Changing the Way You Move

An insightful book designed to promote active healthy aging, by Dr. Kevin T. Morgan, BVSc, PhD, DipACVP, ExFRCPath, veterinarian and Ironman-distance triathlete.

This book is based on a life-time study of medicine, optimal body-movement, endurance training and curing a range exercise and aging-induced injuries.

“It's not the fittest that survive, it's those most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin.

Aging comes with major physical changes, to which you will need to adapt!

Golden Years? They can be!

In 2011, the author became the first person in the world to complete a full Ironman (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, 26.2-mile marathon) with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) stent graft. He was happy to demonstrate to other older athletes that this can be done, with careful planning. He modified the way he moved to protect his AAA stent graft, and thus his life. These successful modifications, as described in the book, were based on an understanding of anatomy, AAA stent design, and extensive training in optimal body movement, including Kung Fu, Yoga, Pilates, Gyrokinesis, Continuum, Wing Chun, and most importantly, Feldenkrais.

Aortic disease led to his leaving a successful research career, of 40 years, to help others overcome the health challenges of aging. During the intervening years, Dr. Morgan created Old Dogs in Training, LLC, with the goal of helping older people to raise their level body-awareness. To bring their movement skills into the light of consciousness. This work has included books on living life well with aortic disease and overcoming the heel pain of plantar fasciitis. The author's efforts have enabled people with aortic disease and plantar fasciitis to return to their favorite sports. To get their lives back on track.

The present book describes Dr. Morgan's Observe, Question, Solve (OQS) Method. He explains the application of this effective approach to body movement and injury repair. He has focused on our three major life activities; sitting, standing and walking/running. Stories from his life as a country vet in England, and as a research scientist, are employed as entertaining analogies to clarify the underlying philosophy of the OQS Method. You will be taken through six simple steps, to overcome a life-time of unconscious but damaging habits. Including self-induced mis-alignments. For instance, he found that sitting the same way around for 50 years (right ankle on left knee) resulted in severe hip imbalance. This was fixed by changing the way he moved, to sit 'both ways around.'

The six steps will teach you:

-Step One: The importance of observing subtle movements that can have serious implications for your health.

-Step Two: To question the obvious and understand that the underlying cause of your problems may be remote from the site of perceived pain.

-Step Three: How to solve your issues like a detective, applying clearly explained body-awareness techniques. This will help you to avoid the cost expensive medical guidance, when appropriate.

-Step Four: How to sit more effectively, to correct self-induced misalignments. This can be used to treat certain painful conditions, such as plantar fasciitis aka acute morning heel pain, in the author's experience. You will also be shown how to employ body movement and gravity to get up from a sitting position, with much less effort. This can make all the difference between dependence and independence!

-Step Five: To use standing as your body movement laboratory. Never to waste the opportunity of waiting in line again. For instance, you can use a simple exercise to improve your sense of balance, while you wait.

-Step Six: How to walk/run injury free, using gravity and your spinal elasticity to move more effectively across the surface of this wonderful planet, as you tackle the fascinating challenges of aging.

Changing The Way You Move includes suggested reading material, for optimal body movement and calming the mind.

Enjoy your golden years.

Actively