Physical Excellence From The Ground Up

Among the Fitness gadgets and fad diets, inactivity, obesity and chronic illness are still on the rise.  The exercise equipment and diet companies have made billions by taking advantage of knowing that most people will try anything once. If the latest infomercial “do-dad” doesn’t work then it’s just one more piece of junk to add to the collection.
The reality is that there are no quick fixes to achieving optimal health and vitality. It violates the laws of nature. Can a seed skip steps in evolving into a beautiful redwood tree? Neither is the case in creating a healthy, strong and resilient body.

The Seeds of Physical Excellence…

1. Posture is the foundation for total health and fitness.  A body that is properly aligned will look, feel and function better.
2. Flexibility exercise is needed to maintain proper length and tone to your muscles and connective tissues and also to prevent injury.  You cannot exercise if you are injured.
3. Proper body mechanics. The quality of human movement plays a very important role in the maintenance of optimal health and fitness. Ideal body mechanics during exercise and daily living maintains the health of the joints, muscles and connective tissues.
4. Strength is dependent on flexibility. A muscle that is short and tight will not have optimal strength and the likelihood of injury increases. Strength also allows one to perform more physical work if the need be.
5. Conditioning: Not to be confused with cardio, physical conditioning is the ability to perform one’s desire task effectively and repeatedly. Conditioning is the ability to apply strength and power a given amount of time.
6. Nutrition is what ties all of the fitness components together. A proper diet according to one’s Metabolic Type is paramount to all of your fitness efforts.
7. Ideal weight and body composition. Weight loss is a concern for many people however body composition is often overlooked when determining one’s ideal weight. Pay special attention to monitoring body composition so that it can be determined if weight loss is from fat or muscle.
8. Stress Management prevents physical and mental burnout. The body will not function optimally in a state of chronic stress and or fatigue.

Health & Fitness is a journey not a destination. If you use these seeds as your guide, your journey towards physical excellence will be one of positive self-discovery and personal evolution. ##

Have You Been CHEKed?

What Is Corrective Exercise?

CHEK (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kidra (guiding soul) and is a system developed by international strength coach and rehabilitation specialist Paul Chek. It is an integrative system that is rooted on the belief that the human body functions best and is most healthy when it is in ideal alignment. Corrective Exercise is different from other systems in that it involves several distinct yet integrated protocols. They are as follows.

I. Ideal Postural Alignment
Information dating back to 1934 explains how poor posture can contribute to a multitude of health conditions ranging from headaches to arthritis. Ideal posture is the position in which the body functions best with the least amount of mechanical stress.

II. Motor Learning
The nervous system is the driving force behind the muscular system. An inefficient nervous system will render well developed muscles useless. Corrective exercise improves the communication between these two important systems.

III. Primal Pattern Development (TM)
The quality of movement is equally important as the quantity being performed. Research shows that it takes 300-500 repetitions to develop a motor pattern. Conversely it takes about 3000-5000 repetitions to erase a motor pattern. Therefore it is important that movements be done correctly to avoid mechanical flaws that could result in injury or poor performance.

IV. Advanced Core Conditioning
The proper function of the abdominal wall goes far beyond merely doing crunches and sit-ups. In fact these two exercises are the least important and often time the most dangerous. Corrective exercise will improve or restore proper function to the diaphragm and abdominal wall. This is very beneficial to those who have chronic back pain, are recovering from any form of abdominal surgery such as c-section, hernia repair, abdominoplasty, or any laproscopic or open abdominal procedure.

V. Integrative Health Concepts
Corrective Exercise addresses all systems of the body and how they interact with each other. Comprehensive structural evaluations allow for a complete perspective of a person’s health status. It also helps to determine if outside medical assistance will be needed. This creates an integrative or team approach to helping clients and patients achieve success.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM CORRECTIVE EXERCISE?
· Chronic pain patients
· Athletes and industrial workers
· Law enforcement and military
· Post-partum mothers
· Children and teenagers
· Anyone who seeks to improve their overall health and appearance.