Author Archives: Lu Mueller-Kaul

Tight hamstrings?

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Are your hamstrings are so short that you have trouble sitting with your legs stretched out?.

Short hamstrings make injuries more likely, and once you injure them, they get even tighter, due to scar tissue.

You say: “Yes, I know. And I am stretching them all the time, and it just doesn’t get any better.”

This post is for you. People think I’ve always been flexible, but really: It was in my 30s that I was finally able to touch my toes with straight knees. Even when I was a kid I couldn’t do it. Continue reading →

If you build it…

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“Keep the overhead low” is the first business advice any owner gets to hear.

The little place with low rent where you do everything yourself is the romantic ideal. And it is what most good therapists do, whether they’re counselors, massage therapists, acupuncturists.

It’s what I used to do in my practice as a naturopathic physician in Germany. One room as my office and treatment space, a small waiting area in the hallway. You might even be able to do that in your house, depending on zoning laws.

It doesn’t get you anywhere.

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The Problem with Yoga

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The New York Times had a very discouraging article on Yoga a few days ago. It’s a good article. If you’re looking for excuses NOT to start doing Yoga this year, you’ll find plenty.

Unfortunately this photo isn’t the joke it’s meant to be. I often see poses like that in Yoga classes, and am surprised that severe injuries aren’t happening more often.

Answers to the NYT article popped up everywhere: you can read Josh Schrei’s post in Elephant Journal as an example. I like his perspective and insight, but he’s missing the point.

People don’t start Yoga because they want to be heroes like Josh.

They want to get rid of their chronic pain, they want to be more flexible, they want to lose weight–or they just want to find a way to deal with stress. After a first class they feel inadequate, are hurting more, and give up.

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Twitter Guide for my Father

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My father loves technology. So now he’s on Twitter.

Of course he isn’t new to Social Media, and he “likes” and comments on Facebook, but Twitter is tricky. I know how hard it was for me to “get it”.

Only 6 months ago I did have an account, but I had no idea what to do with it. Follow @LuMuellerKaul to see my ongoing efforts.

Check this to understand why I even bother. Doesn’t apply to my father, he’s retired and doesn’t seem to be interested in self-promotion. But it can be fun…

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Competition?

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Of course we can’t ignore competitors. When trying to determine what to charge for services, we have to look at what others ask. Figuring out our marketing priorities, we have to check where our most important competitors are best represented.

In the first year of Balance, the dreaded 2009, my vision was challenged by my business partner. He said we had to drastically lower our rates or we’d die–because we were competing with all the cheap massage offers. In my opinion, we had to charge more than other small clinics because we offer higher value. It got to the point where I had to say “ok, if you want to run a different business, you have my full support… now go and run a different business.”

The challenge, however, remained. There are places that charge $40 for a one-hour massage. A real full hour, not the 50 minutes a lot of chains do. Our one-hour massage costs $90, for members $76.50.

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2011 –> 2012

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I love the term “between the years”. It’s a German expression for the days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The old year is over, and the new one has not yet begun.

Following tradition, I haven’t been productive in those days. I like to use them for contemplation, for thinking about what was important to me in the old year, what is no longer needed in the new year, and what I’d like to continue and explore more.

2011 was all about business development for me.

Continue reading →

Wanted: Another Rolfer™ for Balance

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I’m not only a Rolfer with a big background in  naturopathic medicine and bodywork but also a business owner.

update May 21st 2012: I am still looking for the right fit. Doesn’t have to be a Rolfer, a Structural Integrator from a different school would also be possible.

As you see here, we have four massage therapists, an acupuncture physician, myself as the Rolfer, and there are three part time people to staff the office.
By now a lot of my time goes into business development and management, so the space on the top right is reserved for a second Rolfer to give me more time.
At Balance we provide all the administration, marketing and professional facilities that bodyworkers need nowadays to be able to compete with the massage chains and chiropractors who employ massage therapists.

Yoga Therapy for Every Body

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Workshop series coming up!  Starting March 10, every second Saturday of the month from 1pm-3pm.
Sign up for our email list! Don’t worry, we don’t give your address to anybody else… and you can pick only the “Workshop and Education” newsletter . After putting in your email address, you get to another page to specify your preference. Of course you can unsubscribe any time.
Topics for the next three workshops:
March 10: feet: You’ll learn how to prevent bunions, hammertoes, how to strengthen and lift fallen arches, how to improve balance.
April 14: low back: Learn to utilize core strength and good pelvic alignment to prevent disc degeneration, keep lumbar discs hydrated.
May 12: upper back: Here we’ll explore how to open up tightness in the upper back and prevent the dreaded “hump”. There are more options than just my towel-trick!
Of course there’ll be more… just comment with your requests for future workshops.
We will be teaching perfect alignment in common Yoga poses,
also very specific modifications for your own body’s needs and limitations.
In these 2-hour seminars you will:
  • Explore safe ways to improve core strength
  • Learn exercises to minimize the likelihood of injury and relieve chronic pain
  • Receive detailed instructions (including hands-on direction) of proper alignment
If you have never tried Yoga, this is your chance to prevent bad habits.
If you’ve done Yoga for a long time, you’ll learn detailed alignment.  
Even if you’re a Yoga instructor you will benefit–
you’ll learn how to safely teach your students using hands-on adjustments.
You will also receive a detailed handout with pictures of common poses in their easiest variation.
Illustrations like the Warrior II pose here come with detailed notations on what you should pay attention to in every pose, and there’s space for  your own notes, since the point of the class is for you to find your own safe alignment.
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Location: Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex, 99 East Marks Street Orlando, FL 32803
Questions? Please email me…  luATbalanceorlandoDOTcom
If you wonder why we’re doing this, follow this link.
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