Tune Up Fitness® Self Care Blog

In Yoga Tune Up® we’re encouraged to look for the less obvious reasons why a muscle or joint might act the way it does. Human anatomy is at once complicated, beautiful and mind-bogglingly intertwined. Rarely does it seem that the site…

When I first started teaching yoga in 1978, I was 26.  I was born flexible. Strong and athletic, I found yoga at 17 and it fit me like a glove on all levels of my being.  I never suffered from pain,…

Now that we have an understanding of how tight pectoralis major muscles can affect us, let’s explore how we can combat it. Just as a reminder, reciprocal inhibition is that mechanism in our body that will loosen muscles that are being…

Overcontracted pectoralis major muscles can lead to pain, impingement and formation of trigger points. If left untreated for long time, what other postural problems can it lead to? Well, along with other know factors, tight pec major muscles can contribute to…

The Pectoralis Major is located on the front of the chest and it attaches to the sterum, clavical and humerus. Its main actions are flexion, internal rotation and adduction of the arm at the shoulder joint and because of its attachment…

Michael Phelps’ Olympic swimming success has made him the supernova of the swim world. Part of his winning came not just from his supremely fine-tuned physique, but also from a wise coach who taught Phelps as a child to fine-tune his…

Abdominal, or belly breathing, is the most relaxing way for your body to breathe. Try following along with the deep breathing exercise in this short video so you can use this relaxation technique any time you need help falling asleep or…

Savasana, or “corpse pose,” can work wonders for those who are challenged with anxiety or have difficulty catching their zzz’s. This macabre sounding pose is very simple and can be done in any quiet environment. To minimize light and other distractions,…

Yoga enhances a body’s ability to sleep by consistently inducing the relaxation response in the body’s tissues. Yin Yoga especially promotes a very relaxing environment by holding static or still stretches for long periods of time (two to 20 minutes), with the body often supported by bolsters, blankets and other props.