Relax the Back

If you are one who constantly find themselves with their ears up around their shoulders as a result of the stressors of everyday life, then this month’s Jen’s Gems…for the Healthy Writer is just for you.

Keeping the spine loose and mobile makes you resilient against an awful lot of injuries, and will help you sleep better, breathe better, and reduce stress.

Also posted in Jen's Gems, Wellness & Fitness

Nail goes thru shoe, misses foot, foot still hurts

I love it when stories like this come out, it is a great demonstration of how the brain controls pain and the pain response. Even though that nail looks like it went directly through this man’s foot, it did not, it went between the toes, and yet he experienced SEVERE pain, as if the nail went through the foot bed.

Although a really annoying fact of life, pain lives solely in the brain, and is a figment of our imaginations. Pain is an interpretation of what signals our nervous system receives. In this case, it certainly LOOKS as if the nail has gone through the foot, so the pain signal goes to the brain, because the body wants to get our  … read more

What Lifelong Athleticism Looks Like

Can you imagine being 75 and competing in a national TV dance show?

I love this video, because it really represents what I think is possible for everyone. A life of movement and not letting your body slow you down. It’s what I want for myself, my friends, and my clients. It’s also the goal of Z-Health, which is why I so love the system and believe in what it can do for everyone.

You may not ever catch me on stage in a leotard, but this video should be inspiring for everyone.

Also posted in Success Stories, Wellness & Fitness

Move It Monday – Seeing is Doing

We are in the midst of the holiday season, when the imaginations of young and old alike come alive.

Not just a new-agey concept, visualization is an important part of moving well. When we take the time to visualize our movements, the nervous system remembers what we visualize in order to assist us the next time we go to make the motion.

I recently used this to help me with my shoulder rolls — I was really good on one side, but the other was really loud and the form was awkward. I knew what I needed to do, but my body wouldn’t do it. Then I went on a business trip, and while I was gone I’d regularly take a few  … read more

Also posted in Move It Monday

Avoid becoming a holiday weight gain statistic

Yesterday my new column went up on WriteOn! Online, where I talk about how to avoid becoming a holiday weight gain statistic, and a better way to track your food intake that actually allows for having a life.

Then today, this article shows up in my Twitter stream: This Is Why You’re Fat: Thanksgiving Meals Average 2,200 Calories Per Serving

Wow!

That is far more than the 1400-1800 that those who have succeeded at long-term weight loss eat in a day. With diabetes rates set to double and costs set to triple in the next 25 years, I really hope that Thanksgiving is the exception rather than the rule for virtually everyone.

As I talk about in my article, one day isn’t make or  … read more

Also posted in Jen's Gems, Nutrition

Carpal Tunnel

I hate it when one of my columns has been published and I forget to share it with all of you.

This month over on WriteOn! Online I published my third in a three-part series about common aches and pains that befell writers (or anyone that sits at a computer a lot). I talked about Carpal Tunnel, and what simple drills you can use to alleviate the symptoms.

The cool part about my post? WriteOn! Online readers have already commented they are using them with success. That is why I do this, so that is pretty cool.

Also posted in Books & Articles, Jen's Gems

Jen’s Gems … for the Healthy Writer: Headaches

Last month, I began a three-part series for WriteOn! Online on how writers can address problem pain areas. I explained a simple neck-drill that works wonders for eliminating neck and shoulder pain. Now it’s time to address the second in the trifecta of writers’ pain woes: The Headache.

Also posted in Books & Articles, Jen's Gems

Softball Injuries

This study came out in March, and I flagged it then as something I wanted to spend some time thinking about. It’s a classic example of a sports injury, and one that careful mobility training and deliberate practice could probably help prevent.

In short, the study states that the windmill style of pitching in softball leads to a higher incidence of bicep injuries. The windmill style of pitching, if you aren’t familiar with it, is where the pitcher starts with the arm in front of them, goes up to 12 o’clock, back to 9, down to 3, and releases at 3 o’clock.

Mobility Training

You know the old saying “the hip bone is connected to the thigh bone”, well that is true up  … read more

New Web Site Look

Late, late, late Wednesday night we relaunched my web site with a brand new look. And I’m thrilled!

In case you are wondering, Fundamentals is my company name, and much of my approach to life — many times it’s about getting down to the basics, and I needed that component represented in my Move Well, Be Fit, Have Fun brand.

The redesign gave me a chance to make my site reflect how I work with my clients and run my classes — I very much consider myself a teacher and a resource. The quote that kicks off my Approach page is, “They call it coaching but it is teaching. You do not just tell them…you show them the reasons.” by Vince Lombardi.  … read more

Also posted in Goals, Kettlebells, Nutrition, Success Stories, Wellness & Fitness

Use visualization as pratice reps

My latest column is up on Jen’s Gem’s for the Healthy Writer. This month I talk about the role of visualization for creativity and skill development — visualizing yourself doing something can be almost as effective as actually doing the activity (if you follow the rules). The article includes a study and some fun application

I have used it to learn my martial arts katas, rapidly advancing through belt levels with less physical practice time by reviewing them in detail in my head before sleeping.

What visualization success stories have you had? Comment below

Also posted in Books & Articles, Jen's Gems