. Here are key aspects of the “original” view:

Holistic Harmony

This is a comprehensive view of health that considers the whole person and not just their physical symptoms or diseases. It takes into account mental and social factors, rather than just the physical symptoms of a disease.

• Health was seen as a state of balance and harmony within the body, mind, and spirit.
• The interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects was central to well-being.

Natural Rhythms

In the context of health, harmony refers to a state of balance within the body and mind. It’s the idea that all parts of the body work together in sync for overall well-being.

• Ancient cultures observed natural rhythms (seasons, cycles, and cosmic influences) and aligned their lifestyles accordingly.
• Health was about attuning to these rhythms—eating seasonally, resting, and living in harmony with nature.

Fluids and Energetic Flow

This concept is often associated with traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It refers to the belief that health is maintained by the balanced flow of energy and bodily fluids like blood and lymph.

• Concepts like Ka in Egyptian culture, Prana (Indian tradition) or Chi (Chinese tradition) emphasized life force energy.
• Health depended on the free flow of fluids throughout the body, and this energy through meridians or channels.

Mind-Body Connection

This is the idea that our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes can positively or negatively affect our biological functioning. In other words, our minds can affect how healthy our bodies are.

• Mental and emotional states directly impacted physical health.
• Stress, negative emotions, and imbalanced thoughts disrupted well-being.

Body’s Uneasy Functioning and Causes

Kemet Yoga is states clearly that imbalances in the body, which we see as blockages in the flow of fluids and life energy, can lead to disease. Indian Yoga also insists on the concept of fluids and energy flow as central to Yoga. This tradition speaks of “prana” or life force that circulates through “nadis” or energy channels in the body, and it is clear that blockages in these channels lead to disease. The last Chinese tradition views health as a state of harmony where the body's fluids flow and the vital energy, or Qi, flows freely through the body’s meridians (energy channels). When this flow is blocked or unbalanced, it can lead to disease. All these traditions recognize the importance of the smooth flow of body fluids and energy for maintaining health. They are certain that blockages, whether internal or external, deprive people of the beneficial and smooth flow of physical, emotional, and spiritual life energy, which generates all kinds of uneasiness.

1. Imbalance:
   • Health issues arose from imbalances—too much or too little of certain elements (e.g., hot/cold, wet/dry).
   • Imbalance disrupted the body’s equilibrium, leading to discomfort or illness.
2. Blockages:
   • Energetic blockages (Ka, Prana or Chi) caused stagnation.
   • Emotional trauma, negative thoughts, or poor lifestyle choices created blockages.
3. Environmental Influences:
   • Cosmic forces, planetary alignments, and environmental factors affected health.
   • Ancient texts emphasized aligning with cosmic cycles for optimal health.

Meridians, Fluids and Energetic Flow:

Let’s explore how muscle and ligament stretching techniques can address energy blockages and fluid flow disruptions based on ancient knowledge.

• In traditional systems like Original Kemet Knowledge, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), meridians (energy channels) play a crucial role.
• Energy (Ka, Prana, Chi, or Qi) flows through these meridians, nourishing organs, tissues, and cells.
• Blockages in meridians disrupt energy flow, leading to discomfort, pain, or illness.

Stretching Meridian and Health

• Stretching along meridian pathways helps maintain energy flow.
• When we stretch muscles and connective tissues consistently, we intentionally generate restrictions that impact the flow of energy. In reaction, a natural increase in energy intensity occurs. When this process is interrupted, the energy flows vigorously through the expected meridians, clearing any blockages along the way. As a result, the general practitioner’s discomfort is alleviated.
• Specific stretches correspond to different meridians, addressing specific organs and functions.

Modern Muscle & Ligament Stretching known physical and mental health benefits

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Regular Muscle & Ligament Stretching exercises have a multitude of benefits for both physical and mental health. Here are some key implications: 

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1. Increases Flexibility: Muscle & Ligament Stretching is an essential part of maintaining overall health and flexibility. Improved flexibility means better movement and a delay in the effects of aging on joints and muscles.
2. Improves Range of Motion (ROM): Muscle & Ligament Stretching regularly is the key to increasing your aptitude for motion and achieving greater freedom of movement and efficiency in physical activities.
3. Promotes Good Muscles and Bones Health: Muscle & Ligament Stretching keeps your muscles and bones healthy, which can help your spine and reduce chronic pain.
4. Improves Physical Performance: It's great for your physical performance! It gets your muscles ready to move, which can really help you out in all those physical activities you love.
5. Relieves Muscle Tension: Muscle & Ligament Stretching is an effective way to relieve neuromuscular tension. It can contribute to decrease anxiety, blood pressure, and extending breathing rate, relax muscles, and alleviate aches and pains related to stress.
6. Reduces Risk of Muscle Injury: Keep muscles long, lean, and flexible to reduce the risk of muscle injury. When muscles are kept in good condition, exertion won’t put too much force on them, reducing their risk of injury.
7. Improves Posture: Muscle & Ligament Stretching the muscles of the lower back, shoulders, and chest is an effective way to keep the back in better alignment and it improves the posture.
8. Relieves Lower Back Pain: Muscle & Ligament Stretching is an effective way to relieve lower back pain and improve range of motion, which can help prevent future back pain.
9. Boosts Mental Health: It's great for your mental health! It can lift your mood and boost your cognitive performance, helping you feel calmer and more focused.
10. Limit Waste Accumulation in your System: Muscle & Ligament Stretching is a great way to give your muscles a little love! It increases blood flow, which helps your muscles get the oxygen they need to work their best. It also helps remove metabolic waste, so your body can work more efficiently.

Modern Biological mechanism known of Muscle & Ligament Stretching benefits

Let’s take a closer look at the biological processes behind the positive effects of regular Muscle & Ligament Stretching.

1. Muscle and Joint Flexibility:
   • Biomechanical Effects: Muscle & Ligament Stretching exercises are a great way to help your muscles and joints become more flexible. They work by gently Muscle & Ligament Stretching your muscles and tendons, which helps them to move more easily and adapt to a greater range of motion (ROM).
   • Physiological Impact: Muscle & Ligament Stretching is a great way to help your muscles and tendons become more flexible. It works by sending signals to the nervous system, which allows your muscles to elongate more easily. Over time, this can help you become more flexible and mobile in your joints.
2. Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength:
   • Anabolic Signaling: Muscle & Ligament Stretching and resistance training are both great for your body! When you stretch, your muscles get a little bit of extra love, which can help them grow and get stronger. And when you do resistance training, you're also helping your muscles to grow and get stronger!
   • Collagen Synthesis: Have you ever heard of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β-1)? It plays a really important role in collagen synthesis! Muscle & Ligament Stretching is a great way to keep your connective tissue in tip-top shape! It helps to influence the types of collagen that are produced (types I–III), as well as the turnover of hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycans.
   • Molecular Biomarkers: These lovely little things, like collagen type, biochemistry, elongation, and elasticity, are like molecular biomarkers for how Muscle & Ligament Stretching affects muscle tissue.
3. Neuromuscular Control and Energy Production:
   • Promotion of the Nervous System Health: Repetitive Muscle & Ligament Stretching movements enhance neuromuscular control. There's no doubt about it. They improve nervous message conduction speed, motor control, and muscle compliance.
   • Elevated Core Body Temperature: Muscle & Ligament Stretching is a great way to get your muscles ready for action! It increases blood flow to the muscles, which raises your core body temperature. This can help your muscles work better and perform better overall.
   • Increment of Body’s Energy Disponibility: Muscle & Ligament Stretching is the key to accelerated energy production. It prepares the muscles for activity, optimizing energy production during physical exertion.

In summary, Muscle & Ligament Stretching impacts various physiological processes, from collagen synthesis to neuromuscular control, ultimately leading to improved flexibility, strength, and overall well-being.

Modern Muscle & Ligament Stretching benefits for the lymphatic system

Muscle & Ligament Stretching is an essential part of maintaining healthy lymphatic function and promoting the movement of lymphatic fluid. Let’s examine the how Muscle & Ligament Stretching contributes to better lymphatic function.

Lymphatic System Overview:

• The lymphatic systemis a network that carry essential information relative to the appropriate functioning of the whole body, maintains immunity and fluid balance in the body.
• It consists of lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, and lymph fluid.
• Lymph nodes serve as filtering stations, examining lymph fluid for harmful particles. It also house several mechanism for the immune system.

Lymphatic Vessels and Fluid Movement:

• Lymphatic vessels carry lymph fluid, which transports white blood cells (especially lymphocytes) and extracellular fluid (including proteins, nutrients, and waste products).
• Lymphatic vessels are different from blood vessels. Unlike blood vessels, which have a central pump (like the heart), lymphatic vessels rely on muscle movement and other mechanisms to propel lymph.
• Muscle & Ligament Stretching is a great way to help your muscles move more easily, which is important for getting lymphatic fluid flowing through your system. This helps to prevent any build-up or congestion in that liquid.

Detoxification and Waste Removal:

• When you stretch, you create tension in muscles and tissues. This tension stimulates mechanoreceptorswithin the lymphatic vessels.
• These receptors signal the nervous system to enhance lymph flow, leading to better detoxification.
• Muscle & Ligament Stretching helps to prevent the accumulation of waste products and toxins by making it easier for them to be removed through the lymphatic system.

Reducing Swelling and Edema:

• The lymphatic system picks up excess fluid (around 3 liters daily) that leaks from capillaries into tissues.
• If this fluid remained in tissues, it would cause swelling (edema). Lymphatic vessels collect this excess fluid and return it to the bloodstream.
• Muscle & Ligament Stretching helps to maintain an efficient flow of lymph, which prevents the stagnation of this fluid, limiting retention waste that it is supposed to get rid of. That is how it promotes overall health.

In summary, regular Muscle & Ligament Stretching not only improves flexibility and muscle function but also supports the lymphatic system. By enhancing lymph flow, Muscle & Ligament Stretching contributes to better cleansing, waste removal, and overall well-being.

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