I’ve mentioned before that Pilates is a useful complement to the Rolf Method of Structural Integration bodywork. Pilates exercises help you strengthen, stabilize and lengthen the body. The method also supports good posture and breathing.
Read MoreI have had several clients recently ask about fascia and Ida Rolf’s theory of how structural integration works. This short video (less than three minutes) provides a good explanation of what fascia does and looks like. Dr. Robert Schleip discusses his research, including that fascia can stretch and contract independently. This sheds light on how fascial issues can contribute to your body’s stiffness and pain. Structural integration may indeed work by softening and stretching fascia to reduce stiffness and improve pain, as Ida Rolf believed.
Read MoreHere are two quotations from a book I’ve mentioned previously. It’s by Mayo Clinic doctor Amit Sood and is called Train Your Brain, Engage Your Heart, Transform Your Life. He calls it a course in Attention and Interpretation Therapy or cultivating heartfulness. More commonly, it’s mindfulness.
Read MoreAt a recent workshop, the instructor shared this insight into our ability to heal in those occasions when a physical issue has an emotional component.
Read MoreActions that you take in your early adulthood and middle age will result in a vibrant old age, according to Dan Buettner (endurance athlete, speaker and author). Here are tips from his latest book, Blue Zone Solution.
Read MoreSeveral months ago, a friend recommended a book called “The Upside of Stress.” I finally picked it up at the library. I learned a number of new ideas on what science says about the role of stress in our lives. Lots of times, and I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit this, I feel stressed about the stress in my life. No need for that! Research shows that embracing stress is the way to go. Here are highlights that I found useful.
Read MoreAt some point in our lives, almost all of us will experience a challenging event. One friend had a tree fall on his house. I see clients who have been in car accidents or undergone major surgeries. In the face of hardship, some people cope well and some just can’t manage to pull it together afterwards. What can make the difference? Resilience.
Read MoreOur little cherry tree produced a bumper crop this year. Many are in the freezer, to be made into pies, crisps and crumbles at a later time. Some are in the process of making Vișinată, which is sour cherry liqueur. We learned about it from friends who visited Romania and it has become an annual treat every since.
Read MoreI think it used to be common that people would go for a stroll in the evening after dinner. A friend who visited Italy in her younger days still talks about how people in town went for a promenade in the evening. I saw similar activity when a friend and I were in Provence in 2007 (aside: my, how time flies!). Back home, it seems like only the dog owners are out walking around dinner time.
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