MSI Press Blog

When people hear that I work out regularly, they often assume the challenges are the obvious ones: sore muscles, aging joints, or finding enough motivation to get to the gym. Those are real enough. But sometimes the biggest challenge comes from a condition that has nothing to do with muscles at all: GERD. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, more commonly called GERD, occurs when stomach acid moves upward into the esophagus. The classic symptom is heartburn, but GERD can also cause coughing, throat irritation, chest discomfort, a sour taste in the mouth, and even sleep problems. For those of us who like to stay active, GERD can create an awkward balancing act. Exercise is good for overall health, and maintaining a healthy weight can actually reduce reflux symptoms. Yet some forms of exercise can temporarily make GERD worse. That does not mean you have to choose between fitness and comfort. It simply means learning how to work with your body rather than against it. Timing Matters One of the...

  Ma didn’t teach “chores.” She taught body mechanics , discipline , and a way of moving through the world that has kept me strong, coordinated, and fast well into my seventies. Every lesson was physical, practical, and—without her ever saying the word—athletic. Here’s the Grandma Ninja version of what she passed down. 🧽 1. “If you want the floor clean, wash it on your hands and knees.” I still do, even though I own a mop. The Army reinforced it later with a toothbrush for tile. This is not just cleaning. It’s: deep hip flexion shoulder stability wrist mobility core engagement controlled weight shifting It’s basically a full-body mobility circuit disguised as housekeeping. No gym needed. 🧹 2. “Sweep the floor every day, and after every meal.” I have a vacuum and a robot. I still sweep after every meal. Sweeping is rotational training. It’s: oblique activation spinal rotation balance grip strength rhythmic endurance It keeps your gait smooth and your torso supple. It’s why I stil...

  Let me tell you the fastest way to age yourself: Stop doing things. That’s it. That’s the whole recipe. Stop bending — your back stiffens. Stop climbing stairs — your legs forget how. Stop reaching overhead — your shoulders lock up like rusty hinges. Stop getting on the floor — suddenly the floor becomes the enemy. People think aging is inevitable decline. No. Aging is what happens when you let the “I shouldn’t” voice win. I’ve watched it for decades. Someone avoids a movement because it “feels hard.” Then it becomes hard because they avoided it. Then they avoid it even more. And voilà — frailty, courtesy of self‑sabotage. Meanwhile, I’m over here belly‑crawling under chairs at the doctor’s office to retrieve an iPad, spinning in circles until I get dizzy, and climbing grocery shelves like a caffeinated raccoon. Not because I’m special. Because I never stopped. So here’s the Grandma Ninja rule: If you want to keep doing something at 70, don’t stop doing it at 50. Or 60. Or 70. Av...