Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health

Guest Writer: Grief and Aikido: Relaxing Under Pressure

I’ve discussed the connection of martial arts to mental and emotional health for over a decade; in fact, that’s the reason why I started this blog. I have never, however, approached the topic of using martial arts to manage grief until grief counselor and Aikido student Gyani Richards suggested the topic. The suggestion was timely. I lost my two remaining grandparents within a day of each other earlier this year, which was already a very stressful time for a number of reasons. At first I wasn’t quite sure how to handle my grief. Practicing taekwondo and being among my martial arts friends was one of the best things I did to regain a sense of normalcy and positivity. Please enjoy this beautifully written and thoughtful post and information about Gyani at the end.

If you would like to submit a guest post for Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.

Grief and Aikido: Relaxing Under Pressure

“Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.”
— Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido

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Melanie Gibson Injury and Recovery, Mental Health, Self-Development and Leadership, Work and Martial Arts

Lingering Injury versus an Acute Injury: Life Lessons from (Sometimes Self-Inflicted) Pain

The Achilles Heel of Advice | Blackbird
Me trying to hack life and failing miserably.

Thanks to conversations with my boss and a counselor about my severe burnout, several days off here and there for rest and rejuvenation, hormones starting to regulate so my suspected peri-menopausal symptoms aren’t as bad, and more days of actual honest to God decent sleep…I’m feeling better than I was when I wrote my last post. 

But I’m not out of the woods yet.

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Melanie Gibson Injury and Recovery, Mental Health, Uncategorized, Work and Martial Arts

If You’re Happy but You’re Burned Out, Clap Your Hands

Burnout isn't budging in the U.S. workforce | CIO

I’ve been wanting to write an article for a while about burnout. The irony isn’t lost on me that it’s taken me over a month to get thoughts to screen because I’ve been “too busy.” 

The first time the thought for the article crossed my mind I was at home, having taken Good Friday, April 18, off after a very busy week of work and two full days of being in a training program. I’d also been dealing with severe insomnia, which I attributed to peri-menopausal weirdness but realize in hindsight was exacerbated by stress and burnout. I’d hoped to spend that Friday doing something fun or spending time on one or more of my hobbies, but because I was so exhausted, I spent the day napping on the couch while I waited for the HVAC guy to show up to install a part and do the biannual check-up since that was the only free time I’d had all month. 

I was too burned out to write an article about burnout.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Injury and Recovery

Guest Writer: Enhancing Postural Health Through Martial Arts: A Doctor’s Perspective

When Dr. Antti Rintanen (The Internet Doctor) contacted me about a contributing a guest post offering a physician’s perspective on the benefits of martial arts, I jumped at the chance…well, hopped, being mindful of my current Achilles tendon issue. Something we all could use help improving is our posture. In this article, Dr. Rintanen focuses on how your martial arts practice can improve your posture and in turn, other health concerns. There’s even a five-minute martial arts-inspired posture routine at the end you can try today.

This article is not a substitute for treatment from a licensed medical professional. If you would like to contribute a martial arts-related post, please see the guest writer guidelines here. 

Enhancing Postural Health Through Martial Arts: A Doctor’s Perspective

By Dr. Antti Rintanen, MD, MSc

In today’s world, poor posture has quietly become a modern epidemic. Hours spent hunched over screens, commuting, and sitting at desks have made forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and anterior pelvic tilt the new normal. As a medical doctor—and a lifelong martial arts practitioner—I’ve seen firsthand how movement habits can either restore or degrade the body’s natural alignment.

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Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health

Guest Writer: Cultivating Calm: Effective Ways to Tackle Daily Stress

Image via Pexels

The holidays are over, and we’re back in full swing! Busy schedules, yaaaaayy! Part of being a well-rounded martial artist is caring for one’s mental health and well-being. Emma Grace Brown has contributed several articles on wellness and self-care to this blog. In this article she shares several tips for balancing a busy life with effective stress-reducing actions.

If you would like to write a guest article for Little Black Belt, see guest writer guidelines here. ~Melanie

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Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health

Guest Writer: Take These Steps to Build a Healthier Home Life

Photo via Pexels

While this blog is primarily focused on martial arts, I also devote quite a bit of time to something that is inextricably intertwined with martial arts practice: mental health and well-being. Emma Grace Brown has contributed several articles on wellness and self-care in the past, and she has written another great article about how to care for yourself and your family. It’s tempting to get caught up in the bustle of Q4 work deliverables and holiday planning, but it’s most important for you to make sure you and the people you love are healthy and happy. 

If you would like to write a guest article for Little Black Belt, see guest writer guidelines here. ~Melanie

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Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health

Guest Writer: The Essential Guide to Building an Introvert-Friendly Self-Care Routine

Remember that time I wrote a blog post about wondering why I spent my days doing corporate training and nights yelling at people in the dojang? Yeah, I still wonder about that, and I still TREASURE my quiet time by myself. That’s why I was delighted when Emma Grace Brown, writer and frequent contributor to Little Black Belt, pitched a self-care guides for introverts. Just in time for hibernation season! If you would like to write a guest post for Little Black Belt, please see guest post guidelines here. 

Image via Pexels

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Injury and Recovery, Training Tips

Guest Writer: Post Fight Recovery for Muay Thai

Adam Green from muaythaiinsider.co.uk is back with tips on post fight recovery. While this article focuses on Muay Thai fighters, these are great tips for any martial arts practitioner. As we get into training and competition season, make sure you are healthy, well, and having fun!

If you would like to contribute a martial arts-related post to Little Black Belt, see guest writer guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Mental Health

Yes, Your Martial Art Can Just Be a Hobby

istockphoto.com

Recently my partner sent me a video by YouTube comedian Ryan George. In the video, a man who likes to doodle cute little birds for fun in his spare time is bullied and pressured by a #hustleandgrind bro into creating a side hustle-to-full-time business with products, employees, and a full on corporate structure. By the end of the video, both men are older and ready to retire. The hustle bro comments that the artist can now go paddle boarding with son in his free time, which was what the artist enjoyed doing before he started his bird drawing business. The artist is angry and frustrated at time lost. It harkens back to the parable of the fisherman and the businessman. The fisherman, like the man sketching birds, was content with his life. The businessman couldn’t understand why the fisherman wouldn’t follow his promptings to expand his production.

Sometimes a hobby can just be a hobby.

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Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health, Self-Development and Leadership, Work and Martial Arts

Guest Writer: Work-Life Balance Mastery: The Ultimate Self-Care Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs

Whether we work for someone else or for ourselves (or in many cases, both), we need work-life balance to be a functioning human. As a corporate employee and authorpreneur, I carefully use and guard my time so I can get the job done while staying healthy, happy, and relatively stress free. Emma Grace Brown (see her website here) offers self-care tips for busy entrepreneurs. There’s always a rush at the end of the year between getting everything done and taking time off for holidays and family.
Please take care of yourselves and each other.

Image via Pexels

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