Oct 17
The first thing most of us do in the morning, after silencing the alarm, is put our feet on the floor. Before the coffee brews, our feet and ankles take the body’s weight and get us standing. The feet are the first part of the body to react to the ground, and the ankles just …
Oct 12
At the end of September, I had the privilege of visiting a few friends in Portland, Oregon, for about three days. The weather was the quintessential Pacific Northwest climate. It was a little colder, the air a little wetter, and some drizzle had already started in the latter half of the month. This was a …
Sep 27
It should come as no surprise that consistently practicing a fitness routine benefits long-term health and everyday functionality. Most of us already understand, without reading research articles or sitting through a college course, that getting stronger, eating the right foods, and taking care of our bodies help us live happy, healthy, and strong lives. Regular …
Sep 23
“I had a rough day, and I’m not sure I want to be here today,” a client told me recently as they set down a gym bag. Something had happened at work that morning, and the drive over hadn’t shaken it loose. “Okay, I understand,” I said. We talked about it for a few minutes. …
Sep 12
“Have you read anything about vitamin K2?” asked a client of mine at the end of a training session. She found an article written for endurance athletes about the nutrients that support bone health, and she wanted to know what I thought. The article made a good case. It walked through calcium, vitamin D, and …
Sep 05
“I have to wear stupid heels when going up and down the stairs. That kills my knees,” commented a client of mine who works as a stockbroker in San Francisco. She was in her fifties, climbing office stairs several times a day in shoes never designed for it, and the pain had settled into her …
Aug 28
Coach Paul Atienza was born in the Philippines and moved to the Bay Area at age 6. He got into fitness through wrestling. Paul’s experience with the sport’s physical and mental demands, along with his kinesiology education, helped shape him into the coach he is today. His interest in wrestling was sparked by watching the …
Aug 28
When was the last time you got down on the floor and back up again without reaching for a chair, a coffee table, or a nearby wall? For some of us, we might not think twice about this. A new grandchild might change that. Toddlers and boisterous seven-year-olds don’t do their business at table height. …
Aug 23
Who is more likely to develop lower back pain, the framer who hoists heavy lumber all day or the programmer who has spent twenty years at a desk? Most of us would bet on the framer. Heavy lifting looks dangerous, and desk work looks harmless. However, an underused, deconditioned back can cause as many problems …
Aug 15
Have you ever wondered what makes a personal trainer happy? It’s likely the first guesses would be watching a client lose ten pounds, add fifty pounds to their bench press, or cross the finish line of their first marathon. Those accomplishments are worth celebrating. However, the moments that warm a trainer’s heart the most are …
