Can Bad Posture Lead to Insomnia?

We’ve all felt it before. Tossing and turning throughout the night, flipping our pillows trying to make ourselves comfortable. Good sleep is important as it revitalizes the body, aiding both your mental and physical health. Interestingly enough, how you stand and sit may be the very thing stopping you from getting the best rest possible.

         Back in 2020, we had looked into posture, citing its many benefits and how to improve it if it’s poor. Conversely, bad posture negatively affects health, adding more stress and pain to your life. According to the Journal of Sleep Research, studies go on to show that back pain and insomnia coincide with each other. This means that small things that you don’t think about such as posture and even your mattress and pillows may be the very thing that stops you from getting a blissful, refreshing sleep. Furthermore, these negative effects are cyclical; body pains cause bad sleep and bad sleep hinders the body’s recovery from these pains.

         Fixing this, however, is easier than many may think. First and foremost, consider replacing your old mattress and pillows, finding ones that are best suitable for you. Secondly, review our previous blog on posture and seek to improve how you stand and sit, you’ll be shocked by how much relief you feel! Lastly, spinal stretching has been proven to have many health benefits including improved posture and balance. Check out spinal stretching at Futureproof in Diamond Bar. It takes only 20 minutes of your time, and relief can be felt immediately. Do yourself, and your body, a favor and book a session here!

It’s Never Too Late to Start Healthy Habits

As you come home, dragging your feet through the door after a long day, it is nice to kick up your feet, pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy your favorite TV show. As you sit there, however, your mind wanders as you slowly start to dread the next day.  Maybe a deadline is coming up and it's stressing you out or you simply feel overwhelmed with all the problems you face in your daily life. Either way, it saps your energy levels and all you want to do is sleep your problems away. Finding time to exercise in your daily life can be hard, however building good habits can be easy, starting with 20 minutes per day.

         Energy and exercise go hand in hand. In fact, in an article posted by Harvard Medical School, doctors found that exercise boosts energy levels due to better oxygen circulation, allowing your body to use energy more efficiently. Getting started doesn’t have to look like all these fitness influencers counting calories and working out for 2-3 hours per day six days a week. Actually, getting started can be as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, waking up twenty minutes earlier to cook yourself a healthy breakfast, or even doing push-ups or sit-ups during commercials of your favorite TV program. Through these good habits you’ll find yourself to be more encouraged to build other good habits, compounding them into a healthy, fit lifestyle.

         Transitioning to a healthier, more proactive lifestyle can seem daunting at first, but it starts with small changes instead of a massive one. Through these changes you’ll find yourself more energetic, and satisfied. You’ll look forward to the days ahead, ready to tackle any problem or obstacle you face. Start today!

What is Foot Reflexology?

For some reason feet get a bad rep. They’re often associated with bad smell, being dirty, and overall, they are found to just be gross. Whether you’re a high performing athlete, a casual jogger, or you just need to walk to your kitchen to grab a quick snack, without feet these tasks would be extremely difficult.

         Beyond the obvious actions of walking and running, feet actually contribute a great deal to our overall well-being. In fact, every area of the foot correlates to organs and systems throughout the body. A quick Google search will show you thousands of intricate diagrams that highlight every acupressure point in our hands, feet, and so on. To save time, I have simplified it into four different zones.

Here at Serenity Zen, our therapists use the acupressure points across your body combined with massage therapy to help relieve pain. When booking a reflexology appointment, your session will go like this. It’ll start with a detoxifying mineral foot soak, bringing immediate relief to your overworked feet. Then the therapist will map out pressure points on your head and feet, massaging the necessary areas in order to bring relaxation and healing. Reflexology is more than just a foot massage, it is a science. Taking care of the toes and bottom of the feet can do wonders for your health! So next time you feel the aftermath of a tough workout or a stomach ache coming along, book here with us and let our experts aid you toward full body relief.

Seasons of Change

The transition from winter to spring affects everyone differently. If you prefer the winter months, being cozy at home with friends and family, then you may be sad to see the great disperse that happens when the festivities are over. Back to school, back to work… sometimes it may seem as if time is moving by too fast. 

If you prefer the springtime bloom, consider this your period of social defrosting! Longer sunny days mean more time spent outside in Mother Nature. The excitement of summertime plans are just around the corner. Soon the days will get shorter and the leaves will fall once again. Still, time moves fast. 

This is where a powerful tool called mindfulness comes into play. Next time you find yourself experiencing joy, relaxation, or simply feel content, take a moment to pause and really feel those emotions. Capture that moment like a mental photograph. Save it for a rainy day and soak in those memories like the sun. When we practice mindfulness during the good seasons of life, it becomes easier to harness peace during the bad seasons. True mindfulness takes practice because oftentimes we are moving at such a fast pace. 

Especially in this day and age, it is not uncommon to feel as if life is predictable, constantly changing, or passing by in the blink of an eye. This ebbing and flowing can become an overwhelming sensation, but do not be distressed. There is a sense of comfort in predictability. Even if everything seems different at this moment in time,  rest easy knowing the sun will come out again. 

Need to pause for a moment? Book here