It was a sunny, warm day in mid-May — my first real beach day of the year. I decided to spend a good chunk of the day in the warm […]
Movement
TO THE MAT
Summer Is for Butterfly Poses
Yin yoga’s cooling effect on the season’s hot energy
Butterfly pose comes from a yoga tradition that is less well known than the one most people are familiar with. It grew out of the Taoist tradition, incorporating Chinese theories […]
MOVEMENT
Parallel Play at Puma Park
Good things happen when grown-up exercise equipment comes to a playground
TRURO — It’s not easy for everyone to get to a gym. We all have our reasons. Sometimes it’s the cost, or the time spent traveling back and forth, or […]
TO THE MAT
Moving Into Balance for Summer
‘Empty coat sleeves’ is a gentle twist that warms up the body and clears the mind
“I am letting go to the right. I am letting go to the left.” These few words coax me along as I swing into a simple standing movement that has […]
MOVEMENT
Come On In, the Water’s Fine
Gaining strength, losing stress, and finding something spiritual in our Outer Cape ponds
For a lot of people on the Outer Cape, summer officially starts with that first swim in a pond. But I’ve noticed people have a wide range of opinions on […]
TO THE MAT
To Be Fierce, First Be Grounded
A warrior pose balances determination and patience
In these times, it seems clear that we need courage and strength as well as a bit of fierceness to carry on. Maybe that is why the Warrior I pose […]
TO THE MAT
Yoga Twists: Like Spring Cleaning for Your Body
How to breathe your way gently into a pretzel-shaped pose
It turns out that our bodies need a spring cleaning just like our homes do. Have you noticed feeling sluggish or stiff as spring comes on? In the winter, we […]
MOVEMENT
A 15-Minute Core Workout That Gets Beyond the Belly
Stability exercises are subtle but powerful strengtheners
If you read my 15-minute workout advice this winter, you know what’s coming. I promised to add a core routine to those basic upper- and lower-body programs. An effective set […]
MOVEMENT
Armed for Spring With a 15-Minute Workout
Get toned in time for sleeveless-shirt weather
Two months ago, I wrote about how you can build strength in as little as 15 minutes a day. That piece covered the legs. Of course, you can’t just work […]
MOVEMENT
Skiing Without Stress
Hitting the slopes does not have to be scary
I love the snow. Except for our recent blizzard, it’s been in short supply here on the Cape. Several times, my son and I got our hopes up when a […]
MOVEMENT
Strength Training Isn’t All or Nothing
Getting fit in 15 minutes, part one: the legs
Strength training is important because it makes you feel better. Its health-related virtues include decreased blood sugar and increased strength of bone, muscle, and other connective tissues, increased release of […]
MOVEMENT
Heading to Class on a Search for Motivation
Groups are good for hibernators, the hesitant, and those with hectic lives
Motivation has been a theme for me this fall — I find that’s true of a lot of people I work with. As the weather cools, most of us need […]
MOVEMENT
Why It Works to Work Out With a Friend
The buddy system builds in motivation, competition, and fun
It’s 5 p.m. on a Friday, and I’m exhausted after a long work week. I spend all day motivating other people to move, but right now I feel like lounging […]
MOVEMENT
Finding Flow on a Paddleboard
The best exercise is the one that makes you happy
People always ask me, “What’s the best exercise?” That’s a tough one because “best” can mean many different things. Is it the one that burns the most calories? Works the […]
MOVEMENT
Saying Yes to a ‘Thrilling Adventure’ on a Boogie Board
A birthday present inspires a lesson in movement that’s just for fun
I recently had a birthday. My son, Casey, wanted some ideas for a gift. And my practical suggestions, like oven mitts or kitchen knives, would not do. He insisted that […]
