Author: Craig Constantine

Awareness with Phil Lombardo →

Published May 26, 2022  ·  All posts on May 26  ·  

Awareness with Phil Lombardo

How can physical therapy integrate empathy, precision, and awareness to improve patient outcomes?

Movement becomes a gateway to understanding the human experience in this exploration of therapy and wellness.

Curiosity, awareness, and precision are things I think about every single day in my life.

~ Phil Lombardo (21:55)

The conversation navigates the transformative potential of empathy, precision, and awareness in physical therapy. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging patients’ emotions to alleviate stress, improve outcomes, and foster genuine connections. Specific strategies, such as naming emotions and creating resonant interactions, underline how interpersonal dynamics shape the healing process.

Movement is discussed as a critical therapeutic tool, with special attention to the role of the feet. Suggestions for barefoot movement and engaging in balance-focused exercises highlight the untapped potential of proprioception and body awareness. Practical applications of movement therapies, such as the use of tools like two-by-fours, further contextualize the ideas shared.

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Dedication with Joseph Rizzo →

Published May 26, 2022  ·  All posts on May 26  ·  

Dedication with Joseph Rizzo

How can Olympic weightlifting enhance performance and longevity in Parkour practice?

Technical movements in weightlifting unlock unexpected benefits for Parkour athletes.

A lot of people think like, Oh, I’m just gonna push as hard as I can and, you know, get this bar overhead and basically muscle it. And there’s a lot of danger in that, right? Because there’s not a lot of thought behind it. If you try to muscle something, you’ll only get to a certain point without technique, and kind of the same thing goes for Parkour as well.

~ Joseph Rizzo (2:43)

The conversation explores the intricate relationship between Olympic weightlifting and Parkour, emphasizing the technical nature of both practices. The discussion begins with an explanation of the complexity and precision involved in Olympic lifts such as the snatch and clean and jerk. These dynamic movements are contrasted with static lifts like the squat and bench press, underscoring how technical proficiency can prevent injury and enhance performance in both weightlifting and Parkour.

Another major topic is the carryover between the two disciplines. Weightlifting’s emphasis on explosiveness, shock absorption, and stability has direct applications to Parkour, particularly in reducing impact-related injuries and improving landings. The conversation also touches on how weightlifting reveals imbalances in the body, enabling athletes to address weaknesses and enhance longevity. Joseph explains how technical focus during training—starting with light weights and emphasizing form—can help Parkour practitioners gain strength and resilience.

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Calmness with Tori Kubick →

Published May 26, 2022  ·  All posts on May 26  ·  

Calmness with Tori Kubick

How does practicing contortion influence mental calmness and overall life perspective?

Contortion is not just about physical flexibility but a mental practice of finding calmness.

The only way to do it, was to be calm. You can’t— It’s physically impossible to do it anxious. There’s just no way. So you have to [find] calmness or… or nothing.

~ Tori Kubick (11:33)

The conversation explores the transformative aspects of contortion, emphasizing how the practice fosters mental calmness alongside physical flexibility. Tori shares how she transitioned into contortion as an adult and describes it as a discipline that connects mind and body. She highlights the need for internal calmness, which allows practitioners to push beyond perceived physical and mental limits.

Other topics include the parallels between contortion and problem-solving in other movement practices, such as parkour and aerial arts. Tori discusses the importance of strength complementing flexibility and explains how contortion helps practitioners discover new ways to navigate challenges, both physically and mentally. The conversation also touches on the introverted nature of many contortionists and the rare sense of community they share.

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Chase with Frank Mejia →

Published May 26, 2022  ·  All posts on May 26  ·  

Chase – with Frank Mejia

How has participation in World Chase Tag and related activities influenced the personal training practices, community dynamics, and professional development of its participants?

World Chase Tag is transforming the perception of traditional playground games into a high-stakes global sport.

It definitely feels like it feels like 3D Chess, but just at a very rapid pace, just because of that other individual in you, you will get feedback from them, regardless of what they do.

~ Frank Mejia (6:53)

The conversation explores the evolution of World Chase Tag (WCT) as a burgeoning professional sport and its impact on participants. The discussion highlights how WCT has shifted from casual beginnings to a structured and competitive framework, requiring athletes to qualify and adopt advanced training regimens. This transformation has made WCT a unique intersection of traditional playground games and professional athletics.

Another focus is on the interplay of individual and community dynamics. Frank describes how engaging in such sports fosters creativity, camaraderie, and personal growth. The conversation also goes into the mental and physical challenges of maintaining focus and adaptability in high-intensity environments, as well as the broader implications of competitive tag on the Parkour community.

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Exploration with Matthew Jensen →

Published May 26, 2022  ·  All posts on May 26

What insights can be shared about the dynamics, challenges, and benefits of podcasting with a cohost?

Exploring the chemistry between cohosts unveils the intricacies of dynamic podcasting.

I think that I like to push Mike a little bit more, to share what he thinks about, because Mike views himself as maybe more the host that ask the questions and I like the back and forth. Just because he’s not necessarily a subject matter expert— I think that brings out kind of our best conversations when he’s actively learning something or has a different perspectives on stuff.

~ Matthew Jensen (12:41)

The discussion focuses on the dynamics of cohosting a podcast, highlighting the challenges of adapting to another person’s style while discovering the benefits of shared perspectives. Topics include how collaboration shapes the content, from deciding themes to incorporating listener questions. The importance of free-flowing conversations that capture authentic dialogue is emphasized.

The podcast’s community engagement is also explored, with feedback from listeners and support from fellow podcasters enriching the creative process. The conversation includes reflections on rapport-building, fostering shared learning experiences, and leveraging tools like question submission forms to drive interaction. The role of community in demystifying podcasting and offering practical support is acknowledged as a valuable resource.

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Amusements →

Published May 26, 2022  ·  All posts on May 26  ·  ,

Let us read, and let us dance; These two amusements will never do harm to the world.

~ Voltaire

Elsewhere, this is 4a897. — slipbox

The Structurist →

Published May 26, 2022  ·  All posts on May 26  ·  

Sometimes I have a “thread of interest” that I simply know I will never have the time to do anything with. Instead of simply Ě„\_(ツ)_/ ̄ing and letting it go, I’m sharing this here so I can feel like I did something with it.

The what now? Oh, this periodical…

https://artsandscience.usask.ca/structurist/

…but the links on that page itself are broken. More searching did lead me to find at least some issues in U Sask.’s online store. But they are not cheap. (If they were single-dollars-each, I might just buy them all.)

They are available on ABE Books…

https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/structurist/

Open questions I had:

Does anyone within the sound of my voice have any issues?
Anyone have any commentary about the periodical at large?
Does anyone’s closest library have any of them?
Is anyone near the University of Saskatchewan?
…have a contact there?
…or any in-real-life means of getting more information?

And also, why aren’t the contents of these online? They seem to be culturally significant.

ɕ

Play with Nick Anastasia →

Published May 25, 2022  ·  All posts on May 25  ·  

Play with Nick Anastasia

What motivates and shapes the approaches and philosophies of movement practitioners in how they train, coach, and engage with spaces?

Designing obstacles and spaces inspires exploration and unique physical expression.

It’s just a more, sort of complicated way of, hanging out with your friends and playing with blocks when you’re a little kid.

~ Nick Anastasia (21:10)

The conversation explores the philosophy and practice of movement through structured play, improvisation, and coaching. Nick reflects on his evolution from exploring movement instinctively to intentionally designing spaces and challenges that inspire others. By creating unique and engaging setups, he aims to foster creativity and adaptability in movement.

Topics include the contrast between indoor and outdoor training spaces, with built environments offering dense opportunities for creativity and flow, while outdoor environments encourage exploration and adaptability. Improvisation plays a crucial role, with games and unstructured activities helping practitioners engage with their surroundings in new ways. Coaching philosophies emphasize introspection and learning, not just for the student but also for the instructor.

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Illusion →

Published May 25, 2022  ·  All posts on May 25  ·  ,

The self, the place where we live, is a place of illusion. Goodness is connected with the attempt to see the unself… to pierce the veil of selfish consciousness and join the world as it really is.

~ Erwin SchrĂśdinger

Elsewhere, this is 4a896. — slipbox

Dopamine →

Published May 25, 2022  ·  All posts on May 25  ·  

I’ve put forward a physiological hypothesis to explain the psychological Opponent Process theory, which I call the Receptor Control Theory. In essence, our pleasure set point or baseline “happiness” is determined by the density and sensitivity of dopamine receptors in the brain (and elsewhere). In this view, obesity and addiction result from a process of “dopamine resistance”, whereby receptor down-regulation impairs satisfaction and drives cravings. Conversely, high receptor density and sensitivity promote satisfaction and dampen cravings.

~ Todd Becker from, Retraining the limbic brain to overcome obesity and addiction

Phone use might rise to the level of a literal addiction. Its use can certainly cause dopamine release, which is a strong motivator that plays a role in addiction. I used to think that wasn’t true… That my phone didn’t cause dopamine release… That my phone wasn’t causing manipulation of my motivations… then I tried to put my phone down for an entire day.

And then I set about separating using my phone as a tool—which I can do a lot without it being addictive—from my phone’s use of me as a tool.

ɕ