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 …
Tag: wellness napa
Sep 27
Simple Fitness Benchmarks for a Long Healthy Life
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
Feeling Better Walking Out Than Walking In
“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
An Overlooked Vitamin for Strong Bones
“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
Strong Legs Help Manage Knee Osteoarthritis
“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
August 2026 Coach Spot Light: Coach Paul Atienza
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
Strong Legs Get us Up and Down From the Floor
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 08
Exercise Gives Us Something to Look Forward To
“It’s kind of like going to the dentist,” exclaimed a gentleman who was interested in our personal training services. We offer two complimentary training sessions to potential personal training clients. These sessions help ensure our coaching style, environment, and plan are a good fit before anyone commits. When this gentleman arrived for his second session, …
Aug 02
Strong Ankles Keep Us on Our Feet
Have you ever been walking across the parking lot, thinking about the next thing to get done on your to-do list, when the toe of your shoe catches the lip of the curb? Usually, there is a quick stumble, and we might glance around to see if anyone noticed. Most of the time we catch …
Jul 25
The Muscles Behind Our Everyday Grip
From the moment we pick up a toothbrush in the morning, our hands go to work without a second thought. We turn doorknobs, tap and swipe across phone screens, twist the lids off water bottles, thread a key into the front door, and carry bags of groceries from the car. By the afternoon, some of …