How Speed Skaters Might Use “The Stick”

During the Edmonton Marathon, I met two high end speed skaters!  The first was a young up and comer who has been training at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta.  Her family has been involved in speed skating for quite a number of years.  Her dad happens to be a coach as well.  They ended up picking up a Sprinter Stick.

This made sense to me because speed skaters have large, dense muscles.  The Sprinter Stick was the perfect stick for her because it is stiff and short enough to fit it into her training bag.

The other speed skater I met was Crystal Phillips.  If her name sounds familiar it is because she is competing against the very best in the world.  Crystal is a Canadian speed skater who is not only training for Canada, but she also has Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  I did not know that she was dealing with MS until I met her for coffee.  She is a remarkable young women.  Here is a little exert from an article written about her efforts with the MS Bike Tour a couple of years ago:

“After successfully organizing a team for the MS Bike Tour for the first time last year, Crystal Phillips is looking forward to making this year’s team an even bigger success. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis herself only a little over a year ago, the 21-year-old speed skater is determined to not let the disease get her down and hopes this Bike Tour, which is a two-day 180-km trip from Airdrie to Olds and back, will help build more awareness of MS and will help raise as much money as possible for MS research.”

To read the most up to date information on Crystal click the title - Canadian speed skaters support upcoming MS Bike Tour

Crystal is still team captain for her team called ‘Team Tazza’  for the MS Bike Tour. 

Interestingly enough, she stopped by my booth and said she uses The Stick all the time.  She told me she mainly uses it for warm-up.  Being that she is an amazing athlete, I assumed she would be using the Sprinter Stick as well.  I was wrong.

Crystal showed up the next day to compete in her race and she again stopped by my booth and showed her Travel Stick.  I was shocked to hear that she only uses the Travel Stick.  I though for sure she would be using a stiffer stick like the Sprinter Stick, Body Stick or even the Stiff Stick.  She explained to me that she and other speed skaters love to use the stick to warm-up and stimulate their muscles before they trained or raced.  So, the Travel Stick was perfect for the job.  She was not looking to do any deep soft tissue release because she would see a therapist for that. 

I think this makes a lot of sense for a person in her position.  She has access to physiotherapists and massage therapists, so she uses The Stick as a warm-up tool.  I suggested she she also use it as a cool-down tool and a tool for soft tissue work in between visits to her therapists.

Crystal is a great example of how speed skaters or other athletes can use The Stick! 

 Go Crystal Go.

 

I should also mention that Crystal is part of Clean Air Champions where their mission is to improve air quality by working with respected athletes to motivate and educate Canadians to adopt practices and lifestyles that enhance both environmental and personal health.

 

 

Everyone Should Have a Massage Stick Called “The Stick”!

When I say that “Everyone Should Have a Massage Stick”, I am speaking of The Stick.

Original Body Stick

I am not speaking of any other type of a massage stick  that is out there, because I am not sure about them.  What I am sure about is how effective The Stick is on sore, tired muscles.  The Stick is the original patented device created to massage muscles. 

Here is an exert that RPI of Atlanta created to help explain what The Stick is:

“Intracell Technology™ is founded on solid, scientific evidence in muscle physiology. It employs a sophistication that attracts progressive practitioners, top level athletes, performing artists and individuals who aspire to gain and retain peak physical performance. 

Intracell Technology™ employs the use of a patented, proven, therapeutic muscle device that will improve the quality and quantity of bodily motion at work, at play, and at home. The instrument is trademarked the INTRACELL® in the healthcare community and The Stick® in all other markets.”

 It really does not matter who you are or what you do.  We all experience muscle stiffness and or pain at some point in our lives.  The Stick:

• Improves Strength
• Increases Flexibility
• Extends Endurance
• Accelerates Recovery Time
• Reduces Muscle Soreness, Stiffness & Pain
• Prepares Muscle for Rigors of Activity
• Flushes Muscle from Rigors of Activity

Most of all The Stick INCREASES CIRCULATION!!!  By having good circulation throughout your body, your muscles can perform to their potential while being efficient at daily tasks.  Good circulation means your tissues are getting the needed oxygen and blood supply.  Without proper circulation, limbs can feel weak and cold.

For these simple reasons above, I recommend that everyone should have a Stick in their home or workplace to roll their way to healthy, happy muscles. There is nothing worse than being stiff and sore!!

The Stick is incredibly easy to use.  It takes up no room at all and best of all, you probably won’t need another one for a very long time!!

Dancers and Figure Skaters Love The Stick!

I have had numerous people tell me that they were watching So You Think You Can Dance Canada they other night and saw Emanuel Sandhu using The Stick!  I of course was very excited to hear this because I am a fan of the show and The Stick.  You can become a fan of the The Stick too!

Thanks to one of our members at Zealous Vitality – Sharon (who just purchased a Marathon Stick), she found the video!!  Please see the video below.  The part about The Stick happens just after the 5:30 mark of the video.  Thank you so much Sharon!!!

 

Looks like he is using The Original Body Stick!

Original Body Stick