WARNING: the following link is crass, but funny none the less. View at your own risk.
Sometimes laughter is all you need….
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Tag Archives: Class
Stretching: new research
A new study (Batista LH, Vilar AC, Ferreira JJA, Rebelatto JR & Salvini TF) has be published on the effect of stretching and it impact on fitness, specifically in application to older adults. Here is a brief overview of the important factors:
Deficits in muscle strength and range of motion are common in older adults but not to exclusive to, due to a decrease in overall flexibility. Reduced flexibility is generally caused by shortening and increased rigidity of muscles. These viscoelastic changes in muscle fibers have deleterious functional consequences, such as aberrant gait patterns, and hampered ability to rise from a seated position, leading to a greater incidence of falls and loss of independence.
Stretching is an exercise performed in clinical settings and physical fitness facilities used to increase range of motion. Research has shown that stretching can cause morphologic change in muscle fibers and connective tissue, ultimately leading to an increase in overall muscle strength.
Previous studies have shown that similar results can occur after a stretching intervention implemented every day for 6 weeks straight. This study showed that flexibility training twice a week for 4 weeks is as efficient as a 6 week training protocol
According to this group of researchers, it is conceivable that stretched muscles are stronger because both passive and active forces add to strength production. Previous research concluded that the increase in stored energy and ranges of motion after stretching is important because it can increase the elastic recoil capacity of a muscle. However, this notion is not completely agreed upon in the fitness industry.
Regardless, stretching is a vital component of fitness, equally so as cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength, which not only has benefits in its own right but improves all component of fitness.
Catch the olympic spirit!
To day is day 98 of the olympic torch rely and it’s coming to Squamish! Come participate in the festivities at Brennan Park.
To see the route click here.
Update on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 9:11PM by 
violetquartzwellness
violetquartzwellnessWOW! Was that ever cool. I attended the Lions Bay torch celebration, and it was amazing. Catch a glimpse….
Notes from the universe
Recently a friend introduced me to notes from the universe from tut.com; they are daily e-mails which remind you of the big picture. I highly recommend it, check it out. Always an inspiring message.
My word of the year; abundance
Yesterday I was sharing a meal with a friend, and at the same time picking up some flower essence to support my goals. You may ask what a flower essence is, here is a description fromMarrisa’s website who is the one I get such things from:
Flower essences are energetic remedies made from flowers. They are similar to the idea of homeopathy, yet different. Many people are familiar with the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy as it is the most common and oldest commercial flower essence. It is used for stress, upset, fear, trauma, shock and grief. It is also often used for pets when they are stressed with a trip to the vet, fireworks, lightening or other trauma.
The one I am currently using is abundance. As I was explaining why I was using it, I realized as I spoke it had much deeper significance than I originally intendend. My friend asked me if this was my word of the year, since resolutions are still somewhat on our minds. In that moment I decided that yes, this is my word of the year.
Abundance in health.
Abundance in love.
Abundance in time.
Abundance in fun.
Abundance in friends.
Abundance in wealth.
Abundance in success.
What would you choose your word of the year to live by to be?
YOU are the VIP!
Life is amazing and unexpected. Yesterday I gave a reiki treatment to someone and the shifts were so powerful, and the emotions so deep, that it reminded me what life is really about. We get caught up on the little things of everything day life we forget to look at the bigger picture. One thing I found myself saying also directly applied to me. Trying to do good for others we let our feelings and emotions fall by the way side. Remember; YOU are the most important person in your life. Make yourself happy first, and your joy will have a spiderweb effect, expanding out to those around you. There is a distinction between being selfish and self-full; shelflshness is at the cost of others well-being and happiness. Self-fullness is making yourself a priority, before you reach out to others. What will you do for yourself today?
Happy New Year!
The there are many factors to getting new habits to stick. To start my new habit off on the right foot I decided there was no better day to start writing in my blog regularly than today, but it is not as simple as that, you have to implement strategies that will prime you for success.
Firstly, you must want to change, if you are resolving to do something because others tell you, you should then you will not be successful. I have been told by many business professionals that blogging is a great addition to a website and I should really get into the habit of it. To be honest I really did not feel like it until now, which is one of the reasons why I have not been successful at it.
Secondly, are you confident you are able to make the change. It is the single most important factor in determining whether or not you will achieve your resolutions.
Here is a video of a clinical psychologist Wendy Walsh discussing how to be effective at your resolutions.
Resolutions, goal setting, and transformation
As you all know I have been trying to get this blog off the ground for several months now, and have been unsuccessful. I do not see this as a failure, but a learning opportunity; what did I do or did not do which led to this end result. After giving it much thought I have come to the conclusion that the problem was that I tried versus just doing it. So I am going to give it all I have and just do it. My career goal this year: I will regularly update my blog a minimum of three times a week.
At this time of year many people are talking about resolutions; whether they do or do not work, how to achieve them, and how to make them stick. To be effective in creating your best life and maintaining new behaviors goal setting is an important tool. Well written S.M.A.R.T. goals solidify your commitment to working towards accomplishing them.
This year I am taking a new approach, one I learned form one of my clients (because I learn as much from you as you do from me); I have written my short and long term goals for the year on some paper and have sealed them in an envelope. In three months I will revisit what I have written and see what I accomplished and what fell to the way side. This will allow me to evaluated my successes and reevaluate my ares for opportunity.
I challenge you to do the same. Remember goals do not have to be life changing it would be something as simple as drinking more water in a day.
As many of you know I worked for lululemon for many years. Their format for goal setting is quite effective to get started. As a wise man said; why reinvent the wheel. For information on S.M.A.R.T. goal setting courtesy of lululemon click here.
Welcome to my new blog!
Hello and welcome. I am stating this blog to share my thoughts, experience and expertise on health and wellness. Check in weekly for updates. If you have specific topics you would like me to cover feel free to e-mail me questions and comments.
There is 30 day exercises challenge starting April 1st. It is organized by reach physio. I will leading a chat room discussion Tuesday nights for those taking part. To sign up go here.
Enjoy the sunshine.