Building strength, stamina, and endurance is not easy. I mean, for someone like me with a neurodegenerative disease or a movement disorder, there can be some challenges. I definitely have had some challenges around endurance, but that’s mostly due to motivation and maybe self-efficacy. The best thing to do I’ve found is to take things […]
Strengthening and conditioning of the hips are crucial to coordinating movements between the upper and lower body. I know this from years of martial arts and boxing practice. Many of us with movement disorders suffer from weak lower bodies. People, in general, have poorly conditioned hips. Weaknesses in the hip muscles can also result in […]
As someone with a movement disorder, improving the strength of my core is crucial. Most people with similar situations have issues with posture. The muscles in the core – transversus abdominis, rectus abdominis, internal and external obliques – all play an essential role in keeping us balanced and stable. I’ve been doing the following exercises […]
I feel there is a lot to be learned from children. As we grow up, we tend to get bogged down by life and lose a lot of those characteristics which one made us joyful and healthy. A lot of us succumb to the pressures of the world around us and become jaded, cynical and […]
There is ample evidence to show that sitting a lot – a sedentary lifestyle – leads to all sorts of health issues as we age. That’s for the average person. I believe that those of us with neurodegenerative/movement disorders are doubly at risk. That is, the effects of sitting for prolonged periods of time can be […]
Body awareness involves an intentional focus on and awareness of internal body sensations. Generally found in subtler methodologies such as yoga, Feldenkrais, etc. In my experience, I would also include many Eastern martial arts on this list as they have meditative aspects to them. Body awareness is basically the process of connecting one’s mind to […]
Variable Speed Training is commonly used by advanced to elite athletes to prepare for competition, but there are numerous benefits for the beginner too! As well as physical benefits of this type of exercise, there are also astounding neurological benefits which can help people with neurological diseases. A word of caution: As with any discussion/promotion […]
The deep squat or ATG (ass-to-grass) squat is a familiar training tool to weight lifters, CrossFitters and martial artists alike. By learning how to do this exercise properly, you can increase your power and explosiveness. There is some concern among recreational fitness enthusiasts and even personal trainers that this variation of the squat is dangerous […]
Here are 7 ways to modify your workout routine for optimal performance. Most people only really modify their workout by increasing weight or maybe changing tempo. But there are plenty of ways to add variety to your program. As someone with a neurodegenerative condition, I am constantly looking for ways to improve my results in […]
What effect does breaking promises to ourselves have? How does keeping promises to ourselves make us stronger? Let’s find out! Although I have a movement disorder, I believe that part of my healing process will require the re-wiring of my brain through the formation of good habits and the removal (albeit forcibly) of bad ones. […]
