Self-Care for Your Back

Most of us don’t wait until our teeth hurt before we brush them.

Brushing our teeth is simply part of daily self-care. It helps us feel fresh today while contributing to our long-term oral health tomorrow.

I sometimes think of the Buttafly in much the same way.

Many people first discover the Buttafly through yoga, meditation or because they are looking for greater comfort in sitting. Yet over the years, I have noticed that those who benefit most often incorporate it into everyday life.

A few minutes at the beginning of the day, a pause after work.

Time spent sitting, resting or simply reconnecting with their body just because it feels good.

The habits we carry

Our bodies are constantly adapting to how we live. Hours spent sitting, driving, working at a computer, caring for others or simply responding to the demands of daily life all leave their mark.

Most of these postural changes happen gradually and largely outside our awareness. We often assume that the way we stand, sit or move is simply “how we are.”

Yet many of these patterns are shaped by habit.

A different kind of self care

After lying on the Buttafly, many people report a noticeable sense of ease. Some describe feeling longer. Others notice changes in their breathing or a sense that tension has softened.

What impressed, and surprised, me most were the effects of using Buttafly in different places along the back when in a lying position. In a spare 20 minutes at the recent British Wheel of Yoga Congress, Loulou placed the Buttafly under my pelvis. Almost immediately I could feel that something quite powerful was happening. Afterwards, more than one person commented on the immediate change in my posture and there was a pronounced realignment of the muscles either side of my spine. As a result I have no doubt that Buttafly could be a very valuable tool in the releasing of deeply held tightness and tension in the body, mind and emotions.

— Nick Edge, yoga and meditation teacher, Mandala Ashram

Could the Buttafly become part of how you look after yourself?

When Nick volunteered for a session with me, although he didn’t have back pain, the position felt good and afterwards, his posture was changed for the better.

His experience is a familiar one — somehow there is a gentle unwinding of the spine that leaves people feeling refreshed and their body connected, more joined up.

It makes sense to me then, that used in this way, we can compare the Buttafly to a toothbrush — self-care for your back today and for the future.