Call Today! 860-748-7574|maggie@personaleuphoria.com
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About Maggie Downie

Thank you for giving your time to stop and read my blog. I hope it encourages you to keep moving. Move and the body will be happier. And when you're moving you can hike, run, swim in Jell-O, race over non-Newtonian fluids, travel the world or build igloos--if that's your thing. If not, you can watch me do it. This is just a spot to try and feel good about life.
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Talk to your doctor about getting an MRI

I’m not a doctor.  I don’t even play one on TV.  Ultimately, the main messaging of this blog is that if you have certain types of pain, you should talk to your doctor about getting an MRI sooner rather than later.

Anecdotally, I find that the clients I work with get so much helpful information from an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).  Information that seems to help the course of action at physical therapy, or improve accuracy of cortisone shots, or the realization that the injury likely requires surgery or sometimes a simple procedure to resolve a problem.

Yet for some reason, also anecdotally, I find that my clients will be in pain for months and see multiple doctors before getting an MRI. According to the FDA, adverse side effects are rare, so I wondered why more people aren’t getting them.  If MRI’s seem to provide so much useful info, what’s the delay in prescribing them?

MRI’s are expensive procedures.  On average an MRI costs $2,611.  The machines themselves can cost over $3-million, not including what it costs to outfit the room to be able to host an MRI machine.  That is a […]

Talk to your doctor about getting an MRI2018-10-08T17:58:22-04:00

Instructor Highlight Kathleen

Kathleen is one currently subbing for PE for yoga classes.  We hope to bring her on for some regular classes of her own soon! Here’s Kathleen’s instructor highlight.

Get to know Kathleen:

When you aren’t teaching what are some of your favorite ways to move?

Hiking and playing with my dog.

What song motivates or picks you up the most?

Follow the Sun by Xavier Rudd.

Favorite Food?

Sweet Potatoes

Time you normally crawl into bed?

10pm

What skill would you like to master?

Playing the guitar.

What would be the most amazing adventure to go on?

Camping out in national parks!

Favorite season?  Why?

Fall—the variety of warm and cool weather, the foliage colors, and NO bugs!

Best advice you’ve ever gotten?

Life is serious.  Don’t take it too seriously.

Instructor Highlight Kathleen2018-03-21T15:45:07-04:00

That’s Not A Word

Me & Matt

I’ve been with Matt for nearly 17 years and he never commented on this until today and neither has anyone else I’ve spoken to.  I mentioned to him that something stressing me out was giving me “agina.”  To which he finally replied, “That’s not a word.”

“Yes, it is,” I insisted.

“Nope, it’s agita.”

After a brief debate we searched for the answer online and the Google Gods proclaimed that agita is in fact a word for heartburn while agina is a word for nothing, unless I mean angina, which I don’t.  But I insisted: “Well, that’s not what I mean.  I don’t have heartburn.  This is giving me agina: an overall feeling of anxiousness.  It must be Italian.”

While not true, this seemed a plausible answer as my Italian-American family does use a number of random Italian words.  “Moosha moosh” describes when you just don’t feel great.  You are still willing to eat, but then you’ll want to lie down.  We say “Madone” which is the Italian swearword I know best.  […]

That’s Not A Word2018-08-15T15:05:07-04:00

Better Balance

So many beautiful places to practice balance!

We have been focusing on better balance this month at Personal Euphoria.  Balance is affected by our nervous system, our strength and flexibility, and our vision.  It’s easy to get frustrated when you feel like you can’t balance, but try to think of it more as a game.  Be a little playful as you experiment with balance.  Shoes on generally makes all balance exploration easier.  Shoes off will add more challenge to the foot and lower leg. 

Here are some ways to explore balance:

1)      Try balancing on one leg.  Which leg feels easier to balance on?  Can you balance for 60 seconds on each leg?

2)      Working the outer thighs is helpful for increasing balance, so try some of these exercises:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Y3s0_B57I

3)      This is […]

Better Balance2018-08-15T14:54:10-04:00

Instructor Highlight Isa

Isa is not one of our instructors, but she helps us with admin work.  If you have ever gotten a postcard or holiday card that’s in large part due to Isa.  She inputs and organizes all our client names and addresses.  She prints our labels for all our mailings.  Her work it vital to PE and helping us have a personal touch.  Here’s her instructor highlight.

Get to know Isa:

When you aren’t teaching what are some of your favorite ways to move?

I like kickboxing, HIIT, and I try to practice yoga every morning. And I love going on walks in the woods.

What song motivates or picks you up the most?

Jason Mraz, “Make it mine”.

Favorite Food?

Cheese and French bread 🙂

Time you normally crawl into bed?

I’m usually in bed by 9pm every night, but I read for an hour.

What skill would you like to master?

Playing the guitar.

What would be the most amazing adventure to go on?

Cross-country trip in a RV with my family. In the USA, France, or Australia!

 Favorite season?  Why?

Fall, because I love the colors and flavors (apple and pumpkin everything!)

 Best advice you’ve ever gotten?

You cannot control what happens around you, but […]

Instructor Highlight Isa2018-03-21T15:44:52-04:00
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