Structural Performance Podcast

If you’ve been paying attention to any of my social media posts and newsletter articles lately you probably know that I am a big fan of periodic metabolic body detoxification. And I have been just as guilty as most of the other authors out there in dumbing down the reasons why -honestly, I am pretty sure most of the authors out there don’t really know the specifics as to why detoxification is so important and beneficial- just that it works. So I am going to share with you today a few more wonky reasons why a regular, properly designed detox, makes you feel so good and makes your body operate at such a higher capacity than the vast majority of folks are used to.

Here are the 14 reasons:*

1) The liver converts thyroid hormone thyroxin (T4) into its more active form Triiodothyronine (T3). When your liver is not operating at potential, your thyroid function and thereby your metabolism will not be operating optimally. This can lead to symptoms such as chronic fatigue, weight gain, poor memory and so on.

2) The liver creates Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) from chromium, niacin and possibly glutathione. GTF is needed by the hormone insulin to properly regulate blood sugar levels. It is also a necessary co-factor for Growth Hormone to be effective in promoting muscle growth in response to muscular training.

3) The liver manufactures bile salts. These help you digest and absorb dietary fats. Bile is also a conduit for removing fat soluble toxins from the liver, draining them into the gut for excretion through defecation.

4) The liver activates B vitamins into their biologically active coenzyme forms. Other active vitamin precursors such as beta carotene, iron, copper, etc. are also converted into biologically active forms in the liver. Without this function, even the most well absorbed supplement will be useless and possibly even mildly toxic. In short, a well functioning liver makes your expensive supplements actually work.

5) The liver stores various nutrients like vitamins A, D, B12, and iron for release when needed.

6) The liver manufactures carnitine from lysine and other nutrients. Carnitine is the only known nutrient which can escort fats into the mitochondria where fats are burned to generate ATP (cellular energy). Better liver function gets you more energy! Endurance athletes, like me, can improve both their power as well as their endurance by getting the liver functioning more efficiently.

7) The liver converts lactic acid from a toxic waste to an important storage food. Lactic acid is a byproduct of cellular energy production and a build up can produce chronic pain and inflammation. The liver converts lactic acid dumped into the bloodstream by hard working muscles into glycogen.

8) The liver serves as the main glucose buffer, preventing high or low extremes of blood sugar. It is a key regulator of blood sugar between meals, due to its manufacture, storage and release of glycogen. This helps prevent energy and mood swings that get most folks reaching for coffee and sweets mid morning and in the afternoon. This also helps keep endurance athletes chugging along without “bonking”.

9) The liver can make glucose (used for energy production in the body) from dietary or body derived amino acids. This process is called glucogenesis (glucose making) and it ensures adequate brain and muscle carbohydrate fuel supplies even when the diet provides little are no carbohudrates. The liver produces as much as 20-25% of the blood sugar that endurance athletes during intense training or competition by converting the amino acid alanine (released from muscle tissue) into glucose.

10) The liver is the chief regulator of protein metabolism. It converts different amino acids into each other as needed. The liver also synthezes creatine from the amino acids glycine, arginine, and methionine. If not for the super high energy biochemical creatine phosphate, sprint- type athletics would be biologically impossible.

11) The liver produces cholesterol and packages it into different forms for blood transport: HDL, LDL, VLDL. Essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, GLA, EPA, and DHA, must also be properly packaged by the liver ito appropriate lipoprotein forms (VLDL) to allow transport through the blood to the 50 trillion cells using the fatty acids.

12) The liver is the main poison-detoxifying organ in the body. It must break down virtually everything toxic to the body- from metabolic wastes, to insecticide residues, drugs, and alcohol, industrial and food processing chemicals, etc. Failure of this liver function will usually cause death in twelve to twenty-four hours.

13) The liver must dispose of ammonia, an extremely toxic by-product of protein metabolism. The amino acids arginine, and orthinine are used by the liver to control ammonia levels. Ammonia can cause brain irritation and even death- even at low levels.

14) The liver is the main organ for breaking down hormones after they have served their messenger function to their target cells. For example, if the liver dies not break down insulin quickly enough, hypoglycemia results as the still circulating insulin continues to lower blood sugar. If the liver dies not metabolize estrogen properly, PMS will result. Failure to dispose of adrenaline (the fight or flight hormone) after it has outlived its usefulness may lead to chronic irritability and temper explosions.

In this episode, I interview Katy Bowman, Biomechanist, Author, Blogger, Podcaster and Founder of the Restorative Exercise Institute in Ventura, CA. Katy and I talk about the effects of "living in a human zoo", how to stop using exercise like vitamins, why sleeping surfaces matter, and how to determine an appropriate "movement diet" for your body. We also delve into the intricacies of cellular loading and how the loading of each cellular cytoskeleton impacts cellular health and epigenetic expression of your DNA.

Resources are below the bio

A brief bio:

A biomechanist by training and a problem-solver at heart, Katy’s ability to blend a scientific approach with straight talk about sensible solutions and an unwavering sense of humor have earned her legions of followers. Katy is the founder and director of the Restorative Exercise Institute, which teaches the biomechanical model of preventative medicine to health professionals and laypeople worldwide, both online and in live seminars. She is also the creator of the popular Aligned and Well DVD series, a step-by-step visual guide to learning the basics of skeletal and body alignment. Katy’s groundbreaking work in pelvic floor restoration has made her particularly popular with midwives, OBGYNs, and others concerned with pelvic mobility, strength, and health. Her award-winning blog and podcast, Katy Says, reach hundreds of thousands of people every month, and thousands have taken her live classes. Her books, the bestselling Move Your DNA (2014), Every Woman’s Guide to Foot Pain Relief: The New Science of Healthy Feet (2011), and Alignment Matters (2013), have been critically acclaimed and translated worldwide. In response to great demand for additional information on foot care, she released a practical exercise guide Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear in 2015. In between her book writing efforts, Katy travels the globe to teach the Restorative Exercise Institute’s courses in person, and spends as much time outside as possible with her husband and two small children.

Resources:

Katy Says Blog: http://www.katysays.com

Restorative Exercise Institute: http://www.restorativeexercise.com

Katys Books: http://www.restorativeexercise.com/read/

▪ Part II of a two part series on the 5 essentials to holistic healing and how they work synergistically to produce a result greater than the sum of the parts.

Download the guide for free here: Download The Guide

In this episode, I interview Jason Lewis, Author and the first person to circumnavigate the globe by human power. We discuss topics ranging from his ocean crossings, cycling through Europe, rollerblading through America, and Pedaling through the Pacific.

Jason’s Bio:

“Arguably, the most remarkable adventurer in the world today.”

—THE DAILY MAIL

Jason Lewis is an award-winning author, adventurer and sustainability campaigner specializing in human-powered expeditions. He is recognized by Guinness World Records as the first person to circumnavigate the Earth without using motors or sails[1]: walking, cycling, and inline skating five continents, and kayaking, swimming, rowing, and pedalling a boat across the rivers, seas, and oceans. Taking thirteen years to complete, the 46,505-mile journey was hailed “the last great first for circumnavigation” by the London Sunday Times.

RECORDS Jason has set three additional records: the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from mainland Europe to North America by human power (February 1995, Lewis and Smith); first crossing of North America on inline skates (September 1996, Lewis); and first crossing of the Pacific Ocean by pedal power (August 2000, Lewis).

MEDIA & HONOURS He was nominated The Times inGear Man of the Year (2007), the Land Rover Toughest Sportsperson of the Year, and featured as one of Sport Magazine’s Athletes of the Year. A Fellow of London University, the Royal Geographical Society, and The Explorers Club, he has appeared on numerous television and talk shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC), CBS This Morning, and Long Way Down with actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman.

CAUSE Being an adventurer is about much more than just records or firsts for Jason. Visiting more than 900 schools in 37 countries to date, involving thousands of students in a variety of programmes in conjunction with UNESCO’s Associated Schools Program Network, he uses human-powered journeys and his profile as an adventurer to promote world citizenship, zero carbon emission travel, and awareness of individual lifestyle choices on the health of the planet. In addition, tens of thousands of dollars have been raised through his 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for humanitarian causes — orphanages such as The Hope Orphanage in East Timor, and hospices for people living with HIV and AIDS (Rumah Solehah, Kuala Lumpur; Father Joe’s Mercy Centre, Bangkok).

BOOKS & AWARDS A frequent contributor to outdoor magazines (Men’s Fitness, Sports Illustrated, Outside Magazine, Geographical) and travel books (Chicken Soup for the Traveler’s Soul, HCI, 2002; Flightless, Incredible Journeys Without Leaving the Ground, Lonely Planet, 2008; The Modern Explorers, Thames & Hudson, 2013), Jason is the author of The Expedition trilogy (BillyFish Books, 2012/3): Dark Waters*, The Seed Buried Deep, and To The Brink.

* WINNER of the 2013 Benjamin Franklin Award, Eric Hoffer Award, National Indie Excellence Award & 2012 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year.

Jason Lewis- resources

Jason’s book page:

http://www.billyfishbooks.com/Books.html

Jason’s Website:

http://www.jasonexplorer.com

Expedition 360 website- website of The Expedition- with video of The Expedition

http://www.expedition360.com/

In today’s episode, I discuss two specific topics:

1) On Feb 2, 2015 the NY Atty General Accused major retailers like Walgreens, GNC, Target, and Walmart of selling a number of store brand dietary supplements that were fraudulent and in many cases contained ingredients not listed on the labels. He demanded that the retailers remove the products from their shelves in the state of NY. The NY Times and many other major news outlets ran prominently placed stories about the action.

2) The 5 Pillars of Healthy Athletic Success- or the 5 Pillars of Holistic Healing as I practice it – where to start, why, and how and why the various pillars work synergistically together to produce a result greater than the individual parts.

NY Atty General’s accusation and action against retailers – my thoughts.

· If true- they should be punished

· Unlikely to be true- there is much more to the story – ie, the testing methods used to back the accusation are faulty for various reasons I discuss in the podcast.

· This is a big attack on the credibility of the supplement industry.

· Separate articles are part of a narrative to discredit the industry- an imperfect industry like any- that is hugely profitable and therefore a huge target of ambitious parties from all angles.

· A common accusation is that the supplement industry in the US is unregulated. This is untrue. The supplement industry is directly regulated by the FDA- albeit to the standard of food and supplements not to the drug standard.

· If a company makes a specific health claim about their products effectiveness- the FDA now considers that product to be a drug and therforth the company must meet all of the requirements of a drug. This is a huge regulatory fence- companies do sometimes make claims but they are eventually forced to retract or be shut down. Same for pharma manufacturers.

· Having worked directly in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry for over 15 years, I can speak directly to the stringency of the cGMP requirements laid down by the FDA in regards to manufacture and testing for adulteration and potency. US supplement manufacturers must adhere to cGMPs and the FDA holds them to this. This is massive regulation.

· The NY Atty Gen relied on the results from only one lab- using a type of test called “DNA barcoding”- a type of assay that is not industry standard and does not come close to being as comprehensive an assessment method as other assays currently used by the industry to determine purity and potency per the FDA cGMP requirements.

· Link to article on the problems with DNA Barcoding assay: https://www.standardprocess.com/getattachment/7b7eadca-3517-4b2b-95d9-ccaafed0b787/ENEWS-KB-ARTICLE-JAN-14-V1.pdf

· Link to an industry cGMP quality control assay cascade from supplier to finished product: https://www.standardprocess.com/getattachment/fc16a9d0-9c7e-4a61-bfbf-70b7dd63dd1a/MediHerb-Page-16-and-25.pdf

· More info on the questionability of the accusations as well as the assay method, lab, and scientist used to perform the DNA barcoding assay for the NY Atty General:

· The American Botanical Council: http://cms.herbalgram.org/press/2015/ABCSaysNYAttyMisusedDNA.html?ts=1423152994&signature=3b16657d129e2e83c507ed18b7eae2f0&ts=1424905615&signature=16be51dd398dfa3008bf8b202164d8f2

· Nutra Ingrediens.com http://mobile.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/NY-AG-takes-on-GNC-Walgreens-Walmart-Target-on-herbal-supplements/?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=03-Feb-2015&c=%2BDGisBY2pXRtF%2FI2bLsgY%2Bplvk%2BxC3OJ#.VO5WFoY76nM

Part II 5 Pillars of Holistic Healing And Athletic Success

· Part I of a two part series on the 5 essentials to holistic healing and how they work synergistically to produce a result greater than the sum of the parts.

· Download the guide for free here: (insert as HTML code- make sure you test the link once you insert the code- use “text mode” like when you are inserting the podcast player)

HTML code:

Download The Guide

In today’s episode, I discuss the various scientific studies that quantify the positive effects of a regular meditation practice.

Remember meditation helps to balance out the nervous system response- in study speak, it induces the Relaxation Response (RR). In my own language, it down regulates the stress response (sympathetic nervous system or fight or flight response) and up regulates the rest and relaxation response (parasympathetic nervous system response or healing, digesting, and rebuilding response). See episode #35 on mindfulness which has a similar but not as powerful response as meditation. (http://therolfworkshop.com/blog/podcast/episode-35-is-mindfulness-bogus-new-age-science-2/)

Meditation has been shown in studies to improve everything from digestion to sports performance, to healing and athletic recovery (by lowering inflammation response) to recovery from serious diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Additionally, meditation has been shown (in studies) to actually change gene expression and epigenetic gene expression (which passes down through your progeny for up to 4 generations).

Study: PLOS One: Relaxation Response Induces Temporal Transcriptome Changes in Energy Metabolism, Insulin Secretion and Inflammatory Pathways

Link: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0062817

Study reveals gene expression changes with meditation

Link: http://www.news.wisc.edu/22370

Meditation: Healing more than just minds? Mindfulness intervention for people with diabetes, coronary heart disease

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140529142313.htm

SCIENCE SAYS MEDITATION IMPROVES BOTH HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE

Link: http://breakingmuscle.com/mind-body/science-says-meditation-improves-both-health-and-performance

Can Meditation Soothe Your Stomach?

Link: http://www.everydayhealth.com/digestive-health/can-meditation-soothe-your-stomach.aspx

Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers- Robert Sapolsky: http://www.amazon.com/Why-Zebras-Dont-Ulcers-Third/dp/0805073698/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424287203&sr=8-1&keywords=why+zebras+don%27t+have+ulcers

Mindfulness is often described in terms of meditation protocols and in a somewhat mystical way. That is a misnomer perpetuated by folks in the media who would rather relabel meditation by calling it something different. Mindfulness is not meditation.

The mindfulness I am going to talk about today is actually a form of paying attention.

Paying attention to what we are feeling inside and making behavioral changes on the outside to get a positive response of what we feel on the inside. That is the mindfulness I am going to discuss today.

We can use mindfulness in myriad ways- from mindful movement, mindful communication, mindful eating, etc. Mindfulness is a base skill upon which we can build powerful pillars for living.

Today we are going to discuss how to use mindfulness to heal and nourish your body.

Mindful of mindset- Mindset helps us to regulate the way we experience and respond to stress- whether emotional stress, food stress, chemical stress, and physical stress.

Our bodies were designed with only one stress response- the fight or flight response of our Sympathetic Nervous System.

Sympathetic Nervous System- designed to save our life in the event of an emergency (tiger on the savannah)- The SNS shuts down our higher functions like digestion and healing in order to focus all of our energy on a physical threat- for a very short period of time. Once the threat is over, our body relaxes as our Parasympathetic Nervous System begins to dominate.

Parasympathetic Nervous System- is designed to nourish and heal our bodies- it keeps us relaxed and responsive without being reactive. A reactive body is in fight or flight mode. A responsive body is in rest and relaxation mode. The PNS keeps us alive and in shape for the long haul.

In theory, both the Sympathetic Nervous System and the Parasympathetic Nervous System exist in balance- most of the time our Parasympathetic system is activated with a certain level of alertness driven by the SNS.

When we are under constant threat (worrying, living in a bad neighborhood, etc) our SNS is activated- ultimately this depletes our body in several ways:

1) Keeps us from properly digesting food (and thereby absorbing nutrients)

2) This leads to malnutrition over a longer term that cascades in to diseases.

3) Glandular exhaustion. Constant taxing of the glands- digestive, adrenal, thyroid, hypothalamus, pituitary, sexual glands, etc- depletes them. This also leads to a degenerative cascade of diseases.

What you can do:

1) Of course you can meditate/pray/visualize.

2) Plan meals and eat sitting down undistracted.

3) Pray or give thanks prior to the meal (bless the food)

4) Eat with friends and family

5) Chew your food

6) No eating on the go, no reading or tv at the table, no eating in the car

I am going to do this for the next month and report back

In this episode I discuss how to tell if you have GERD, Reflux or Hiatal Hernia

GERD has become somewhat of a catch all these days- but the real problem may, in fact, be Hiatal Hernia- a condition where your diaphragm becomes strained and the stomach or esophagus becomes kinked or trapped above the diaphragm muscle resulting in things like palpitations, difficulty breathing, and reflux.

If you have Hiatal Hernia, taking drugs for GERD or reflux will not solve the problem and will, over the long term exacerbate your health issues as you will no longer be able to properly digest food in the absence of sufficient stomach acid. Additionally, your mineral stores will become severely depleted as sufficient stomach acid is required to activate and absorb minerals from food. As a result, cavaties and osteopenia and osteoporosis, depression, cardiovascular problems, amongst other degenerative diseases driven by malnutrition may develop in your body.

Even if you have been diagnosed with GERD- you may, in fact, have Hiatal Hernia instead as doctors aren’t trained to diagnose Hiatal Hernia. Even if they do an endoscopy…

If you have signs of GERD or reflux, first test for acid sensitivity using the HCl test

If you are HCl sensitive- use the Hiatal Hernia assessment and maneuver until you feel a change. Retake the HCl Test. If you are still sensitive- your stomach and esophagus may have been damaged from organic acids and your tissues need to heal. Take the Zypan Test (contact me for this free assessment) and follow the instructions for HCl positive results.

If you are not HCl sensitive- take the ZYPAN Test (contact me for this free assessment) to optimize your digestion.

Additionally, digestive enzymes are generally depleted and your digestion, assimilation of nutrients, and thereby your health will greatly benefit from taking a broad spectrum digestive enzyme like Multizyme from Standard Process (order from me- Orders over $20 shipping is free)

“No one knows for sure what causes GERD. However, we have found that many GERD sufferers have inadequate digestive enzymes (acids) or faulty digestive enzyme production and distribution in their stomach and intestines. For most sufferers, the cause of the problem falls into one or more of four general categories:

• Poor diet, poor food combining, overeating, and a high refined-carbohydrate-sugar intake.

• Poor or inadequate digestive enzyme function in the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine.

• Prescription drugs that contribute to reflux problems.

• Mechanical problems in the diaphragm like a hiatal hernia or diaphragm strain (as discussed previously).

For numbers one and two, relief is pretty easy. Number three can often be readily solved by working with your MD to get off the offending medication. And even if you have mechanical problems (as in number four), or a combination of problems, relief is most often possible. In most cases, it boils down to whether or not you can break bad habits to solve the problem and prevent serious throat disease. “ – Dr Bruce West, Health Alert Newsletter

Additionally, it is important to consider the likely causes of Hiatal Hernia are structural in nature- just like a string- if your esophagus or stomach, have any slack in them, you may develop a pouch in the tube, making a Hiatal Hernia much easier to occur.

The Basic 10 Series has, in the past, resolved Hiatal Hernia by doing what it does best- lengthening and organizing the body’s structure along its central, vertical axis. This literally “takes the slack out” of your internal structures like your esophagus, stomach, diaphragm, etc. This also has a whole body benefit by making you more efficient, taller in appearance, pain free, etc.

Many times those who suffer from chronic Hiatal Hernia will need regular weekly or more treatment to relieve the situation. The Basic 10 series eliminates the need for regular care for this issue in most cases.

“Mechanical Problems (Hiatal Hernia)

Nowadays, thousands (perhaps millions) of people are being treated with drugs and even surgery to correct GERD, while no attention is paid to the mechanical or structural causes of the problem. Even those doctors who suggest a nutritional/dietary approach generally ignore mechanical/structural causes. That’s not surprising since probably not one in 1,000 physicians knows how to detect and correct the underlying and mechanical causes of GERD.

Thanks to people like George Goodheart, DC, and in particular the now deceased Richard Van Rumpt, DC, the critical information needed to detect and correct hiatal hernia and mechanical causes of GERD is available. It is usually a chiropractor or kinesiologist or a practitioner of Structural Integration who knows how to perform this service. But you can often detect and treat a GERD problem yourself with the right data.

Upwards of 50% of the general population over age 60 may have the structural weakness likened to a hiatal hernia, when a portion of the stomach or stomach contents are allowed up through the diaphragm into the chest cavity or esophagus (see schematic). The general complaints of this condition are indigestion, heartburn, angina, vomiting, ulcers, left-arm pain, palpitations, difficult breathing, or just plain chronic fullness and bloating.” – Dr Bruce West, Health Alert Newsletter

For the Hiatal Hernia Assessment go to my blog page and scroll down to the bottom.

In this episode I discuss the rampant, undiagnosed, malnutrition that permeates our society and some of the common ailments that people perceive as “normal” but that are actually red flags for poor digestion, poor diet, and malnutrition. These symptoms are usually the result of years, decades even, of malnutrition- the body’s stores of certain nutrients exhausted, it can no longer function optimally and begins to fail.

Some of the red flags:

• Adrenal exhaustion and insufficiency

• Adult acne

• Allergies to foods

• Anemia, pernicious

• Appetite, excessive

• Asthma

• Atherosclerosis

• Autoimmune diseases

• B12 Deficiency

• B6 Deficiency

• Bacterial Dysbiosis

• Broken capillaries

• Calcium deficiency leading to insomnia, cramps, nervousness

• Chronic infections

• Chronic weakness

• Conjunctivitis

• Constipation (with liver/gallbladder involvement)

• Delayed gastric emptying (food feels like it’s just sitting there in your stomach for hours)

• Diabetes

• Diarrhea (with inflammatory bowel disease) or chronic diarrhea

• Dizziness

• Drowsiness after meals

• Dysbiosis (bowel flora is out of balance)

• Eczema, psoriasis or the history of eczema

• Emaciation (a protein deficiency)

• Environmental Chemical Sensitivities

• Feeling too full

• Flatulence in general

• Food cravings for sour foods

• Hair dry and brittle (nails too)

• Hair falling out

• Halitosis

• Heartburn/GERD/Acid reflux

• Immunity decreased

• Intestinal damage

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

• Leaky gut

• Loss of taste for meats

• Malabsorption/maldigestion

• Meal related bloating or burping

• Mucoid Colitis

• Nails, thin/weak or dry and brittle

• Obesity

• Offensive smelling stool

• Pallor

• Pimples turning into boils (can also indicate low exocrine pancreas function)

• Poor memory

• Poor muscle tone

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Swollen tongue

• Thyroid problems

• Ulcer like pains

• Vision disturbances

• Vitamins B3 (Niacin) deficiency—also called Pellagra

• White spots on nails

• Yeast/Candida

Digestion (food selection and diet is a whole different but related topic that we aren’t covering in this episode) starts in the mouth. In the mouth:

· Chewing the food to liquification allows the sensors in your mouth to send signals to the brain telling it what types of nutrients you have consumed and how much. The brain uses this information to tell your stomach and intestine, pancreas, gallbladder, and so on, what enzymes to secrete and how much to secrete to prepare the food for absorption.

· Insufficient chewing short circuits this brain pathway- leading to insufficient secretions of stomach acid and enzymes.

· Insufficient chewing also leads us to drink liquids (particularly cold liquids) with the meal thereby diluting the action of acid and enzymes on food.

· Cold foods and liquids must be warmed by the body (stomach) before they can pass to the intestine- this leads to fermentation of the foods creating organic gasses that burn the valve at the top of the stomach and if it happens often enough, weakens the valve and burns the esophageal lining (GERD).

· Minerals need a very low pH (strong acidic environment) to properly break down so that they can be absorbed and used by the body. Insufficient levels of stomach acid can lead to minerals being absorbed into the blood stream but not being sufficiently activated, they remain in the bloodstream and are eventually excreted rather than being incorporated into the bones, teeth, and tissues.

· Sufficient stomach acid kills bacteria, viruses, yeasts, molds, candida, and parasites before they get far. Insufficient stomach acid allows them to live and gives them access to the lower gut and body interior. Many autoimmune issues result from a cascade of issues following chronic insufficient stomach acid.

· Tums, Rolaids, and proton pump inhibitors like Protonix, and other PPIs actually suppress or absorb the stomach acid- severely impacting digestion negatively and perpetuating an already pressing problem.

· To test whether or not you are sensitive to HCl (and for the presence of ulcers) take the HCl Sensitivity Test HERE.

· For those who FAIL the HCl Sensitivity test, shoot me an email ([email protected]) and I will make recommendations to resolve the issue.

· For those who PASS the HCl Sensitivity test, shoot me an email and I will send you the follow up test: The Zypan Test for optimal digestion.

· To order Zypan (free shipping from me) in either 90Tablet or 330Tablet size- call my concierge at (949) 954-6225.

· All other questions- email me directly at [email protected]

Episode #32 Show Notes:

In this episode I interview PJ O’Clair, Owner of ClubXcel and of Northeast Pilates- In this episode I speak with PJ about the emerging field of Fascial Fitness, what it is, why its imperative that any serious athlete incorporate it into their program and the logistics of HOW athletes should incorporate this vital, 4th pillar of sports science, into their training program for long term results.

NOTE: Resources are below PJ’s Bio

A brief bio:

PJ O’Clair is the owner of ClubXcel and of Northeast Pilates, an award winning STOTT PILATES® Licensed Training Centers. PJ teaches a variety of group classes at the club and sees a full schedule of private clients. She conducts numerous teacher-training courses in a variety of different movement modalities. In addition to owning her training center PJ is an acclaimed leader in the fitness industry.

She is a Merrithew Health & Fitness™ Master Instructor Trainer and an integral member of their internal programming and presenting team representing ZEN●GA™ Mindful movement, STOTT PILATES® and CORE™ Athletic Conditioning & Performance Training™ programs. PJ has been presenting at conferences for fitness professionals since the late 1990’s. She has presented on behalf of MH&F on an international level in more than 14 countries and throughout the USA, and has programmed and starred in over 60 of MH&F’s DVDs.

PJ is a Senior Master course instructor for TRX® and teaches many of the Suspension and Rip Training courses. She is the recipient of the prestigious IDEA “Program Director of the Year” award for 2008. PJ continues to be a sought-after speaker and consultant at fitness conferences and spas worldwide – and has written numerous articles for industry publications.

Experience and Excellence in Fitness and Wellness Training

Specializing in both post-rehabilitation and athletic performance, PJ O’Clair has been teaching group classes and training private clients for over 25 years. With a multifaceted background of fitness and movement, she has been named a STOTT PILATES® Master Instructor Trainer and is a featured instructor within the STOTT PILATES video library. Additionally, she holds certifications with ACE, Spinning® and Zumba® and is currently working on her Yoga Certification with Embody Yoga®.

Success Story

PJ’s dedication extends beyond her businesses and members to reach fitness professionals, students and consumers worldwide. She is a highly-requested presenter, teacher trainer and a program innovator who has been featured in numerous fitness DVDs and has partnered with such industry leaders as Reebok, Resist-a-Ball, STOTT PILATES®, Healthworks, Canyon Ranch, and Stoweflake Resort and Spa. She has authored numerous industry and consumer-based articles for publications such as IDEA’s Fitness Journal and Pilates Style Magazine.

PJ receiving the IDEA Program Director of the Year Award.

Outside of the studio, PJ is an avid cyclist belonging to the Essex County Velo (ECV) Cycling Club. For fun she races in the ECV Time Trials throughout the summer months and participates in the Pan Mass Challenge with her husband — the PMC is a 200 mile charity bike ride for the Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston, MA. Her longest one day bike trip to date is a 158 miles which went from Boston to Vermont. The longest multi day event she’s done is 500 miles in 5 days in the mountains of New Mexico.

A woman of boundless energy, PJ is also involved in numerous community charitable initiatives and her personal fundraising efforts for the Dana Farber Jimmy Fund have raised more than one hundred thousand dollars to date.

Personally, she was a finalist in 2007 for the IDEA Program Director of the Year and won the Award in July of 2008 – one of the most prestigious awards in the fitness industry.

Resources:

PJ O’Clair’s website: http://www.pjoclair.com

PJ on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pj.oclair?fref=ts

Fascial Fitness website: http://www.fascialfitness.com

Merrithew Health & Fitness’s ZEN-GA: http://www.merrithew.com/zenga/about

A few YouTube videos of Fascial Fitness:

Self Myofascial Release:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44jOOrIB1_0

(Embed code for blog: )

Rebound Arms from Fascial Fitness:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjKQ46uzLbY

(embed code for the blog: )

TRX Hip Hinge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RmKdLK1BE

(embed code for the blog post: )