Whether you are Back country skiing in our powder packed Selkirks, Purcells or Valhallas, Downhill skiing at our fabulously local Whitewater and Red Mountain Resorts, Snowshoeing or Cross country skiing on our numerous trails within the West Kootenays –you will be moving your body with a smile on your face. At the end of the day you will feel satisfied and wanting more. Your body, heart and mind have all benefited-
Moving in and through the snow can be challenging at times and having a flexible body– with good range of motion –is a body that is equipped to handle whatever physical challenges you may meet while you play. The quality of snow can change daily and hourly and therefore we may experience a difference all in one step. Think about when you are walking on a crusted layer of snow and then all of the sudden one foot breaks through and you are now waist deep on one side looking like you are attempting the splits. How ready were you for that? Are you also ready for all the quick ups and downs, and turns at faster speeds or the hard crusty icy layers, the wind swept ones and the soft ones.
Having a daily stretching routine to keep your muscles limber allows for greater range of motion and greater accessibility to the strength of those muscles. In addition to stretching, adding a Massage into your body maintenance routine can help loosen up some of those tight muscles –giving you a head start to gaining overall flexibility i.e. greater range of motion. It can also help increase your recovery time by moving blood and oxygen to areas that need healing from the days work– So you are a little less sore for tomorrows snowy playtime!
Remember a tight muscle -no matter how big and bulky- has less range of motion and less potential strength then a soft bulky muscle of the the same size. A soft muscle no matter how bulky– is a flexible one!
Have fun playing out there–there is plenty of snow to dance in!!!
See you out there!
~Sherri Bouliane, RMT , Nelson, BC
Sherri Bouliane, RMT 