June Hathaway

Peak Performance Fitness week 2

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:27:52 +0000

I ordered the book Peak Performance Fitness, by physical therapist Jennifer Rhodes, because it came highly recommended on a web search for plantar fasciitis exercises.

I remember checking this book out from the library years ago and barely cracking it. As a writer, Jennifer is a hell of a physical therapist. But now that I am struggling with two hurt feet and a hurt back, I’m willing to put in the effort to make the program work for me.

The book focuses on the big trouble spots: shoulders, low back, knees and feet. It prescribes functional strength exercises for joint stability and alignment like bird dogs, wall sits, pushups, along with rotator cuff work and isolations for the feet and knees.

I had some problems with the exercises as presented. Progressions are unclear and she uses a 20 lb. adjustable ankle weight as the only resistance. I’m using a resistance band instead. This also frees me from the awkard positions she uses in order to make effective use of the ankle weight. For instance, instead of lying facedown on a bench to do one-armed high rows, I stand and do both sides at once.

I’m finding it really helpful to follow a program by somebody else, even if I do modify it. There’s a lot less second-guessing this way. In the second week I’m really “getting” the exercises. I’ve got DOMS in my spinal erectors!

Headlines from my Seattle PI Blog

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:54:45 +0000

Gary Meyer, Michael Moore, and Michael Falter in Utah

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:17:09 +0000

Photo l-r: Gary Meyer, co-director of Telluride Film Festival and co-founder of Landmark Theatres, Michael Moore, director of Sicko, Roger and Me and many other documentary films, and Michael Falter, program director for Pickford Film Center in Bellingham, attending the Art House Convergence conference outside of Park City, Utah. JPG; right-click (or control-click, you know who you are) to save

Photo l-r: Gary Meyer, co-director of Telluride Film Festival and co-founder of Landmark Theatres; Michael Moore, director of Sicko, Roger and Me and many other documentary films, and Michael Falter, program director for Pickford Film Center in Bellingham.

My home on the web

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:59:07 +0000

I’m a ~~freelance writer~~ slacker based in Bellingham, Washington. My current projects can be found elsewhere on the web:

WhatcomNaturalHealth.com
A community natural health directory, review site, calendar and blog with listings for health professionals from acupuncture to yoga as well as organic local food sources.

Seattle PI Bellingham Blog
I blog about Bellingham happenings for the Seattle PI website.

Michael’s Books Blog
Weekday mornings I sit in a secret windowless chamber above the bookstore and create online listings for rare and out of print books. The fruits of my labor appear on several online bookselling sites as well as on this blog.