Non Self-Centered New Year’s Resolutions

“The first duty of a human being is to assume the right functional relationship to society – more briefly, to find your real job, and do it.” – Charlotte Perkins Gilman It’s interesting that New Year’s resolutions are usually so self-centered. We take it for granted that it’s about my resolution to be more creative,…

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Massage and Alternative Medicine

I wonder sometimes in articles on alternative medicine why massage isn’t mentioned more prominently. It is, BY FAR, the most utilized of all alternative therapies. I suppose that may mean it’s not “news”. But massage therapy and bodywork, especially when practiced at a high level, is so powerful. I suspect research will eventually show regular…

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Anatomy Review: Gluteus Medius and Minimus

by David Lauterstein Origin – Medius: Anterior gluteal line of ilium, Minimus: Inferior gluteal line of ilium Insertion – Greater trochanter of femur Action – Flexion of extension; medial or lateral rotation and abduction of thigh Antagonist – Adductor magnus According to some theories of posture, in a healthy body one should be able to…

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Anatomy Review: Hamstrings

by David Lauterstein, LMT Origin: Ischial tuberosity; medial 1/3 linea aspera (short head of biceps femoris) Insertion: Semimembranosus: medial condyle of tibia, Semitendonosus: proximal, antero-medial aspect of tibia, Biceps Femoris: head of fibula Action: Extention of hip, flexion of knee, medial or lateral rotation of lower leg, (Excessive: Hyperextended knee) Antagonist: Quadriceps These interesting muscles…

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Anatomy Review: Back of the Future, Future of the Back

By David Lauterstein, LMT, Cert. ZB Most people don’t know much about their bodies.  As a result, we live with suffering individually and as a society suffer from the symptoms of “psycho-physical illiteracy”. Most of the physical suffering happens in the back.  Lower, middle, and upper back problems account for most worker absentee-ism in the U.S. –…

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Anatomy Review: Back of the Future – Future of the Back

Most people don’t know much about their bodies. As a result, we live with suffering individually and as a society suffer from the symptoms of “psycho-physical illiteracy”. Most of the physical suffering happens in the back. Lower, middle, and upper back problems account for most worker absentee-ism in the U.S. – as well as most client complaints…

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Homage to the Feet: Part Two

by David Lauterstein Here are some ways you can use touch to respect these little miracles: Massage: There are 4 layers of muscle on the bottom of the feet. Considering the compression from bearing the body’s weight and the lack of movement from being continually shod, and the impact of walking and exercising so often…

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Homage to the Feet: Part One

by David Lauterstein There are 206 bones in the body, 52 of them are in the feet! It’s amazing that these two small yet marvelously engineered structures can support our entire weight without being crushed or giving way. It’s little short of miraculous that they also constantly balance out the infinite varieties of motion going on…

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Anatomy Review: Masseter

by David Lauterstein The masseter is the muscle runs from the cheekbone to the lower jaw. It is one of the primary muscles you chew with. It is helped by the “Dirty Harry” muscle – the temporalis – which runs from the side of the skull to the lower jaw just in front of your ear. Interestingly…

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Dimensions of Touch: Part Two

by David Lauterstein In a “virtual” age, a time greatly affected by the pace of computers and their powerful yet imaginary realities, each individual’s unmet hunger and the social need for the actual becomes more and more urgent. Touch is a medium of actual reality. Touch is a medium of living reality, just as light…

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