How is your flexibility? Need a workshop?

·      What is flexibility?  

It’s the range of motion (ROM) of a joint.  Your muscles are actually long enough to allow for full ROM and it’s the tension that usually stops it from stretching as it should.  Genetics, age, gender and exercise (or more importantly lack of) play a role also.

·       Why is stretching important?

Injuries are seldom caused by a single painful incident, and usually due to a gradual accumulation of poor posture, stress, loss of flexibility, and lack of physical conditioning (strength training).

·       Back pain is one of the most common complaints and here are some of the reasons;

• Weak abdominal muscles create that hunched over curvature of the lower spine.  This creates additional strain and chronic pain.

• Forward bending causes excessive strain when you bend over straight legged (locking your knees) and straight back. 

• Lack of exercise to strengthen the abdominal and back muscles, including training your whole trunk.

·       Sciatic pain occurs when the sciatic nerve is squeezed as it passes through your tight piriformis muscle or if you have other muscle imbalances pulling your spine in a way that pinches the nerve.

·       Muscle tightness is an indicator of other injury patterns.  Here are a few common ones;

Tight quads – jumpers knees

Tight calves – Achilles tendinitis and heel pain

Tight Hamstrings – low back pain and patellar problems

If you are not as flexible as you need to be and are having issues, contact me and we can set up a time to schedule a private workshop for you and up to 3 of your friends or family.  I keep the interactive workshops small to give the attention needed to make sure you are doing the stretching exercises correctly.

Have you ever wanted to tell your story?

No my story isn't about singing.  It is much more personal and vulnerable than that.  My chapter in the book is about growing up, alone and confused.  As a child I grew up as a "little" adult making big adult decisions with no guidance from my parents.  

I wrote my chapter as a cleansing and purging of built up feelings that I didn't realize were holding me back from being the best person I could be for myself.  I have made some stupid mistakes in my life as we all have at one point or another.  Did your mistakes cost you dearly?  Does your past trickle into your future?  

We can't change our past, delete mistakes we've made and or change thoughts of others who were involved.  I don't dwell over my past and never thought about writing and publicizing my mistakes to the world, but my passion in life is to help other women work through their feelings.  Helping them to understand that although they made mistakes, sometimes even really big ones, they can still "put on their big girl panties" and change their future.

You don't have to publicize your story to get the same benefits, if you find there is something holding you back, just start writing.  No one has to see your writing, do it for yourself and believe in yourself.

If you are interested in ordering the book, I am taking pre orders until the launch.  Scroll to the right side of blog and get your copy today for only $14.95

Fitness Routines Play a Major Role in Improving How a Cancer Patient Feels

Great article by Guest Blogger

Cancer patients struggle with many different issues that range from physical tiredness, bouts of severe pain, lack of energy, emotional unsteadiness, and new routines consisting of regular doctor visits and treatments.

Being diagnosed with cancer affects each person differently, but the disease has a few major common denominators that are typically present in nearly any person who has cancer.  The disease takes away levels of energy and decreases physical strength in the body.  Investing in physical fitness routines can assist people fighting cancer in gaining more muscle strength and higher levels of energy.

Doctors around the globe who research the benefits of fitness for cancer patients have repeatedly stressed that when a cancer patients gets mild to moderate amounts as possible, the person will be working to make improvements in how he or she feels and in overall body strength.  People who want to improve their fitness and physical strength can utilize the many options for exercise and begin pursuing a fitness routine that is enjoyable and will have a positive impact on how the person feels.

Fitness for mesothelioma and other cancer patients can range from mild to moderate to advance.  Each person should consult his or her oncologist or personal family physician before beginning any type of fitness routine.  Working out and planning a fitness schedule under the supervision of a doctor will help the person to maximize the benefits the person is able to receive from exercising.

Following recommended fitness guidelines will assist a cancer patient, or a person who is in remission to slowly begin to achieve more physical strength and also increase levels of energy in the body.  Fitness has also had a great impact in providing coping methods to cancer patients and to other people who are going through the process of having a major illness or disease treated.

The website for the National Cancer Institute, states that getting exercise on a regular basis is a key factor in a cancer patient’s life.  According the NCI, physical fitness helps to balance energy for people who are fighting cancer.  

Regular amounts of exercise can strengthen the heart, improve muscle and joint function, and reduce lethargy in everyone.  These are especially important factors for someone who is going through chemotherapy treatments, radiation, or a battery of surgeries to remove cancerous tumors.  The many types of treatments can take a major toll on a person’s mind and body and leave a person feeling completely drained.

Participating in enjoyable and regular workouts can provide a way for a cancer patient to begin taking control back over his or her life by strengthening the body and giving the mind a new set of coping skills and a positive, healthy outlet.  Making the exercises fun and doing something out of the ordinary to get the body moving has benefited many people.  Participating in bike rides, leisurely hikes, bowling, gardening, yoga, dance classes, and mall walking are all moderate forms of exercise that can greatly increase how a person feels both emotionally and physically while he or she is battling cancer or recovering from cancer.


Joining the organization in 2011, David Haas is a cancer support group and awareness program advocate at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. In addition to researching the many valuable programs available to our site’s visitors, David often blogs about programs and campaigns underway at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, as well as creative fitness ideas for those dealing with cancer, while creating relationships with similar organizations.

Read more: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/david/bio.htm#ixzz1ssSJ5R3n

Exercising when you can will help you through the rougher times, be good to yourself and know when to take it easy too.  If you need help with an exercise program, please don't hesitate to contact me.