Summer has arrived and, on the weekends at least, many of us have replaced our boots, oxfords, heels, and pumps with sandals and flip-flops. We want to lose all traces of the long winter and revel in warm, fragrant summer breezes. The summer experience is enhanced by freeing our feet from their long confinement and exposing our toes to the […]
We all know people who are light on their feet. Fred Astaire comes immediately to mind, as do tennis star Andy Roddick, the great Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter, and WNBA star Candace Parker. Closer to home, we may recognize similar combinations of grace and athleticism in a family member or friend. We may believe that such qualities are inborn […]
In decades past, very few urban kids had ever even heard of a parsnip, a fennel bulb, or a bunch of kale. In those days, fruit and vegetable consumption typically consisted of apples, bananas, corn, potatoes, peas, and lettuce. Oranges were infrequent and grapefruit was a rarity. Today a veritable cornucopia of produce is available year-round, providing the possibility for […]
Being able to distinguish between a good pain and a not-so-good pain is critically important for all of us who engage in regular vigorous exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. Even highly trained athletes such as those on high school and college teams, dancers, and those training for long distance races or multisport events may have difficulty knowing when […]
Whether the topic is education or exercise, core content and core activities tie everything together. In education, core content includes the specific information upon which the course is based. Students are expected, at the very least, to demonstrate mastery of the core content. In exercise, core activities establish the musculoskeletal foundation that supports and enables all other components of physical […]
Did you know that… If you stop idling your parked car you can reduce greenhouse gas, protect our planet and save $$$ -Your car uses more fuel when your engine idles for 30 seconds than when you turn it off & restart your car. -Idling for more than 60 seconds wastes money & fuel, & produces greenhouse gases. -Idling tailpipes spew […]
Microbreak Basics A microbreak is a break that lasts anywhere from 30 seconds to as long as 5 minutes, and is meant to be taken frequently – as often as every 10 minutes. Evidence suggests microbreaks actually reduce muscle fatigue by as much as 20-50 percent in an eight-hour day.2 Obviously, not all jobs or tasks are amenable to the […]
Many of us want to improve our level of fitness, but don’t know what to do or how to begin. Others have begun a fitness program, but don’t know what types of activities to include to make their program more comprehensive and healthful. Yet others have been exercising for a while, but don’t know how to keep going or how […]
Long ago, in the American West, settlers from the eastern seaboard would describe having yearned for the “far country”. Their imagination and wanderlust led them to actualize their vision of a good life for themselves, their families, and their communities. The amount of time and effort involved in manifesting their goals and dreams was, of course, stupendous. Today, all of […]
We don’t often think about the integrity of our musculoskeletal system. Rather, we expect our bodies to work efficiently without giving any thought to their physical and mechanical requirements. But there are numerous critical requirements for healthy functioning of our joints, muscles, and ligaments. The primary specification involves mechanical integrity of the spinal column. A healthy spine has full range […]
