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