Stress Recovery Expert

Living Primal and kicking my sugar addiction.

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Engel-Olson) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:04:00 +0000

I am almost there! I am 3 days away from completing the 21-Day Challenge, by Mark Sisson and the Primal Blueprint Team. (Stay tuned, pics to follow) I am totally amazed at the ease of this program and how much my health has changed in just a few short weeks. 21-Day Challenge

To name a few, I do not have the same ups and downs with my blood sugar as before. I have more energy to keep up with my little tike, Landon. I have already lost two sizes in my clothes (hopefully never to be found again!) But mostly, I just feel happier.

In the past I have never stayed committed to a program like this. If you asked me even two months ago if I could give up sugar and carbs totally, I would have laughed, while shoving another handful of peanut m and m's in my mouth. Today I am so excited, because I truly feel alive again. I am no longer in my sugar and carb coma.

If you are interested in achieving a level of health that will delight and surprise you daily, check out the links below. E-mail me with any questions and get started today.

Mark Sisson's Page

Mark Sisson's Pag

Stretch and Strengthen to Reach Your Maximum Potential

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Engel-Olson) — Tue, 03 May 2011 10:14:00 +0000

Hello everyone. After working in this industry for over 16 years, I know that most of us carry around a lot of tightness and inflexibility. Tightness, when left unaddressed, leads to a decrease in energy, performance, and overall zest for life.

I recently gave birth to a baby boy after experiencing a long labor and an unexpected C-section. Not only is my body readjusting and recovering from being pregnant, but I am also healing from a major surgical procedure.

I noticed I was having a hard time getting up and holding the baby, as well as bending down and lifting him. The physical discomfort I was feeling, along with a lack of sleep, was making it difficult for me to give 100% to my new son, husband and even myself.

Two weeks ago I was introduced to a new spin on resistance stretching, a process where you gain strength and increase flexibility at the same time by “resisting during the stretch, and performing a strengthening move to release the stretch”. I decided to give it a try. The program, called "Resistance Stretching With Dara Torres" is available on DVD, which I prefer because it’s easy to follow and I can stop or start it as needed.

I followed along with the trainers every day for one week. I noticed after the first session that much of my back and hip discomfort was gone. I continued doing the routine first thing in the mornings. By day three I felt loose enough to run 1.5 miles during my 4 mile morning walk with my son! I continue to be amazed at how quickly my fitness level is returning and how much better I’m feeling.

To those of you who are looking for easy and inexpensive ways to increase flexibility, strength, and decrease discomfort, I highly recommend this DVD. At age 41, Dara Torres used this program to prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Don’t be intimidated though. It is very easy, and you can set your own pace.

After using the DVD for a while, I made a few revisions to the routine. If you’re interested in the changes and want to learn them, feel free to set up a time with me and I will show you my revisions at the end of your next session.

You can purchase the DVD from Amazon, just click on this title "Resistance Stretching With Dara Torres", it’s a link to my Amazon store. I purchased a used copy and love it.

May we all strive daily to be the best we can to ourselves and each other – Adrienne Engel-Olson

Is your muscle memory helping or hindering your health and performance?

noreply@blogger.com (Adrienne Engel-Olson) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:40:00 +0000

Muscle memory plays a role in every aspect of your daily life. Everything you have learned how to do—muscle memory made it so. Think back for a moment to a time when you watched a young child learning to walk. In the beginning, the child struggled with balance. However, over time the child not only began to walk, but also began to run, play, and develop fine motor skills.

The combination of time and repetition ingrains an optimal and active muscle memory that allows us to live the life we desire.

So how can muscle memory work against you? Think of a time when you felt stressed. Where did you feel it? Many of us will feel tightness in the back of the neck and shoulders. This tightness is due to the muscle fibers shortening. I refer to this shortening pattern as a chronic contraction. If chronic contractions are left unaddressed, the contracted muscle fibers become conditioned to stay that way. This in turn decreases circulation to the surrounding body tissues, creates undo pressure and tension on the bones, joints, discs and ligaments, and greatly decreases range of motion. Not to mention it’s uncomfortable.

Chronic injuries, surgeries, accidents, traumas, poor posture at work, and increased stress are also factors that lead to harmful muscle memories. These conditions can intensify over a lifetime and they cause us to disconnect from our highest potential, decrease our immunity and set the stage for premature aging and poor performance.

If you are experiencing increased stress, decreased flexibility, pain and discomfort in your head, neck, shoulders, back, hips, and lower body, then Inner-Active Therapy is right for you. All of us walking around this planet are harboring both helpful and harmful muscle memories in our bodies. If you are someone who wants to learn how to release hindering chronic contractions from your system and reclaim an optimal quality of life, I can help.

Inner-Active Therapy reprograms muscle fibers by using medical massage to locate and release the chronic contractions. You are then given individualized stretches and exercises that reprogram your body to hold its newfound balance. Each program is uniquely designed to address the client’s needs. Whether you are an athlete who wants to gain that extra edge and reclaim your flexibility, or you are healing from a specific health imbalance, I can help you with a specially designed Inner-Active Therapy program. Get started today!