Category: Hiking in Napa Valley

Exercise and Enhancing the Journey as we Age

As the Earth circles the sun, it adds another year to its portfolio of time in its resume of existing in the universe.  Humans on Earth enjoy the ride, experiencing everyday interactions with friends, family, and co-workers.  Every year, we observe the weather becoming cooler or warmer, the sun rising earlier or setting later, and …

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Staying Active During the Less Sunny Months

As the Napa Valley enters October, we see a few leaves on the trees beginning to transition to shades of amber, brown, and yellow, and fall to the ground.  Sounds of leaf blowers and rakes start to fill the air.  The hills begin to morph into a darker green and brownish hue as the trees …

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Using Exercise to Adapt to Changes in an Aging Body

After a three-hour competitive pickleball session with a few of my pickleball peers, we sat on the bleachers outside Vineyard Park in Yountville. Covered in a fine coat of sweat and sunscreen, we admired the picturesque landscape to the east.  Miles of trellised grape vines paved a vibrant green blanket of grape leaves and native …

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Progressing toward challenging exercises safely and appropriately

“So, when do I get to use the dumbbells?” said Blaze, as she passed by me in between her sets of completing a round of step-up exercises.  Caught off guard slightly by this question as I was attempting to avoid electrocution during some maintenance work in the gym as I was doing my best impression …

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Refinements in Balance Using Safe and Effective Exercises

              Have you ever felt a little imbalanced first thing in the morning?  For instance, bending down to put your socks on followed by tying your shoe laces might be a little slower than normal, traversing a set of stairs might seem like your body is shifting more lateral than usual, or bending down to …

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More Like a Gift, Less Like a Chore: Sustainable Cycles of Exercise

Eating healthier, getting more sleep, being more productive, and reducing stress in all aspects of life, including family, professional, and recreational sectors, are essential components that support our most cherished goals and responsibilities.  Health-related goals, such as maintaining a reasonable body weight and regulating metabolic parameters, including optimal insulin and cholesterol levels, help support people’s …

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Exercise Adherence: The Natural Brainwash

Stress occurs from multiple angles throughout our everyday lives.  Sometimes, forms of psychological and emotional stress can manifest as worrying about future events, irritability due to fatigue from social interactions that may have occurred at work, or a recurring thought from a past event that we can’t seem to shake.  These examples of stress-related conditions …

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Managing Arthritis and Osteoporosis- Strong Muscles Lead to Strong Bones

“My joints make some exciting noises when I get out of bed in the morning,” commented one of our personal training clients, Natalia.  “See?  Watch this,”  Natalia added as if demonstrating a magic trick.  Natalia bent down to pick her exercise mat off the ground, and a few grinding and popping sounds could be heard …

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Health and Fitness Maintenance Throughout a Busy Schedule

Entering a career as an apprentice after trade school, acquiring a paid internship after graduating from college, or starting a company as a self-employed proprietor or independently run business are impressive accomplishments in one’s career.  The substantial investment of time and energy required to develop a valuable skill set and forge a life where talent …

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Train me to get up off the floor

“What’s the sport where the super athletic crazy guys jump on walls and scale them like a lizard?”  Asked Ophelia at one of her morning training sessions.  “You know, you see stunt men do it in Jason Bourne and John Wick movies.  They hang off walls, drop from cliffs, and land like cats after a …

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