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Knee Pain Prevention
Martina Navratilova, AARP’s Fitness Ambassador, gives tips and suggestions about conditions and treatments for prevention of knee pain.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to follow her mini-workout to help you burn some calories, learn proper posture and work on your core.
Special Offer to members of the United States Armed Forces
~ Memorial Day, May 27, 2013 to July 31, 2013 ~
Original SANDDUNE™ is offering
30% off the regular price of $279.00
to members of the United States Armed Forces
sam.gov Vendor
For Our Vets
~ Memorial Day, May 27, 2013 to July 31, 2013 ~
Original SANDDUNE™ is offering
30% off the regular price of $279.00
to US Veterans.
sam.gov Vendor
Mindful Morning Start #5
Since you are on your knees from the cow/cat stretch, you can flow into light stretches for the chest, and shoulders. These will help increase your range of motion giving you more mobility and freedom of movement as your day begins. It creates a feeling of refreshment and invigoration.
Sit back on your calves with your feet flat on the bed. Your hands are in the same position from the cow/cat stretch – under the shoulders. As you sit back on your calves without moving your hands, slowly and mindfully drop your head between your outstretched arms as though you are bowing or doing a courtesy. If you can rest your forehead on the bed, great. If not, remember that has your flexibility increases, your forehead will come closer to bed. Try this stretch twice, holding from 10 to 30 seconds. If you did yoga years ago, this is a variation of child’s pose. For those not yet ready to place their arms and hands in front of them to begin this stretch, bring your arms in next to your body and place your hands next to your feet in another variation of child’s pose. Gently tuck your head as close to your knees as your flexibility permits. Breathe deeply for 10 – 30 seconds, expanding your back muscles as you inhale. Do this twice. Relax between each stretch.
Now come back up to your knees and gently lower your body to the bed, stretching out to your full length. You are now going to stretch your abdominal muscles. Your knees should be slightly apart although some may choose a wider distance depending on flexibility. Bend your elbows bringing them close to your torso. Your hands should be parallel to your chin and nose with finger tips facing forward. As you begin to press your hands into the bed, slide your shoulder blades down your back and inhale. Do not over arch your back as your upper body comes off the bed. Allow your stomach muscles to remain hollow in this natural motion that occurs as you slowly and gently press your body upward. Do not arch your neck back, but keep it going forward in a straight line, as an extension of the spine being pulled by a string attached to wall. Release to the bed gently if you feel pinching or strain. Do this stretch twice, holding for 10 to 30 seconds. Relax between each stretch. These are gentle morning stretches!
It Wakens Your Body!
This is an incredible apparatus. Andrea and I just purchased one, and we’re hooked. It strengthens your core, without any other gadgets. It starts with balance, then it teaches you about your body, by making your legs sing like they have been asleep. It wakens your body, and it is so simple, it seems like magic. Check out the site, you will thank me, honest. Kirk Wassell
Mindful Morning start #3
Once your rocking is complete become still.
- Begin to visualize your head and neck in line with your spine by imagining someone is running a string from the center of your head to the tip of your tailbone as the spine aligns itself.
- Place your arms a few inches from your side with your palms down and legs straight, your feet and knees in line with your hips. Wiggle your body around a bit, settle in and relax for a minute or two in a brief mindful meditation.
- Next, press the heel of one leg into the bed, keeping it straight. Feel your leg become tense and hold for 4 counts with the first press being light and subsequent presses done with quick release of the heel into the bed.
- Repeat this 4-6 times. Repeat with the other leg holding for a count of 4 and repeating this 4-6 times. As your body gets used to this, you might try increasing to 8-10 times…then 12-16 times. This increases circulation. Don’t push too hard in the beginning, as you may get a leg cramp!
Once finished, prepare to stand.
For Our Vets
~ Memorial Day, May 27, 2013 to July 31, 2013 ~
Original SANDDUNE™ is offering
30% off the regular price of $279.00
to US Veterans.
sam.gov Vendor
Mindful morning start #1
When you first awaken in the morning, start with gentle mindful movements like a cat or dog stretches when they get up. Learn to listen to your body. Begin to recognize its changes. Try the suggestions that will appear over the course of the coming days, to renew or build your connection with your body’s alignment starting with a morning regimen, one exercise at a time, as you attentively experience each one and then finally put them all together in a series of gentle exercises you can use every morning to get your day going.
#1. Begin with body rolling. It’s a soothing way to get the blood flowing as you roll from side to side with your arms and bent knees folding and unfolding as you roll back and forth. Begin lying on your right side in the fetal position. As you begin to roll on your back, let your left arm float open as it crosses your body and your back flattens on to the bed. Your left knee mirrors the movement of your arm as the hips. Complete the motion by bringing your right arm and leg over to meet their left side’s counterparts in the fetal position. Do this rolling back and forth 4-6 times. Sometimes this is all I do for 2-5 minutes. It feels great on my back.
Fall Prevention “Call to Action”
With more nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities reporting increases of people being admitted who have fallen, this fact is creating a “call to action” nationwide, to develop Fall Prevention and fitness programs that are effective and enjoyable while creating a community of support for those who need to embark on a renewal of fitness and vitality. People like Jack LaLane, Lilias, Billy Blanks, Jane Fonda, Joseph Pilates, and Rodney Yee have created fitness communities that can be embraced at all fitness levels with proper guidance – from kids to grandparents. Letting physical vigor and productivity drop because you have retired, or have reached that “age” that the “norm” says you can let it all hang out, creates the chances of becoming a candidate at risk for falls. Many people hit age 50 and decide I have had enough of sweatin’ to the oldies and runnin’ on empty. My feet hurt and now I can sit back relax and gather some moss on the stone that has stopped rollin’. But, hey look at the Rolling Stones – no moss is gathering there! Ignoring the signs of loss of balance and strength can lead to falls. The chances escalate that you will continue to fall without some sort of intervention in the form of a fitness program to strengthen balance, gait and flexibility. The increasing difficulties of getting out of the car or your favorite chair are a couple of signs to be aware of.
Since the Baby Boomer population began hitting age 65 in 2011 at a rate of 8,000 per day, it is alarming that one-third of people over 65 are injured due to falls. Make it a personal “call to action” to start a fitness program or keep your fitness on a level that is compatible with your capabilities, age and health. Some will have greater capabilities than others and that’s fine. It’s all about taking care of your health and fitness. Start really enjoying your grand-kids or kids in some cases. Take the time to talk to your doctor about exercise and diet. Join a club or a group around the corner at a recreation center.
I am physically active so why should I use the SANDDUNE™?
The Original SANDDUNE™ provides an additional platform for more effective warm-up and cool-down. Incorporate some of your stretches along with an easy jog to kick start the body’s engine. Try adding regular stationary exercises (ie…curls on the uphill slope) on the SANDDUNE™ for greater challenge because of the additional balance required. Golfers, who practice simulated strokes on the SANDDUNE™, report cutting strokes off their game because their bodies are more responsive. With consistent use, muscles are developed that you have been unaware of and were previously unengaged. This apparatus will help increase lean muscle mass. It is an easy workout perfect for a light day – add hand or ankle weights to increase the intensity of the workout if preferred.
For active people and athletes, cross training on the SANDDUNE™ translates into better coordination, more flexible joints/tendons, and responsive musculature. When beginning training or resuming working out after a self-imposed or injury-imposed layoff, the SANDDUNE™ helps reduces chances of injury and shortens recovery time as the sarcomeres (which are groups of muscle cells involved in the contraction and relaxations of muscles) are not so easily torn. It is the breakdown of the cells and muscle tissue that give us the inflammation and soreness we all love to hate. “No Pain, No Gain” as the old saying goes!
Muscles are usually stiff and sore a day or two after returning to activity because of damage to muscles fibers being stressed past their “normal or current” length from daily use. By the time you are into week #2 of becoming “Rocky”, additional sarcomeres have developed within the muscles, lending themselves to greater strength and protection of the muscles as they are being built up. Starting the workout regimen more prudently takes from the amount of “pain we gain” as we begin rolling toward fitness again. Remember that the SANDDUNE™ encourages proper use of the whole body in walking, running, golfing, dancing and sports.
Original SANDDUNE™ 