I curate articles from around the web that present an interesting perspective or helpful information at the intersection of technology and wellbeing. Each of these articles were featured in my November 2020 newsletter. I send out an update twice a month along with some notes on my latest work. Sign up for my newsletter here.
NOVEMBER I
Russell Wilson Spends 'at least $1 Million' Each Year on His Body
Must be nice.
The 31-year old Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who is in the running to be this year's NFL MVP. spends significantly on his biggest asset, his mind and body.
"I probably spend a million if not more on recovery," Wilson told Bill Simmons during a recent interview. "It’s not just the recovery part of it. That’s huge. For me, the biggest thing for me is the mental game. The mental game is so important"
If you recall from previous editions of this newsletter, I've written multiple times about the sports psychologist and mindset coach of the Seahawks, Michael Gervais. It's no surprise his mindset work has made an impression on Wilson too. It's so woven into the fabric of their culture of success, Gervais and Seahawk's head coach, Pete Carrol, launched a business to help everyone with mindset called, Compete to Create.
For his body, Wilson has two hyperbaric chambers, a full-time trainer, a physical therapist and two chefs. He also trains 363 days each year, only taking off Christmas and Thanksgiving.
He follows the path of other high-profile athletes like Los Angles Laker LeBron James and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, who spend similar amounts of money on their mind and body. It's the fact Brady is playing at the highest level at 43 years old that other athletes have taken notice and are following his same protocols.
"It's becoming a lot more acceptable and knowing of these professional athletes investing in their body. Like your body is your biggest asset when that's what you do for a career."
Your body is your biggest asset, whether you're an elite NFL or NBA player or anyone who wants to have the stamina to live a long heathspan, to do more things your care about for as long as possible.
And you don't have to spend over $1 million each on your on your body. There are so many tools and services that are becoming increasingly accessible.
For example, Peloton and Apple's forthcoming Fitness+ bring top movement and breathing experts to your living room for less than $20 a month. Food delivery services such as Blue Apron and Thistle can deliver you a healthy diet that would be difficult to create on your own. It's your own personal chef and less expensive than eating out. Programs like Gervais and Carrol's Compete to Create or even our Be Your Own Best Coach program, makes mindset coaching affordable. Even a simple $12 foam roller can go a long way for part of your recovery practice, without the need of your personal masseuse.
Your body and integrated mindset is your biggest asset. While it must be nice to spend a million dollars on these, technology is delivering the tools and solutions at a price point where so many more can practice and have the stamina to perform longer than every like an elite athlete.
Health Benefits Of Humming & Bumble Bee Breath
"In Sanskrit, Bhramari is also called bhramar meaning ‘wasp’. Some also translate this as meaning 'humming bee'. In this form of yoga breathing, a humming sound is generated during a slow exhalation resembling the sound produced by a buzzing bee," according to breathing expert Ed Harrold.
I come across Harrold's work when he did an interview with James Nestor, the author of Breath: The New Science Of A Lost Art, which I featured in a story I wrote on breathing last month titled: Take a Breath.
Since writing that article, I've stayed curious about breathing techniques and their benefits as I see the results of reduced stress and anxiety and improving my overall wellbeing. I've incorporated them more and more in the programs I host as a way to bring participants into a state for learning and creativity.
What's powerful about bumble bee breathing is how it produces Nitric Oxide.
"Bumble Bee breath regulation produces up to 15 times more Nitric Oxide (NO) gas in the Sinuses of the skull.
The health benefits of NO produced through the Bumble Bee breath include:
calms the agitated mind
relaxes the nervous system
boosts immunity as NO kills viruses and bacteria
reduces blood pressure
regulates metabolism
regulates hormone/neurotransmitter
reduces inflammation
stimulates the vagus nerve
Harrold also posted a video on how to do the Bhramari breathing technique. "In addition to the Bumble Bee breath, singing, mantra chanting, and humming have also been shown to produce this same molecule."
Adding humming into the day sounds like a fun new habit with a bunch of helpful health benefits.
NOVEMBER II
Designing How We Work
I recently interviewed my friend and fellow meditation practitioner Melissa Daimler for the Be Your Own Best Coach Conversations Podcast. It's part of a series of guest interviews within the Be Your Own Best Coach group coaching program.
Melissa has been an executive at high-growth companies for over twenty years. She is now Principal of Daimler Partners, working as an advisor, facilitator, and executive coach. Her primary focus is helping leaders define and operationalize culture.
Prior to starting Daimler Partners, Melissa was an executive who experienced multiple leadership viewpoints throughout her career. She led HR for a fast-growing venture-funded startup. She created and built Learning & Organizational Development functions for Adobe, Twitter and WeWork. She built a coaching company while also the first employee of Coach University and one of the first leaders in the coaching field. Her experience as an executive and now as a consultant, includes coaching executives, helping teams work more effectively, and building scale-proof organizational processes & practices.
We talk about designing how we work during this pandemic and into the future. Take a listen >>.
Also check out her recent article on Forbes: Three Leadership Skill Shifts For 2021 and Beyond.
New Insights from Study of People Age 90 and Above
Half of all children born today in the US & Europe are going to reach their 103rd or 104th birthday. Dr. Claudia Kawas leading the 90+ study at the University of California Irvine School of Medicine told 60 Minutes recently.
I've been fascinated with this study since the original report aired on 60 Minutes six years ago. In that original episode, they identified factors associated with longer life: exercise, moderate drinking of alcohol and caffeine, social engagement, and our favorite: putting on a few pounds as we age.
The segment sparked my own interest in how alcohol contributed to a longer life and spawned my talk at the Quantified Self Global Conference: Drink to Live Longer.
This segment focused on the 90+ study's recent work on memory and dementia.
If we're going to live into our 100s, we better create the habits to have the stamina to thrive. Paying attention to work like this study is important in that pursuit.
The Power of Words
"There is a real biological benefit when people treat one another with basic human dignity. We live longer, collaborate better, and innovate more."
That's a quote from psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, PhD who wrote one of my favorite books, How Emotions Are Made.
She has a new book out Seven and a Half Lessons about the Brain which is described as "myth-busting primer on the brain."
In this excerpt, she talks about the science behind how we use our words and actions to impact our bodies.
"We also adjust each other’s metabolisms by our actions. If you raise your voice, or even your eyebrow, you can affect what goes on inside other people’s bodies, such as their heart rate or the chemicals carried in their bloodstream. If your loved one is in pain, you can lessen her suffering merely by holding her hand."