Why are my muscles so tight?
I’m about to share the most amazing fitness secret. What I’m about to tell you is so amazing you’re not going to believe it. You ready?
Your body is an absolute masterpiece.
You probably see someone too weak, too slow, or too tight. I see an evolutionary marvel with room to improve. You can be stronger, faster and more flexible FAST.
How fast?
188 MPH. The speed of the nervous system.
Great claims require great evidence. Let’s put money to mouth. T oday we’re going to (partially) solve a common fitness problem:
Why muscles are tight?
There are more answers to this question than we have time to answer. Muscles can be tight because you’re dehydrated, you’re weak, your muscles are imbalanced, you just had a growth spurt, your joints are jammed; although none of these are the real reason.
The real reason your muscles are tight, all things considered, is the signal they’re receiving from your brain. Your brain is wired for survival. The muscle tension, or weakness, are your brains way of saying you’re not ready to move like that yet. Something is wrong.
So let’s clean up the signal.
You can change the signal by taking care of yourself, i.e. Eat better, drink water, lift weights, do yoga.
Yeah Yeah Yeah…. I know that already. It all takes time. You said I could instantly change the signal and see my body loosen up.
Right. Let’s loosen up your hamstrings then. Instantly.
For those who don’t want to watch let me summarize: I cleaned up the signal from my feet to my brain by opening up a joint in my feet. Once the signal changed and my brain had a clearer picture of my body I was rewarded with instant flexibility.
Let’s do it again. Differently.
Once again- I cleaned up the signal whilst aiming at a different joint and VOILA! Instant flexibility in a different part of the body.
How clear and concise are the signals your brain receives? If you are fatigued, dehydrated, sedentary, or depressed the signals are not clear and your brain isn’t about to trust this version of your body move well. It’s not, as has been noted, handing the keys to a drunk guy/gal.
Your brain slows you down, tightens you up, keeps you from doing anything that may cause you harm because self preservation is the name of the game.
So you’ve read this far! You’re starting to believe. You’re thinking the most powerful two words on the planet: what if…
What if I knew how to clean up my signals?
What if I got stronger?
More flexible?
I could be out of pain, or finish that race, or be that guy/gal in the viral post who basically figured it all out.
What if I committed?
What if…