Archive for the 'Exercise' Category

Joy Rides to Fort Worth: An Angels Lift Photo Journal

The greatest gift a person can give another is just to show up. And they did! The majority I knew, some I had not seen in decades, and others I didn’t know at all! Over 29 people have shown up since June 20, 2022… Not just once, but most over and over again.  When I first started at Neurokinetix, for
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Neurokinetix: Wrangling Rides to Cowtown

“Never been one to ask for help. Need a mountain moved, I moved it myself….”, are the first couple lines to one of my favorite country songs by Matt Stell. Asking for help is difficult. The last thing you want to do is to inconvenience or bother someone at the risk of setting yourself up for rejection or seeming selfish.
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First Day at Neurokinetix

A mixture of enthusiasm, nervousness, impatience, and readiness gently awoke me from my slumber on June 20, 2022 at 5:30 AM. My first day, EVER, of physical rehabilitation was about to begin at Neurokinetix. After months of waiting for this day to come, its arrival was hard to believe. Like a student on the first day of school, the angst
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A Virtual Athlete

Wii what??? Around ten years ago, one of the fourth grade students in my class enthusiastically educated his clueless teacher on his new Wii gaming system. I had no idea what he was talking about, but it sounded really cool. I remember being left thinking, “I wonder if this device would allow me to play sports, especially tennis?”  After a
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Moving Up in a Standing Frame

The “deer in the headlights” look was actually more disappointing than surprising after requesting a prescription for a a standing frame, during my annual visit to the Muscular Dystrophy clinic at UT Southwestern Medical Center in March 29, 2018. Being a clinic of neurology, I expected the accessory of a standing frame to be common knowledge, a basic no-brainer. The
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A Catholic Girl in a Jewish Pool

The pool has always provided freedom of movement, removing the shackles of gravity. I love how my body flows effortlessly through the waves. A considerably strong swimmer as a youngster, endurance always trumped speed.  I took swim lessons, yet the Olympics never came calling. Conquering my Junior Life Saving test, at the age of 12, was a grueling accomplishment, and
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Spatchcocked Chicken Derailment

This playful, bordering on silly, Easter photo mirrors the lightheartedness I currently sense inside and out. A blessed “rebirth” that truly reflects the joy of the Easter season. For the first time in a while, I relished a holiday outing instead of fixating on getting home and getting through it. Every morning when I open my eyes, I am greeted
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Sunnier Days with MG Bright

Debilitating cramps in my lower torso were relentlessly pushing my bones out of alignment for months, preventing any forward progress as far as trying to rehab my body. Dr. Cris mentioned magnesium as a supplement to assist in relieving leg cramps. After experimenting with a few different brands, there was NO good path which led to discovering that magnesium was
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Standing’s Domino Effect

Grateful that the rhythms of life were finally boomeranging back to me, I was still far from the imperfectly perfect body I had always appreciated. I knew my body wasn’t fully recovered even after five, long years of a diet overhaul and a strict training regiment. But, hope filled my heart as I was eagerly moving in the right direction.
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Vertical Eureka

Eureka!!! Six months of gradually conditioning my body to stand erect, using a standing frame, finally came to fruition! Abounding pride embraced this overwhelming journey, which at times, after three decades of sitting, was a dream too big to ever dream myself. Luckily, my chiro and trainer continued delivering the message of true possibility even when I wasn’t so receptive.
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Say Geronimo

Life’s unforeseen turns often unfold God’s biggest blessings! While brainstorming ideas on how to raise funds in order to achieve my financially lofty goal of entering REACT’s gait training program, an unanticipated e-mail from Kendell, director of REACT, popped up in my in-box. Hope filled me, lifting a self perceived iron veil which seemed to be creating a barrier between
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April Fool’s!

April Fool’s day is one of my favorites. I just can’t resist! Since March resulted in my best monthly evaluation of all, I had to play it up! After 3 plus years, Bob is more than just my trainer. He’s more like a trainer/ friend/ therapist, and when it comes to my health, I tell him everything! Bob’s expression was
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Too Much TV or Divine Intervention?

Watching Saturday morning television at 7am is not my forte, but this particular Saturday was different. Early to rise, meant flipping on the tv while doing my morning stretches in bed. God must have choreographed the moment I hit the remote’s “ON” button with the timing of Fox 4 News. My eyes and ears could not believe the story playing
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Turning a BIG Corner

Most people consider 21 as one of life’s great markers. In Texas, it’s a legal right of passage which officially marks adulthood. Sadly, I have surpassed this milestone (by only a few years, of course!). Nevertheless, 21 still maintains to be a monumental milestone in my life. It celebrates the number of continuous, consecutive days without needing a chiropractic adjustment!
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Gifts of Gratitude

Looking back in 2014’s rear view mirror, my life reflects powerful, yet necessary, growth accompanied at times with restless stagnancy. Whether I’m powering forward or in a short holding pattern, there is a formidable common thread: GRATITUDE . My heart is so appreciative for small miracles which strengthen my body daily, and for the people God has put in my
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The Thrill of Victory

As a kid, I remember watching ABC’s Wide World of Sports. One line in particular, by announcer Jim McKay, has been imbedded in my brain since 1978. “…the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat!” To this day, I can hear the tone and conviction in which these words were stated, but lacked a personal connection. As an enthusiastic
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Resisting Manual Resistance

Hard to believe, but I’ve been with Elect Wellness for three years. In those three years, I’ve gained muscle in places I never new possible and watched my body make shocking transformations, little by little. Elect Wellness taught me the only way to be truly healthy, physically challenged or able bodied, is to balance nutritious food with exercise. You can’t
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Ode to a BFF and SI Belt

Bed rest was not on the menu for this trip! Just like ol’ times, I was ready for some fun and ready to keep up with Liz’s high-spirited energy ! The only question …was my back? After three months of anticipation, my best friend Liz was arriving on a Friday for a long weekend in Big D. We met in
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Break Out Day

Today’s workout with Bob was on land.  Each workout gets minutely better and better.  But, every now and then, I’ll have a break out day, helping progress to the next phase of walking. Today was one of those days! I started with 20 minutes on the exercise ball , then held a stationary crawl position for a new time of
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Blessing in Disguise

Sundays are pool days at the local gym. As my dad and I entered the gym doors dragging two bags of pool paraphernalia, the guy behind the desk greets us with,” The therapy pool is closed today.” “Urrgh…you kidding?” I thought. Frustration briefly clouded my mind. Not so much with the non-chalant greeter who could care less if I got
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Unexpected Strength

Today was a day of unexpected strength. It wasn’t an average Monday to begin with since I decided to ditch my usual pool workout with my trainer, Bob, and start back to working out on land. Yes, this means battling gravity! On my 2nd office visit, the goal of my chiropractor, Dr. Cris,  was to get me to walk which
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