A couple of weeks ago, I had a display booth at a Diabetic forum in Calgary, Alberta. There were vendors from all over the place offering information and products to those who have diabetes or are interested in learning more about diabetes.
I was there with The Stick and related specialty products. You may be wondering why diabetics would be interested in massage products and devices? As you may or may not know there are 2 types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2. Basically type 1 diabetics rely on insulin therapy to control their blood sugar levels. Type 1 is also known as Juvenile Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is mostly controlled by diet and exercise as well as insulin therapy. I knew there would be more type 2 people than type 1 people because my wife (who has type 1) has been to many of these forums and she mentioned to me that the clientele at the forum would be primarily type 2 diabetics. Typically, type 2 diabetics have challenges with circulation and nerve pain. The Stick is the perfect device to increase circulation and help people live a more comfortable life. As far as nerve pain goes, The Stick can help with that too by allowing the muscles that surround the nerves to become less restricting. With more blood flow, comes more compliant muscles. With more compliant muscles, people should feel better! Nerve pain can also be alleviated by massage therapy. Again, The Stick is great for massage therapy.
It turns out that the people at the forum loved the idea that they could massage their own muscles in the comfort of their own homes. They also loved the fact that they did not have to go to the ground to use The Stick or plug it in. Most people who purchased a Stick liked the Travel Stick or Marathon Stick. They liked that those sticks offered some flexibility are were not overly rigid.
Travel Stick
Marathon Stick
People with diabetes can have complications with circulation and nerve pain specifically in their feet. As a result, people were thrilled to learn that FootWheel could possibly help them. In fact, by the end of the day, people walked away with more FootWheels than Sticks. That is right, people purchased more FootWheels than Sticks!!
FootWheel
I am thrilled to be offering products that have so many applications!!
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.”
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.
I love to get out on my mountain bike and have a great workout. One of the problems I have is my geographical location in Alberta, Canada. I have to admit that I am somewhat of a weekend warrior, so I naturally wait for the snow to melt, than I get very excited for spring!
I truly enjoying x-country mountain biking, so the road really is not my cup of tea. However, I do go for a few long road/path rides to get my legs (and butt) back into the shape. Since discovering The Stick I have taken one on many of my rides to help recover and loosen up my sore muscles. I also love to use a Stick during a break and right after I am done to aid in recovery.
Needless to say, cycling can be amazing or a real pain in the butt, knees, back, wrists and shoulders. There are many fitting guides out there and you should always listen to experts or go to your local bike shop to get the personal touch. For starters, I have a guide to help you. It is called “Proper Bike Fit Can Prevent Pain and Injury“. The article gives some good, basic information on the following topics:
The most interesting note I have to say is that The Stick and it’s related Speciality Products can help with all of the above conditions except saddle sores. That is a “sensitive” topic.
Needless to say The Stick is a great tool every cyclist needs to have in their toolbox.
In Alberta, Canada, shovelling snow can be a daunting task at the best of times. We got another huge dump last night in the middle of March for the second weekend in a row!
Our Back Deck
Front Door View
Here are some typical snow shovelling tips:
Be the last one out and have your neighbours feel sorry for you and have them do it!
Pay the kids down the street
Borrow a snow blower
Let it melt
Here is what we like to do:
Shovel as a family – everybody goes out!
Extend your services to your neighbours
My son and my wife working together!
My daughter hangn' out!
Here are some tips to help you in this situation:
Shovel small areas at a time with frequent rests
Push the snow, rather than lift it
Push downhill with gravity
Lift with your legs, NOT your back
Don’t twist when you lift
Use a shovel you can handle — Don’t lift too much snow @ one time
Use an ergonomic shovel
Use your skeleton as a lever, not your muscles (see picture below)
Most Importantley *** DO A PROPER WARM-UP and Cool-Down***
By lifting with this grip, you are able to use your triceps and sketeton, rather than your biceps.
Realistically you are not going to warm up by running around and stretching too much. That is where The Stickcomes in! Inside your house: (all these exercises can be viewed here)
I have taken a little time off of blogging to concentrate on getting the word out about The Stick in Alberta, Canada. I am now back to my schedule of providing great material and tips for Stick users.
Here is a video that explains how to use The Body Stick to massage that hard to reach place in the middle of your back. The massage technique can be done anywhere at anytime. People who spend a lot of time at their computers may be especially interested in this video.
The popularity of The Stick really makes me excited.
This wonderful tool has put me in contact with some really exciting people and places. I have met and corresponded with countless business owners who truly care about their clientele and want to offer their customers fantastic products. I have spoken with physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, alternative and holistic medicine experts, equine massage therapists, horse owners, horse stores, pet owners, pet stores, rehabilitation stores, running stores, bike stores, triathlon stores, personal trainers and gyms.
Off the top of my head, I have met and worked with athletes from various sports/activities/athletics including: (but not limited to) track and field , basketball, volleyball, individual athletes, bmx, dancers, gymnasts, swimmers, hockey, football, weight lifters, ski racing, equestrian, runners, cyclists, marathon runners, triathletes, snowboarders, badminton, tumbling and trampoline, x-country skiers and runners, climbers, rugby, golf, tennis, racquetball, ultimate frisbee, squash and more!!!
My company, Zealous Vitality Inc. has given me the opportunity to converse with individuals from all over North America about The Stick. To mention a few, this simple to use muscle massage tool has put me in contact with people from Alberta, Saskatoon, British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, Georgia and even the UK.
Then again, I am also very excited when I meet people who have never even heard of The Stick. In fact, just the other day, a lady from around the corner from me here in Alberta, Canada contacted me for a Stick after she was redirected from the US. She could not believe that her physiotherapist has never heard of The Stick. I also had a neighbour drop by and ask about the what the decals on my truck were all about. He simple asked “What is The Stick?“
It truly is amazing what can happen when the word goes out when a product is really as good as we claim it is.
Since I live in an area in Alberta, Canada where there has been a substantial amount of snowfall and cold weather this year, I decided to experiment a little with The Stick as a warm-up and cool-down tool in cold weather. Here are some relevant Stick tips.
Here is what we know already about The Stick as a warm-up/cool-down tool:
A typical warm-up for healthy muscle tissue is about 20 progressively deeper passes over each muscle group (about 30 seconds per area).
By warming up muscles for exercise, the muscles are becoming stimulated and ready to perform by increasing the blood flow to that muscle group.
A typical cool-down for healthy muscle tissue is about 20 progressively deeper passes over each muscle group (about 30 seconds per area).
By cooling down muscles after exercise, muscles are permitted to slowly return to their resting state and blood pooling will be reduced. Soreness and stiffness can be diminished with a proper cool-down, leading to increased recovery for the next time training takes place. Never mind allowing your heart to recover.
Here is what I have been doing:
Rolling over my legs (one leg @ a time) in my house, starting with quads, then hamstrings, then calves.
My findings have been very impressive. I feel fantastic! Due to the fact that I warm-up with The Stick,my muscles are prepared for exercise without expending energy. This is a real benefit since the cold and snow already zap a lot of energy to begin with. I can start my run right away without spending extra time outside “warming-up”. My muscles are primed and ready to go.
You may notice that when you do exercise outside that your muscles due become stiff and cold even though you are exercising. This is really apparent when your done your workout. Typically your legs are a little cold and stiff. This is where The Stickis even more impressive. By rolling over your muscles, you actually are speeding up circulation by bringing blood flow to the area you are rolling. Your legs actually warm-up a little at the same time you are flushing out the lactic acid that has built up from your training session.
I would like to share with you an opinion about the Top 5 Moments in Sport for 2008. I find them thought provoking and informative. Here they are according to The Sports Nut @ Peak Performance:
Rafa Nadal vs. Roger Federer- Wimbledon Final July 2008
Yes, you read it correctly! The Stick is awesome for our equine friends.
Just like humans, horses react to exercise and develop soreness and trigger points like we do. The only difference is they don’t complain about it as much as we do. In fact, equine massage is big business! Around where I live (Alberta, Canada), there are ranchers, rodeo enthusiasts, dressage participants and the like. If they care about their horses, then they are having their horses being treated by chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopathics and even acupuncturists.
I still say that nothing will replace the human touch, but The Stick is the next best thing. The best part, is you can work on your horse anytime, anywhere! Because this amazing tool is non-motorized, you do not need a plug in, it can get wet and dirty and it is very easy to transport.
Due to the fact that horses are like athletes, we treat them the same way. You simply roll The Stick over the horses muscles!! I recommend using the Stiff Stick.
We recommend this Stick because it is stiff and longer for more leverage. A horses muscles are quite dense!
What Can “The Stick” Do for Horses?
By increasing circulation and breaking down Trigger Points (muscle knots), “The Stick” can:
I live in an area of Alberta, Canada where I can load by dirt bike into my truck and be riding 30-45min later. That is exactly what I did today. It was only plus 2 degrees celsius, but I went anyway. As I drove down the highway listening to good music and planning the week ahead of me, I recognized how lucky I am.
I am healthy and have a family that loves me! I was able to get away for a couple of hours and enjoy the fact that I was healthy and able to do something physical in the outdoors. It was incredible!! As I was getting on my gear, I saw a Dad with a friend and their kids on quads. I saw friends getting ready to enjoy some time together. I felt fantastic. I know there will be a day very soon when my kids are old enough to spend a couple hours with me in natures playground!!
Just before my ride, I needed to warm-up my body a little, so I rolled out any muscle I had exposed that was not covered by my gear with the Original Body Stick. I then got on my bike and went exploring.
The point of my story, is without your health and freedom to move around, you are restricted to certain activities. Because I am healthy and I take care of my muscles, I can do whatever I want – like dirt bike!!
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:
