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973.812.8000 www.flexptnj.com March 2018
A TRADITIONAL IRISH CELEBRATION
HowWe Observe St. Patrick’s Day
Growing up in an Italian family, I didn’t experience many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations until I began dating Taryn. We are on the verge of celebrating 15 years together now, and marrying into an Irish family gave me the privilege of participating in the annual St. Patrick’s Day party at my in-laws. Over the years, as the family has grown, the party has gotten bigger and bigger. Each year, my mother-in-law, Ma, cooks a huge traditional Irish feast of corned beef, cabbage, Irish soda bread, and more. Everyone brings beer and other beverages, and we dye them green. My mother-in-law even dyes the butter green! Ma’s corned beef recipe is truly to die for, and ever since the first time I had it, I’ve begged her for the recipe. The first time I asked her for it, she just smiled and said she couldn’t tell me how it was made, which of course made me more curious. Once, after many years, she left the recipe pinned to the refrigerator (if it was intentional or accidental I will never know), and I was able to snap a picture. Although no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to make my corned beef taste exactly like her recipe, so she must do something extra special.
Having never celebrated with my Italian family, I cherish the gathering as another great way to spend quality time with our loved ones and for our girls to learn about their heritage.
After we eat, the kids run around and play while we drink our green beer, listen to traditional Irish music, and enjoy each other’s company. Someone will usually bring green hats and glasses and other silly props, and we take pictures as well. The girls love playing with the props, which look fantastic with their green tutus. Overall, it’s a great time. As the celebration got bigger, Ma had to put a cap on how many people were allowed to come over. My in-laws live in a traditional colonial, so there’s only so much room. Every single year, people will ask us if they can come, but we have to tell them the only way that can happen is if someone
else rescinds their invitation. As you can imagine, that practically never happens. Almost all of our good friends come to the party, but when there’s a rare opening, someone else is on deck waiting to take it. Our St. Patrick’s Day celebration holds a special place in my heart. Having never celebrated with my Italian family, I cherish the gathering as another great way to spend quality time with our loved ones and for our girls to learn about their heritage. We hope to continue the celebration for many years to come. Maybe someday Ma will show me how she really makes her delicious corned beef.
I hope you have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day. We look forward to seeing you soon.
–Raffaele Lagonigro
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Wait — Screen Time Is Good for Kids? How a Balanced Media Diet Bolsters Child Development
If you Google the effects of screen time on children, you’re sure to be bombarded with horror stories. Numerous articles claim that, beginning in infancy, the more time a child spends in front of a TV, phone, or computer, the worse their developmental outcomes will be. At first glance, the research is utterly conclusive. It seems we should throw out every TV in our house, smash our kids’ smartphones, and usher our children into the great outdoors as soon as possible. But what most of these studies fail to take into account is the content of the electronic media. If a child spends two hours a day bingeing episodes of “The Big Bang Theory” or screaming obscenities into a headset while playing “Call of Duty,” it’s going to negatively impact their experience of the world along with their mental and physical health. But not all content is created equal. In the past, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended strict limits on electronic engagement for kids, following
the old line of thinking that any kind of screen time would be better spent climbing a tree or running in the backyard. But in October of 2016, they offered new recommendations for parents. For infants and young toddlers, the research still sides pretty heavily against the use of iPads and television. Before 18 months of age, a child lacks the cognitive capabilities allowing them to apply the lessons of technology to real life, and even after that, the APP recommends that media consumption should be limited to “high-quality programming, such as the content offered by Sesame Workshop and PBS.” But for kids ages 5 and up, parents should avoid banning screen time outright, but function as their child’s media mentor. Instead of decrying time spent building complex structures in “Minecraft” as hours that could be spent on the soccer field, we should set expectations and boundaries to ensure that children can deepen
their experience of the world through media, not hamper it. The problem starts not with the screen itself, but when the consumption of media becomes problematic, replacing regular face-to- face interactions and physical activity. But with a balanced media diet, kids can have the best of both worlds.
Athlete Spotlight: Ray
Ray came to Flex Physical Therapy following his second total knee replacement. He explained that he had not taken the rehabilitation of his second knee replacement as seriously as the first and didn’t comply with his exercises at another clinic. Consequently, Ray’s knee was causing him pain and limiting him in his everyday activities. Working with Dr. Hennigan, Ray regained the range of motion in his left knee as well as the strength in his hips. Not only was Ray able to complete his daily activities pain-free, he improved so much that he recently embarked on a hiking trip through South Africa with his wife! In Ray’s words, “Now, I’m a 74-year-old who hikes over hills and mountains — from Africa to Utah! Thanks Steve, and thanks Flex!”
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Prevent Back Pain While Gardening Gardening can be an enjoyable and relaxing pastime, but it is surprisingly hard on your body. Because gardening involves a lot of bending, it requires you to put your back in awkward positions. This prolonged flexion of the spine Next, perform 3–6 standing backbends. Stand with your feet hip-distance apart. Place your hands on your lower back. your neck in a neutral position and your back as straight as possible, and use the other hand for gardening.
Stand tall and inhale, then exhale to gently arch your spine back. Go slow, and don’t push yourself to the point of discomfort. Backbends extend the spine, which is the opposite of forward bending. Once you begin gardening, work in stints of 20–30 minutes at a time. Every five minutes or so, stand up and perform a couple of backbends. Also, avoid standing and bending forward from the waist. Instead, set both knees on a pad, support yourself with one hand, keep
If your back pain persists or the pain progresses to aching, tingling, or numbness in the buttocks or legs, stop gardening immediately. Minor pain be can be alleviated by hot or cold compresses (use cold if there is swelling). You can also take ibuprofen or Tylenol, but always abide by dosage recommendations. If you continue to experience pain, call Flex Physical Therapy at 973-812-8000 to make an appointment.
places stress on your back that can strain ligaments, muscles, and even discs that cushion the vertebrae. Fortunately, there are precautions you can take to prevent low-back pain and long-term damage to your spine, and they begin before you even put on your gloves. Before you head outside, do some warmup stretches. First, lie down on your back on the floor. Bring your knees up to your chest, keeping your back flat on the ground. With your ankles together, lower both knees gently to one side, touching the floor if possible, then the other. This massages the muscles on either side of the spine and gently moves the joints in the lower back. Irish Soda Bread
5 -Minute Meditation It’s March, so we’re thinking about the luck of the Irish in honor of St Patrick’s Day! Enjoy this fun meditation designed to bring you some good luck. Let us know if you find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! To begin your meditation, breathe deeply and enter a relaxed state. Imagine that you are holding a box. In that box, place the things you want to manifest for yourself — goals, ideas, physical items. Now bring your awareness to your heart. Start to think about something that makes you feel good. Maybe it’s a person, a place, or a general feeling. Take five deep breaths, focusing on the warming energy that comes from that positive feeling. Now transfer that energy back to your box. Imagine those things in your box receiving that positive energy and manifesting themselves. Start to affirm those things in a positive light (e.g., “I will...” or “I can...”). Repeat those affirmations to yourself as you continue the breath for 3–5 more minutes. Leave your meditation believing that you can achieve those goals and they may just come true!
•
1/2 teaspoon salt
Ingredients •
4 cups all-purpose flour
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1/2 cup margarine, softened
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4 tablespoons white sugar
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1 1/4 cups buttermilk, divided
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1 teaspoon baking soda
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1 egg
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1 tablespoon baking powder
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1/4 cup butter, melted
Instructions 1. Heat oven to 375 F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet. 2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. 3. Place dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. 4. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an X into the top of the loaf. 5. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45–50 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.
- Taryn Lagonigro
iris.mindandbody
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(Recipe inspired by allrecipes.com.)
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INSIDE • The Lagonigros Take on St. Paddy’s Day PAGE 1 • When Screen Time Is Good for Kids PAGE 2 • Athlete Spotlight PAGE 2 • How to Prevent • Irish Soda Bread PAGE 3 • The 3 Best Places to See Beautiful Flowers PAGE 4 333 Main Street Little Falls, NJ 07424
Gardening-Induced Back Pain PAGE 3
Earth’s Most Beautiful Flower Displays
Spring is here, which means flora will soon be in full bloom. Flowers can be an easy pick-me-up or a great way to add color to your home, but some people take their flower obsession to the next level by planning botanical-themed vacations. Here are some of the most impressive gardens and flower displays in the world.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Desert lavender, flowering cacti, pygmy poppies, and rock daisies are just a few of the many wildflowers decorating Anza- Borrego Desert State Park. The various native species are often seen weaved together to form a colorful carpet over any barren patch in the park, which is located just two hours from San Diego. In addition to flowers, visitors often spot bighorn sheep. Wildflower blossoms vary in intensity each year, but they typically begin to bloom in late February or early March. Next time you’re planning a spring trip, consider visiting one of the world’s most beautiful flower displays. No green thumb required.
Netherlands
Holland, most famous for its tulips, always draws visitors at the first sign of spring. One of its most famous destinations, Keukenhof, located in Lisse, is among the world’s largest flower gardens. The park is 79 acres and boasts approximately 7 million flowers each year. This colorful garden is open annually from mid-March to mid-May, but mid-April is the ideal time to see the tulips.
Washington, D.C.
Besides the monuments and historic buildings, one of the biggest attractions in Washington, D.C. is the cherry tree blossoms. Travelers who visit the Tidal Basin during the spring can witness 3,000 trees, which were a gift from Tokyo in 1912, flaunt their beautiful pink blossoms. The best time to see the spectacle is from the end of March through the end of April.
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