A friend remembers his days as an eight-year-old paperboy fondly, except for the huge paper bag that hung off one of his slim shoulders, which was torture. Kids and adults are often carrying similar loads these days, through schoolyards and airports. Let's look at how we can be sensible about what we schlep around.
The vagus nerve derives its name from the latin word for wandering, since it weaves throughout the body from the brainstem to the colon. It’s the nerve that’s largely responsible for our parasympathetic nervous system, which tells the body to rest and digest. This relaxed state also allows the body to heal.
Because modern life doesn’t require us to be active, movement and exercise can often feel like a chore. Humans have had no evolutionary pressure to develop a love of exercise because it used to be built into daily life. It can feel like something we should do, instead of something we naturally want to do. Dance can keep us physically fit, make us smarter, and get us in touch with the joy of movement.
As we age we’re more likely to fall, and are more vulnerable to sustaining serious injuries if we do fall. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults age 65 and older, and we’ve all had our share of slips on ice, trips over stairs, or falling while playing sports. Let’s learn how to fall gracefully, and teach this important skill to our loved ones.
High-intensity workouts went mainstream a few years ago. Even the New York Times began touting a 7-minute workout. They’re great for busy people, who are already in good shape—but that intensity is not for everyone. If you’re a bit out of shape or recovering from an injury, you’ll need another way to work your way toward your fitness goals.
Ah, fresh air! Natural light. So nice. Remember being completely awestruck at the sight of a vast landscape? The kind where your whole body relaxes, your mind is humbled, and you feel immensely grateful that you get to be alive and witness such vast beauty? Turns out these mental and physical effects have been observed and measured by scientists, proving that time in nature is good for our physical, emotional and social health.
When walking up and down a mountain with weight on your back, it’s almost inevitable to end up with a sore and stiff body. Dr. Beck recommends a trail break every 3-4 hours to snack and stretch and another longer stretch session once you reach camp for the night. Here are some stretches to keep your body in hiking shape on the trail.
Given that people are spending about five hours a day on their smartphones – it’s no surprise we are seeing a lot of patients come in with what we call “Tech Neck”. It’s a result of looking at their devices with their neck and head facing down. This type of posture creates a lot of stress on the neck, upper back, and shoulders.
