The Body & Movement

Moves for a Desk Jobs

Sitting isn’t always bad!

A study estimates that people spend in average 18 years of their life sitting. We definitely need to get up and move more, but if we have a desk job that isn’t always an easy option. But there are ways we can fit movement in at our desk. Recently, at a speaking engagement geared toward individuals who primarily work at a desk, I was asked two questions:

1) What is a great way to stretch your chest while at your desk?

Spinal Rotation is a fan favorite. It is rare to find a person who doesn’t like this rotational exercise. While normally done on the floor, you can alter it to be done from your chair. That means you can fit it in during a quick break. You can also stand up and try it too! Explore movement that feels good to you.

2) What can you […]

Moves for a Desk JobsMaggie Downie2018-11-07T11:06:12-05:00

Chakra Dance

Our team at Personal Euphoria gets together quarterly to do an activity. Most recently we tried Chakra Dancing with Anne Stamatakis from Circle of Life Holistic Health. I’m familiar with Chakras in that I would have told you they are different colored balls of energy relating to different parts of the body. So, I guess, on second thought, I would say I’m not at all familiar with Chakras, which is part of what intrigued me.

I’ve known Anne for years. She has taken our group classes and private lessons and for years I’ve been meaning to try one of her classes. Lack of time made me hesitate. But, if I’m being honest, I presumed Chakra Dance was a little out of my comfort zone.

Clearly, I know myself well. This turned out to be way out of my comfort zone. Anne is a fantastic guide on the journey, but how uncomfortable I felt made me additionally uncomfortable. I could not believe how hard it was for me to let go. Letting go required work, which seems like a contradiction. I often found myself […]

Chakra DanceMaggie Downie2018-12-14T09:45:11-05:00

What to do for a sprained foot?

No injury or person is identical. So anytime we have an injury, we need to treat it uniquely. That being said, there are some general tools that can help. This post will offer some tools to get started if you ever sprain your foot. A sprain is a stretching or tearing of a ligament. A strain is a stretching or tearing of a muscle or a tendon. But it is always recommended that you talk to your doctor. You want to make sure you are dealing with a sprain and not something else.

Tools for Healing

• Experiment with ice or heat. Ice will help reduce inflammation, but heat will help bring blood to the area, which will promote healing. If one seems to cause aggravation, try the other. I’m a lover of ice—the sooner the better and multiple times throughout the day.

• Massage the area. Immediately upon spraining something, a specific area may be tender to the touch. Do not feel like you have to rub that area, but try to massage as close the area in pain as possible without causing pain. You can rub the sole of the foot or the ankle. Never create pain, but rub what you […]

What to do for a sprained foot?Maggie Downie2018-11-07T10:32:45-05:00

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