Dooley Noted: 3/5/2016 I am a motivated woman. To obtain a goal, an exorbitant amount of focus and attention must be placed on achieving said goal. This begs the question: What separates healthy, goal-achieving obsession from self-damaging obsession that borders on addiction? I’ve seen people so addicted to gambling that they will put up their mortgage – just for thrill of potential goal achievement. I’ve seen people sell themselves … Read more
Dooley Noted: 3/4/2016 As our smartphones start to rule our lives, our spines are quickly becoming degenerated in an overly flexed position. We can stop this inevitable spinal degeneration by regressing our positions. We can even build spinal stability with these quick changes! In all of these positions, think of four cues: 1. Neck long (in back) 2. Chin tucked 3. Chest wide 4. Ribs down (in front) If you … Read more
Dooley Noted: 3/1/2016 This weekend, I was very busy teaching an amazing group of NKT enthusiasts. I was also the host, so I was on double duty. My fitness program takes no excuses for being “busy,” so I knew I had a tough front squat and press workout to complete. But I was worried I was too tired, too spent. Then, in the middle of squat warmups, I had a … Read more
Dooley Noted: 2/29/2016 It’s Leap Day – an extra day we are granted to do more, be more, live more. Today, I’m especially grateful for finding the love of my life – right when I hit rock bottom. The last decade had been a rough one in regards to feeling on my own. I had to look my principle set in the face and embrace my weaknesses as strengths. I … Read more
Dooley Noted: 2/27/2016 A great way to get me to walk out of a seminar is to talk smack about another technique – or moreover, another person. You’ll never hear it happen at the two seminar companies for which I teach. And we don’t bother doing it at the schools at which I teach. There is no point. All that smack talk is an attempt to validate oneself. And if … Read more
Dooley Noted: 2/26/2016 Repeat after me. What you earn is yours. You can share the moments with others. But what you earned is yours. No one gave that to you. There’s no magic program, pill, nor surgery. You are the one who does the work. No one gives it to you. I have experienced great mentorship, where my mentors took no credit for the facilitation they … Read more
Dooley Noted: 2/23/2016 A patient said something significant to me yesterday. She said, “I can’t just do this for me. I need to be healthy for my kids. I want to be around for them – and to play with them down on the ground!” I would love to tell you that all my patients will invest in healthy habits for the good of themselves. But they won’t always. Sometimes, … Read more
Dooley Noted: 2/22/2016 At least once per week, I get a request asking for my recommendation on the best anatomy text or application. My answer is always the same: “The best book or app is the one you are using.” If one is reaching out to ask this question, he is looking for an answer I can’t provide. There’s no fast-track to knowledge. Believe me – if there was … Read more
Dooley Noted: 2/20/2016 I’ve had my share of uncertainties in this life. And most of the time, these uncertainties helped me wedge myself into corners. When I currently look at a 24 kilo kettlebell, I see a bell I used to not be able to one-arm swing. It used to be a bell with which I could not get-up. But I can easily do those things now. I currently … Read more
Dooley Noted: 2/17/2016 After my second set of heavy press ladders today, the bell started to feel really heavy. My head went to a negative place. I let my perception of the bell skew me. “This hell feels heavy.” Then I remembered what I saw at 3 AM this morning. My beloved had gotten up in the middle of the night – driven by his focus to complete a … Read more