The first time that I went in to see an acupuncturist, I was pretty skeptical. I’d seen chiropractors as a kid and had been to numerous Western doctors, but for some reason this was still a leap of faith. ... Continue Reading
Cauliflower Ear: What IS That Stuff?
I’ve been writing for Breaking Muscle for about four months now and I can’t believe I haven’t thought to write about it before now. It looks variously like lima beans, embryos, a clenched fist, or ABC ... Continue Reading
Are Your Goals Game-Changing (aka Life-Changing)?
I spent a number of years working in the private security sector. Some days it was fascinating work being shuttled from country to country in private jets, living on yachts, and out of multimillion dollar ... Continue Reading
Raise Your Standards! The Ultimate Success Strategy
My Grandmother owns thousands of books. Make that tens of thousands of books - she has over 2,000 on Japan alone. Her house is quite literally a bookstore (she sells on Alibris). It has been this way since ... Continue Reading
3 Steps to Holiday Health
Do you remember back to when you were a kid, how time came to screeching halt and crawled painstakingly forward from October 31st to the morning of mornings - December 24th? As an adult, however, that time ... Continue Reading
The Four Gentlemen – Chinese Herbal Blend
Balancing a life based around athletics as an adult has its challenges. Gone are the days of having someone else cook your meals, drive you to and from your practices, and generally care for you so you can ... Continue Reading
5 Essentials to Start Your Yoga Practice
Starting a new yoga practice can be a daunting experience. These five yoga essentials will have you ready and on your way to a new flexible, balanced, de-stressed, and more peaceful you! 1. ... Continue Reading
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Competition-Style: What Happens at a Grappling Tournament
On Saturday, October 22, competitors of every age, size, and skill/experience level participated in the Copa Nova Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling ... Continue Reading
Sprint Interval Training Increases Power, Aerobic and Anaerobic Performance
New research in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, examined short sprints intervals on athletic performance and hormonal levels. Researchers studied the effects of 4 weeks of sprint ... Continue Reading
Product Review: Pain Terminator Herbal Patch
As both a licensed acupuncturist specializing in Orthopedics and Pain Management and a CrossFit coach, I see a lot of people on a daily basis who are sore, injured, or otherwise in pain. Having a solid ... Continue Reading
Up Hill Both Ways: How the Status Quo Bias is Making You Wimpy
When my friend and I first went to see The Lord of the Rings I thought we were going to have a great time. To say that he's a fanatic fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's books would be a massive understatement. Boy, ... Continue Reading
The Most Famous Accupressure Point: What Does It Really Do?
Ask anyone to locate the one acupressure point that they’re aware of and inevitably they will show you the web between their thumb and forefinger and proudly state that location is perfect to push on to ... Continue Reading
Exercise & Fats During Pregnancy Good for Baby
Much debate goes into what to do or not do during pregnancy. The more we learn about pregnancy and child development the more we know what the actual affects are of certain behavior prior to childbirth. ... Continue Reading
Huang Qi: Herbal Boost for the Immune System
Welcome to cold and flu season everyone. By now, all of the neighborhood petri dishes have spent a few weeks back at elementary school rubbing their grubby little hands all over handrails and shared ... Continue Reading
Lose Fat, By Creating Brown Fat?
In our bodies we have two types of fat, brown and white. White is the common, energy-storing fat. Brown fat, previously thought to be found mainly in babies, burns energy to create heat. More recently ... Continue Reading
Kettlebell Programming Transfers Necessary Skills for Olympic Weightlifting
Kettlebells are commonly used in athletic programming by strength and conditioning professionals, CrossFit athletes, elite athletes, and recreational athletes. Kettlebells can be an excellent alternative ... Continue Reading
Training Through Injuries – The Dos And Don’ts
One of the most common questions I receive as a coach is, “I hurt my [insert body part here], but I want to keep training. What can I do?” At some point or another, either as coaches or as athletes, we ... Continue Reading
Oral Contraception Use and Growth Hormone Levels in Female Athletes
New research in the Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, investigated the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive use on growth hormone levels in sprinting female athletes. Researchers ... Continue Reading
Five Books That Have Nothing to Do with Fitness – That Have a Lot to Do with Fitness
When we think about embarking on a fitness regime, we may not initially imagine that it could occupy us body, mind, and spirit. But it can. Many people who start a new project, whether fitness or ... Continue Reading
Researchers Warn High Training Loads Increase Field Injuries
New research in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport examined training loads and injury rates in professional rugby league players. Researchers studied 79 professional rugby league players over a ... Continue Reading
Keeping Competition Healthy
Competition pervades our daily lives. We vie for employment, cheer on our kids in the spelling bee, even try to beat out others for the best concert tickets by setting up camp outside the box office, ... Continue Reading
Research Reveals Tools for Sticking to Your Exercise Regimen
A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine revealed basic tools that increased the likelihood of the subjects studied to be successful and consistent in their exercise ... Continue Reading
Audience Presence Enhances Weight Lifting Performance
New research in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, examined audience presence and competition on weightlifting performance. Researchers tested 32 recreationally trained subjects, who ... Continue Reading
Comic Books Inspire Healthier Eating for Kids
Childhood obesity is of growing concern in the United States. The number of children medically categorized as obese is rising every single year, as is the number of children diagnosed with diabetes. ... Continue Reading
