Feeling stiff? Let me show you one of my favorite stretches… and that’s the Child’s Pose also known as the Prayer Stretch. It’s super simple and feels amazing. This move stretches your back, hips, shoulders, knees and ankles all at once—perfect if you’ve been sitting too much or need to release tension. Relaxing into Child’s Pose also improves flexibility and calms your mind by reducing stress. The Bonus: It’s great for lower back pain. Relax

Dear Rick, Your journey from your early experiences to your current approach to fitness is truly inspiring. It’s a testament to the enduring power of staying active and having fun while doing it. The “go outside and play” philosophy is a wonderful foundation for a lifetime of fitness. Your diverse background in information technology, marketing, sales, public speaking, journalism, publishing, special event promotions, and more adds a unique dimension to your fitness coaching. It’s evident

You’ve seen the ads: “Zero sugar! Guilt-free! No calories!” Sounds like a dream, right? You get the sweet, fizzy kick without blowing your diet. But let’s not kid ourselves — just because it says “zero” doesn’t mean it’s a health food. What’s Really in That Can? Diet and zero sugar sodas replace sugar with artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, or acesulfame potassium. These don’t contain calories, but they still send a powerful sweet signal to

Let’s talk about the foundation of every great pickleball shot: footwork. Whether you’re dinking, dropping, or driving, your feet set the stage for consistent and controlled contact. Without proper footwork, you’re likely to find yourself jammed or overreaching, which can ruin your spacing and throw off your shot. The Key to Spacing and Control: Move Your Feet Here’s the deal: good pickleball players know that success starts with positioning. Proper footwork allows you to: Set

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to live to 100—not just existing, but thriving—Dr. Walter M. Bortz lays it all out in his groundbreaking book, Dare to be 100. This isn’t just a book; it’s a blueprint for longevity, perfectly aligned with my Proactive Aging Blueprint philosophy. Dr. Bortz doesn’t believe in aging passively, and neither do I. His approach focuses on taking deliberate action in key areas of life to build not just years, but quality years.

What do you mean you’ve never heard of Blue Zones? Let me bring you up to speed: Blue Zones are regions of the world where people consistently live longer—and better—than the rest of us. We’re talking about places like Okinawa, Japan, and Sardinia, Italy, where folks thrive well into their 90s and beyond, often free from the chronic diseases that plague most of us. In Dan Buettner’s book, The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the

Don’t make these 5 BIG mistakes if you’re over 50 and just starting to exercise again! Mistake #1: Thinking You’re 20 Again. You’re not! … and your body will let you know it!. Leave the insane boot camp workouts to your grandkids. Start slow, build up, and avoid the agony of defeat! Mistake #2: Ignoring Warm-Ups. This a recipe for disaster! Warm up your muscles, knees, back, hips, and shoulders. Trust me, they’ll all get

Here are my top 3 must-have tools if you want to start moving better and feeling younger. #1 – A YOGA MAT – If you wanna move better you you need to get down on the floor and do some stretching. Get yourself a good THICK Yoga mat – especially if you have hardwood floors. It’ll give you a comfy surface for your stretching and exercises, and help prevent any slips and falls. #2 –

I am strangely inspired by The Pittsburgh Steelers for reasons that you might never guess. Growing up in Erie, PA, I started life as a Cleveland Browns fan because that was my stepdad’s team and Sunday football was one of the first areas where he and I connected. But in the early 70s, as the Browns started becoming perennial losers and the Steelers started winning, my loyalties began to shift culminating with the Steelers’ first

Sitting on your ass too much will lead to age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) and you’re almost sure to be old before your time. Here are the key consequences of sarcopenia that will significantly impact quality of life and overall health. Getting old isn’t a bad thing – considering the alternative – but here’s a sure-fire recipe for getting “old and miserable.” Loss of Strength and Physical Function: Reduced ability to perform daily activities, like climbing

This is it! Today’s #1 tip for slimming your waist and finally getting rid of that stubborn belly fat… PUT THE FORK DOWN AND BACK AWAY SLOWLY. No one is going to get hurt. We would like to end this peacefully! You’ve got to know when to stop eating…It’s called portion control… and YES! This is one of those cases where even if you’re eating the RIGHT thing. “Too much of a good thing” can

Grab a pen and paper because right now I’m going to reveal to you the number one exercise for finally killing that stubborn belly fat! ARE YOU READY? Here it is… Every day simply do this one exercise… 5 SETS OF… STOP EATING CRAP! You already knew this. Just start freaking doing it! Stay tuned for more spot-on tips for healthy proactive aging! If you want some help with your diet and nutrition just message

In 2021, at the ripe young age of 63, I joined the bionic club with my first EVER surgery: a right hip replacement. Yep, that’s my titanium implant you’re looking at, now proudly residing in my hip. I dodged the surgery for three years, enduring the pain like a stubborn warrior. Mostly because I made the big mistake of researching hip replacement surgery like I do everything. Once I found out that they basically rip

I Don’t Care What Your BMI Is… and why anybody would use that number as a measurement to evaluate ANYTHING I can’t understand! Let me tell you why it’s so useless… all BMI – or body mass index – is is a ratio of height to weight. What that means is that a guy with a body type like John Goodman, who’s 6 foot 2 and 250 lbs… And another guy with a body type

Let’s get real: Nobody—and I mean nobody—hits a sweet dink when they’re dancing across the court. If you’re moving mid-swing, you’re compromising both the power and accuracy of your shot. Pair that with unsteady balance, and you’ll be flailing around trying to recover from your own momentum—not exactly a winning combination. The Two Biggest Challenges Moving While Hitting: We’ve all seen (or been) the player who’s racing to the ball, paddle flailing, taking a wild

This is my EXACT STRATEGY for eating healthy without special diets, meal plans or the dreaded counting macros! Ditch the Processed Foods: Limit your intake of processed and packaged foods high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial ingredients. Instead, opt for whole, minimally processed foods whenever possible to support optimal health and well-being. Focus on Nature’s Foods: Fill your plate with nutrient-dense, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

We all know it’s essential for heart health, endurance, and staying energized, but what if your joints aren’t on board with high-impact activities? Or maybe the thought of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) makes you want to curl up on the couch instead? Here’s the good news: You can still crush your cardio goals with low-impact exercises that are easy on your joints but still pack a punch for your heart. Why Cardio Matters From the Proactive Aging

If you want to improve your footwork and dominate the pickleball court, it’s time to add the L.E.F.T. Drill (Lower Extremity Functional Training) to your routine. Originally designed as a staple in agility training for basketball and tennis players, and often seen on the practice track and in football camps, this drill is the foundation for quick, controlled movement in any sport. And when adapted for pickleball, it becomes a powerful tool to level up

Customized Workouts for Your Body: A trainer designs workouts tailored to your specific needs, whether it’s improving mobility, building strength, or addressing joint pain. Safe and Effective Training: Trainers ensure proper form and technique, reducing the risk of injury and making every rep count. Accountability to Stay Consistent: Having a trainer keeps you committed to your fitness routine, even on days when motivation is low. Focus on Functional Fitness: Trainers incorporate exercises that improve real-life

Want to boost your mobility and strength effortlessly? Incorporate a daily deep squat into your routine! This simple yet powerful position does the following:  Stretches the 3 major joints of the lower body (hips, knees, ankles) by placing them in full flexion. That means bending them as far as they will go. This keeps those joints healthy and improves your ability to walk run and everything else you use your legs for.. (that’s a lot