Avoiding Pain When Cycling

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:

• Adjusting the Saddle
• Handlebar Adjustment
• Knee pain
• Neck pain
• Foot pain or numbness
• Hand pain or numbness
• Saddle sores

You can find the full article -Here-

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.

Snow Shovelling Tips

 

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 Stick comes in!  Inside your house: (all these exercises can be viewed here)

• Roll out your legs
• Roll out you arms
• Roll out you neck
• Roll out your back
• Roll out your shoulders
• Stretch your lower back with the PostureCurve

When you are done shovelling, repeat the above steps for your cool-down!

You are now ready to tackle any snow that Mother Nature decides to dump!

A New Back Massage Exercise With “The Stick”.

Hello everyone,

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 Massage Stick and Popularity.

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.

Using The Stick in Cold Weather

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:

1. Rolling over my legs (one leg @ a time) in my house, starting with quads, then hamstrings, then calves.
2. Switching legs
3. Lower back/Upper Back
4. A little on the arms.
5. Going out for a run in the cold/snow.
6. Light stretching on thet front step of my house.
7. Repeating steps 1-4 in my house.
8. Stretching my lower back with the Posture Curve!

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 Stick is 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.

Needless to say, The Stick is amazing!!

P.S.- My wife, who is the real runner, loves using The Stick too!!

P.S.S – These same results will work for your pets and horses!!

Top Moments in Sport for 2008

Hello Sport Fans!!

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

Usain Bolt 100m and 200m 2008 Beijing Olympics!

Spain win 2008 European Championships

Michael Phelps 2008 Beijing Olympics!

New Zealand Rugby League World Cup Victory.

 

Please click here to see the entire article.

To add reference and context to the author of these top sporting moments, The Sports Nut is from the UK! 

 

Now it is my turn.  I agree with all the above and would like to add some other fantastic moments sport:

The Calgary Stampeders Winning The Grey Cup (CFL)

Simon Whitfield’s Finish @ The Olympics

The Boston Cletics Winning The NBA Title

Danica Patrick -  To become the first woman to win a major (NASCAR, Indy, Formula One) auto race.

Roger Clemens – Steroid Scandle

Kansas Beating Memphis in the NCAA Basketball Championship (Buzzer Beater with Overtime)

To add reference and context to the comments above, I live in Alberta, Canada!

 

Whatever your top sporting moments were in 2008, I hope 2009 will be just as exciting.

 

The Stick and Horses

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: 

Improve Strength

Increase Flexibility 

Extend Endurance

Accelerate Recovery Time

Reduce Muscle Soreness, Stiffness & Pain

Prepare Muscles for Rigors of Activity

Flushes Muscles from the Rigors of Activity

 

 

Please visit here for more details!!

The gift of health.

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!!

Visit my website by clicking the logo.

Hello Stick Users!

I have created this blog to help users of The Stick gain more information about the type of Stick they are using or want to use.  Here are some basic tips abou using this great device.  Basically, the model of Stick is based on it’s length and flexibility.  Long Sticks like the Original Body Stick or Stiff Stick allow more maneuverability and can reach more places.  Shorter Sticks like the Travel Stick or Marathon Stick are easily portable.

As for stiffness, the Stiff Stick is super rigid and offers a deep massage.  The Marathon Stick is very flexible and can contour to the body part you are rolling.  The Sprinter Stickmeets the requirements of travel-ability and stiffness all in one.  It is quite rigid and short for portability.

The stiffer models are very popular with people who want a deep massage.  Particularly people with IT Band problems love The Sprinter Stick.

All The Sticks can get wet and are easily cleaned.

PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE @ www.ZealousVitality.ca

I am in Alberta, Canada

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