Tired

The last 5 months have been a doozy and I have a feeling that the next year is going to be extremely busy for me. So, my husband and I decided that we needed a few down days, as in all the way down. Off the grid. No Facebook, no TV (or even radio) and no cell phones.

In my next book Move Your DNA there is an entire chapter on all the ways our mechanosensors are triggered by our environment. Movement, as you’ll learn (in September, 2014), isn’t only about arms and legs pumping and skeletal muscles firing. Some of your body’s movements are too tiny too see, giving an entirely new twist to the term “whole body movement.” I can’t wait for you to read it.

We decided to take our sabbatical at Joshua Tree National Park. This is where I’d typically insert a cool picture of our family bouldering or an amazing sunset. However, the ban on technology included the use of cameras and any recording devices whatsoever -- a special clause especially for me -- as it turns out I can turn even the restiest of resty rest into some sort of “lesson for the people.” Swapping rest for TEACH is my bag, and my ego and I are working on it, thanks for asking.

Here’s a picture of a Joshua tree on a mug I bough. After day three I was contemplating “leaving the Internet behind forever” and becoming a potter.

My ego and I are over that idea, in case you were wondering.

As you can imagine, the inability to work means that you get ALL YOUR BEST IDEAS, which I could do nothing about. And now I’m in Ventura, CA doing a certification week, and making all the final touches on the Move Your DNA manuscript. Writing a book is a lot of work, which shocks me every time.

Sixty thousand words and 100 pictures and illustrations, a full chapter on the pelvis and squatting, and a picture of me with giant glasses. So, because I don’t have time to do a movie or write a full post, I decided to swipe a few items from my inbox that I though you might find interesting.

Did you like the game Risk? Do you enjoy games involving world domination? How about interesting motivations to get you walking? This is a Kickstarting campaign for an App (click) that allows you to claim geographical territories by walking around them. Play against your friends.

But if this App sounds like too much work (all that walking???), you can get the “Do You Have A Flag” App instead, which allows you to drop your personalized flag icon wherever you feel like on your GPS and regularly informs you that you have won. (Comes with earplugs and blinders.)

“Hi Katy! Maybe you can answer my question.... so why do people (me) sometimes get that pain in their side when doing a cardiovascular workout such as running or swimming? Then if I push through the pain it eventually subsides.... what exactly is that and how can I prevent that from happening??
I don’t know and back in school, the theories behind exercise related transient abdominal pain ranged from mineral issues to structural loads being placed on the diaphragm by the motion of the organs. Which doesn’t explain why it happens when swimming (also common). What you are describing is commonly called a side stitch. Here’s a link on Wikipedia to help guide you if you’d like to read more.

Dear Katy,
I kept avoiding doing my stretches because my toddler would not leave me alone! Finally I realized I just needed to ignore him and stretch anyway. After a few days, I realized the results were too hilarious not to be recorded. So I made this time-lapse (one photo every second) of our morning routine.

 

Dear Mother of this amazing child: You win for “my favorite submitted video of all time.” Prize still to be determined, but I’m sorry to say it doesn’t include unlimited babysitting. Here’s her blog post with more deets (click).

Seriously Katy, my EYE muscles are sore.
Hopefully I’m not the inducer of your eye-rolling (?) injury.

Do you recommend any people on the east coast? PTs or biomechanists who may have worked with you? Possibly in NY? Thanks.
It will thrill you (I hope)to know that I’m redoing my websites to be less confusing and less offensive to those with better aesthetic than I. Until then, you can visit my current site for a list of program graduates in your area.

According to book (pg. 69) "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby", author explains the reason why babies like to be swaddle because babies nowadays are born earlier compared to other PRIMATE babies. And the reason babies are born earlier is because as the PELVIC BONES developed to support an upright posture, they became narrower. What's your take on this? I don't understand what the author means by "upright posture."
The narrower pelvis theory was an earlier idea since proved otherwise (that babies aren't coming earlier because of pelvic width, but at a point where the mother can no longer support the metabolic demand of the baby). Here's a little layman article explaining more: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/jun/30/childbirth-metabolic-rate-obstetric-dilemma. This should also make "upright posture" more clear.

What humans like is different that what humans need, and I think we can all come up with 10 examples (easily) on things we and our kids like/love that aren't beneficial to our/their physiology. As for "should a baby be swaddled," I don't think that is answerable for every child because it depends on the other 99% of the child's experience.

"Should THIS baby" is different than "SHOULD BABIES." Should all babies eat? Yes. Do all babies require being swaddled in blankets in order to develop? Not sure. How does that bode for the eons people were blanket free? OR in places where no blankets exist now? Is there something that swaddling gives a child -- pressure, warmth, etc. -- that is necessary, but that would be even better if packaged in a different way?

Last month I posted on Vitamin D as being over-identified as a replacement for sun.

Vitamin D is not a substitute for sunlight. It might capture a portion of all that sunlight is, but it is not a replacement when it comes to disease. In my next book I'm trying to capture the essence of this sentiment, using research like what I've linked below here. In our desire to simplify nature into the "nuts and bolts" we can duplicate while keeping separate from nature, we miss the obvious picture: part of the thing is not the thing.

Here's a research article that inspired my post: UV radiation suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis independent of vitamin D production.

What other aspects of being in the sun are we missing when we supplement, thinking we're getting it all?

So, back to swaddling: Is swaddling supplementing an aspect found in holding (read: warmth, pressure)? What if you could package pressure and warmth with the freedom to be mobile? Would this be a more complete way of getting a baby what it needs? Just a thought. (Oh, and Paleo Parenting is now up and available here click.)

I was up all night with food poisoning, so I've got to go catch up on a little work before heading out to teach the peeps.

Word.