Whether you work on a computer all day or you’re just on it for an hour or two sometimes, finding a set up that keeps you comfortable is so important and can feel so elusive. When you’re thinking about desk ergonomics, it’s really important to remember that computers (and especially laptops) were not designed with human bodies in mind. We have to intentionally set up our desks to accommodate ourselves, not the computer. Let’s start from the floor and work our way up.
Read moreImproving Cat/Cow
Cat/Cow alternates between flexion (Cat) and extension (Cow), but Cow can put a lot of strain on your lower or mid back if it isn’t done well. These poses are not as simple as they appear.
Read moreWhy Try Awareness Through Movement® Classes?
If you’ve never tried an Awareness Through Movement (ATM®) class before, they can seem entirely mysterious and strange. Even many classes in, they can feel mysterious. What are these small gentle movements doing? Why do I feel so much taller, more grounded, more mobile, when it seems like I barely did anything for an hour? The answer is in the name - awareness.
Read moreOn Back Pain, "Good" Movement, and "Bad" Movement
Almost all new clients I see have the same question - "How should I be moving? What's the right way to move?" This question is especially prevalent among clients with chronic back pain. They've often been fighting with themselves, trying out a wide variety of modalities and strategies to get their pain under control, and trying to sort out good advice from bad advice for years.
I try to re-frame the question of "good movement vs bad movement". I'm interested in functional, useful movement. Movement doesn't exist in a binary - it exists on a spectrum. While there are general rules that should definitely be followed (ways to not sheer your joints, for example), the details may vary hugely person to person. Not all back pain looks the same.
Read moreLower Back Pain and Your Legs
If you've ever experienced lower back pain, be it constant or occasional, you know how much trouble it can cause you. The difficulty of going from sitting to standing, going up stairs and hills, leaning or squatting down to pick something up... There are seemingly endless activities that can trigger lower back pain. So why is that?
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