The Sweet Spot

Hitting the target or mark in the best area, creating the most impact. 

For many, it conjures up images of a baseball batter crushing one over the fence, or a golfer as he connects for the perfect tee shot. Or perhaps it means an ideal opportunity, a coming together of positive events, a perfect storm. Then again, it can be that sweet spot found on the masseuse table that results in the release of tense muscles. No matter your definition, the "sweet spot," to all, means reaching a perfect balance. 

A feeling of harmony.

Unfortunately, too few Americans feel harmonious. Too many suffer from fatigue and physical pain. Technology may be advancing, but stress levels are rising, and that can contribute to increased chronic pain.

More than 31 million Americans suffer from low back pain and are desperately looking for that “sweet spot” of relief. So, where is the “sweet spot?’ How can we find it?

The key ingredients for finding the "sweet spot" are within our reach. Somewhere rooted underneath our daily lives and habits...the murky material your “sweet spot” is buried under is STRESS. Stress can pile up, creating a sinking feeling, that will bring the mind and body down along with it. 

In fact, an author named Christine Carter Ph.D., took this notion and published a book “The Sweet Spot. How to find a groove at home and work.” Dr. Carter, a Happiness Expert at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, points out: “At the same time that our lives have gotten easier in many ways—with devices to wash the dishes, learn just about anything, have our groceries delivered—it has also gotten easier to WORK MORE. We communicate with our co-workers at all hours of the day and night in person and by phone, text and email. Instead of starting work at 8 am, we are starting as we switch off the alarm at 6 am on our smart phones and check the emails that came in overnight!”

Longer hours physically and mentally, in an office or at home, create stress. Maybe it's time we rethink our approach to stress. Sometimes changing just a few behaviors will uncover the “sweet spot” of relief. To help you achieve your own personal zen, Miracle Stretch® wants you to know that we “have your back” when it comes to making your life easier and pain-free. Every blog or post we share on social media is to help you live happy, healthy, and pain free. This includes less stress, more positive inspiration, healthy living, and alleviating pain.

And as it relates to our products, the Miracle Stretch® “sweet spot” comes in two ways: effectiveness and affordability. 

Our best-selling Piri-Stretcher® therapy tool is an effective, reliable, natural solution to help manage your stress. Stretching daily not only feels good, but can relieve and fight back against low back pain brought on by physical demands, and burdensome mental loads. Whether you suffer from Piriformis Syndrome, Sciatica, or Myofascial Pain, let us provide a modern, patented, and effective tool to help fix that back.

The Piri-Stretcher® also hits the sweet spot of affordability. It is priced to promote accessibility. We are not one of those low-quality “As Seen On TV” products that are usually too good to be true. The Piri-Stretcher® addresses the root cause of Piriformis Syndrome by helping to stretch and relax the piriformis muscle to reduce tension on the sciatic nerve. Targeted stretching of the isolated muscle, with proper leverage to control the stretch, produces relief from associated pain. No drugs. No injections. And the Piri-Stretcher® is far away from expensive (and invasive) surgery.

Check out the testimonials on the web and Facebook. Social media is getting the word out now on how the Piri-Stretcher® by Miracle Stretch® is removing stress and pain on a daily (and affordable) basis.

The Piri-Stretcher® puts you in the perfect position.

Ah, the sweet spot.

TGIM!

That’s right. Thank God It’s Monday!

This Monday: You are in control. You feel less stress. You are happy. You are healthier for it.

Feeling skeptical? Read on to learn how to turn your Mondays around.

Two important reasons:
1) Stress is unhealthy
2) Mondays are inevitable

Stress will affect the mind and attack the body. Doctors’ offices all across the country are filled with chronic pain patients. Many who have no idea it may be from the negatives they allow to penetrate their minds.

Here is how to fight back.

Remove Monday’s stress by OWNING it. Begin the week on your terms.

News. Start by removing the smart phone from the bedside.  Emails and news updates from the 24-hour media are not “good-mornings.”  In fact, according to Psychology Today, the average American news media coverage has been on a steady rise in negative stories and overall negative news coverage over the past 30 years! So it is not “just you” if you are feeling an increase in negativity after watching the news.

Negativity affects the brain in patterns and behavior. If you’re not careful, or mindful, your day can be shaped by simply being exposed to bad news. It can infect you with stress. Stop giving bad news your brain’s attention. Especially when you wake up.

Emails. This is perhaps more of a challenge, but one that must be met. Of course you want to be alerted to important business, but not every email is a fire that you must put out.  Let your mind stretch and be filled with positivity. This will fuel you with the perspective and confidence to take on important emails, so that you don't feel like you're swimming to keep your head above water.

And before you think you’re excused from social media, sorry, no. Social media has joined the ranks of wonderful technology, but can also be a source of negativity. From news feeds, to friends reporting bad news, to declarations of anger and political strife--social media can be a scrolling wall of negativity. Or even worse, it can be what psychologists refer to as a source of “compare and despair.” When you see and interpret others achieving, living, or progressing past you, it may result in a negative feeling of being left behind. Just remember: most people use social media as a tool to accentuate the positive, and completely eliminate the negative. Meaning, it can be candy-coated and is not absolute truth. Everyone has problems. They just don’t post them.

So avoid feeding your mind junk food for breakfast. Instead, take a few minutes. Make time to taste your breakfast. Enjoy your coffee. As your mind awakens, feed your brain a breakfast of positivity.

Find what inspires you. Browse art and architecture magazines, look at beautiful scenic photos, read poetry, or enjoy some of your favorite inspirational quotes. Go to YouTube and find that favorite movie clip, the one that gets you motivated or laughing. Google your personal heroes. Find out what inspired them. Maybe they, too, stayed away from negatives by seeking out positive influences.

Sit on the porch and listen to birds. Meditate. Breathe life in.

Exercise. Another tactic to fight stress is by staying active to recharge you mentally and physically. Go for a morning walk or a bike ride. Do yoga. Stretch. A simple, productive stretch can supercharge your morning. The more stress you eliminate, the more you can reduce chronic pain - that's one reason the Miracle Stretch® Piri-Stretcher® works so well. It helps eliminate struggling to target and stretch the piriformis muscle.  Relaxing the muscle reduces tension from the sciatic nerve to relieve pain in the lower back, buttocks, and legs. Imagine a Monday morning that is positive, happy, healthy, and pain free.

These few daily changes can jumpstart your mind and body in a positive manner and help you “push-back” on Monday syndrome...it's time to permanently defuse it from its nasty reputation.

Now go amaze everyone with your Monday.

PS. This works for the rest of the week, too!

Live Happy, Healthy, and Pain Free…and Give a Butterfly its Wings!

Our #1 priority at Miracle Stretch® is helping people feel happy, healthy and pain free. We know all too well what suffering from low back pain feels like. Our co-workers, families, friends, and loved ones have been there…we understand Piriformis Syndrome and ache for our customers who experience Sciatica every day. We wholeheartedly want to make the pain go away. While we may not be able to help every single person suffering from these conditions, we have helped many, and are committed to every person who crosses our path. Each and every person matters.

We have a custom here at Miracle Stretch® - each time we hear how we have helped someone feel better and feel less pain, we contribute to our 'Butterfly Fund' to symbolize feeling happy and moving freely, without pain. At the end of the year, we will donate to the Michigan State University (MSU) Horticulture Gardens. There, students at MSU’s Department of Horticulture care for an amazing butterfly garden, providing hands-on education about flora and fauna for children. The garden encourages exploration, curiosity, learning, and respect for these beautiful creatures - and of course, taking the time to relax and soak it all in. Relaxation and stress-free living are crucial to preventing and alleviating chronic pain. So, if you have found relief using the Miracle Stretch® Piri-Stretcher® then please send us a note at support@miraclestretch.com or share a comment on our Facebook reviews at www.facebook.com/miraclestretch. Each time we hear one of our customers is feeling better; you could say that you just helped give a butterfly its wings!

About Piriformis Syndrome:

Piriformis Syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle irritates the sciatic nerve leading to pain or numbness in the buttocks region, and referred pain along the path of sciatic nerve. This referred pain (also known as sciatica) normally descends into the lower rear or the back of the thigh. The syndrome usually develops when the piriformis muscle becomes tight and places pressure on, or compresses, the sciatic nerve.

Who gets Piriformis Syndrome?

Piriformis Syndrome is common for those who sit extended periods, whether at home, or working – including first responders, teachers, truck drivers, delivery drivers, farmers, customer service or call center representatives, office staff, and IT representatives. It is also common among runners, swimmers, walkers, golfers, equestrians, and bicyclists. Being overweight is a common trigger for Piriformis Syndrome.

What are ways to help prevent it?

Prevention is important for Piriformis Syndrome. Ways that can help prevent it include exercising or stretching the piriformis and surrounding glute muscles, learning new routines particularly for repetitive activities, modifying sitting positions, managing weight, and reducing stress. Strengthening the muscles of the buttocks, lower back and hips also helps prevent Piriformis Syndrome. To keep the tendons and muscles supple and flexible, it is essential to undertake a stretching routine.

How does the Piri-Stretcher® help?

Since the piriformis muscle is located deep to the glutes, it is not an easy one to isolate. We developed the patented Piri-Stretcher® therapy tool to help with a focused stretch of the piriformis muscle. The Piri-Stretcher® is designed to provide leverage in targeting the muscle, including an adaptive comfort grip handle, with two levels of stretching. The handle allows users to lay flat and gently relax into a piriformis stretch at their comfort level; without struggling or added stress on the upper back, shoulders, neck, or hands. When the muscle is relaxed, pressure is released from the sciatic nerve, producing relief of low back, buttocks, and radiating leg pain associated with Piriformis Syndrome and Sciatica.  

As with all exercise, and particularly with pain management, it’s important to develop a routine. Set time aside every day. Warm up with a brisk walk, side steps, or joint rotations. Focus on stretching. Focus on YOU. You will feel happy and healthier for it…and hopefully dancing and moving pain free, just like a butterfly, very soon! 

(don't forget to tell us about it!!)

For more on Miracle Stretch® and the Piri-Stretcher®:

www.miraclestretch.com/?click=bf707

For more on Butterflies in the Garden at MSU visit:

http://www.hrt.msu.edu/our-gardens/

http://4hgarden.cowplex.com/Butterflies/When_Here_Butterflies/