I'm Thankful for November's Challenge

We’ve been working all year to try to combat our hard-heartedness with exercise and now let’s focus on improving our stiff-neckedness with stretching!

It became evident from talking with several of you this summer that most of us have tight and painful neck issues. I think poor stress-management runs rampant in our family! So this challenge is designed to help with the emotional/spiritual side of reducing stress while dealing with the physical ramifications of such strain.

November Challenge:

Do the following neck stretch and chest stretch at least 1x/ day till the end of the month.

Start by aiming your nose toward your arm pit like you're trying to smell it. I am quoting the physical therapist's very instructions to me. He says with that descrption, it'll be memorable.

Keeping ear close to shoulder, start to turn head to look away....

Keep looking away from your smelly arm pit until you're looking forward with your ear still close to your shoulder.
Repeat on the other side. And try not to look as grumpy as I do.

Find a doorway or a corner and stretch away. Hold for 10-20 seconds. And breathe.

That’s the challenge but you don’t have to have a perfect performance to benefit. You earn 1 point for every day that you do both stretches at least one time. I recommend doing these stretches 2-3 times a day, but you’ll get the point for doing them at least once. Sorry, no points for the extra effort, just the added health benefits!

Plan ahead and pick a time when you’ll do it. For example, when you take your lunch break, plan on taking a few minutes to do the stretches. Or, first thing in the morning after you potty. Or at night after you brush your teeth… Set a timer or alarm if you need to, in order to remind yourself.

Okay, now the mental/spiritual side. While your stretching for a few minutes, do a little mini-meditation/prayer and think about what you have to be thankful for in your life. Think about a few of your blessings and even take a moment to thank Heavenly Father for those blessings. Lay aside any stressful thoughts for those few moments and get your Zen on!

Appropriate for Thanksgiving, right?! Plus, it’ll help us all manage the upcoming stress of Christmas, I hope!