How do we now back off from the “No Pain, No Gain” mentality? How can we better listen to our bodies when stretching and doing resistance exercise?

1. NO PAIN, NO GAIN?
This is one of the most frequently repeated phrases in regards to
exercise and body work, whether it be said with great commitment by
a “weekend warrior”, or with sincere frustration by your Aliyah
Massage Therapist!
While this attitude may be more readily associated with more
aggressive sports, activities, and effective massage therapy
treatments, it is not an uncommon mind set amongst the dance, yoga
and gym enthusiasts as well. It would seem that many people feel
they are simply not going to reap any benefits from their exercise
program without a certain level of intensity. Perhaps, one feels that
greater achievement is only attainable by pushing the workout or
treatment regime.
How much of this is possibly encouraged by instructors, personal
trainers, friends, and body workers?

2. It‟s important that we understand that the strenuous movements and
positions common with many forms of exercise were developed by those
individuals for whom these movements were easy.
Many of us have had the experience of being in a gym class and unable
to perform the required movement to the „ideal‟ degree. It is not unusual
for people to feel a sense of unworthiness or embarrassment in this type
of situation. Instead of stopping, many of us continue to push the limits of
our body‟s abilities, never questioning the validity and necessity of the
supposed „ideal‟. When we experience pain, we rarely express it at the
time, often blaming the feeling of being out of shape. The road from this
mentality leading to injury is very short.
All assumptions that any two bodies will respond the same to
exercise, stress, and massage therapy must be false. We have all
inherited and developed limits and abilities. Often, when people begin an
activity, it is assumed that their body will simply meet the demands of
and adapt to the particular

3. training method. It can often be difficult for instructors/trainers to explain
technique, as their bodies naturally conform to their given activity. Many
activities can be quite harmful to those with a „normal‟ range of motion in
their joints. It is more often the case that many coaches and trainers are
not sufficiently educated in the fields of anatomy and kinesiology.
Subsequently, proper observation and safe forms of stretching and
strengthening are not incorporated into the traditional forms of exercise
and sport.
How do we now back off from the “No Pain, No Gain” mentality? How
can we better listen to our bodies when stretching and doing resistance
exercise?
We must remember that any form of “OUCH” means pain. Immediately
“STOP” the movement and “GO NO FURTHER”!!
Pain is a method by which your body warns you of potential
injury, further injury, and potentially life-threatening situations. Pain is a
diagnostic tool for pin-pointing injury, measuring its severity, and
tracking the healing process.

4. There is a significant difference between being uncomfortable, extending
effort, and pain. It is disrespectful not to listen to our bodies and will most
often result in chronic injury and extended periods of pain. Often the
postures one assumes prior to and during exercise may be the greatest
cause of pain.
At Aliyah Massage Therapy Centre, we define the tactile, massage
treatment experience as the reintroduction of ourselves back into the
body. Aliyah Massage Therapy guides you to be more in tune within your
body in order to literally feel and sense your body and its limits. This
leads to an augmented quality of life that you can access and uphold.
Aliyah Massage Therapy is an instrumental modality for your health care
plan as we offer safe and effective tissue breakdown, corrective
alignment, and thorough, rehabilitative exercise to achieve optimal gain
without the pain.
For more details visit here http://aliyahmassage.com/