Dr. Johanna

I met an interesting guy in my French class during my junior year of college. He was a member of the UC Berkeley track team. We discussed (in broken French) his training regiment with the CAL track team. It involved extensive cardio and strength training coupled with a strict diet. A few months later we happened to run into each at a yoga studio where I was working at the time. Classes at this studio were 1.5 hours long. He entered the class then suddenly exited it forty-five minutes later. He was exasperated, sweaty and had a look of resignation. He entered the yoga class feeling confident that his athleticism would circumvent any possible strenuous poses yet he left the studio looking dubious. My first yoga class was a similar learning experience. As a competitive soccer player since the ripe age of 7, I was surprised by the physicality of yoga and  the limits of my own athleticism.

Traditional perceptions of athleticism in congruence with misapprehensions about yoga fail to see the symbiotic relationship between different types of exercise. Athletes focus on cardio and strength exercises, which can sometimes neglect the certain areas of the body. In fact, there is a growing trend among Olympic athletes who are spending their time off the field in the studio. Goalie for the Olympic USA women’s soccer, Hope Solo, has expressed her love for yoga.

“As an athlete I like to keep my speed and my agility and that dynamic part of who I am. A lot of times, simple stretching takes away from your speed, so for me, dynamic yoga gives me the ability and empowers me to keep my speed and elongate my muscles. Several years ago, it wasn’t as popular for professional athletes to do. Now, you’ll find in day and age, people are starting to realize it really benefits them on the field.” *

I have no doubt that the misperception that yoga fails to challenge a person’s athleticism still persist. And that the only true way to get the body in shape is to over indulge in cardio and strength training. However, as we are already seeing, I believe in the near future people at all stages of  health will begin to see the clear benefits and challenges of practicing yoga. They will realize that this art form is more than just something to “stretch” you out but, more of a way of life that challenges both the mind and body.

* BLISSTREE

As many of you know, I am addicted to rock climbing.  It’s a healthy addiction in this case, I promise!  I recently returned from another stellar climbing trip to Red Rock Canyon, just outside Las Vegas.  Pictured above on her first 12a redpoint (at the Sunny and Steep crag in Calico Basin) is my good friend and climbing queen, Kim Richards.  Many of the 30-40-somethings in my climbing circle, me included, train on “plastic” at the local gyms 3 to 6 days a week.  How do we do it without getting injured, you may ask.  Our secret is really no secret at all: regular chiropractic and myofascial release body work (massage, ART, Graston).

Quoting a respected physical therapist in SF, Kelly Starrett, “All human beings should be able to perform basic maintenance on themselves.”  Regular practice of your own home care like self-massage, heat/ice, and a thorough stretching routine, is the second secret to prevent overuse injuries in climbing.

The ways that we choose to take good care of our bodies go a long way in preventing overuse and ALSO traumatic muscle/tendon/ligament injuries. When muscles/tendons/ligaments are free of scar tissue and chronic inflammation then they respond to repeated loads—-like gripping tiny crimpers on an overhang—-with resiliency and an innate elasticity.  That means lower chances of getting a tendon rupture in your finger, rotator cuff tear, or tendinitis in your elbow.

If you’re a climbing addict like me, you want to preserve your longevity in this sport.  Many of my friends are getting stronger and becoming more capable technical climbers as they are getting older—into their 40’s and 50’s. I don’t know a single one of them who doesn’t have regular body therapy of some kind.  I’m lucky because I get to use my own Graston instruments to work out tensions and adhesions in my forearms and hands at least once a week!  I’m an advocate of weekly to monthly spinal adjustments, massage (specific and general), and acupuncture.  Believe me, I’m a busy woman, and I wouldn’t take the time for these treatments if they didn’t work so darn well.  Climb on!

See more pictures from Red Rocks on our Facebook page!

Running for a Better Oakland is a local non-profit, founded by Oaklanders Tod and Jen Vedock, to bring together a diverse group of Oakland kids in the spirit of togetherness, fitness, and building a safe community.  I’m honored to be named the team doctor and called upon to care for minor injuries that creep up as the kids participate in their new sport, running.  We meet every Saturday morning, January through March, to run around Lake Merritt in Oakland.  Over 150 kids from 7 to 17 years of age and nearly as many volunteers share the adventure of training for one of the Oakland Marathon races: 5k, marathon relay, or half marathon.  It’s a site to see all these blue  and yellow RBO t-shirts galavanting around the lake on these training runs.  Please have a look at this local organization to get a glimpse of how many kids’ lives it is touching in our community:
http://www.rboakland.org

The big day of the Oakland Running Festival is Sunday, March 24—fast approaching!

Next time you’re in for treatment, ask me about supplemental Magnesium instead of Calcium.

At a time of year when sniffles abound and everyone seems to be armed with a pocketful of tissues, it is important to take special care in supporting your body’s natural defense systems.  The essential function of our exquisitely designed immune system is to defend against the millions of bacteria, microbes, toxins, parasites and viruses that look to invade it.  When the immune system is working optimally, our lymphocytes are able to engulf the germs we are exposed to daily.  A strong immune system helps foster a healthier, more active and enjoyable life.  However, when stressors exist, immune system helps foster a healthier, more active andenjoyable life.  However, when stressors exist, they may disrupt this delicate balance, resulting in sickness or disease.  Don’t wait until it’s too late—there are many simple and effective steps that you can take each day to build your immune system:

• follow a nutrient-dense diet
• exercise daily
• get solid sleep: 8-9 hours and try an Earthing sheet
• maintain a healthy weight
• drink plenty of purified, mineralized water
• avoid excesses

Superfood supplements can also boost your body’s defenses by providing powerful nutrients and cofactors it needs to ideal protection and rapid healing.  Try a general multi-vitamin in addition to vitamin C (500mg), B vitamins, vitamin D (5000 I.U. daily), magnesium (400mg), and zinc (30mg).

-adapted from Radiant Life Company