The Perfect Hip Flexor Stretch
The hip flexors can be found connecting the top of the femur, which is the largest bone in the body, to the lower back, hips, and groin. When these muscles get tight, they can pull on your spine and contribute to back pain. They also cause the opposing muscle group, the gluteals to shut down. What causes tight hip flexors? Prolonged sitting is a…
Tags: Fitness
White Bean and Swiss Chard Soup
A simple soup with wonderful flavor and plenty of protein and fiber from the beans and Swiss chard. Serve with a hearty piece of bread. Ingredients 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 leeks, washed and chopped 1 large yellow onion, finely diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 bay leaf 4 cups vegetable stock 1 15.5oz can Cannellini Beans drained…
Tags: Recipes, Soup/Stew
Single Leg Deadlift
Understanding the concept of hinging from your hips and not bending your spine is so important for sparing your spine and for effective strengthening of the hip. This exercise takes lots of balance and hip strength. Start with just your body weight and practice next to a wall or pole to help steady yourself if needed. This is a more advanced exercise. Instructions Start…
Tags: Fitness
Single Leg Bridge
This is one of my favorite exercises for strengthening the glutes, low back and hamstrings while teaching hip stability. Week, unstable hips can contribute to low back pain and knee pain. Once your hips are strong and stable, your knees can track the way they should and your spine can stay in a more stable position. Instructions Add tension…
Tags: Fitness
Side Planks
Side Planks are a great exercise for strengthening your obliques, hips and low back.According to spine expert, Dr. Stuart McGill, strength in a side plank is an excellent exercise for spine stabilization. The top image shows my client Deborah in an intermediate side plank variation. Notice that her top leg is in front. This allows her to use her glutes…
Tags: Fitness
Creamy Roasted Carrot Soup
This creamy roasted carrot soup recipe comes from Cookie and Kate. Get the recipe here. This soups is really creamy and comforting without a drop of dairy. Roasting the carrots brings out the sweetness and I added some fresh ginger to add even more warmth of flavor. I brought this soup with me almost every day last week for lunch and never tiered…
Tags: Recipes, Soup/Stew
Pallof Press
The Pallof Press is named after the Boston based physical therapist, John Pallof who came up with this very user friendly core exercise. This exercise is an anti-rotation hold exercise that will help build core stability. “Preventing rotation” means that your body is able to resist forces acting upon it that may try to rotate or move it in a way and…
Tags: Fitness
Foundation Training Gorilla Lift
Part of maintaining a strong pain free back is working on keeping your hips and shoulder moving well. Tight shoulders and hips contribute to compensation at your spine. This Foundation Training exercise, called the Gorilla Lift, emphasizes a strong squat position (hip mobility) and shoulder external rotation and shoulder girdle depression (shoulder…
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My Pick for Best Health and Fitness Books of 2019
Reading is one of my favorite things to do. For all of you enthusiastic and healthy readers out there, I wanted to share some of my favorite health and fitness books of 2019. 1. “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker PhD. This is my favorite read of 2019. Sleep has not been something that our overworked and over stimulated culture values, but sleep…
Tags: Fitness, Inspiration
Kneeling Founder
This is one of my favorite Foundation Training exercises! It is very strengthening for the back and the glutes, and when you add the decompression breathing, you can feel the length and the strength in your back. Getting good at this position also can help you with kneeling work like gardening, playing with kids or pets and then cleaning up after kids…
Tags: Fitness