One of the most cost effective and efficient means of getting regular bodywork or massage therapy is to invest in at home tools. Get yourself a fairly soft foam roller and a variety balls ranging in density and size to start. This will cost you under $50 and lead to a lifetime of self-exploration.
The effects of slow deep pressure on the body lead to a reduction in stress hormones and a calming of your sympathetic nervous system (fight flight).
One of the best times to dig in and treat yourself to a private foam rolling session is right before bed. To get started, simply find points on your body that feel tense and take your time to relax into them until you feel some ease. If it feels like you’re hurting yourself, its time to stop because you probably are.
- Find a point that feels thick or tense
- Rest into it with the roller or the ball
- Breath into the area
- Explore slow movements as you are working on the troubled area
- Explore contracting and relaxing the troubled area
- Smile
I’m an Australian Trained Physio, albeit not prcicitang anymore. I can say that there are numerous taping methods and practices that do have proven rehab benefits. This company and their claims I have no idea of and have never heard of them. What I can say is no tape will make any person magically more flexible. Infact physios use taping for the exact opposite. Taping is typically used as a mechanism to create additional awareness of a muscle group by using the skin as an additional feedback loop to make the patient more aware of their posture or position of a joint. This is particularly useful with chronic disuse atrophy. I’ve never heard of taping being used for increasing flexibility and can’t understand any rational behind it.
Taping could have a long term impact on flexibility if it helped along with structural alignment or fascial hydration but I would not use it for the specific intention of developing flexibility personally. I appreciate the discussion!