The Importance of Skipping Breakfast While there is nothing wrong with eating some eggs for breakfast (eggs are pretty much a perfect food) there are many benefits to skipping breakfast entirely. We have been ‘force fed’ the notion that bad things will happen to us if we skip breakfast. A lot of this propaganda has […]…
The Value of Blowing up a Balloon Thanks to PRI Practitioner Ryan Dobbeck for the photoshoot. In 2012, I read a blog by physical therapist Jeff Cubos that really got my attention, “The Balloon – Your New Clinical Tool.” In 2016, I finally ended up becoming certified in Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) and studied extensively […]…
The ONE Thing “People do no decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.” – F.M. Alexander In his book (The ONE Thing) Gary Keller raises the question, “What’s the ONE Thing I need to do such that by doing it, everything else becomes easier or unnecessary?” The author explains […]…
I personally would have no problem with a patient telling me that they use a foam roller on their thoracic spine. Rolling back and forth (horizontally), relaxing with it lengthwise along their spine to open the chest, or even some typical extensions mid thoracic. Kudos to them – they took some initial to work on […]…
The following is a PRI (Postural Restoration Institute) inspired downward dog modification. Many women with chronic hip/low back pain and ‘tight’ hamstrings that I have worked with actually had overstretched hamstrings! To make matters worse their physical therapist or yoga instructor told them to stretch their hamstrings even more! Yoga has many amazing benefits – […]…
Image courtesy of RockTape® and Perry Nickelston (Stop Chasing Pain) Supine to Oblique Sit Roll The supine to oblique sit roll is an exercise that simulates an ipsilateral rolling pattern. The maturing baby first learns to stabilize in the sagittal plane – either on their back or stomach (supine/prone). A weightlifter squatting is utilizing the […]…
Can You Breathe Away Hamstring Tightness? Everyone seems to have ‘tight’ hamstrings. The most popular stretch and one that has been with us since John F Kennedy’s exercise program was launched into schools is the straight leg hamstring stretch. There are standing, seated, and supine variations that are used by gym members on a regular […]…
The Rib Roll Exercise The rib roll exercise improves rotation through the thoracic spine. Thoracic spine immobility – both limited extension and rotation – creates problems at the neck and shoulders. Pair this exercise with this passive thoracic spine mobilization. Then retest your thoracic rotation and shoulder flexibility. Lastly, rolling is a good way to […]…
Let’s Get Rolling Walking is rolling standing up – with a higher demand for stability. A lack of mobility is often the result of poor stability – soft-tissue restrictions and joint fixations are a compensatory stabilization strategy. Rotational stability and power is needed in all sports and by all athletes. If you have a hip […]…
Improving Thoracic Rotation If you have one shoulder that is more flexible than the other (asymmetry) or poor shoulder mobility – assess your thoracic rotation. If your mid back area is locked up – improve thoracic rotation – instead of just foam rolling your lats or stretching your pecs. When I take an athlete through […]…