What does the word “exercise” bring up for you? You might think of sweat, going to the gym, lifting heavy things, running, or other activities that require strong exertion and possibly misery. But what if exercise could be enjoyable, or even fun? Instead of calling it “exercise,” call it “movement.” What does “movement” feel like
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The state of your feet affects how your whole body feels. Many years ago I had an acupuncture patient who had a 20 year history of neck pain. She sprained her ankle so severely that she went for physical therapy to assist in her healing. Strengthening her ankle made her neck pain disappear. That’s when
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I love walking for exercise, especially outside. Fresh air, trees, birds, no screens, it’s fabulous. However, sometimes walking hurts, especially when you are over 50. When you are unaware of your posture or body mechanics when you walk, it can cause dysfunction that can lead to discomfort. The hips, hip flexors, neck, lower back, feet
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Think about how you sit. If you are a typical human, you probably slouch at least some of the time, especially if you sit at a computer for long periods. Gravity naturally pulls our upper body forward and downward. This compresses the chest, lessening space for the lungs, and strains the muscles of the neck
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#5 in the series Pigeon pose/Kapotasana is a wonderful hip opening pose, but can be challenging for multiple reasons. If your hips are tight, which is common in our “sitting” society, practicing this pose can put pressure on your knees, which is the next joint in the chain. If one joint doesn’t move well, stress
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Cultivating kindness and gentleness toward yourself Yesterday I was reading a Substack that I adore, called Raising Myles. Marc Typo writes weekly letters to his now almost 2 year old son with vulnerability and love. He writes about his own history living as a black man in the United States and wants to impart his wisdom to his
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And what you can do about it! Have you ever had those days when you’re feeling great, then you move the wrong way and everything goes sideways? SI Joint pain can be like that. The SI Joint (SacroIliac Joint) is not a joint that moves like your elbow or knee. It is where the Sacrum
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Modify your yoga practice and make your knees smile! By the time you get to 40 or 50, you might notice your body becoming more “vocal.” Your hips, your back, or your knees start to talk to you. At first it might be quiet whispering, but over time, the sound gets louder until they just
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And what you can do about it, Part 2 Last week I discussed two important muscles involved in chronic lower back pain, namely the Erector Spinae group and the Quadratus Lumborum. You might not think about “non-back” muscles as being the cause of lower back pain, but they can be, especially the Psoas (pronounced SO-az) and the Hamstrings.
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When you picture someone meditating, you might visualize a person sitting perfectly still on a cushion, a peaceful expression on their face, and an overall ease about them. But stillness isn’t the only way to meditate. Movement can also be meditation. Swimming is meditation for me. The rhythmic movement and consistent breathing, especially when swimming
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