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FIT BLOG:
​GROW YOUR REST TOOLBOX
 

Best Move For A Younger Brain

12/19/2025

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Do you know what activity will help your brain stay younger?
 
Nope it’s not sleep, exercise, or what you eat.
 
Yes, they're all healthy brain habits but PLAY has been shown to decrease your brain’s biological age by 6 years!
 
What kind of PLAY?
 
This research study involved doing or learning a creative, skilled based activity.
 
Dancing the Tango, singing or playing an instrument, drawing, or playing real time strategy video games specifically were types of play studied that showed they helped your brain stay younger by improving your overall cognitive function.
 
PLAY taps into your superpower- Neuroplasticity or your brains ability to create new pathways for better movement, focus, mood, and creativity.

It helps you regulate your nervous system and can move you into a flow state- fully present, focused, at ease, and in your creative zone. Where time seems to slow down. 
 
Movement, Meditation, Exploring, Journaling, Music, or creating Art can all help you get in flow and tap into your Peaceful, Playful, Powerful Body.
 
Unfortunately, we all typically play less as we age.
 
Even dogs stop playing as much as they get older.
 
We have to be more intentional about adding creative PLAY time into our days if we aren’t professional musicians or artists. 
 
The busier you are, the more you’ll have to block off some PLAY time each week.
 
OVER TO YOU:
 
Do you need to add more PLAY into your life?
 
If so, what sounds fun to start in January?
 
Ready to sign up for some Tango classes? 
 
Always wanted to learn the Banjo?

Do it.

It's time.
 
I want to start playing piano again and I'm working on getting a keyboard.
 
For now, I’m going to bust open this animal watercolor book and pens I got recently.

 
Pick one PLAY Move to do and see how your Body & Brain respond.
 
At a minimum you’ll feel more energy, ease, and flow but overtime your helping your brain become younger & healthier.
Picture of Animal Water Color workbook with a cute brown dog on the front surrounded by water color pens
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P.S. Ready to Boost your ENERGY, Strengthen your JOY Muscles, & Bring out the BLISS?

Use the 12 Days of Bliss Challenge- ONE simple REST Move in just 5-10 minutes a day to help you Recharge & anytime you need a Reset. Download the FREE Challenge here.
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Creatine: It's Not Just For Body Builders Anymore

11/12/2025

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Have you caught the buzz?

I couldn’t ignore the research coming out about it.

And since I’d started lifting heavy*, it seemed like the perfect time to make this change as well.

I’m referring to the benefits of taking Creatine daily vs only with heavy workouts.

It’s been 5 months since I started taking 3-5mg per day.

I know it’s part of the reason I feel stronger.

What’s more exciting to me is how it impacted my mood and cognition.

Like less brain fog.

I think it’s even helping my memory.

I just feel better overall since starting it. 

I’ve tried to make one change at a time this year to see how my body responds but of course it’s all building on each other.

And sure, it could be the consistent exercise and cleaning up my diet but there was a change in my mental health that I hadn’t felt before I started it.

It’s hard to describe but it’s like a shift in my level of optimism about everything.

Creatine is undeniably good for your gut, heart, brain, muscles, & bones.

What’s so cool are the studies on all ages and women showing that Creatine helped improve memory (short term, working, reasoning) and cognitive processing (how clear and fast you think/respond) even when under stressful conditions like lack of sleep.

Higher doses (10mg+) of Creatine have been shown to help older adults maintain their mental sharpness and improve depressive symptoms.

Do you see why I had to test it out for myself?

You can get Creatine in certain foods like meat and fish but it’s worth deciding if you want to supplement daily considering all the health benefits, especially if you’re over 40 years old & female.

6 Tips For Taking Creatine Daily:

​
  1. Always check with your physician before starting any new supplement especially if you have high blood pressure or kidney disease and want to supplement with Creatine.
  2. Make sure you get a clean product that has Creatine Monohydrate. I use the Naked brand: Naked Creatine.
  3. Aim for 3-5mg daily.
  4. Mix with 8+ ounces of water.  3-4 ounces of water for each gram of creatine.
  5. Don’t worry about timing (when you take it) but you can do before or after workouts if you want to target muscle growth and active recovery.
  6. HYDRATE. HYDRATE. HYDRATE. You MUST drink enough fluids if you’re going to take it daily. You don’t want to put undo stress on your kidneys. Creatine pulls water into your muscle cells helping with muscle growth and recovery.
More Info on Creatine:
  • You can do a loading phase when you first start taking it. Take 20-25g of creatine daily for 5-7 days then move to maintenance of 3-5g daily. It can rapidly boost your muscle stores by 10-40%. I didn’t do one. It might take a little longer to feel the effects if you don't do a loading phase.
  • Water retention- you might temporarily feel bloated, but it should go away quickly. If it continues, increase your water intake. Also take into account your activity level and if you sweat a lot due to your workouts or climate (or if you do the sauna). You'll need more water.
  • There is no evidence that it can cause muscle cramping, hair loss, or fat gain. 
  • It is not an anabolic steroid.
​You’ll get the best results when you combine it with resistance training.
​

I've not experienced any weird side effects or symptoms. 

My labs look good & I feel good so I’m keeping this one going.

I aim to take it daily, but I do miss occasionally. 

I take it around my workouts since I do a lot of resistance training. I want to maximize my muscle building and recovery.  It also helps me remember to take it.

It’s OK if I miss a dose. 

Remember it’s about progress not perfection.

I’m aiming for 80% consistency each week with all these healthy habits I like to do for my Body & Brain.

What about you?

Do you want to Feel Better, Have More Energy, Strong Bones, & Build Muscle Mass?

If YES, then your recipe for success is…. Protein + Resistance Training + Creatine!
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P.S. Check out this FIT Blog on how to get started lifting heavy.
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How To Maximize Healing After A Concussion

9/19/2025

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You probably know someone that has had a concussion at some point in their life, but did you know it’s considered a mild brain injury?
 
In honor of National Concussion Awareness Day, I’ve got some prevention & recovery tips to share with you.

Can you guess the #1 cause of brain injuries?
 
It’s not sports or motor vehicle accidents.
 
It’s FALLS especially in our youngest (0-4 years old) and oldest (over 65 years old).
 
What do both age groups have in common?
 
Balance issues!

75% of brain injuries fall into the mild category each year.
 
Males are higher risk for brain injuries due to sports and higher risk-taking behaviors.
 
Brain injuries related to motor vehicle accidents are highest in ages 20-24.
 
67% of females have symptoms of traumatic brain injuries due to domestic violence.
 
Concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries are caused by a jolt or blow to the head causing the brain to bounce around inside the skull.  This stretches and damages brain cells and is sometimes referred to as shearing. 

It’s not going to necessarily show up on CT scans or MRI's because it can be microscopic tears.  
 
90% won’t lose consciousness.  It can take 3-5 days to show signs.  
 
The brain is not a muscle, but it bruises somewhat like a muscle does when injured.  
 
Sprain your ankle and it bruises, swells, hurts.   You can’t put weight on it, so you don’t walk.  You slowly put more weight on it as it heals.  
 
What bruising looks like in the brain is headache, dizziness, nausea, difficulty reading, irritability in noisy environments, light sensitivity, memory issues, confusion etc.    
 
While it’s healing, the brain needs to avoid taking another hit.  It needs time to recover. 

REST is key.  
 
Unlike a sprained ankle, you can’t see it so it’s hard to decide when it’s safe to go back to normal activities.
 
Headaches with exertion are the main reason people go to the doctor after a concussion.
 
<<BTW always go to ER if you have a headache after a brain injury>>
 
Most concussions resolve within 1-2 weeks but 10-15% of people will have symptoms for longer.
 
After a concussion, you can have physical, cognitive, behavioral or emotional issues. You might see changes in personality, behaviors, mood, and routines.
 
PPCS or Persistent Post Concussive Symptoms refers to symptoms lasting > 4 weeks.
 
In my Rehab Work, these patients have difficulty returning to work or school due to ongoing issues typically with dizziness, brain fog, decreased concentration, fatigue, anxiety, vision issues, and/or headaches.
 
The Beauty of the Brain is its ability to rewire and heal (neuroplasticity) but it can heal in a chaotic way without the right guidance in place.
 
It’s important to get support from a neurologist or neuro trained therapists as early as possible in order to get strategies for managing the symptoms of PPCS.
 
You’re higher risk for PPCS if you’re:
  • Over 40
  • Female
  • Traumatically injured
  • Have a history of substance abuse
  • Have a prior mental health diagnosis
  • Lower socioeconomic status
 
I previously wrote a FIT Blog with tips for return to play (sports) after concussion that apply to anyone dealing with a mild brain injury or PPCS.
 
I would emphasize that Rest & Relaxation are KEY when recovering from a concussion (mild BI). 
 
You CANNOT get too much rest.
 
It takes time for the brain to heal.
 
So remember to get plenty of NAPS and pull out the APPS for Relaxation Exercises to help your brain recover.
 
Stress will SLOW and can even HALT brain healing after injury. 
 
Check out the blog post for 10 Things To Help Heal After A Concussion that’ll walk you through how to avoid stressing your brain & for tips to help support the healing process.

And since dealing with a brain injury is no fun, let’s talk PREVENTION for a second.
 
Although helmets and seatbelts are really important prevention tools, FALLS are #1 cause of brain injuries.
 
What can you do to prevent falls?
 
I’m so glad you asked.
 
You want to do regular MOBILITY & AGILITY exercises especially as you age.
 
That includes all the fascia body work, resistance band work, & balance work that I share regularly on FIT Blog, in my weekly newsletter, and in my online camps  to help build your REST & RECOVERY Toolbox.

In terms of fall prevention around your home, keep your paths well lit & clear of clutter. 
 
Also make sure you can handle the shoes you wear especially if they don’t have heel support (i.e. flip flops, slippers). 
 
And finally, be careful around little ones- pets & kids.
 
Staying active & agile as you age will help prevent falls & reduce your risk for all kinds of injuries including brain injuries. 
 
If you take a hit to the head, take it seriously.
 
Get support if you’re having symptoms or just don’t feel like yourself.
 
It’s in your head, literally.
 
Your brain needs support healing just like an injured muscle does.
 
Reach out if you’re stuck or check out some additional resources below.
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P.S. 
--For tips on Return To Work or Sports after Concussion, check out this FIT Blog.

--If you need some Brain Injury Resources for Texas, you can book a consult with me here.

--If you're ready to start working on your mobility & agility, check out Mini Massage Camp.
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Water Exercise Series: Recover, Rehab, or Relax?

7/23/2025

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Guess what regulates both the temperature of the Human Body and the Earth?

WATER

And water can help your Body with Recovery, Rehab, or Relaxation depending on its temperature.

For Recovery (cold plunges/ice baths), you want the temperature between 46.4-59°F (8-15° C).

For Rehab (aquatic therapy), water temp needs to be greater than 89°F with the sweet spot typically around 96°F (33-38° C).

For Aquatic Exercise (swimming or aerobics), it can be cooler 83-86°F (28-30° C).

RECOVERY


You may wonder why ice baths are so popular right now.

There has definitely been a progression from using them post workout for speeding up muscle recovery to using them on a regular basis for the other health benefits.

Benefits of ice baths: increased fat burning, immunity, & resilience (toning the vagus nerve to handle stress better).

They can also help improve sleep, reduce inflammation & migraines, and be good for your skin.

You’re wanting it cold enough to elicit a shiver which switches your body into burning fat for fuel.

Note that new research shows women may not need to get as “cold” for the ice baths due to having a more sensitive vascular response to cold than men.

Caution with ice baths: you need to build up slowly if you’re doing it on your own and new to it. Unless you are training heavily every day in a particular sport, full body ice baths aren’t something you typically do more than a few times a week or max of 11 minutes total per week.

**None of the extremes temp wise are safe for those with cardiac issues unless cleared by a physician. Those with Raynaud’s phenomenon should avoid extreme cold temps.
 
REHAB

We use aquatic therapy for both ortho and neuro patients. It’s wonderful for pain relief from arthritis to spasticity. 

It’s fabulous for working on flexibility, balance, core strengthening, and pre-gait activities. 

You can unload joints and decompress the spine depending on the depth of the water.

At waist deep, you unload your body weight by 50%.

At chest deep, by 75%.

At neck deep, by 90%.

You can change the depth, the position (supine, prone, sideways, kneeling, standing, one leg), and balance in or on the water using mats/noodles/boards.

In fact, I used to work on balancing in the pool using therapy mats way before I did SUP on lakes/oceans.

We have a ton of pool tools we can use to challenge patients.

Remember water can assist or resist you as you move.

You can work on walking all directions or jogging at all depths.

As you can imagine, pedi patients love it. 

It brings out playfulness in adults too and gives them so much freedom of movement and pain relief. So good for mental health especially for those dealing with chronic pain.

Insurance will cover it under outpatient physical therapy or occupational therapy if you have a medical diagnosis and the therapist has aquatic certification. 
 
RELAX

Floating in water is probably the most relaxing way to enjoy it.

One of my favorite Relaxation Bodywork in water is called Watsu.

Watsu is a form of Shiatsu (bodywork) in the water that involves a therapist moving you through different positions to stretch & massage for relaxation, pain relief, and improved mobility. 

You’re floating & moving slowly through the water. 

Imagine that calming sensation you get swinging in a hammock, resting on the front of a catamaran or enjoying a piece of chocolate melting in your mouth.

Ah, feels so good!

BTW Ender is great at this technique.

*Hot Tub Temps are great for Recovery & Relaxation- can really help with spasms and pain. 

*Contrast baths where you alternate cold and hot temps on an injured body part. Helps with swelling, injuries, inflammation and pain.


OVER TO YOU

Water has so many therapeutic benefits.

Match the temperature to what you need it for- recovery, rehab, or relaxation.

Find some ways to add it to your Rest Toolbox and remember it if you get injured or are dealing with some chronic pain issues. 

You can resume exercise and movement a lot earlier in water than you can on land.

And don’t forget there is aquatic therapy for your pets too, if they have arthritis or need some rehab from an injury.

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*If you have diabetes or cardiac conditions like uncontrolled hypertension, you'll need clearance from your physician to exercise safely in water.
P.S. Can’t get in the water or it’s not time for a vacation yet? Use the 12 Days of Bliss Challenge- ONE simple REST Move in just 5-10 minutes a day to help you Recharge & anytime you need a Reset. Download the FREE Challenge here.
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How To Turn Off Your Bodies Alert System

7/9/2025

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**Note- I'm delaying the final blog post of our Water Exercise Series to share some Rest & Recovery Tools I shared with our newsletter community after the devastating 4th of July floods in Central Texas. We are sending so much love to all of those impacted by this tragedy & gratitude to all of the responders who continue to support these communities. XO- Mollie & Ender

It’s been heartbreaking to see how many lives have been impacted by the extreme flooding in the TX Hill Country this past weekend.

We're grateful for the fast emergency response to help victims & the heroic efforts of the young camp counselors who responded so bravely to a horrific situation in the middle of the night. 
 
July 4th weekend is THE busiest time of the year for Texans to head to our rivers for camping & tubing.

It’s just what Texans do for fun but also to survive the summer heat.

You really aren’t a true Texan unless you’ve floated along the Guadalupe River at some point in your life.

It’s hard to fully comprehend how much joy the rivers bring with how much devastation they're capable of.
 

If you’re connected to anyone that has been directly impacted, please know we’re sending you all so much love.
 

It’s times like these where your body needs extra loving care to support processing the emotions, stress, and trauma it’s experiencing.
 
It needs more Rest & Recovery to remind it to calm down even if it’s just for a few minutes at a time.
 

If you’re not sleeping or physically exhausted (i.e. heavy or burning sensation in your muscles, sloppy movements or poor posture, decreased balance or coordination, or feeling weak or stiff in your muscles) from the stress, your Rest Rx is to take NAP BREAKS.
 
3 Types of Naps:


  1. Power Nap- a 10-20 minute midday nap; great for mood, attention, focus.
  2. Nidra Nap- deep rest while you listen to a 15-45 minute Yoga Nidra relaxing meditation that helps work through physical, emotional/mental, and spiritual exhaustion. Here’s a 15 minute one for you: DEEP REST NIDRA.
  3. The Big Nap- a 90-minute nap which is one full sleep cycle so do this one if you’re not getting a full 7+ hours of sleep at night.
 
If you’re sleeping OK but showing signs of stress (i.e. restlessness, anxiety, worry, heart or mind racing, rapid breathing, difficulty concentrating, numbness, or muscles tension in your neck/shoulders/hips), your Rest Rx is to take RELAXATION BREAKS.
 
6 Stress Cycle Busters (Relaxation Breaks):
 
When you’re stressed, your brain goes into protection mode.
 
It signals to turn on your sympathetic nervous system (i.e. fight, flight or freeze mode).
 
It’s the opposite of your healing mode. 
 
You can help your body complete the stress cycle by giving it the cue that it’s safe to move back into relaxed mode & calm your nervous system by using any of these strategies as Relaxation Breaks:


  1. Movement- #1 is physical activity of any kind for 20-60 minutes. It’s the most effective way to manage stress but you may not have the energy for it so turn to the other strategies.
  2. Breath Work- find an App like Insight Timer and do some breathing exercises for 2-10 minutes. If you’re in the middle of a stressful situation, do a physiological sigh to help you reset (Inhale through your nose and take a second inhale at the end of it, then exhale slowly through your mouth- repeat 3 times). 
  3. Laughing- find something that will trigger some deep belly laughs- the kind that make you laugh until you cry (i.e. Soul Laugh).
  4. Crying- go ahead & sob- let it out; crying helps release stress chemicals/hormones trapped in your body.
  5. Affection- connect with others through physical affection (i.e. a 6 second kiss, a 20 second hug) or petting your pet long enough to signal your body it’s safe to calm down.
  6. Creative Self Expression- write, draw, pain, or sing to help calm your body.
 
You don’t have to do all of these to help your body recover & reset during stressful times. 
 
Start with one that sounds soothing & doable.
 
Check in with your body. It’ll tell you what it needs to calm down & feel better.

You'll know you've turned on your Relaxed Body when you feel a shift - sense of relief, yawning, goose bumps, a deep breath are all signs you've completed a stress cycle.
 
Be mindful of how much news & social media you’re taking in right now about this tragedy. It’s likely triggering a stress response in your brain & body. Definitely limit it a few hours before bed as it can disrupt your sleep.
 
If you want to do more for the areas impacted, World Central Kitchen is on the ground feeding Central Texans and the search & rescue crews. You can donate to support their efforts here.

Be extra kind to yourself right now!

I found comfort in this story about Hazel, the Camp La Junta dog, that scratched on the door of a cabin to alert the campers of rising water and waited with them until they were all safe (Texas Monthly shared about it). It's not a common dog name but it's my mother's name (who passed away in 2003).

Grieve the loss but always find the hope, love, & helpers out there as well (even if it's coming from our furry friends).
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P.S. Want more strategies to go from your Stressed to your Relaxed Body? Download the Relaxed Body Toolkit & Daily Energy Planner here.
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Water Exercise Series: Resistance Benefits

6/26/2025

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**Note- We shared this blog post about a week before the devastating 4th of July floods in the Texas Hill Country. We are sending so much love to all of those impacted by this tragedy & gratitude to all of the responders who continue to support these communities. If you need some Rest & Recovery Tools to help you manage the stress or trauma of this event, the next blog post has resources for you. You can find it here.  Be extra kind to yourself right now. XO- Mollie & Ender

We’ve all seen the power of water by what happens in flash flooding events.

Trees, cars, buildings are no match. 

Water will WIN every time.

We can take advantage of that force when we exercise IN water.

Water provides 12-14% more resistance than on land.

The more you push, the harder the water pushes back. 

Exercise IN water is not just for cardio workouts like swimming.

You can get a full body, low impact, strength training workout IN water.

A gentle yet challenging way to workout.

It’s great to build strength AND work on your posture and balance.

It’s a safe place for you to exercise if you have pain or arthritis.

Anything you can do on land exercise wise, you can do in the water.

The water can assist or resist your muscles. 

30 minutes of pool exercise can give you the benefits of closer to a 2 hour land workout.

Less time, same or better results.

You can change the intensity by moving:
  • deeper to shallow water
  • faster to slower
  • smaller to larger movements

You can add weights or bands to increase resistance or just use the water itself.

When you change the shape of what you’re pushing or moving through water, it changes the resistance (i.e. hand closed vs open or with a fin vs without).

You can do your arm or leg strength workouts in the water- punch, lift, kick, squat, lunge.

Walking in water is a great full body workout for your strength, cardio, & balance. Walk forward then turn around and walk through the current you just made to increase the resistance and intensity. Do that all directions (front, side, back).

Kick Boards are great for pressing through the water to workout your core and arms or across the water to workout your core and legs.

Group exercise classes in the water are getting more varied lately as well.

Some classes might focus more on strength training vs cardio or do a combo of both. 

I’m seeing more Mind Body Exercise classes pop up especially at the YMCA.

Yoga Aquatic classes or even ‘Ai Chi’ classes that involve breathing & resistance training to relax and strengthen your Body using Qi Gong and Tai Chi Movements.


Water exercise can make your strength training more fun, varied, and full bodied.

Remember to Start Slow!

If you aren’t used to water exercise, start with 15 minutes and build up slowly overtime especially if you have an injury or chronic pain. 

Monitor how you feel into the next day to see if you overdid it or not.

Aim for 2-3 times a week of strength training whether it's on land or in water.
 
NEXT UP: I’ll share how to use water for recovery or rehab.

In the meantime… jump in. The YMCA is one of the best places to find an indoor pool.

If it's Summer where you are right now, you should be able to find an outdoor pool to exercise in. 
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*If you have diabetes or cardiac conditions like uncontrolled hypertension, you'll need clearance from your physician to exercise safely in water.

P.S. Ready to be active & agile at any age? Download your FREE Relaxed Body Toolkit to get started here.
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Water Exercise Series: Compression Benefits

6/11/2025

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It’s no secret I love to talk about the power of water for healing, relaxing, and challenging (i.e. Stand Up Paddle Boarding) your Body.

I realized recently those are all ON top of the water and I haven’t really shared about the benefits of being IN the water.

Kind of funny considering it’s one of my favorite things to recommend to clients.

If you’ve got chronic pain and inflammation especially in your joints, water is one of the safest places for you to exercise.

Why?


There are many reasons but one of the most amazing benefits of water is something you can’t get on land:  HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE

This is the compression that water has on your body when you are IN it.

What’s the big deal?

Well, plenty…
 
Compression has a calming effect on the Body and can help reduce pain in your joints and muscles.

The pressure water provides also helps your:
  • Heart function better by helping circulate the blood (increases venous return to heart)
  • Lymph system drain (reduces swelling)
  • Blood vessels become more flexible (reduces stenosis)

As we age, one of the things that happens is our blood vessels stiffen and this leads to elevated blood pressure.

So not only can you work on your joint flexibility and range of motion in the water, you’re actually helping your blood vessels do that too!

You don’t even have to move your body to get the benefits of hydrostatic pressure.

You just need to be standing or sitting in the water. 

Of course- if you exercise, you’ll increase these benefits.

All this pumping of fluids while IN water is why it’s important to drink lots of fluids when you get OUT of the water.

It’s just like when you get a massage and you’re encouraged to hydrate after it to help the body flush all the toxins.

Ever notice you have to pee when you get out of the pool or lake?

That’s from all the pumping of fluids that your Body is ready to let go of.

Hydrostatic Pressure isn’t the only benefit of exercising IN water. 

NEXT UP- I’ll share why water isn’t just for cardio workouts.


In the meantime… you can soak in your tub with some Epsom salt (& lavender) if you don't have access to a pool right now.

It’s not as intense as the pool but it’s still providing compression to your Body and gives a boost to your circulatory and lymph systems.
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P.S. Ready to be active & agile at any age? Download your FREE Relaxed Body Toolkit to get started here.
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How  To Stretch Your Soul (Psoas) Muscle

5/28/2025

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You never know what you might encounter when you go exploring in nature... I mean crossing the street in Austin, Texas.

Check out what Ender ran across recently...
I’m not sure how I went from growing up with the dad that everyone knew as the neighborhood’s 'Rattle Snake Killer' to having a husband who stops to make sure a snake got home safely?!?!

It was alarming but NOT surprising that Ender decided to jump out of his truck to video the snake. One day I’ll share how we ended up visiting The Snake Whisperer on our Amazon trip in the southern region of Venezuela.

Fun fact snakes have more bones than us but no pelvis and have evolved to have no legs.

We obviously can’t change our shape as smoothly or as much as a snake but we can work on our mobility by targeting our Fascia (connective tissue).

Fascia is the tough connective tissue that spreads throughout your body in a three-dimensional web from head to toe. It holds everything together from the bones, and organs to the nerves, blood vessels, and muscles.

Everything is connected to everything by your Fascia.

How you spend your day effects your play. 

Your fascia takes the shape of what you do most.

If you sit most of the day, your hips are going to be tight in the front (your hip flexors).

Your PSOAS MUSCLE is the most popular or well known of your hip flexors.

It starts at the front of your lumbar spine (lumbar vertebra) goes under the organs and attaches to the front of your hip (i.e. at the lesser trochanter of femur) helping bring your thigh to your chest (bend your hip). ​
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When the Psoas Muscle is tight, it can lead to low back, hip, groin or pelvic pain. 

It can also affect your posture and ability to stand up straight. 

It’s even been called the “muscle of the soul” as it can be tense or tight from holding onto emotional stress (fear, anxiety) and trauma due to being activated during fight or flight stress response.

Tight hip flexors can cause your gluteal (buttock) muscles to not fire properly which impacts your power, speed and stability. 

Stretching your hip flexors daily will improve your posture and performance.


️Here are 3 HIP FLEXOR STRETCH MOVES that go from less to more fascia.

​The tighter you are, start with the least amount of fascia and work your way to more full body stretches (i.e. supine > kneeling > standing positions).
​

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  • If you have low back pain or a history of it (most of us do), the safest way to stretch the hip flexors is to lay at the end of your bed and bring your knees to your chest. Lower one leg toward the floor with the knee bent while keeping the other leg bent toward your chest. Breathe and let gravity slowly stretch out the front of your hip. If your thigh doesn’t touch the bed, you’ve got super tight hip flexors and it will impact how big a stride you can take. You can also do this with a yoga bolster or foam roller (more advanced as in pic) under your pelvis. 
  • Remember to keep neutral spine (not too much flattening or arching) and engage your core muscles during all the stretch positions. There should be some space between the bed and your low back (enough for a flat hand to fit) as well as contact all the way through your sacrum to your tailbone.
  • Start and end on your tightest side to help rebalance your body.
  • Hold the stretch for a few breaths up to 2 minutes.

**NOTE: Sharp pain or shooting pain into the back of your bent leg means STOP. You should only feel a stretch sensation in the front of your hip (maybe Ito your quad/thigh also).

OVER TO YOU:

Do you have tight hip flexors?

If so, are you ready to give them some attention each day?

Your low back will appreciate it.

You’ll notice you have better posture and more ease with movement and walking kind of like that floating on air sensation when you get a new pair of running shoes.

Stretching your hip flexors is a great counter to all the sitting we do now.

Make sure to add Hip Flexor Stretches to your Rest Toolbox.
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P.S. If you’d like to work on your gluts & get more healthy hips tips, check out this FIT Blog.

If you're ready to improve your mobility, posture & fascia fitness, get on the interest list for our next online Rest Camp here.
We do not provide medical advice.  Always consult your physician before starting a new exercise program.
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Earth Day 2025: 5 Healthy Shopping Moves + Bonus Dog Poses

4/22/2025

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Today's the day!

Time to Celebrate Earth Day AND National Beagle Day!

Beagles & Nature- 2 of my favs that bring me so much joy.


Here are 5 ways to tweak how you SHOP so you can make healthier choices for not only your Body & Home but also Animals and the Environment:

1. Shop Cruelty Free: Look for the BUNNY LABEL to find brands that don’t do testing on animals especially beagles & rabbits. Download the cruelty cutter app to make it easier to shop cruelty free. Check that all your skin care, cosmetics, and household cleaning products have the bunny on them.

2.  Shop with Certified B Corporations™: B Corps are for profit businesses that commit to balance both profit and purpose.  These brands meet legal standards to consider not only the needs of their customer and employees in their decision making but also the environment and larger global community. Check the labels of products you already buy from and see if they are one.

3. Chemical Free Home: keep chemicals, plastics and pesticides out of your home.
  • Avoid Plastics by using refillable water bottles; BPA free plastic containers; Beeswax Wrap (vs Plastic Wrap); Cutting Boards made of bamboo, wood, or glass (vs Plastic); stainless steel or cast iron (vs non-stick) cookware; plant based sponges like bamboo or luffa (vs plastic sponges). 
  • Avoid chemicals by using clean, green, cruelty free makeup, skin care and cleaning products.
  • Avoid Pesticides by using natural alternatives in your garden to protect the bees: scatter chili pepper flakes, bits of oil or soap, tomato leaves, or garlic around your plants.

4. Clean Eating: 
  • Eat organic to avoid harmful chemicals & hormones. Shop at your local farmer's market to save on organics and find more clean foods.
  • Transition to a plant based diet as much as possible. Eating just one less burger a week is the equivalent of taking your car off the road for 320 miles. Approximately 1800-2500 gallons of water go into just one pound of beef. 
  • Don't forget to learn how to compost your scraps. Litterless has a list of zero waste grocery stores in the US.

5. Donate: Find organizations that help the environment & find their brand partners (like seatrees.org has on their webpage or Climate Neutral and 1% For The Planet).  The brands you choose matter for not only you and your home but our planet.


OVER TO YOU:

What's ONE thing you can change about how you SHOP that'll help support your Body, Home & the Environment?

BONUS MOVES: 

In honor of National Beagle Day, add some Yoga "Dog" Poses to help you stretch and strengthen your core.

You can do all of these on a counter or wall if you don't have the shoulder range of motion to do them on the floor.

Warm up a little before you do them.

Listen to your Body & do the ones that you can do with good form and still breathe well.

You can either pick one move & do a few reps of it or do a few sets of the entire sequence. 
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Now get outside & celebrate this beautiful Earth (& National Beagle) Day!
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P.S. Every sale of our online Rest Camps support organizations that improve the health & welfare of animals including Beagles. One of our favs to support is Beagle Freedom Project. They rescue and rehome beagles & other animals who have been used for lab testing in the U.S. and abroad. They also work tirelessly to champion laws & legislation to ban the cruel practice of animal testing nationwide.

Get on the interest list for our next online Rest Camp here.
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Earth Day 2025: Plant Trees + Bonus Tree Pose

4/8/2025

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It's not looking so hot for the wildflowers in Central Texas this year. 

In fact, the nights have been dropping into the 40’s.

I’ve seen a few patches of bluebonnets, but they don’t seem as vibrant as last year. 

Kind of a bummer so far.
 

Despite this wild Spring weather, the trees are coming through and doing their job.

Now it’s our turn.

Consider this your early April warning that Earth Day is coming up on Tuesday, April 22nd!

The 2025 theme is “Our Power, Our Planet™.” 

I’ll be sharing some tips to help you explore fun, new ways to support nature and the planet.

 Let's start with how you can help Restore Nature: PLANT
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  • PLANT native pollinators in your yard to help the bees & birds. You can find native pollinator plants by state or region here.
  • PLANT trees by supporting reforestation projects: Tree Sisters
  • PLANT in the ocean by restoring coastal ecosystems (like mangrove forests, kelp forests, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs): SeaTrees 

I was super pumped to learn about Seatrees when we purchased our Tandem SUP. 

It's incredible to see that over 4.7 million seatrees have been planted and restored around the world.

You can get involved directly through as little as a $5 donation or by purchasing from a brand you love that donates to 
them.

When you’re done finding a way to PLANT & Restore Nature, here's a Yoga Pose to help your BODY get grounded and centered.
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HOW TO DO TREE POSE


  • Stand with your feet together and your knees slightly bent. 
  • Shift your weight into your right foot and lift your left foot off the ground.
  • Place the sole of your left foot against your right ankle, calf, or upper thigh.
  • Focus on a single object or space in front of you.
  • Keep chest lifted and shoulders in lines with hips. Pull your belly up and in.
  • Palms together in front of your chest. Slowly raise them overhead toward the ceiling if you can keep your balance. Progress to opening them into a Y position with hands open and fingers reaching long toward the sky with shoulders away from your ears.
  • Hold for a few breaths or as long as you can balance. Repeat on your other leg.

MODS: Adjust your bent leg and arm position to your level of strength and balance.

*Foot position: The higher you bring your foot up your leg, the harder it is on your balance. 

*Knee position: The more you open your knee out to the side, the harder it is to keep your hips aligned.  Imagine you have flash lights on each hip bone. Keep the light shining in front of you equally (i.e. if you twist your hips one way, the beam of light would be facing that way vs straight in front of you).

*Hand position: The higher you raise your hands, the harder it is to balance.


**Don't forget to check that the foot you're standing on has equal contact on the floor/ground at the ball of your foot and heel with toes spread as much as you can. Think of growing roots into the ground like a tree to help you stabilize and ground yourself.
 

OVER TO YOU:

Which one of these Nature Moves sounds fun to do?

I know it can be overwhelming to think about climate change.

Remember it all matters.

Small moves from all of us add up just like it does when you make healthy choices for your body each day.

Baby steps my friend.

Find small ways that are exciting to you to support the Planet.

Don't forget to BE in nature as much as possible this Spring!
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P.S. Ready to go from Stressed to your Relaxed Body? Download the Relaxed Body Toolkit & Daily Energy Planner here.
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    Mollie, Ender, Ty & Teddie

    Mollie Miller, PT
    Ender Serrano, LMT

    Our Rest Camps & Coaching will help you have a calm, strong, well-rested body. One that moves and performs with ease & confidence, pain-free, & on purpose. Rest More To Heal More. Your Body. Others. The Planet.


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Core Power Health & Fitness, Inc. does not provide medical advice.   Consult a licensed physician prior to beginning any exercise or nutrition program.  
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