The Body & Movement

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 MRIMaggie Downie2018-10-08T17:58:22-04:00

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 KathleenMaggie Downie2018-03-21T15:45:07-04:00

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 BalanceMaggie Downie2018-08-15T14:54:10-04:00

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 IsaMaggie Downie2018-03-21T15:44:52-04:00

Self Love

Movement can be playful!

We are often our own hardest critic. I know I am. It’s my Type-A, entrepreneurial spirit. But no matter what our nature or our career path, I think we tend to be harsh with ourselves in a way many of us would never treat anyone else we care for. We all need to give ourselves a little more self love.

In the past, I somewhat always thought this harshness was a motivator. Apparently, I respond to drill sergeant mode. Once upon a time that might have worked for me, but I’m attempting to be gentler with myself. Partly, I’m just getting tired with age (did I admit that?). Egging myself on is exhausting. Plus every year it seems to become more and more obvious that life is too short to waste time being curt with myself. I’ve even drastically reduced my road rage because I came to recognize I was the only one hot and bothered. The driver that would not let me merge was long gone.

That does not mean that I’m always successful. It is in my nature to push through without a nap and struggle with […]

Self LoveMaggie Downie2018-06-19T10:06:03-04:00