After the workday is over, many of us run around to get the kids picked up, scramble to prepare something resembling dinner and then we’re off to school functions, extra curricular activities or volunteer meetings. Once we finally arrive home, it’s time to help the kids with their homework and get them ready for bed. You finally have some alone time to melt into the couch and watch some television or jump on the Internet for the last few remaining hours of the day. Everyone knows the importance Read more [...]

Mary Ann, an overweight woman, age 47, tells me that she has been dieting since she was 20, lost significant amounts of weight several times on various diet plans, but kept gaining it back — and more — within a year or two every time. She asks tentatively, “How will this time will be different?” This question is often asked by people who have had a similar experience of weight loss and regain, and that’s because most programs do not provide strong maintenance plans or involve behaviorists, Read more [...]

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, killing an estimated 400,000 women each year. Since 1984, more women than men die each year from cardiovascular disease, despite advances in medicine which have led to availability of life-saving medications and surgical treatment options. And, while most people know to suspect a heart attack when someone reports crushing chest pain, 60 percent of women who die from cardiovascular disease do not have classic symptoms. Women are more likely to Read more [...]

People will often come up and tell me that they have been working out for weeks but haven’t lost any weight. As I begin talking with them I find out that their clothes are fitting better and they feel healthier, but the scale isn’t giving them the numbers that they want so they feel frustrated and discouraged. This is not uncommon. The important thing to remember is that when you are exercising there are many things going on inside your body and the scale isn’t going to tell you the whole story. Any Read more [...]

Change Your Environment, Change Your Expectations, Change Your Outcome The holidays are coming! If only the holidays involved just three days of festive eating — but for most of us, the holidays include several weeks of overeating and stress! This doesn’t have to happen! You can decide that you will have a zero-gain holiday season by following these simple steps. 1. Know where you are starting from Obtain a Body Composition Analysis and from there set a realistic goal to create a zero-gain Read more [...]

There have been many changes in the field of massage therapy since I began as a body worker 20 years ago. Massage is no longer the domain of the rich and famous or elite athletes. Today, nearly a quarter of all adult Americans have received a massage at one time in their lives. As we learn the consequences of what physical and emotional stress can do to our bodies, most recognize massage therapy as a (relatively) inexpensive way to address a variety of health-related issues including pain relief, Read more [...]

October is not only physical therapy month, but also breast cancer awareness month. Women, and men, across America are more aware now than ever before of the effects, treatment methods and choices provided after surgery. There are walk-a-thons, support groups, websites, television specials and even pink ribbons to bring awareness to all, along with the increase in treatment options for those suffering from the effects of breast cancer. Because of this, women are living longer and taking more preventative Read more [...]

The reduction of stress in our busy lives is one of the most sought out benefits of practicing yoga. We encounter stress, anxiety and anger in many forms throughout life. Financial burdens, emotional upheavals and the speed at which life proceeds in our modern society, all increase our stress levels. These factors tax the body and nervous system, adversely affecting the mind, which can cause unhappiness and even illness. How we deal with stress can affect our physical and mental health. Through Read more [...]

For many Michigan families, the end of summer means heading back to school.  The beginning of the school year brings to mind the sound of tardy bells ringing, the sight of yellow buses dropping off children for an exciting day of education and the smell of freshly sharpened number two pencils. Unfortunately, heading back to school also means the sometimes-dreaded task of packing our children a healthy lunch. Packing a lunch provides the benefit of knowing what your child is eating and ensuring Read more [...]

If you have lower back pain from an injury or a genetic predisposition, or are interested in developing your core strength (your stabilizing muscles of the abdominals, back and hip abductors and adductors) to help prevent back pain, then water exercise or aquatic therapy may be just the thing for you. About 80 percent of the population is affected by back ailments at some point. Aquatic exercise or therapy can serve as a solution to these ailments. When exercises are performed correctly, the participant Read more [...]

Working to improve your core strength has more benefits than just trying to get a six pack for beach season. Your core muscles (abs, obliques and lower back) play a vital role in almost everything you do. Whenever you push, pull, lift or throw, you use your core muscles, so it is important to keep them in good shape to keep yourself strong and  prevent injuries. There are many classes and programs available specifically geared toward improving core strength, such as Pilates and conditioning Read more [...]

When our kids are young and just starting to play sports, we want to keep them safe. We buy them protective equipment and make sure they are taught the proper fundamentals to ensure safe play. We don’t like to think about it, but with sports participation come sports-related injuries. Most are minor injuries such as sprains and strains. Some, however, are more serious, such as fractures, dislocations, concussions or serious knee injuries. Serious knee injuries seem to happen every season, especially Read more [...]