RiversZen Fitness: Move Well, Stay Healthy and Thrive

RiversZen 5% Club isn’t just for senior citizens.

That’s right—20, 30 and 40 year olds, I’m talking to you!

I wish someone had whispered this in my ear when I was younger.

If I had known, I would have started some simple daily practices.

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Trust me, I’d have avoided a lot of pain and health issues.

Wouldn’t we all like to dodge those pesky problems?

Life...

Chronic Pain can feel like a heavy weight, dragging you down and limiting your happiness.

But here’s some great news: contracted stretching could be your ticket to relief.

Thousands have discovered how this technique can help ease their pain and improve their mobility.

In fact in 2007 I discovered this amazing technique and saved myself from multiple surgeries!

So, what is contracted stretching?

It’s a simple yet effective method that i...

Did you know that standing tall doesn’t just make you look confident—it can actually boost your immune system?

It’s true.

When your body is aligned the way it’s meant to be, you open up pathways that let things flow smoothly inside.

And one of the biggest winners? Your lymphatic system.

Think of it as your body’s own personal clean-up crew, fighting off viruses, bacteria, and other unwanted junk.

Good posture keeps your lymph moving, he...

I was not raised having a steady diet of fish. It was a rarity but always appreciated when it happened.

I was raised on a farm with your basic meat and potatoes diet. I loved beef and poultry and just about any and all vegetables (except celery, try as I might, I never was able to enjoy it).

Life goes on, I get older and find that many of the foods I enjoyed in my youth are no longer user-friendly.

So, I no longer eat them.

I find ...

It’s your high school reunion, and everyone’s catching up, checking each other out, seeing who’s held up and who’s… well, maybe hasn’t.

Want to be the last one standing at that party, looking like you just stepped out of the fountain of youth?

It’s actually not as hard as it sounds.

The secret? Stay fit. Eat right. And—maybe most importantly—keep that sense of humor alive.

Think of it as the ultimate triple threat.

Staying fit doesn’t m...

Ever find yourself lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, hoping sleep just magically arrives?

Yeah, we’ve all been there.

But here’s the truth—good sleep doesn’t start the second your head hits the pillow.

It starts way before that.

Let’s talk about setting yourself up for the best sleep possible with some mindful evening movement.

You don’t need an intense workout or a fancy routine.

What you need is to slow down.

Give your body a gentl...

If you’re familiar with weight lifting at all, you know that the strengthening phase of any exercise is the concentric movement—the part where you lift the weight.

And the release? That’s called the eccentric movement. It’s when you lower the weight slowly, controlling the movement.

Instead of a special stretching technique why not just focus on the eccentric phase of weight lifting?

Seems like a solid plan, right?

Well, here’s the thi...

You hear me talk about it all of the time… so let's talk about one of our favorite techniques: RiversZen Contracted Stretching.

Sometimes we call it resistance stretching, but that seems to confuse folks.

Most people think we’re talking about those stretchy resistance bands.

Nope, that’s not it at all!

Contracted Stretching is something different and very special.

It’s all about contracting the muscle while you stretch.

Sounds simp...

Take the time it takes to heal, learn to relax, and retrain your brain to trust yourself, one step at a time.

Those are not my words; but a sentence from a recent email I received talking about horse training. 

That statement is true regarding people as well. 

When we are working with students in class or during our one-on-one training sessions, it is important that the stress of the past be left behind. 

Some attend because they ar...

What was the number one mistake we made when fixing our health?

For years, we allowed cheat meals.

We thought it was no big deal.

In fact our trainer recommended it for our mindset on track.

But here’s the thing.

It’s impossible to beat an addiction if you don’t cut it off completely.

Cheat meals often turned into cheat days.

Then cheat weekends.

It was pure insanity…

And before we knew it, we were back to square one.

The truth is, you can't...

Think about it. Every time you reach for that bag of chips, ask yourself, “Is this food going to make me feel better tomorrow? Will this fuel my body, or just weigh me down?”

That’s the key. Start talking to yourself. Out loud, if you have to.

Every time temptation hits, remind yourself: “I want to be healthy. I won’t eat that.”

It’s simple. It’s firm. It’s the voice you need to hear when your mind starts playing tricks on you.

The mor...

Sometimes I look at our feed and am amazed how most of our posts deal with the basics of creating a long, healthy, vibrant life. Food, movement, hydration, sleep, breath, stress reduction.

But there is so much more…

It’s about giving yourself the permission… or maybe it’s the grace to really enjoy your life.

I observe that many people feel unworthy of happiness.

They unconsciously resist it, often without realizing what they're doing.

I...

Yesterday, Peggy wrote an article about hydration, and today, I have some additional information that you might find both interesting and important.

As you know, proper hydration keeps your body functioning at its best. It boosts your energy, gives your skin a healthy glow, and supports overall health.

But did you know that it's not just about drinking water? Getting that water into your cells is key to true hydration.

When water does...