Thoracic (Upper Back) Extension and Rotation
Your thoracic spine (upper spine) is designed to flex, extended and rotate where your lumbar (lower spine) is not, we should use our hips to rotate, extend and flex. When our upper back becomes stiff from lack of motion, and too much forward posture, the lower spine and our neck can compensate and pain can develop. Try incorporating this simple exercise…
Tags: Fitness
Almond Date Chocolate Chip Cookies
Who doesn't love a good cookie! Cookies don't have to be loaded with sugar and saturated fat. Sometimes they can be loaded with lots of good for you fiber, and plant based protein. I use 85% dark chocolate chips for these cookies but you can substitute raisins or some other dried fruit if you like. These cookies come together quickly because they are…
Tags: Dessert, Recipes
Five Common Health and Fitness Mistakes to Avoid - Some May Surprise You!
1. Spending lots of time on “core work” to reduce abdominal fat. Spot reduction just doesn’t work. If you are unhappy with the amount of abdominal fat you have, cleaning up your diet by getting rid of the processed food, and adding more fruits and vegetables is key. You may also want to adjust your workout routine by adding some challenging aerobic…
Tags: Fitness
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
A delicious Mediterranean Pasta Salad inspired from a recipe from Love and Lemons. I have served this salad to guests a number of times this summer and is has always been a winner. You can substitute feta cheese for the avocado if you like. I think it would be fun to try different kinds of short pasta for this recipe. If you try a different flavor,…
Tags: Recipes, Salads
Forward Fold
A forward fold, is a very common exercise done as a lower back and hamstring stretch, but is it ideal? When the spine flexes forward, and the muscles of the lower back lengthen under tension, and vertebral flexion create compressive loads on the disks. These loads exceed those deemed safe by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.…
Tags: Fitness
Summer Soba Noodles
A perfect dinner dish for a hot summer night. A super nutrient dish dish with bok choy, red peppers, carrots, scallions, buckwheat soba noodles topped with sesame seeds makes this dish high in fiber, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta carotene. I often serve this dish with baked tofu or I get the grilled sweet chili tofu from Whole Foods and serve…
Tags: Main Course, Recipes
Foundation Training Lunge Decompression
I am being coached by Linda, a fellow Foundation Training teacher from British Columbia during our Level 2 training in Boulder last weekend. The lunge decompression is an exercise that lengthens the powerful hip flexor muscles and the muscles on the front of the body. Incorporating decompression breathing, helps to lift the rib cage and enhances the…
Tags: Fitness
Foundation Training "Woodpecker"
Foundation Training uses a combination of powerful movements and diaphragmatic breath work to activate the core and decompress the spine. When practiced regularly, your pain diminishes, your resistance to injury increases, and your body comes to life. Woodpecker, can almost be considered a single leg Founder. Woodpecker is an excellent glute and lower…
Tags: Fitness
Kale Salad Inspiration
I have been in Mexico the past week enjoying some warm weather and beach after our big snow season in Aspen. It has been great to relax, read, get some good workouts inside and outside, enjoy the ocean, and of course enjoy the local cuisine. We had dinner last night at Flora Farms in Cabo and it was an amazing experience. They raise all of their own…
Tags: Recipes, Salads
Founder- A Powerful Foundation Training Exercise
Foundation Training uses a combination of powerful movements and diaphragmatic breath work to activate the core and decompress the spine. When practiced regularly, your pain diminishes, your resistance to injury increases, and your body comes to life. A "Founder" is one of the most basic and most powerful exercises within the Foundation Training series. Stand…
Tags: Fitness