Get To Your Core! » functional fitness

Balance Test – Is Your Nervous System Still Coordinated?

drsteve — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:39:40 +0000

You might be surprised at the results when you take this simple balance test. If you don't have good balance, you start avoiding movements that require it. And you know what that means!

If you don't use it….YOU LOSE IT!

That's a major reason for unhealthy aging. You quit moving how you used to move "when you were younger".

Plus you definitely run a much higher risk of getting injured or having a traumatic fall where you break a bone or a near fall where you "catch yourself" and pull a muscle which can put you on the sidelines of life for a long time.

I pulled this test out of the new Posture Transformation and Functional Fitness Online Course so you can get an idea of what to expect when we open enrollment.

If you haven't seen the full introduction to the course yet, you can check it at www.CoreWellnessInstitute.com and be sure to let me know how you do on the test by leaving a comment!

How To Lift and Carry A Child (or anything else)…SAFELY!

drsteve — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:18:34 +0000

A few episodes back I got some good suggestions for future videos and today I respond to Maggie May who wanted to know the best way to lift and carry a child.

Young mothers (and fathers, and grandparents) should ALL watch this video so if you know anyone who's regularly lifting a child (or anything else for that matter) everyday…share this with them!!

Remember…"little hinges swing big doors"! And today's "little hinge" is a very important one for saving millions of backs and necks across the world!!

Be sure to leave a comment to let me know what you think of the video and also let me know what activity of daily living YOU would like to see covered on an upcoming episode!

Until next time…Happy "pulsing"!!

Back Saving Snow Shoveling Advice – Part II

drsteve — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:49:06 +0000

Pay really close attention to this video because it helps you avoid the most toxic movement program ever…"The lift and twist" with a flexed or "rounded" spine.

Snow shoveling is a classic example of a disc blowing maneuver that can put you on the road to be grumpy, disabled, and eventually a burden to everyone around you!!!

AND NOBODY WANTS THAT!

Remember…The most important exercise you'll EVER do is LIFE!

Every moment of every day can be a highly effective, pain relieving, spine sparing exercise if you pay attention to…

HOW YOU DO WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU DO IT!

Leave me a comment if you've been getting any benefits out of these videos or if you've got a movement pattern or question you'd like me to cover in an upcoming episode!!

(And if you haven't got your "Reverse CPS Now!" FREE video series to help get you on track with the whole Core Wellness school of postural thought…Click Here or on my picture to the right!)

REFERENCE MENTIONED IN VIDEO HERE

5 Moves in 5 Minutes To Keep You Young and Vital

drsteve — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:23:55 +0000

As you join me today for my morning movement ritual with the geese at Perrin Park, you'll discover the 5 moves I do when I didn't make time fdon't have time for anything else (although I didn't show sun salutations on this video, which I normally do as a warm up).

I'm always amazed how just a few minutes of good functional movement can

reignite and reconnect the neural circuits in your brain.

It's amazing. If you just do these 5 moves every day without fail you'll be amazed at how your brain and body will feel as well.

One caveat: What I did NOT do in this video is speak of the subtle things I'm doing with the INTENTION in my mind that you're NOT seeing!

You must ALWAYS have the INTENTION of "pushing away from your support points" and

breathing into your core, which are fundamental prerequisites to ANY move!

You can learn more about these fundamentals in the FREE "Reverse CPS Now!" video series you can get by clicking on my picture on the right of the page.

Do these moves and let me know how they make you feel in the comments!!

How To Climb Stairs Without Making This Harmful Mistake

drsteve — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:59:55 +0000

Today's video brings to light something most people NEVER even consider when it comes to protecting and preserving you spine, hips, and knees from debilitating pain syndromes.

This subtle little "movement pattern adjustment" will make a world of difference when you apply it to your stair climbing, ellipticals, and especially if you're doing any kind of step aerobics!

Let's face it…if you want to continue to soak up all the amazing things life has to offer, it's going to be a HECK of a lot easier if you can bound up a flight of stairs! While you're at it…why not take TWO at a time!

You'll also learn about the excellent self test called "reversability" taken from the infamous Moshe Feldenkrais.

ENJOY and LEAVE ME A COMMENT telling me what other movements you'd like to see broken down and done in an efficient and strain free manner so you can start living life with more energy and less strain!

How To Stop Neck and Shoulder Pain With This “Self Adjustment”

drsteve — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:45:28 +0000

Everyone wants to know what stretches to do to relieve their neck and shoulder tension but to me, that's like snipping a weed off at the level of the ground without ever getting to the ROOT!

In today's Core Wellness TV episode below, you'll learn about "Movement Patterns" or "Programming" that must be "DEprogrammed" or else you'll end up like Bill Murray in the movie "Groundhog Day", repeating the same damaging movement patterns over and over and over…and over!

Stretch=> feel better => damage yourself with dysfunctiona movement patterns => overload muscles and joints => feel pain, tension, and fatigue => get grumpy and create a short emotional fuse and damage relationships => stretch…back to top of loop!

Speaking of "Groundhog Day" and "Deprogramming". I'm doing a live 2 HOUR LIVE EVENT on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2nd with proven Mindset, Movement, and Nutrition strategies to help you BREAK FREE from your own loop of poor health choices that are keeping you "stuck".

I put a 1 page flyer together with details which you can access by CLICKING HERE. We will be recording it and making it available to all our wonderful subscribers from afar who won't be able to make it. (if you're not a subscriber, just click on my photo to the right and enter your name and email)

Enjoy the video…It will save you YEARS of agony…I promise!

Avoid Back Injuries With This Simple Functional Fitness Move

drsteve — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:33:32 +0000

One of the top fitness trends for 2010 that actually makes sense is "Functional Fitness".

This means training your body with movements that actually mimic real life situatations or "activities of daily living".

In this short but VERY impactful video, I talk about the most basic functional fitness move that you MUST incorporate into your everyday living or else suffer the eventual consequences of debilitating back pain, sciatica, and hip problems.

I have literally seen people die (one very recently) because of a back pain episode that caused horrible disability and depression.

So I honestly believe that this simple "hip hinge" move can literally save your life!

ALSO…after watching the video below, be sure to check out this previous video post I did that incorporates the hip hinge move during a highly effective stretch for sciatica, back pain, and hip pain. (13,127 views and 35 comments to date!)

YOUR QUESTION OF THE DAY…

What other questions about fitness do you have? I'm sure many of you have embarked on new or different exercise program as a New Year's resolution…right? What's your biggest concern or question about exercising? Leave your question by leaving a comment below!