Tag Archives: upland

Midlife comebacks and the weekend warrior

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Time to get real. If you have been a couch potato for a while, some things have changed. If you’re planning on making a comeback, there are a few things that you will probably want to know.

You can lose up to 80% of your conditioning by taking just two weeks off of your regular exercise routine. That is, if you have a regular routine. You are going to want to take a gradual approach, and, in doing so,` you will get back up to speed in no time.

Chances are, if you have been off for a while, several changes have occurred in your body.Your muscle mass will be considerably smaller. Your muscles may have shortened and lost flexibility. Muscles, tendons, and other structures will have begun to adhere together, restricting your body movements. Your posture is not as upright. Maybe, you have gained a few pounds. Because you have not used your muscles vigorously, they have accumulated waste products and are not as efficient. Your wind is less, which you notice once you start to push yourself.

Now for the plug. This is a perfect time for you to start getting regular Massage. Massage will get you  back up and running faster, and with less discomfort. In fact, many individuals try to make a comeback and fail, because the transition back to fitness is just too much of a struggle. Massage can make this a much easier route. You want back, don’t you? I want you feeling good again.

However, you have some folks who are betting against you. Every gym that signs up  new members knows that most of them won’t be taking advantage of their membership benefits.  They know you will probably make a good two- week effort, if that much, and give up.That works fine for the gym, because they know they can oversell memberships and make a fortune while you sit at home.   You see, the idea of being healthy is not the same as actually being healthy. I want you to succeed. We can do it!

So, do you agree?

Massage Vs Chocolate Treats

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09_06_2-chocolates_webLadies, the debate rages on. I know the decision is a difficult one…….but maybe I can help resolve the potentially stressful internal conflict that just won’t go away. Chocolate or Massage?

Lets look at some of the pros and cons:

  1. Massage  makes for more” Me” time. Chocolate pleasures are more ephemeral.
  2. Massage is healthy for you. Chocolate  anti-oxidants taste the best.
  3. The effects of the Massage can last up to a week. Me and my chocolate are as one; who cares about next week.
  4. Massage is an expensive treat. Chocolates can be an expansive treat depending on how many you have.
  5. Massage can leave you sore. Chocolates can make you bigger.
  6. There are good Massages and bad . Most Chocolates are pretty good.

Ladies, don’t fret. We are not going to resolve this today. In the meantime, why not get both.  Start with a Massage followed by a Chocolate.

Stretching Basics… bend don’t break!

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Nobody enjoys stretching; we’d rather just compete. However, that’s one big reason athletes get hurt. Afterward, the rehab can take a long time, and any athlete will tell you it is frustrating  not being out there competing. So, a few pointers on stretching.

  • Before you stretch, warm your muscles up…..If you’re at home, take a warm shower. If you’re at the gym, do the  activity you planned, only do it at 1/2 to 3/4 speed. Do this without any contact. So take a few layups, short jumpers if you’re hooping for example. The key is to do the activity slowly; this allows for blood to get into those muscles. When they are warm, they are less likely to tear or perform poorly, which might lead to an injury.
  • Once the muscles are warmed up, it is time to stretch.  Be sure to “hold” your stretch for a minute or so. Count to Sixty, otherwise you probably won’t stretch the muscle long enough.  Do this for each muscle group involved. Also, no bouncing, hold the muscle in a sustained stretch. Focus on how the muscle feels and on your breath. This will help the stretch and get you focused and ready to play.
  • Stretch the muscles used in the activity, focus on the ones that give you trouble.
  • Whatever your game, go out and perform.

Be flexible like Gumby, like Bob Hayes

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bob-heyesDuring my Massage training, we would regularly volunteer at sporting events.  One time, we were at a track event with some heavy hitting corporations, like Exxon.  Anyway, you could see these middle-aged executives competing, but one stood out; he seemed to be simply floating above the track. Later, I found out the athlete was Bob Hayes, ex- Olympian, ex- Dallas cowboy wide receiver.  The difference between Bob and the other athletes was stark. The other guys seemed to be struggling, taking short, choppy strides while Bob took long, smooth, seemingly effortless strides. He easily destroyed his competition. Not only were his legs more flexible, but, also, his hips, shoulders and neck. He was so relaxed

The difference was flexibility. Keep that in mind when you want to cut corners and skip your stretching. Now the original Gumby

Massage Touch a luxury?

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In many circles,  Massage is viewed as a luxury. Being touched feels good, for most of us, but we could live without it, right? Well, as it turns out, no.

Even as late as 1915, in hospitals and orphanages, a mysterious illness was running rampant. Infants were dying at rates between 90%-99% within the first year of  being admitted. Those who managed to survive were left permanently damaged.  Their bones did not grow properly, they were underweight, uncoordinated, and had compromised immune systems.. All these symptoms, and more, were associated with physical starvation.  Oddly, these infants were not starved at all, At least, not for food.

As it turned out, the Hospitals, in their ultimate wisdom,  reflecting on the best science of the time, decided that, because of the importance of  maintaining a germ- free environment, the babies would be handled only as much as necessary. As a consequence of this forward thinking, babies  died, with great frequency.  The disease was properly named “Merasmus” which meant a “wasting away”.  This touch deprivation looked exactly like physical starvation. There was an immediate, drastic improvement, once nurses and other caregivers handled and played with the infants.

So, maybe you believe we have advanced past that primitive stage of understanding the importance of touch. I have my doubts. Take, for example, our children. Teachers are no longer allowed to hug the children in some schools. So, do you think this practice “protects” our children? Read what Lenore Iskenazy has to say on Free-Range-Kids in an article entitled “school devises drastic solution”.

The need for touch does not just disappear as we age.There exists another hidden killer………..Stress, literally, will shorten your life.  Unlike animals who can experience stress and move on, humans have trouble turning the stress switch off. The longer the stress button remains on, the shorter your life.  Massage can turn that switch off. More on stress later. Touch a luxury? You bet your life! Here is some independent research.

Select a Massage Therapist in Rancho Cucamonga using the Yellow Pages?

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Using the Yellow Pages to find a Therapist is probably not the best way to go, the reason being you don’t really know what your getting. The best place to start is with family and friends. They, at least can tell you about the experience they had with Massage.  Many of my clients have known me for years. They could probably tell you more about me than I could. It kind of feels like family, like a friend

Another good place to look would be medical offices. Chiropractors, especially often retain Therapists who know a bit more than the average about the human body and how it works. At minimum, they at least know when a Massage is the wrong thing to do. My background, before I attended Massage School, was in Physical Therapy. I was interested in helping people with real health issues, Accidents, Injuries, and otherwise serious conditions.  I then was inclined to work in Chiropractic offices.

In the city of Rancho Cucamonga,  where I work, the Therapist must have a minimum of 500 hours training. We are also required to carry insurance.