When I work with folks, we talk a lot about adaptation. After all it is more than in part the process of adaptation that has caused the situation that they are in to occur. And it is the process of steering their body to adapt in a very particular way that has the chance at … Continue reading HOW SOME MODERN CONVENIENCES CAN CUASE MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY SOLVE
Category: Injury Prevention
WHY GOOD SHOES MATTER AND HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU
There are few things that serve us more than to keep in constant, reliable contact with the ground. Whether it is taking on a physical challenge, settling in for a long days work, or even easing ourself for a moment or nights rest… we will need to partner with the ground beneath us. And with … Continue reading WHY GOOD SHOES MATTER AND HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU
WHY MOST STRETCHING WORKS AGAINST YOUR MOBILITY, AND WHAT TO DO INSTEAD
Often times the folks that I interact with will have a history of some sort of ache or pain that will either not go away, or keeps coming back despite all their best efforts. In fact, it is often actually due to these failed best efforts that they find themselves walking through my door and … Continue reading WHY MOST STRETCHING WORKS AGAINST YOUR MOBILITY, AND WHAT TO DO INSTEAD
WHY BEING STRONG IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK IT IS… AND WHY IT MATTERS AS MUCH AS IT DOES.
In previous posts I have talked about what tends to make up an ideal physical capacity for folks (see HERE for more on that). And, within those posts I listed out what you may need in order to have the best chance at avoiding injury, strain or struggle with whatever level of living you may … Continue reading WHY BEING STRONG IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK IT IS… AND WHY IT MATTERS AS MUCH AS IT DOES.
HOW TO SURVIVE SHOVELING… AND MAYBE EVEN ENJOY IT
Here in Northern New England winter weather can be pretty hard to predict. Truly, regardless of any 10 day forecast, snowfall can come any given day... and be anywhere from one inch to twenty inches any given week between the months of December and March. And it is with the snow storms that tend to … Continue reading HOW TO SURVIVE SHOVELING… AND MAYBE EVEN ENJOY IT
WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN TRYING TO GET BACK ON TRACK WITH EXERCISE
Every year during the month of January I tend to notice a pattern of conversation cropping up with many of the folks I tend to help. You see, half of the folks I work will come in every couple of weeks or so, with the remaining half somewhere around once a month. The point of … Continue reading WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN TRYING TO GET BACK ON TRACK WITH EXERCISE
WHY YOU MUST BE CALM IF YOU WANT TO BE BOTH COMFORTABLE AND CAPABLE
Some years ago I was listening to an interview with a long distance mentor, and in it he was asked what is the single common characteristic he has observed in the successful people he has interacted with. He himself is a very prominent, well respected individual in his field, and given he has been able … Continue reading WHY YOU MUST BE CALM IF YOU WANT TO BE BOTH COMFORTABLE AND CAPABLE
HOW LEARNING TO FALL MAKES YOU STEADIER
Here in Maine we tend to experience all four seasons fully, and with not exception the colder ones. It is in these colder times of the year that snow and slush can tend to freeze up fairly solid, making walking about is not all that easy... and quite often not all that safe depending on … Continue reading HOW LEARNING TO FALL MAKES YOU STEADIER
HOW TO BE YOUR MOST COMFORTABLE AND CAPABLE SELF
Now and again as a client is moving through the process of wrangling in whatever pain or problem originally walked them through the door, they ask a question… "Where exactly is this going?" Unfortunately for that person the answer that I have painfully learned to give is not one that they may expect or necessarily … Continue reading HOW TO BE YOUR MOST COMFORTABLE AND CAPABLE SELF
WHY YOUR LIFESTYLE CAN BE YOUR BIGGEST BARRIER TO YOUR COMFORT
Engineers tend to have a lot of fun in their lifetimes. I know this because my late step father, Lawrence, was a quintessential one. A microwave engineer throughout the majority of his career, and a prolific doodler of napkins, the man would be in his mid-seventies if he were still with us. The point of … Continue reading WHY YOUR LIFESTYLE CAN BE YOUR BIGGEST BARRIER TO YOUR COMFORT
WHY YOUR RIGHT SIDE WILL NEVER BE LIKE YOUR LEFT
The majority of folks that I will meet tend to have issues that either will not go away, or just keep coming back. Yes, at times these issues are due to some injury that occurred at some point in the past, that perhaps they were never truly able to recover from. However, that actually trends … Continue reading WHY YOUR RIGHT SIDE WILL NEVER BE LIKE YOUR LEFT
TUNING TENSION… HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR MUSCLE
There are two aspects to what dictates the strength of a muscle... how big it is and how hard it can contract at any given moment, with any given movement. Keeping that in mind there are then two ways you can train a muscle to become stronger: Make it bigger and give it more leverage. … Continue reading TUNING TENSION… HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR MUSCLE
WHY YOU SHOULD DITCH THE TREADMILL AND GO OUTSIDE
When you live as far north of equator as I and all the rest of Maine does, you have to learn to both roll and contend with the winters that accompany it. During this time of year the days steadily grow shorter and darker, and despite all the shifts that are coming with climate change … Continue reading WHY YOU SHOULD DITCH THE TREADMILL AND GO OUTSIDE
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE BETTER BALANCE, STOP TRYING TO BE SO RIGID
Balance is a concept that is often very misunderstood in our culture, especially by those looking to have a bit more of it in their lives. And it seems that those folks make up the majority these days… As it applies to your steadiness, balance is talked about in fitness and wellness magazines, books, blogs, … Continue reading IF YOU WANT TO HAVE BETTER BALANCE, STOP TRYING TO BE SO RIGID
IF YOUR KNEES BOTHER YOU, FOCUS ON YOUR FEET AND SEE WHAT REMAINS
If you were to walk into a local group exercise class, or watch a video online where something similar is being mapped out for the masses, if there is some squatting, lunging or jumping going on then you would likely hear some pretty unhelpful advice. "Don't let your knees go forward" "Don't let your knees … Continue reading IF YOUR KNEES BOTHER YOU, FOCUS ON YOUR FEET AND SEE WHAT REMAINS
HOW TO GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD WITH STRENGTH TRAINING
Very commonly I will be helping someone work their way through some basic movement, and a common problem comes up… They do not know if they are "doing it right". And while they do not always say it in that manner, what I do tend to hear is… "Should I keep my knees from falling … Continue reading HOW TO GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD WITH STRENGTH TRAINING
WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID MIRRORS WITH EXERCISE
Prior to opening my own private practice I worked in a few difference settings, and each of those settings helped me learn what I sensed a space needed to be for folks to thrive in. Unfortunately, as it often is the case a great deal of these lessons where also what I learned a space … Continue reading WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID MIRRORS WITH EXERCISE
HOW SCREENS TEND TO MESS US UP AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
You know, despite all of its comforts and leisure, first world living can pretty rough on us. The human body and brain has not evolved very much beyond what it has been for the last 50,000 years, regardless if the First Industrial Revolution occured 250 years ago, and the Third barely 50 years from today. … Continue reading HOW SCREENS TEND TO MESS US UP AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
WHY A MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS IS TERRIBLE
It has been said that our loved ones often know us better than we often know ourselves. Yes, we are all very much isolated in our own heads, bodies and most especially our perceptions…but the significant others in our lives have a vantage point of us that we will never have privy to. And we … Continue reading WHY A MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS IS TERRIBLE
WHY FLIP FLOPS TEND TO MESS US UP
Over a decade ago my wife and I hiked a portion of the Maine Huts and Trails. It was early March I believe, and there was plenty of snow on the ground. so since neither of us had, or really knew how to cross country ski, we opted to snowshoe it. Yes, I know that … Continue reading WHY FLIP FLOPS TEND TO MESS US UP