Lats Vs Traps

[just7]

I've been having a thought the last day or two and wonder what everyone thinks.

My Traps slope down from my neck. I can feel my Lats and will "squeeze" during the day. I am working on using the Lats for so many of the T-Tapp moves.

It just hit me yesterday after reading over the weekend different ones talking about Teresa's shoulders being SQUARE during certain moves. If I'm squeezing those Lats, pulling back the shoulders, does that act like a girdle for the back muscles?

I'm thinking that that will actually bring the shoulders up square over time----no sloping Traps.

Am I right?????

[BlessedMama]

I would think so, Jennifer! One of our awesome trainers will chime in, I'm sure!

DO think shoulders back not down. That has really helped me!

[Butterflymama]

Mine do that too. It's getting better. I just have to remember that they have been misshapen for decades, so it's going to take time to fix it. But at least I don't hurt anymore.

[just7]

I think...pretty much since I started T-Tapping that I've been careful to think Back, not Down. Like Vicki---this is decades of bad posture. Michelle says my upper back is weak. Hopefully not for long!! (Hugs--Michelle!)

[monica213]

You go girl! Yes, sloped shoulder indicated overactive traps! You want your shoulder squared in each move. Watch in a mirror, shrug your shoulders up to your ears, bring them together in the back, then lower them until you feel your rhomboids kick in (These are the muscles between your shoulder blades.) When you look in the mirror your shoulders will be square.

If your shoulders are sloped down or shrugged up you are using your traps too much.

What an aha!

[nitarose104]

OMG, Michelle, what a perfect explanation! Talk about an "aha" moment.

First of all, I just discovered that my lats are not where I thought they were AND I can square my shoulders any time I stand in front of a mirror.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. ~ Signed, the "former" Trap Queen

[rskontos]

It is my opinion that due to certain body's confirmation, that the traps just take over way too easily and then become stronger and the cycle continues.

I was lucky early on to have a dance instructor help me learn this about my own shoulder, elbow and trap issue. Unfortunately I got out of practice doing what he said to do and my traps became too much in control. Wow, through T-tapp, I have learned to reuse my shoulders, etc correctly, remember my early training and finally feel that my traps are not so much in control. And sometimes I can feel that I am using them, it is nice to finally have that ahh moment.

[monica213]

I think, we as women, carry all of our tension in our traps, constantly having the shoulders up around the ears. being very aware of where they are positioned within your workout and normal daily activity it crucial. Doing T-Tapp shoulder rolls frequently through the day helps too balance the activation between the lats and the traps.

[just7]

So I guess, when doing shoulder rolls, that we need to STOP our shoulders from going all the way down, right?

I keep thinking about a band, a girdle from under arms around the back and holding up those upper back muscles.

Actually, Michelle, I read your earlier post in my email the morning and have done the Shoulder Roll till Square several times. I can feel this band from my pecs all the way around. It is the weirdest thing...but good, I think!

I don't know if I'll ever be able to get my shoulders square from my neck...too much indentation from improperly wrong bras probably...but who knows!!!

I feel like, with T-Tapp, ANYTHING is possible!!

[skoch]

Michelle, You are so right. I think so many women carry their stress in their traps. I have tried to keep my traps down really focusing on it, only to have people say "Sharon your shoulders are up again...relax. TTApping consistently cetainly helps. The relief is awsome, but I am afraid it will be a forever struggle. I really hope one day my lats win out, because not only does it slim back fat...I feel so much better with shoulders down, chest out!!!!