Walking is not only a quintessential part of being human, but it is also an essential way in which we help regulate multiple bodily systems. Essentially, in our lifetime walking and wellbeing seem to go hand and hand.
Category: Mobility
HOW SOME MODERN CONVENIENCES CAN CUASE MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY SOLVE
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
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 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 TO WALK LIKE A MATURE AND HEALTHY HUMAN BEING
The holiday season is upon us, and here in New England we often fill our short and dark days not only with a fair amount of lights... but also a fair amount of getting together with others. Often times these gatherings involved a fair amount of food. And often times when these get togethers occur, … Continue reading HOW TO WALK LIKE A MATURE AND HEALTHY HUMAN BEING
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 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 LET IT GO
Previously I wrote an article where I mapped out ways in which you can elicit reflexive increases in muscular tension by simply focusing on what you do at three places in your body. You can read it in full HERE. This article is the other side of the coin... How to reflexively tune down tension … Continue reading TUNING TENSION… HOW TO LET IT GO
WHY SQUATTING FULLY TO THE GROUND SHOULD NOT BE A BIG DEAL
There are few basic movements in our modern western world that challenge more individuals than a full-depth squat. Yes, I will see plenty of folks that cannot touch their toes, who cannot steady on one leg, or perhaps not be able to scratch their back. But it is the simple act of squatting fully to … Continue reading WHY SQUATTING FULLY TO THE GROUND SHOULD NOT BE A BIG DEAL
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
WHY STRETCHING WILL NOT HELP THOSE STIFF AND ACHING HIPS
Stiff hips are a pretty limiting thing, and when you are in possession of one or two of them you know very well how small the sandbox of your daily possibility can become. Now there are always situations that are the exceptions to the rule, but by and large the situation of a hip that … Continue reading WHY STRETCHING WILL NOT HELP THOSE STIFF AND ACHING HIPS
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
DEGENERATION IS NORMAL AND NOT ALWAYS A PROBLEM
You know, progress at times can be a double edged sword. Probably the best example of this would be the effects we can observe from all the progress in technology we have had in the last 150 years. In the case of our bodies, progress in western medicines understanding of the inner workings of our … Continue reading DEGENERATION IS NORMAL AND NOT ALWAYS A PROBLEM
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THOSE STUBBORNLY STIFF SHOULDERS
Shoulders get tight and achy for a lot of folks. This is for a lot of reasons, including that fact that our shoulders are a place that many of us hold stress. Since our modern world doesn't ask us to reach very far away from our body, the problem can go largely unnoticed until it … Continue reading WHAT TO DO ABOUT THOSE STUBBORNLY STIFF SHOULDERS
WHY ALL EXERCISE IS JOINT FRIENDLY
All exercise is potentially joint friendly. No single approach or exercise can truly make the claim to be more joint friendly than any other. Why? Because cartilage has no blood vessels, and instead relies on diffusion for nutrition. Sponging…also known as Load and Motion.
YOU ARE BUILT TO COMPENSATE IN SOME VERY PREDICTABLE WAYS
A little over a decade ago a book came out that not only had a catchy title, but it also made some compelling arguments that questioned a lot of common assumptions around both shoe wear, and the limits of the human body as it relates to endurance. It was called "Born to Run", and while … Continue reading YOU ARE BUILT TO COMPENSATE IN SOME VERY PREDICTABLE WAYS
WHAT GARDENING CAN TEACH US ABOUT OUR BODIES
During the warmer months here in New England, a lot of us tend to enjoy getting our hands dirty in the garden… and with that at times comes aches and pains from all the prolonged awkwardness that gardening seems to ask for. After all, it is not like it is very realistic to expect anyone … Continue reading WHAT GARDENING CAN TEACH US ABOUT OUR BODIES