Let’s be honest: as we move through 2019 many of us can get easily distracted with notification after notification. We’re connected 24/7 to our smartphones and other tech devices that bombard us with information and reminders of the convenient pleasures of instant gratification.
We like to wistfully muse about our lives. To play with the concept of this—literally—self-contained unit of time. This line of thinking has been called introspection, reflection, egocentrism, existentialism…I spent a considerable amount of time inside this line of thinking when I was in school. Whenever I would share my thoughts with friends or classmates I’d inevitably get “whoa, that's so deep man” in reply, and not much else. This irked me to no end. Yet, their disinterest had meaning in and of itself. How was running on this proverbial hamster wheel at all relevant to daily life?
Scarcity. This energy packed frequency of limited potential is a dense membrane that surrounds the human energetic field and closes off your ability to tap into the ever-flowing creative energy of Source which is the treasure box of abundance.
In recent years alongside the Paleo diet, there has been a fast-moving trend toward its exercise complement, Functional Movement. Crossfit is one of the biggest names in the Functional Movement world and indeed, the fitness world as a whole. However, there still seems to be a disconnect for many when it comes to understanding what Functional Movement is as its core.
Fascia is often referred to as the glue that holds us together, but few of us know what it is and why it matters. This article discusses the ways in which we can stretch our fascia to loosen tight muscles (believe it or not, tight hamstrings can actually be caused by a forward head lean) for both sports performance as well as a high quality of daily life.
“We can think of food in general, as well as the very act of cooking, in a similar vein. Good, fresh, wholesome ingredients have tremendous capacity to support the body and all its systems. Preparing those foods in ways that bring out their best—that make them more nourishing for the body and a feast for the senses—is a powerful form of medicine that cultivates the health of the body, mind, and spirit.”
—Brittany Wood Nickerson, Recipes from the Herbalist’s Kitchen
Most of us tend to think that the healthiest people amongst us are those who dutifully go to the gym six days a week, work up a sweat on the bike or the treadmill, lift weights to preserve bone mass, stretch out in a yoga class, and then go home after the hour is up. While the gym-goers are probably healthier than the majority of the U.S. population, even they aren’t ideal. Why not?
Benefits:
Stretches the inner thighs and hips, knees and ankles
Opens the chest muscles and the front shoulders
Helps promote the spinal flexibility and stimulates internal organs.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Start with legs in lotus pose, place hands on ground behind back and lift butt up off floor.
Feet are both flexed.
Benefits:
Improves strength in side body.
Stretches side body, arms, and legs.
Can also improve balance.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Start sitting with feet together in front of body, lift one leg up and with opposite hand grab foot to activate stretch.
Back is straight.
Upper arm is gently grabbing foot, keep elbow above head.
Shoulders are back and away from ears.
Benefits:
Strengthens legs.
Improves strength in core and back muscles.
Can help improve balance.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Start lying on side of body, raise both feet into air while together.
Entire body is engaged and lifting.
Feet are flexed.
Both legs are straight.
Body can be held stable by arms.
Heart is pressing forward.
Shoulders are pressing back.