Avoid the Aches and Pains of Travel
‘Tis the season for travel, and we’re sure many of our readers have plans to get out of town this season. But, whether you drive to a loved one’s house or take off to warmer latitudes, you don’t want pain visiting you for the holidays. Unfortunately, road trips and air travel are the perfect recipes for back, neck, and shoulder aches — but you can keep these debilitating conditions from ruining this joyous time of year. BACK TO BASICS Being seated for long periods of time often leads to pain because of the way we position our back. Being hunched forward, reading a book on a long flight, or craning your neck to check your rearview mirrors puts far too much strain on
your neck and shoulders. However, reclining too far or slouching in your seat is a recipe for lower back pain. To keep yourself from either extreme, proper posture is essential. SITTING RIGHT “Proper posture” doesn’t mean sitting stiff as a board. In fact, you want your back to arch slightly. Keep your tail bone as close to the back of your seat as you can and the inside of your knees about two inches away from the edge of the chair. Don’t keep the backrest at a 90-degree angle — you want it reclined slightly back to around 100–110 degrees (but always return your seats to their upright position when landing). While flying, keep both feet flat on the floor and
Sudoku avoid crossing them. While driving, adjust your mirrors so you can check them with minimal head movement. LEGS MADE FOR WALKING Ultimately, the best method to avoid the aches and pains caused by sitting is to, well, not sit. Breaking up long periods in a chair, even if it’s just to stroll up and down the aisle of the aircraft or stretch your legs at a rest stop, can make a huge difference. Of course, wait until the fasten seatbelt sign has turned off, and follow all instructions of your flight crew while in an aircraft.
Gingerbread Dogs
Inspired by GoneToTheSnowDogs.com
INGREDIENTS • 1 cup molasses • 4 tbsp honey • 1 cup water • 1/2 cup vegetable oil DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 350 F.
• 6 cups all-purpose flour • 2 tsp baking soda • 1 tsp cinnamon • 1 tsp dried powder ginger
2. In a medium bowl, combine molasses, honey, water, and oil, and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and ginger. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing well until dough forms. 3. Separate dough into four equal balls. Wrap dough balls in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3–5 hours. 4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out chilled dough to 1/4-inch thick. Use dog-shaped cookie cutters to cut out treats. 5. Bake for 20–25 minutes on baking sheet until cookies start to brown. Carefully remove treats from the oven and let them cool completely before serving to your dog.
www.KineticPTS.com | 3
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator