This is an invited post by my esteemed Feldenkrais instructor, Karen Dold of Move with Elan Try this. Interlace your fingers, look at your hands, and note which thumb is on the outside. Un-interlace your fingers, then interlace them again. Same thumb on the outside? This would be your habitual interlacing. Now, un-interlace your fingers, and interlace them in the opposite way, so that the other ... Read more
Dancing As An Expression Of FitOldDog’s Training Philosophy
Hi folks, Just thought that I would bring you up to date on my dancing, as it is certainly becoming an integral part of my exercise philosophy for better health. Furthermore, much to my surprise (at the age of 68), I am actually making progress, spontaneously moving to ZZ Top the other day. Nick (13) was really impressed. During my run this morning, I found that if I engaged my butt-dancing skills I ... Read more
Dancing Old Dog: Continuum Really Works And It Can Help Your Training
Hi folks, For your body to operate optimally, I imagine that you need to recruit all available systems, including both thoughts and feelings. Emotions can run high prior to and during a race, so there is an emotional component to sports right there. The left brain logical stuff is already built into your training plan, probably down to the last gel and the type of shoelaces you wear. We humans each tend ... Read more
There Are More Ways Than One To Drink A Cup Of Tea
Hi folks, One thing that I have learned from my studies of Feldenkrais over the last five years is that there are many ways to carry out any physical activity with your body, and most of these ways you'll never even know exist. We come into this world programmed to learn how to crawl, sit, stand, walk, run and complete all the many other activities needed for our prolonged survival. I suspect that we learn ... Read more
FitOldDog Training Video #2: Sitting For Symmetry
Hi folks, I have found that some of the most effective exercises are those that you can apply in daily life. This is the philosophy used by David Harp (now David Harp and Nina Smiley) in that great book, 'The Three Minute Meditator.' I still use the meditating ideas that I read there about 15 years ago. I can meditate at traffic lights, in the grocery line, and if I have the forethought, when I get ... Read more
Improving Hill Descents By Observing With Your Skin
Hi folks, There is an old expression, 'seeing is believing.' I would prefer to say, 'observing is understanding,' which comes from my life of learning to observe, as opposed to just looking. Because you have looked at something, which induced a pattern of activity in your retina, does not mean that you have observed anything of real meaning, which is a down-stream processing or brain activity that uses data ... Read more
Who Is Going To Last Longest, Me Or My Chevy Tahoe – Depends How I Drive Us?
Hi folks, I have to admit, even though it burns lots of gas when I drive it, my old Chevy truck, just like my body, is a remarkable piece of machinery. Just turning 300,000 miles and I am yet to have to put in oil between regular 6,000-mile servicing. The power train is still intact. Had to have work done on the brakes several times, and the steering. It has only left me stuck twice, a failed fuel pump and ... Read more
FitOldDog Exercise Video On How To Reduce Your Risk Of Falling Through Better Gravity And Balance Awareness
Hi folks, For older adults, especially the elderly, a fall can be devastating. The risk of falls can be much reduced by spending a little time becoming more aware of your body, and of it's relationship to gravity and objects that you handle everyday. This post provides some thoughts on body awareness and describes a simple exercise to improve your balance awareness. It's funny how it takes a while to ... Read more
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