What's Causing My Pain? We have a deep need for things to make sense. Knowing what happens and why gives us a feeling of some control and order in the chaos of life. Research shows that humans are wired for pattern seeking and storytelling. “Everything in our brain is looking for the … Read more about When Trying to Make Sense of a Problem Doesn’t Make Sense
The #1 Mistake People with Knee Pain Make that Hinders Recovery
The Typical Response to Pain I’m always surprised how many students aren’t able to be on their hands and knees, even for a short time, due to knee pain or injury. I guess it’s not so astonishing—the knee is one of the most complicated and the most commonly injured joint in the body. Our … Read more about The #1 Mistake People with Knee Pain Make that Hinders Recovery
What You Need to Know About Repetitive Strain and How to Prevent It
Repetitive Strain Injury Series — Part 1 If you spend time on a computer, tablet or smart phone, you’ve likely felt complaints from your neck and shoulders, or discomfort in your hands, wrists or arms. Or maybe you like to cook, knit, garden or do other activities that involve repetitive … Read more about What You Need to Know About Repetitive Strain and How to Prevent It
Free Your Neck with This 5-Minute Miracle
Could You Use a 5-Minute Miracle? Several years ago, I substitute taught an aerobics class. During the class I incorporated a short bit of Feldenkrais®. One woman, let’s call her Ellen, experienced such incredible improvement in her ability to turn that she began attending my weekly Awareness … Read more about Free Your Neck with This 5-Minute Miracle
Ground, Sound, Breathe Your Way to Less Stress and More Ease
As we enter month 10 of the COVID pandemic as well as the holidays, it seemed like the perfect time to repost this article I wrote a few years ago. Hit the Pause Button for Just 1 Minute I want to share with you an easy yet powerful practice I picked up while attending a seminar called “The … Read more about Ground, Sound, Breathe Your Way to Less Stress and More Ease
Is Less Really More?
A Culture of More is Better “Less is more” is a saying most of us don’t really believe. Why would we when American culture is all about more—having more, doing more, being more! In the U.S., hard work garners great respect and struggle is praised. We’ve been conditioned by parents, teachers, … Read more about Is Less Really More?
5 Myths Busted to Let Your Shoulders Hang Naturally
Shoulders Down! Almost everyone's had a parent or teacher tell you to “sit/stand up straight” or “pull your shoulders down/back”. Rounded shoulders and slouching are typically viewed as a postural transgression. If you’re like most people, this may have led you to feel self-conscious about … Read more about 5 Myths Busted to Let Your Shoulders Hang Naturally
The Downside of Awareness Nobody Tells You About
Awareness Has Many Benefits... Awareness is a word you hear a lot these days. Also commonly called mindfulness, it's a quality of paying attention to yourself (your sensations, thoughts, reactions, etc.) and your surroundings in the present moment. This kind of awareness has numerous … Read more about The Downside of Awareness Nobody Tells You About
Soak in the Good to Better Your Brain and Body
In these strange and often stressful times, I’d like to share a simple exercise that can significantly boost your well being. "Take in the Good" is a practice created by Dr. Rick Hanson, a psychologist and Buddhist teacher, as a way to counteractive the negativity bias of our brain. Our Brain's … Read more about Soak in the Good to Better Your Brain and Body
Are You Greater than the Sum of Your Parts?
"Parts" Thinking is Entrenched in Our Culture People frequently ask me questions like, “When is your next ‘neck’ class?” or “Do you ever teach a class for knee pain?” We’re accustomed to thinking of ourselves like a car, made up of various parts. We commonly say things like, “My 'back' went … Read more about Are You Greater than the Sum of Your Parts?
Never Hate Your Beautiful New Shoes Again
I Like My Shoes to Be Comfortable and Stylish I have a pair of everyday shoes that need to be replaced. Like many contemporary shoes (even athletic ones) the heel of my old pair is a almost an inch higher than the front. Despite this I've found these shoes to be quite comfortable, that is, until … Read more about Never Hate Your Beautiful New Shoes Again
The Best Way to Change a Habit
(Part 2 of Are Your Ideas of What's Right Leading You Astray?) The Desire to Fix Ourselves Runs Deep How many years have you spent intentionally trying to correct something about your posture or how you move? In the last post, I talked about our ideas about how our posture (or strength, … Read more about The Best Way to Change a Habit