Sherri Leimkuhler

Upon learning about this new virus, the general public may not have felt any real sense of urgency. Rather, many of us may have responded to the news with a collective shrug and simply carried on with our busy lives.

Yoga is an ancient mind-body practice that is currently enjoyed by nearly 11 million Americans.

The first and most important step to transitioning to outdoor running is to start slowly.

An alternative to an indoor bike trainer is to use bike rollers, an option that still allows you to use your own bike but one that requires more balance and concentration.

For the most part, the people who live there have put their working days — and the frigid northern climes — behind them and now have the freedom to experience new things, meet new people and spend all of their sunny days doing exactly whatever they want to do.

Enter The Villages — a booming retirement development in north-central Florida that is widely acknowledged as the fastest-growing small city in the U.S.

I remember smiling and offering some sort of neutral reply along the lines of “it’s not so bad,” or, “it actually feels good,” while recalling a key phrase from one of my running or triathlon training guides: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear.” Truer words may never have been spoken.

For some people, tradition is the backbone of any holiday celebration and so, without a doubt, if there are childhood traditions that you loved and want to carry with you into adulthood and share with your own children, by all means, do it!

In short, holistic healthcare focuses on the health of the entire body and mind, not just parts of the body.

According to mayoclinic.org, SAD is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons, beginning and ending at about the same time each year.

For most people, this practice of “falling back” means that we gain an extra hour of sleep and enjoy fewer hours of daylight, though neither sentiment is 100 percent accurate.

Many authors will say that they’d wanted to be an author for as long as they could remember. I was in fifth grade when my English teacher complimented a story I wrote and suggested that I could become a writer someday.

According to medicalnewstoday.com, collagen — the most abundant protein in the human body — is a tough, elastic and versatile structural protein found in the bones, muscles, skin and tendons. It is, essentially, the substance that holds the body together.

The science of stretching and flexibility is one of the fields that have grown more complex and recent studies have shown that static stretching prior to activity can actually be detrimental to performance and does not necessarily lead to decreases in injuries. Sherri Leimkuhler column for Carroll County Times, Sept. 1, 2019.

Grass mowing in my little corner of the county has been a problem for some time. It seems as though, at one point, there was some dispute or uncertainty as to whether certain grassy areas were the responsibility of the county or the town to maintain. As a result, several busy intersections and thoroughfares were left to run amok, these highly visible areas becoming unkempt eyesores as the grass grew thigh high.

Research shows that in addition to being low risk and having few side effects, acupuncture offers positive, long-term effects for many people.

Eventually, someone asked if I’d tried acupuncture. After a year of pain and not being able to run I was becoming desperate. I was willing to try anything.

Young runners not immune to running injuries

My oldest daughter is a senior this year, poised to leave the family nest as she heads to college and embarks on her own journey to adulthood.

To me, my mother represents everything it means to be a mom: unconditional love, self-sacrifice, nurturing, caring, supportive, encouraging, protective.

For many, suffering from allergies has been a lifelong battle. However, those who managed to escape childhood and adolescent allergies are not immune.

For those who are where I once used to be — calculating the nutrition needed for multi-hour workouts, six days a week — the answer is more complex.

When left to my own devices, no matter what time I finally fall asleep, my body naturally wakes nine hours later and I feel rested and refreshed.

The kids in my neighborhood played tag, roller skated, skateboarded, climbed trees, explored the streams and woods, tied blades of grass into knots, rode our bikes all over the neighborhood, and caught frogs and fireflies until the streetlights came on.

Streamlining my tri apparel shaved key minutes and seconds off my transition times, helping me to reach my goal of standing on the podium.

Sooner than my husband and I would like, we’re going to blink and — once again — it will be “just us.” But, for now, we are cherishing every moment we have as a Party of Five and hope to make as many memories as possible while the nest is still exhaustingly, wonderfully full.

While pharmaceuticals have undoubtedly saved countless lives, there are many conditions — in addition to migraines — that may be resolved using natural, homeopathic remedies, and good common sense.

While most everyone has heard of Machu Picchu, Lake Humantay — one of the most picturesque glacier lakes in the region — is one of Peru’s many lesser known hidden gems.

As a former migraine sufferer and someone whose head is sensitive to pressure changes in the best of circumstances, I dreaded the thought that my much-anticipated adventures in Cusco would be sabotaged by debilitating headaches.

We had all but decided to close the book on this fostering/adopting chapter of our lives. And then Bodhi came along.

Ultimately, fostering Patty served its purpose: we helped Patty and her foster, and Patty helped us on the path to healing. But I felt so guilty for having kicked Luna out of her own home that I decided our family should probably take a break from fostering for a while.

The physical wounds eventually healed. I have full mobility in my hand again, though the damage to my ulnar nerve has left me with a pinky finger that continues to tingle and sometimes burns. The emotional wounds have taken longer.

Stevie was the ideal dog. But the experience wasn’t easy. The first thing any potential fosters or adopters should know is that, no matter what, the first week will be hard. The transition will be difficult for both humans and canines.

Why would anyone go to a breeder for a dog when there are so many dogs that already need homes?

My husband and I chose a feisty yellow female — Kacey — who would provide us with years of laughter and stories that, while humorous in hindsight, were far less funny in the moment.

The first dog I really remember, however, was a stray named Taffy. My dad had a huge soft spot for dogs and would routinely bring home strays he found wandering about.

In this harried, overburdened, self-absorbed culture we have cultivated, our value system is out of whack, inconsiderate behavior is running rampant, and kindness seems to be in dangerously short supply.

By the time I returned to the car, my calf was swollen and red, the muscle achy, rock hard, and hot to the touch.

But, until two weeks ago, I had never been stung while running. Alas, there is a first time for everything.

Although blisters are common and most are easy to treat, if you feel uncomfortable treating it on your own or suspect that the blister may be infected, contact your doctor or a podiatrist for professional assistance.

Most cases of shin splints resolves with rest and self-care, but you should aim to be pain-free for two weeks before returning to exercise at a reduced rate of intensity and a gradually increase your training.

The chakras are positioned throughout the body from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, with each chakra containing its own vibrational frequency, color, and specific function.

Standing stoically side-by-side to hear the results, the owner explained that the scent my friend was most drawn to was associated with the heart chakra, indicating that my friend needed to nurture this particular chakra.

As we sniffed and sampled the items, the charismatic store owner approached. Noting our interest in the essential oils, she asked if we would like a chakra reading.

Following a particularly challenging study session, or a class in which we were learning a complicated new language concept, I was sometimes energized but, more often than not, I was grumpy, tired, foggy, or felt a headache brewing.

Aligning with Flying Dog’s slogan — “Good people drink good beer” — the Bikes and Beers event was a perfect way to have fun while giving back.

According to southernliving.com, “The Swedes engage in a daily ritual of gathering together with family, friends, or co-workers for...gasps...coffee breaks and Swedish pastries such as fikabrod and cinnamon buns, or kanelbulle.”

According to Dunne, it is possible to live a lagom lifestyle in a society that values extremes by adopting six habits that bring balance into your life.

Perhaps by adopting some of these wellness principles and planting them in the gardens of our own souls, we will reap a bountiful bouquet of renewal, growth and expansion this season.

This latest fitness trend from Sweden already has a loyal following in Scandinavia and Germany, and is quickly starting to catch on in the United States among exercise aficionados intent on picking up trash while they run.