Heart Health

Like Dark Chocolate, Holistic Movement Satisfies Deeper

Holistic movement is like a piece of rich, dark chocolate — small, intentional, and deeply satisfying.

You ever eat one of those mini chocolate bars from Halloween? You eat one… then another… and somehow you’re still not satisfied.

But a small square of real dark chocolate? That hits different. It’s richer. It stays with you. It satisfies.

Why Dark Chocolate Hits Different

The difference isn’t just taste — it’s quality.
Dark chocolate is made with real cocoa, less sugar, and more of the stuff your body actually likes. You don’t need much of it to feel satisfied.

And it even helps your nervous system, not just your cravings — research backs this up.

The same is true with how you move.

When you train in a way that includes your fascia, your posture, your nervous system, and your structure — your body feels better. You don’t need to kill yourself in the gym.

The same is true with how you move. Myofascial Stretching is one example of movement that nourishes the body more fully.

You just need to feed your body what it’s actually hungry for.

Holistic Movement Works Smarter

Holistic movement isn’t about going soft — it’s about going deep. Learn why that makes all the difference.

It builds real strength from the inside out. It makes space in your joints. It calms your nervous system while it challenges your muscles.

And the best part?
You leave feeling stronger, not broken.

Just like with chocolate — when it’s made right, a little bit goes a long way.

Real Satisfaction Comes From Depth

If you’re always looking for the next workout fix — but never feeling better in your body — maybe it’s time to try something more nourishing.

Something that satisfies deeper.
Something that was made to work with your body, not just sweat it out.

That’s what we do here.
And like dark chocolate… once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

→ Ready to train smarter? That’s what we do here. See how our personalized, holistic approach works in real programs.

Follow the Thread—Where Movement, Fascia, and Freedom Align

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 How to Be Present in Your Life: 9 Simple Ways to Stay Grounded

SolCore Therapy and fitness

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to constantly be somewhere else in your mind.

Scrolling through social media. Texting someone who isn’t in the room. Replaying yesterday or stressing about tomorrow.

This emotional disconnection is a signature of modern life. But when your body is here and your mind is not, you miss the real beauty of living—and the power of your own presence.

➡️ You’re not being the partner, parent, or friend you want to be.
➡️ You’re missing the beautiful gifts right in front of you.
➡️ You’re overlooking challenges and opportunities that matter.

The truth? You only get today. Yesterday’s gone. Tomorrow isn’t promised. What you do now is what counts. Here’s how to be present in your life, one moment at a time.

✅ 1. Breathe

Nothing centers you faster than your breath. Close your eyes and take three slow, deep breaths. If you want, take more.

✅ 2. Go Deeper

Explore mindfulness tools like meditation, guided apps, or yoga. You don’t need to be perfect—just consistent.

✅ 3. Unplug from Social Media

Nothing pulls you out of the present like scrolling. Schedule intentional scroll times and silence the rest.

✅ 4. Limit the News

Constant news exposure fuels anxiety. Stay informed, but stop doom-scrolling. You’ll be okay without the 24/7 feed.

✅ 5. Exercise Regularly

Move your body intentionally. Even a 15-minute walk clears your head and brings your attention back to now.

✅ 6. Practice Gratitude

Each day, jot down 1–3 things you’re grateful for. Speak your appreciation out loud. Smile at a stranger. It all counts.

✅ 7. Set Boundaries at Work

Take breaks. Turn off your phone after hours. Learn to say no when your plate is full. Boundaries are a gift to your future self.

✅ 8. Forget Multitasking

Focus on one thing at a time. Multitasking might feel productive, but it dilutes your attention and drains your energy.

✅ 9. Engage Your Senses

Look around. What do you see? Smell? Taste? Feel beneath your feet? Anchor yourself in what’s happening right now.

Some people get frustrated with presence practices. “It’s hard to stay focused,” they say.

They’re right. It is hard. Our minds wander—and that’s okay. Just gently return to the moment. Again and again. Like any practice, it gets easier over time.

Take a breath. Be gentle with yourself. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to show up.

Building a foundation for a better life.

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Unlocking Vitality: The Power of Zone 2 Cardio for Optimal Health and Fitness

Zone 2 cardio is getting a lot of attention lately—and for good reason. But this isn’t just another fitness trend. If used properly, Zone 2 cardio can become the foundation of your long-term health, energy, and recovery.

Let’s break it down and show you how to make Zone 2 part of a complete, fascia-informed training approach—not just another checkbox in your routine.

Click the image to watch the video

What Is Zone 2 Cardio?

Zone 2 is the second level in a 5-zone cardiovascular scale, where your body primarily uses fat and oxygen (aerobic metabolism) to fuel movement.
It sits between gentle movement and high-intensity exercise, typically falling between 60–70% of your max heart rate.

Not sure what that means?
Start with a basic estimate: 220 - your age = max heart rate.
Then calculate 60–70% of that number.

More precise formulas exist, but the important thing is to start where you are and listen to your body.

✅ A heart rate monitor (Apple Watch, Garmin, etc.) can help
✅ You should still be able to talk comfortably while training (aka the “talk test”)
✅ You may still breathe mostly through your nose

Why Zone 2 Cardio Works So Well

Zone 2 improves how efficiently your body uses oxygen, delivers nutrients, and clears waste.
Here’s what you gain:

  • Stronger heart and lungs
  • More mitochondria (cellular energy factories)
  • Better capillary density (circulation)
  • Faster recovery between workouts
  • A solid base for strength or higher-intensity training

If you’ve ever jumped into HIIT, CrossFit, or intense lifting without seeing results, it’s often because your foundation was missing.
Zone 2 is that missing piece.

But here’s the part most people miss: your structure matters just as much as your heart rate.

If your posture is collapsed—rounded shoulders, forward head, restricted breathing—you’re limiting the ability of your lungs and heart to perform.
And that can reduce the effectiveness of even a perfect Zone 2 session.

That’s why we integrate corrective and structural work into all our programming at SolCore Fitness.
When you combine Zone 2 with myofascial stretching, segmental strengthening, and ELDOA techniques, you unlock the full benefit of cardio.

Explore how ELDOA exercises can open space in your spine and thorax to support better breathing and recovery.

How to Build Your Zone 2 Routine

  1. Start with Zone 1
    If you’re new to cardio or unsure of your baseline, begin with lower-intensity Zone 1 work and good posture habits.
    Let your body adapt before pushing harder.
  2. Dial in your structure
    Use corrective exercise and mobility work—like Global Strengthening and postural realignment—to prepare your body for regular training stress.
  3. Progress gradually
    • Begin with 45-minute sessions
    • Aim to increase duration to 60–90 minutes over time
    • Stay consistent and let your body adapt over weeks—not days

Don’t Skip Corrective Work

Even walking puts thousands of pounds of force through your joints over the course of 10,000 steps.
Without corrective exercise, those forces accumulate and degrade performance—especially in an unbalanced body.

Every Zone 2 session should be followed by realignment and decompression work, not just foam rolling or massage.

Corrective support ensures that:

  • Muscles recover efficiently
  • Fascia maintains healthy tone and hydration
  • You prevent breakdown while building endurance

Final Thoughts: Periodization Is Key

Zone 2 isn’t meant to be a permanent state. It’s a phase in a smart, periodized plan.
You cycle between:

  • Structure + Zone 1
  • Structure + Zone 2
  • Corrective + Recovery
  • And eventually, higher intensities with full preparation

This is how you train for vitality, not just fitness.

Want support?
We offer multiple ways to help—from ebooks and training groups to personalized plans. Reach out or explore more resources on our site.

Request A Free Consultation Here

it’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

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Tired of Peloton? Here’s a Smarter Workout Alternative

Frustrated person next to Peloton bike exploring workout alternatives

Click on the image to watch

If you’ve been searching for Peloton workout alternatives, you’re not alone. What once felt like the future of fitness now often leads to burnout, boredom, or plateaus. Whether your bike’s collecting dust or your membership feels stale, it’s time to rethink what your body really needs — and what truly works long term.

Let’s break down why Peloton is falling short — and what you can do instead to get real results.

Peloton’s Rise… and Fade

Peloton exploded during the pandemic. People were stuck at home, and the brand nailed the timing with sleek bikes, energetic instructors, scenic virtual rides, and an easy subscription model. It felt like a movement.

But fast forward, and many people are canceling memberships and unloading their gear.

Why?

Sure, there are business reasons — but from an exercise and results perspective, there’s a deeper issue.

External Motivation Doesn’t Last

The whole Peloton model is built on external motivation: music, scenery, and peppy instructors yelling encouragement through the screen.

That can feel great in the beginning. But it fades — and quickly. Real, lasting progress requires internal motivation driven by clear goals that mean something to you.

It’s not about getting hyped up to pedal harder for 20 minutes. It’s about asking:
What do I want from my body and my life?

Cardio Alone Isn’t a Full Program

Peloton gives you cardio — and not much else. Maybe some light circuit training or HIIT. But it’s still basically endurance training.

  • No structured strength work
  • No fascia-focused training
  • No progression
  • No personalization

Just movement for movement’s sake. And that eventually leads to boredom, plateaus, or worse — injury.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Using your legs on a bike isn’t the same as training your legs intelligently. Overuse injuries, imbalances, and limited planes of motion can result from doing the same activity over and over.

Every body is different. You need a program that adapts to your individual structure, needs, and goals. That’s the opposite of Peloton’s cookie-cutter classes.

Why I Built Something Different

At SolCore Fitness, we follow a fascia-based osteopathic approach to fitness and therapy. That means:

  • Your workouts are built around your body’s actual structure
  • You learn to work with your fascia, not against it
  • You develop long-term strength, mobility, and stability — not just sweat

You don’t need fancy gear. You don’t need entertainment.
You need the right stimulus, progression, and support to evolve.

Ready for a Smarter Way?

If Peloton isn’t giving you what you need — that’s OK.

It was designed to be easy, not transformative.

But your body wants more. Your mind wants more. And you’re capable of more.

If you’re ready for a complete shift in how you train and take care of yourself, check out my program. It’s based on the principles of osteopathy and the real biomechanics of how your body is designed to move and heal.

Let’s train for your life — not just a screen.

Request A Free Consultation Here

it’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

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Heart Health and Body Structure

I am sure you have heard a lot about heart health. Everything from diet, hydration, stress management, and even sleep affects your heart. There a lot of excellent points to follow, but have you ever thought about heart health and the structure of your body.

The structure of the body is usually talked about or thought about posture, movement, or pain. And all this is true. The better your structure, the better your position, the better you move, and the less pain you will have. But the structure of your body is fundamental to the health of your organs too. Your organs (viscera) all have a place that they are supposed to be within the body. They all have “rooms” formed by fascia (connective tissue). If the structure of your body is out of balance and your fascia is unhealthy, then space (room) holding your organs is compromised, and they cannot function optimally. It’s as if I were to ask you to perform a task but then bind your arms and legs to limit your movement. It’s going to be difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish.

Now to use your heart as an example. For it to be healthy and function optimally, the heart should sit properly on your diaphragm, and the pericardium (heart skin) should provide enough room and be able to connect correctly to the neck and sternum.

Image received from Guy Voyer, D.O.

In this image (above), the pericardium (green) connects to the sternum (breast bone), C6, C7 and T1 vertebrae (neck), and the diaphragm for support. If any of those connections are tight or “out of place,” then it will twist, compress, or pull the pericardium and cause the heart to not work well.

Image taken from Built Lean

Take a typical posture that you can see everywhere now. It’s called forward head posture. And just as the name implies, your head is forward to your shoulders. This is usually seen with a rounded back (kyphosis) and a collapsed sternum. So take the picture of the heart above and place it in this poor chap. Let’s start at the top. When your head is forward, and you have kyphosis, it pulls your neck forward and causes those vertebrae to slide forward. It also creates those connections at the sternum to slack. And 9.99999999 times out of 10, this posture will also cause your diaphragm to be jumbled (technical name) and so the floor that the heart sits on is crooked and compressed.

Image taken from Bourdage Chiropractic

So now, your poor little heart is all twisted and compressed and sitting in the wrong place, and you are asking it to work optimally. Also, your posture is now reducing your lung volume, which reduces the amount of oxygen your body (including your heart) is getting. And now extrapolate that strain and think about the effects when you are exerting yourself. Talk about putting your body (and heart) in a position NOT to succeed.

If this represents your condition, the good news is that your current situation is not a death sentence because most of what I am talking about is soft tissue. This means you can do something about it if you don’t wait too long. Some exercises can open your neck and pull those vertebrae back into it’s intended position, and correct your kyphosis.

If your goal is longevity and vitality, then get on a workout treatment program that works on your body from all different angles, including your posture and structure. The benefits to your entire being are numerous… because it’s not just working out, it’s building a foundation for a better life.

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