Playing with Balance
On the weekend while hiking the very beginning of the famous Stawamus Chief trail near Squamish, I was once again reminded of the role balance plays in not only helping us stay upright while climbing or descending a steep hill but its importance for everyday activities such as walking and sitting. Try the following short […]
Learn and be happy
A recent report suggests what many of us already know: people that are educated and continue to learn are happier and report greater overall well-being. Generally people with more education have higher incomes. In the report, the authors discuss whether this greater earning power is responsible for the reported higher levels of happiness. They also […]
Pain in the neck
Millions of people worldwide are using computer tablets and with their growing use more is being written about the associated ergonomic hazards. Last week the LA Times reported on a Harvard study that looked at how different positions assumed by tablet users and various placements of the tablet on a table or user’s lap affected […]
Relax your face to relax your body
This weekend we held a new workshop, Feldenkrais® Facial. Rather than applying creams and gels to our faces we did several Awareness Through Movement® lessons related to the face, neck, jaw and eyes. We evoked several feeling states such as happy, sad, angry and pain and discovered that each sentiment brought forth different sensations in […]
Posture
How do you feel when you are not standing or sitting as straight as you would like? What do you do to straighten yourself? What does it mean to have a good posture? A lot of people feel that good posture is a reflection of how straight they are sitting or standing. Moshe Feldenkrais taught […]
Increase sensitivity in your hands and fingers
We use our hands a lot during the day, especially our fingers for typing and texting and as a result more and more people are experiencing tension and pain in their wrists and fingers. Take a few minutes several times a day to move away from your computer or smart phone. In Feldenkrais practice we […]
Change Your Age
How old we feel is often dictated more by our movement habits and our ability to move with ease than by our chronological age. We can unlearn many of these restrictive habits and create new ones to help our bodies and minds feel younger, stronger and more agile and flexible. Here is a sample movement […]
Keep Moving
Almost every day we read articles extolling the virtues of a non sedentary lifestyle. There is now recognition that children who exercise do better in school and are healthier, no matter what form of exercise they do. It has long been known that prolonged sitting increases strain on the back and leads to muscle tension […]
Walking stairs saves time and is healthier
Feeling like a slug after all the holiday eating and drinking? Rather than making one big resolution to get into shape think about starting small and slow. You could begin by deciding to walk up stairs rather than taking the elevator especially for 3 flights or less. A recent study suggests that it can take […]