Author: Zac Cupples

Why You Need Sun Exposure

Do you get out in the sun at all? Increasing my sun time has done wonders for my energy and sleep levels, and it’s an area we probably don’t hear enough about. That’s why I brought my buddy/fam/mentee/amazing Canadian physio Iordan Krouchev to teach y’all about all things related to sun exposure. In this post, he educates you about how to safely be out in the sun, and dispels many common myths surrounding the sun. Read this, enjoy, follow Iordan on Facebook, and get outside afterwards 🙂 All praise the sun For eons, humanity has worshipped the sun very well knowing that without “it”, there would be no “us”. Helios, son of the Titans Theia and Hyperion, drove his fiery chariot from East to West every single day keeping Homer, Socrates and all our other beloved philosophers alive. As much as the sun was venerated, its power was also feared. Losing control over the chariot, Helios’ son Phaethon set the Earth on fire and was quickly struck down by Zeus killing him on the spot in order to avoid the end of mortals. We now know that nor Helios, Ra, Belenus (Celtic), Xihe (Chinese; she also almost led to everything burning) or Surya (Hinduism) are the source of light and life on our planet. However, the fascination, adoration and fright of our ancestors of all cultures was well justified. Without the sun, or with changes in its activity, life as we know it would likely cease. Fast forward to 2018.

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Rotation vs Tilt, Harrison’s Grooves, and Overhead Squat – Movement Debrief Episode 53

Movement Debrief Episode 53 is in the books. Below is a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure, and audio if you can’t stand looking at me. Here is the set list: What is the difference between pelvic rotation and tilt? What are the treatment considerations for each? What are Harrison’s Grooves? What are the treatment considerations for Harrison’s Grooves? Is the overhead squat test useful for determining movement limitations? What squat variations ought to be tested? If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook or Instagram.They air every Wednesday at 7pm CST. Enjoy! and the audio version…                  Here were the links I mentioned: Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Seattle, WA on September 15-16th here Sign up for the Human Matrix in Kansas City, KS on October 27-28th here   Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Portland, OR on November 10-11 here Harrison’s Grooves Definition Here are some pictures of Harrison’s Grooves Posture and body image in individuals with major depressive disorder: a controlled study Upright posture improves affect and fatigue in people with depressive symptoms. Infrasternal angles and more Fusionetics Here’s a signup for my newsletter to get nearly 3 hours and 50 pages of content, a free acute:chronic workload calculator, basketball conditioning program, podcasts, and weekend learning goodies: [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Get learning goodies and more”]

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7 Key Programming Variables

I want to introduce you guys to one of the smartest fam in fitness, Michelle Boland. She’s a creative strength coach who’s breadth of programming knowledge is second to none. I wanted to bring her in to the fam because she sent me this dope programming article, which goes over various keys to consider when creating an exercise program. Enjoy!

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June 2018 Links and Review

Every week, my newsletter subscribers get links to some of the goodies that I’ve come across on the internets. Here were the goodies that my peeps got their learn on in June. If you want to get a copy of my weekend learning goodies every Friday, fill out the form below.  That way you can brag to all your friends about the cool things you’ve learned over the weekend. [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Hell yes I want weekend learning goodies every Friday!”]

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Rib Flares, Posterior Thorax, and FMS – Movement Debrief Episode 52

Movement Debrief Episode 52 is in the books. Below is a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure, and audio if you can’t stand looking at me. Here is the set list: What is a rib flare? How can rib flares be improved? What is the posterior mediastinum? What is moving when we seek posterior thorax expansion? What tests and interventions can be used in regards to posterior thorax expansion? How far have we come from the FMS/SFMA? What have we learned from the FMS/SFMA? What should we be addressing now instead of the FMS/SFMA? If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook or Instagram.They air every Wednesday at 7pm CST. Enjoy! and the audio version…                  Here were the links I mentioned: Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Seattle, WA on September 15-16th here Sign up for the Human Matrix in Kansas City, KS on October 27-28th here   Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Portland, OR on November 10-11 here Here is a move for a narrow infrasternal angle a wide infrasternal angle An asymmetrical infrasternal angle Mechanics of the respiratory muscles Here is the posterior thorax expansion activity I like courtesy of Lucy Hendricks. Here’s a signup for my newsletter to get nearly 3 hours and 50 pages of content, a free acute:chronic workload calculator, basketball conditioning program, podcasts, and weekend learning goodies: [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Get learning goodies and more”]

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Breathing Mechanics 101 Preview

Below is a preview of a talk I gave in Costa Rica all about ribcage and respiratory mechanics. It’s a bit of a sneak preview for my upcoming seminar, The Human Matrix. Go ahead and give the talk a watch. If you want to see the full 80 minute talk, sign up for my newsletter below. If you really want to learn how to apply these concepts to help your patients and clients reach their goals, sign up for The Human Matrix Seminars below. Enjoy! (Warning, there are just a couple swear words here and there, no F-bombs though. It was a bro retreat, please be understanding) [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ title=”1″ submit=”Yes! I want to listen to the full 80 minute talk!”] Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Seattle, WA on September 15-16th here Sign up for the Human Matrix in Kansas City, KS on October 27-28th here   Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Portland, OR on November 10-11 here Photo Credits Mike T. Nelson

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The Reckoning: Part Deux Course Review

I recently had the opportunity to attend The Reckoning: Part Deux, a course taught by Dr. Pat Davidson and Dr. Ben House. The host was my boi, Mike Ranfone. This course focused on two concepts: understanding evolutionary history to influence programming (Pat’s talk),  and discussing all things hypertrophy, fat loss, health, and nutrition (Ben’s talk). I’ve heard Pat speak in the past, and always appreciate his drawing from many aspects of science to influence programming. His evolution discussion led to many light bulbs going off. What had me really excited was to hear Ben speak. I have several colleagues who speak highly of his work, and given that nutrition/functional medicine is a weak point in my game, I wanted to hear his perspective. Let’s just say, neither of the doctors disappointed. There was an excellent mix of theoretical and practical application, and both fellas approached performance from such different angles that the Reckoning as a whole was beyond comprehensive. If you get a chance to hear either of these guys talk, sign up yesterday, you won’t regret it.

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Paleofx 2018 Conference Review

I decided to get out of my comfort zone, and attended the health conference, PaleoFx. This conference covered a wide variety of topics and products, ranging from stem cells to pesticides, and everything in between. I appreciate the approach that most people in this domain take towards health and wellness, and being here made me realize both how important nutrition is, and how little I know about the topic. I look forward to diving more into this domain over the next several years. Check out the video review, then read my course notes below.

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Asymmetrical Muscles, Feet, and Elbow Range of Motion – Movement Debrief Episode 51

Movement Debrief Episode 51 is in the books. Below is a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure, and audio if you can’t stand looking at me. Here is the set list: Why are muscles asymmetrical? Are there any treatment/training considerations for people with marked asymmetries? What are the feet doing in stance? What is the relationship between foot and hip position? How do proximal structures affect elbow position? How important is full elbow mobility? How does rotation impact elbows? What treatments are used to restore elbow motion? If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook or Instagram.They air every Wednesday at 7pm CST. Enjoy! and the audio version…                  Here were the links I mentioned: Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Seattle, WA on September 15-16th here Sign up for the Human Matrix in Kansas City, KS on October 27-28th here   Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Portland, OR on November 10-11 here Factors Associated With Paraspinal Muscle Asymmetry in Size and Composition in a General Population Sample of Men Postural Restoration Institute Lateral Wedges Arch Pads Ulnar nerve subluxations   Here’s a signup for my newsletter to get nearly 3 hours and 50 pages of content, a free acute:chronic workload calculator, basketball conditioning program, podcasts, and weekend learning goodies: [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Get learning goodies and more”]

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May 2018 Links and Review

Every week, my newsletter subscribers get links to some of the goodies that I’ve come across on the internets. Here were the goodies that my peeps got their learn on in May. If you want to get a copy of my weekend learning goodies every Friday, fill out the form below.  That way you can brag to all your friends about the cool things you’ve learned over the weekend. [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Hell yes I want weekend learning goodies every Friday!”]

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Glute Amnesia, Lateral Shifts, and Evidence Based Practice – Movement Debrief Episode 50

Movement Debrief Episode 50 is in the books. Below is a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure, and audio if you can’t stand looking at me. Here is the set list: What is gluteal amnesia? Is gluteal amnesia a thing? What needs to be done to get the glutes working? What is a lateral shift? Do shift corrections work? How should you handle working with someone with a lateral shift? What is evidence based practice? What does it mean to say you are evidence based? Can we possibly do everything 100% evidence-based? If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook or Instagram.They air every Wednesday at 7pm CST. Enjoy! and the audio version…                  Here were the links I mentioned: Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Seattle, WA on September 15-16th here Sign up for the Human Matrix in Kansas City, KS on October 28-29th here   Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Portland, OR on November 10-11 here Here is the Instagram post I mentioned in reference to glute amnesia Here is the powerpoint discussing lateral shift Manual Correction of an Acute Lumbar Lateral Shift: Maintenance of Correction and Rehabilitation: A Case Report with Video Bryan Chung The acute:chronic workload ratio predicts injury: high chronic workload may decrease injury risk in elite rugby league players Mike McKenney   Here’s a signup for my newsletter to get nearly 3 hours and 50 pages of content, a free acute:chronic workload

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Referrals Gone Wrong: How to Handle When a Practitioner Screws Up

Have you ever worked with someone who had a clinician or coach that did something that made you scratch your head? Or worse yet, perform a surgery they didn’t need? These scenarios can be beyond frustrating, but as a professional, you must maintain composure and be respectful. We all know that this can be hard to do, when someone you care about was done wrong. Are there ways to make these transitions occur smoothly? I answer that in today’s podcast. Give it a listen and read the modified transcript below.

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