Cueing with - open your chest doesn't always cut it when it comes to mindful movement and relief for muscles like pectoralis minor.
No worries if that's how you cue. It's a starting point. Much like using the ever so common door stretch for addressing chest tightness, it is helpful.
But, it is superficial.
You can go deeper than that. You can rise to the next level of bodywork.
If you or your clients are experiencing:
stress
overwhelm
hurriedness
shallow breathing
These symptoms could be caused or worsened by a tight pectoralis minor muscle. It's deep, hiding during posture assessments and escaping from generic chest opening exercises.
As you probably know, pec minor can contribute to a sunken chest and hunched posture that we often call "bad". Sometimes you can't even see the effects from the outside. More investigation is required.
Just like the emotions that come with a mopey, tired, defeated disposition, none of this is really bad. These are actually helpful signals from the body for attention and we can leave off the labels when we understand the muscles throroughly.
Knowing (really knowing) where the pec minor attaches and feeling it within your body helps you fully appreciate it's role in:
the final effort and few inches of pushing motions
that extra few ounces of air during a deep inhale
its release during a skilled massage therapy session
How do you get more connected to pec minor?
Mark it on a skeleton with clay (image below)
Explore it through palpation activities
Feel it during precise, mindful movements
Activate & lengthen it with specific exercises
Integrative Anatomy CE - Bozeman, MT
We practice these skills together in my Integrative Anatomy CE Courses to gain a full circle view of muscles. If you are ready to take your understanding and confidence to the next level, join us in
Bozeman, MT - October 24, 25, 26th
You will leave with enhanced skills as a practitioner and embodied awareness of the way you move and function.
Yes, there are credits involved, but you also return to life feeling better in your own body and that's priceless.
Click here and check it out. Share with a friend. Thanks for reading.
What muscle would you like to be more integrated with? Send me an email.
