Over the past few months of working with my newly-found shoulder limitations, I have become aware of the importance and beauty of both stabilizing the shoulder girdle and strengthening the core. Why? Because right now I can’t do the push ups and pull ups that I was doing before I hurt my shoulder. I’ve been working with master personal trainer Kelly McIver twice a week, learning to balance, jump, stretch and lunge using Bosu balls, Swiss balls and wall ropes. Together with the shoulder stabilization exercises I am doing daily from PT to the stars Liz Duncansen of Body Temple PT, I am experiencing how important all of this is!
Think of your body like a tree. Your arms are like the branches. They are only as stable as their connection to a strong trunk. It doesn’t matter how big and muscular they are if there is no stabilization holding those branches up! Now picture that trunk rooted into the earth. It needs deep roots to be stable against the wind or large objects climbing on the branches. Those roots are your grounding, AKA “Core,” which refers to the deep Abdominal muscles (Transverse Abdominus). Side note: The soil in this analogy refers to your environment – the water you drink, the air you breath, the nutrients you ingest, the company you keep! More on that later!