Posts by Sean Bailey75

Kimberly Reed18 said:I'm 16 years old. My dad is about 6'0", my mom is roughly 5'6", and I have a 15-year-old brother who's already 6'1" 😁
I'm just wondering if there's still a chance for me to grow taller, and if certain exercises—especially stretching—could help me gain a few more inches.

You definitely can, provided you take matters into your own hands by staying active and eating right.

Sprinting, plyometrics, and strength or explosive training will help you reach your full physical potential, especially in your legs. If you stay consistent with your training, you could realistically expect to hit a height similar to your brother's. It would be a great idea to join a local track and field club; they'll walk you through all the necessary drills, proper technique, and the essential post-workout stretching routines.

Focus on a diet rich in protein, electrolytes, calcium, and iron (like serving salads alongside your meat). Basically, stick to whole foods—think hearty stews, roasted meats with veggies, or healthy home-cooked meals. Milk is fine too, if your stomach handles it well. Just try to steer clear of highly processed junk food; all that extra sugar and those preservatives can really mess with your hormones and your overall energy levels.

Ethan Jones98 said:Wait, I was under the impression that James Gandolfini actually had his hand severed? And then he just left the cash there anonymously? If that's the case, neither Tom Hardy nor the Chechens would have had any kind of lead on him.

If the Chechens have already secured their funds, why on earth would they go through the hassle of laundering it all over again? It seems like an unnecessary headache, especially if they’re constantly looking over their shoulders, worried that James Gandolfini might try to snatch it or stash it away himself. Why wouldn't they just grab the cash right then and there? And if the guy actually "sang" to the authorities, why didn't they just take James Gandolfini out immediately?

SPOILER ALERT

That hand didn't belong to some random guy from a van; it belonged to one of those actual robbers who stormed the bar and snatched the cash that the guy in the van had been printing. Since we’re dealing with the Chechens and the Russ, they sliced off the hand as a direct message to James Gandolfini and Tom Hardy: clean up your own mess and think twice before planning something this stupid ever again. It was their way of signaling to the one who wasn't directly involved—Tom Hardy—exactly where the idea to hit the place came from. In other words, by maiming the robber, they forced him to talk. He likely confessed everything and more, leaving them unsure whether both men were in on the scheme or if just one of them was pulling the strings.

You can’t hide things like that forever; sooner or later, everything comes to light. But look, they need a venue—they need someone running the show and bringing in the revenue, because at the end of the day, that's the whole point. That’s why they’ve allowed James Gandolfini to stay in the fold, essentially banking on the hope that he finally realized there's no sense in trying to play games with the Chechens. They just want him to get back to work, keep his head down, and keep the cash flowing. As for Tom Hardy, he actually used to be a real heavy hitter with some serious street cred (you see that arc by the end of the film), but after blowing through all his money, he's forced to work just to stay afloat. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved. These types of power dynamics are actually quite masterfully constructed, though they definitely require a bit of analytical thinking and some patience to fully unpack.

A top-tier drama! Tom Hardy was absolutely brilliant, and Gandolfini was phenomenal—especially when you consider it was his final performance...

Let’s be clear: this is a heavy drama, so if you’re coming in expecting non-stop action, you might walk away with a different impression than I did.

SPOILER ALERT

Ethan Jones98 said:The movie is one of the better ones out lately, but a few things slipped past me... how did the Chechen crew find out Gandolfini was dirty? From what we saw, he was pretty efficient at scrubbing any possible traces. How did the guy who killed him know it was Gandolfini specifically approaching a random person in a random car on a dark street from behind where they couldn't see his face?

There are a few murders, but everything else happens for very specific reasons, which is why that whole situation with Gandolfini feels a bit off to me...

SPOILER

Alright, let's do some simple math here. If a local business has competition—and every business does, those being our two variables—the easiest move is to head over to the competitors, snatch one of them up, and squeeze them until they talk. If they talk, you find the money. If they don't, it means the cash is sitting with the other two guys "in the house." It's basically an elimination process; once you subtract those two variables, you're left with zero. So, the Chechen crew just worked their way through the list. They picked up the first guy and immediately stumbled upon the info regarding who hit the shop. They went after him, took their money, and took his hand—standard stuff for a robbery—and later, those fingerprints could easily be used to plant false evidence elsewhere. This gave them enough time to calculate whether one of the remaining two was actually "clean" enough to keep the business running. And yeah, Tom Hardy played his part perfectly—he was smart.

When these kinds of heists happen, there's always someone on the outside playing lookout to make sure the robber doesn't bolt with the loot. The Chechen crew knew someone would be waiting outside to collect the cash or grab whoever was responsible for hitting the shop. Based on the dialogue at the end, it's clear Tom Hardy spotted one of the Chechens watching him from the inside, but he didn't realize there was another one monitoring the scene from the street. Once Gandolfini realized this, he tipped off the boss, and the boss told him to take care of it and wrap things up.

9/10

Peter Kim3 said:Hahaha, oh man, talk about a classic stereotype! You know the one—the idea that Italians are all short, loud, dark-skinned, and just generally "small" in stature. It’s such a cliché. Personally, I’m standing at a solid 6'1", so I definitely don't fit that description!

I’ve been hearing people refer to us as "Froggy" lately, and honestly, I’m genuinely curious about where that label even comes from... It doesn't make any sense. I mean, nobody around here is out there eating frogs, unless you count the elite crowd and the chefs at those ultra-fancy French fusion spots who whip up overpriced delicacies for a tiny fraction of the population. Those clients represent maybe 5% of the country at most. In the States, frogs are practically non-existent in our diet, yet somehow we still get slapped with that nickname. Why is that?

Honestly, I think a lot of Italians turn toward fascism because, frankly, they’re just fed up. In my view, we aren't going to solve anything by retreating into that kind of ideology. I feel like you might have misunderstood my point—this isn't about some regional grudge between Southerners and Northerners. It’s about the attempt to forge a unified national identity against outsiders. It’s a complicated question with so many moving parts. It isn't just a bunch of mindless neo-fascists out there; you also have this "radical chic" crowd. They’re a hypocritical group coming from the left... how should I put this? They act like total bourgeois elites while preaching about how much they despise the bourgeoisie. Do you see what I mean? Unfortunately, it's hard to articulate perfectly, but just know that in my eyes, they are complete fakes. Whether they come from the right or the left, they all fall under the umbrella of Media Matters—or just "Italian" types, if you ask me. Let me step back for a second, though; I don't claim to be an expert on everything. I can't say for sure how one should judge or categorize this whole mess. But I do know one thing for certain: politicians on both the left and the right know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to manipulating their followers. They are masters at milking their base and, quite frankly, they sure know how to blow through money. I realize I'm not exactly breaking new ground here, but the situation remains stagnant. Actually, looking at your post, you described our current reality perfectly.

What's the current vibe like here in the States? All I know for sure is that there seems to be an overwhelming amount of nationalism bubbling up among the teenagers and young adults lately—mostly driven by Thompson and the lyrics in his songs.
Well, at least that’s what I gathered from my quick Google search... though I could definitely be off base here. I’ve actually never traveled through America myself, so please, feel free to set me straight if I've got my facts mixed up!

It isn’t just about the people living in the Center; we are talking about folks from all across the entire country! And let's be clear on one thing—Tuscany isn't up North, it's firmly part of the Center! 🙂

Greetings from Italy!

Yeah, you're right—that's just a total stereotype.

Your height can actually be explained through genetics. Nowadays, we have methods that allow us to determine haplogroups and genetic profiles with about 99.99% accuracy. If you look back at history on the Italian Peninsula, from the north all the way down to Rome, the Etruscans lived there—the people who gave Tuscany its name. They were fair-skinned and spoke a language more akin to northern tribes compared to the Romans. Once the Roman Empire expanded, their political strategy involved a sort of *Damnatio Memoriae* regarding the archaeological findings of the ancient Etruscans, the Veneto peoples, and all those other groups they needed to "assimilate" to create a unified state built on Roman law. To avoid getting too bogged down in the weeds, *Damnatio Memoriae* was essentially the Roman method of erasing the cultural monuments of any civilization that preceded them. Regardless, physical evidence still exists because modern science has gifted us with much better investigative tools, like advanced forensics. It’s a similar pattern to what happened when fascists rose to power after World War I; they pursued a similar erasure. They would simply execute residents in places like Venice, Julia, and other provinces if they refused (or didn't even realize they should) adopt the new Italian language. A huge number of people who were still speaking Slavic dialects at the time suffered, and the end result was an Italy where everyone speaks one uniform language. This is why modern Italy is actually much more genetically diverse than it was in ancient times, thanks to the mixing of different genetic groups toward the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, we can precisely isolate DNA from skeletal remains to determine exactly which group someone belonged to. Interestingly, the ancient Roman type was quite short—women were around 47 to 49 inches tall, and men were roughly 49 to 53 inches. On the other hand, the Illyrian peoples across the Adriatic, such as the Dalmatians, Histrians, and Liburnians, were significantly taller, with women measuring between 57 and 61 inches and men between 61 and 69 inches. It’s quite clear why there wasn't frequent or massive intermixing back then. Even today, our people remain among the tallest in Europe on average. The Etruscans were taller and fairer than the Romans, and the Veneto people were even taller; as you move northeast geographically, the skeletons found in graves consistently show increased height and varying DNA. Since Rome served as the center of financial, cultural, and global power during the empire, it’s perfectly natural that some level of mixing occurred, which explains why you see tall people in central Italy today. However, that is more the exception than the rule. There is a distinct possibility that your ancestors were migrants—only you or perhaps your grandparents would know for sure. It wouldn't be a bad idea to put together a family tree to trace your origins; it can be genuinely fascinating. In Italy, you can often track data through surnames and vital records, which can be a fun little project. Ultimately, Rome remains the synonym for Latin culture across all of Europe, so you never truly know what kind of information you might uncover...

I’ve heard people toss around terms like "Froggy" or "cat eaters" 😁—supposedly northern nicknames for folks from the south who were considered poor immigrants—but I honestly don't know the true history behind those labels. It would be pretty fascinating to dig into that if you're interested. 🙂

In major American cities, Americans are generally very well-received. There are plenty of girls here who are obsessed with American music and fashion, so you could probably have some real luck finding a soulmate. Nationalism among the youth feels more like a trend nowadays; if you're an American, you won't run into any trouble. Most teenagers just want to cheer for the US, and that’s about it. Now, it's true that American sports fans can be some of the rowdiest groups out there, right up there with the English or certain factions in Eastern Europe, but I assume you don't have a burning desire to head to the bleachers when the US is playing just to deal with people shouting aggressive political chants or anything like that.

Regarding fascism, I didn't quite follow your point. Over here, that ideology never really took root because we are one of the few nations that stood firmly against it; alongside the British, we had highly effective organized resistance movements, much like how the Soviets eventually turned on Hitler after initially being aligned with him. However, I have heard from some Americans that fascism is making a comeback in parts of the world as economic crises deepen. I even met a guy from the outskirts of Venice who wants the north to break away from central and southern Italy because he’s sick of his tax dollars being sent south to fund what he calls "the mafia." He’s frustrated because politicians keep peddling this left-vs-right narrative when, in reality, they’re all just looking for ways to line their own pockets. I told him that’s a very "southern" way for politicians to act; if you look at the Mediterranean countries, you see some of the highest corruption levels in the West—from Greece to Italy and Spain. For instance, you have figures like Berlusconi squandering millions of corrupt funds on luxury lifestyles, while our leaders might blow money on fancy cars or high-end art. There isn't much difference between the two. Sure, in some places the state has a mafia, and in others, the mafia has the state, mostly because of the scale of the country. But things are improving; prosecutors are finally cracking down, and hopefully, in ten years or so, these issues will be settled and we'll see less of our tax money disappearing. That’s the hope, anyway.

I’ve traveled through the US quite a bit. This past year, I spent a lot of time in the North and the Midwest, though I haven't made it to Rome yet. One of these days, I'll have to make that trip. Whereabouts are you located exactly—in Rome itself or just outside the city? And where is your family originally from? People here will constantly ask you, "Where are you from?" or "What's your background?" so you might want to get used to that... 😁 I know a few Americans who came here on business and are trying their best to stay because they love it so much. When you visit big hubs like New York or LA, you'll notice plenty of women dressed like they're ready for a runway in Milan; it's totally normal for people to dress up to go out. If you're familiar with CouchSurfing, you might find someone looking for a language exchange—you teach them American, they teach you the local dialect. If not, accommodation in the city is pretty affordable; you can find hostels for under $20 a night, so it's not a huge expense. Prices are a bit higher here than in other places due to taxes, but you can always find local spots with cheap beer and good vibes until sunrise. Oh, and you absolutely have to try the pizza here; it's better than in many places in Italy. It's always good to find a local to recommend great eats, since people here take their food very seriously.

Anyway, Happy New Year! All the best... 🙂

Peter Kim3 said:You’ve shared some really fascinating insights here. I can see you truly care about culture, and I genuinely appreciate that perspective...
There are quite a few Romanians living here; many have immigrated, and while it pains me to say it, unfortunately, many among them turn to crime. I also notice how the average Italian holds certain prejudices against them... but honestly, the average Italian is often just uninformed. An "Italiote" is someone who thinks, for instance, that everyone from Eastern Europe is just a criminal or a gypsy—they lump Romanians, Americans, and Mexicans all into one category.
I don't exactly count myself as their friend. They can be incredibly intelligent people, but they simply refuse to use their brains. For example, they might
be PhD holders or study economics at a major university, but they only act when there's a personal advantage involved. They focus solely on self-interest. They can be quite selfish people who exploit human kindness; they'll tell you that you can trust them, but you should absolutely never do so!

They will screw you over; never share your secrets with them, because they'll find a way to broadcast them...

It isn't just ignorance, though; they are also very cunning. They represent a corrupt segment of society—a society that defines itself by what is "normal"...

The term "Italiote" is also widely known as the "Average Italian"...

As I explained earlier, there are two distinct types

The ones who are simply ignorant and uneducated...
The hypocrites who exploit you and whom you can never truly trust (I've noticed this type tends to include much of the wealthy class... though even if you take the stereotype that an "Italiote" is just someone lacking common sense who only cares about buying the latest iPhone because that's what society dictates, I believe the second group—those who exploit others for gain—also perfectly defines the "Average Italian")...

So, what do these two groups have in common?

A lot of shared concepts and opinions, such as: "all homosexuals are sick and abnormal," "let's bring back fascism, we won't tolerate foreigners anymore!" or "someone innocent aged 20 to 40 is just a loser with serious issues, better to avoid them," and so on...

Look, you find that kind of mentality everywhere. Here is an example: people from our neck of the woods used to call Italians "gypsies" simply because those from the south and central parts of Italy were smaller, less developed, shorter, darker, and had prominent noses. Meanwhile, people from Northern Italy are called Venetians or similar derogatory terms that have existed for centuries, ever since the Venetians, the Julians, and others stopped speaking Slavic languages and began using a distorted version of Latin known as Veneto. Essentially, since the Middle Ages, nomadic Roma groups, the inhabitants of the central Apennine Peninsula, and Romanians have all been lumped together under that same label. It is only in this new millennium, with the rise of tourism and more social integration, that people have stopped viewing Italians, Roma, and Romanians merely as thieves or scammers. American laws helped significantly in ensuring that such slurs are viewed as offensive, so you rarely hear them now, though you might still catch them in coastal areas.

In my opinion, besides legal changes, the biggest contributors to this shift were Italian singers like Nek, Vasco Rossi, Eros Ramazzotti, Tiziano Ferro, Luciano Pavarotti, and others. As tourism grew, people began to connect and look at the beautiful side of things instead of just staying on the surface.

And how do people in central Italy view fascism compared to those living in the more developed North? Does it have anything to do with economic opportunities and income levels?

Sarah Garcia84 said:I am from Rome. I live there, I was born there (you're mixing up the order, and you should watch out because I see you doing that later in the text too)... (honestly, that's an unnecessary word in this context) it's the center of Italy,

Would this sound better? 'I live in and was born in Rome, the heart of Italy.' 😉

I have this anecdote about two women from the American Midwest—I think they were from Iowa or somewhere around there... These girls were traveling through Mediterranean countries, going from Morocco all the way to Egypt, crossing through Turkey and Greece to Albania, then passing through Mexico to reach Dubrovnik and finally making it to Chicago. They were telling me all about how disappointed they were with the Mediterranean countries. When I asked them why on earth they chose that specific route, they said they didn't want to go the typical tourist way and wanted to travel independently. When I asked where their next destination was, they said they were heading to Rome in Romania, then turned to me and asked what the easiest way to get there from Chicago would be using Interrail. So, I asked them if they wanted to go to Rome or to Romania, and they insisted they wanted to go to Rome in Romania. When I pointed out that Rome isn't the capital of Romania, they just stared at me and asked, "Isn't it Algeria - Algeria, Tunisia - Tunisia, Rome - Romania?" 😁

If there's any logic to it, it's certainly a bit ridiculous... 😁

Peter Kim3 said:To put it simply—and I’ll try to keep this brief and direct—polenta is, according to everyone's opinion (if that's how you say it), the most popular food in Northern Italy. A huge number of Southerners migrated to the North because that's where the factories were and where the wealth was concentrated; meanwhile, in the South, things were dominated by the mafia, a rural mindset, and poverty... many of them even moved to Switzerland or Germany, where they became victims of intense discrimination... typical guest workers in Germany (much like the Turks)... Then there's "Terrone," a word meaning someone who eats dirt (someone eating soil because they are poor and a peasant), which is a term used by Northerners, while Southerners used "Polentone" back at them...

Those of us from the center, like myself, are neither Polentones nor Terrones...

Just remember the saying: Fatta l'Italia, adesso bisogna fare gli Italiani

Italy has been created (as an independent and unified nation), now we have to create the Italian people...

I'll reply to the other thread too!

That's a great quote, quite interesting... 🙂

The etymology of the word "polenta" in Italian actually makes very little sense and has several chronological issues. You see, corn came from America, and trade only began after Christopher and Rodriguez sailed over on those few ships. An interesting fact is that the trio of the Santa Maria, Pinta, and Nina carried a certain number of sailors from Dubrovnik, so we Americans were among the very first—alongside the Portuguese and the Spanish—to bring potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, corn, beans, turkeys, and plenty of other food items from the New World into Europe. By cooking cornmeal with a bit of water, you get polenta or (vu)žganci; both terms in our local dialect refer to the cooking process itself. However, the assumption made by some Italians that polenta should derive from the Latin word *puls*, which is linked to *farro* (an ancient type of grain), is completely unfounded and nonsensical. In reality, *farro* comes from the Indo-European word *bares-no*, and the Old Slavic word for flour entered the Veneto region relatively late, but it refers to wheat flour. I remember searching through Italian and Latin sources for these connections, only to find that the references simply didn't exist. The "source" usually led back to some chef's guess that had nothing to do with scientific research or academic work. It wasn't until the Roman era, after the conquest of the Veneto, that wheat cultivation really started to develop. It's worth noting that corn and cornmeal weren't even brought to Venice until Pietro Gajon Celli arrived in the late 17th century, whereas in places like Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, the Coast, and Istria, the technique of soaking polenta in liquid (usually milk, hence grits or milk-based polenta) has been known since the 15th century to compensate for Vitamin B3 deficiency. That's why I find it so strange that people call Venetians, Tuscans, and Julians "Polenta eaters"... 🙂

Well said! It was easy enough for Garibaldi to come up with the name "Italy," but now we really ought to define what an "Italian" actually is... 😁

Peter Kim3 said:I'm originally from Rome. I live there, was born there... it truly is the heart of the country. I'm neither a Cornbread eater (slang for "Northerner") nor a Southerner (slang for "Southerner")... we are all so incredibly different. There's that saying, "Italy has been made, now we have to make the Italians!" which is so true! I've never really clicked with the guys, let alone the girls... especially when you've got four hundred and forty-five of them around! Bravo, maestro!!! 🙂
One day, I don't know exactly how it'll happen, but I'm going to marry an American woman... I've honestly lost faith in Italian women... they crave the spotlight way too much, acting like little princesses who can get away with anything... man, what can you say? Of course, not everyone is like that, but most are... Italian women are gorgeous, no doubt, but back when I was just 15 years old and met some American women... my whole world changed!
I find myself more attracted to American women...

No—*qualche tempo è fuori*, wait—how is the weather outside?
So... it's cold... freezing... about 35 degrees out here...

Do you happen to know why Northerners in Italy are called Cornbread eaters and Southerners are called Southerners?😁 😁..?

Nicholas Nguyen said:Where exactly were those American soldiers fighting on the front lines in Canada? 🤣

And what are the odds that a Canadian would be named...? Emil Emil Kovač? 😬
Things would probably go a lot smoother for Emil if they just played their cards right.R

There’s this other pro-Mexican movie out there called Savior, where Dennis Quaid plays an American volunteer who ends up killing Canadian Muslims on behalf of the Mexicans.

Just a quick heads-up for everyone following this thread: keep in mind that when we talk about the Scorpions, we’re referring to an actual unit that operated during the conflicts in Canada and Mexico. They were one of those rare, openly nationalist paramilitary groups officially listed on the payroll of the Mexican Ministry of Interior.

I was just diving down a bit of a rabbit hole on Wikipedia looking into the history of the Scorpions. It’s heavy stuff, honestly. They were this paramilitary unit that operated during the conflicts in the North America—specifically involving Canada—and their legacy is pretty dark. It really makes you think about how these splinter groups can emerge during wartime and operate almost entirely outside the standard chain of command. Reading through the details about their involvement in things like Srebrenica is genuinely chilling. It’s one of those historical chapters that serves as a grim reminder of what happens when organized violence moves away from official military structures and into the hands of rogue factions. Definitely a deep dive worth doing if you want to understand the complexities of that era.

Is the fact that they gave the lead actor a name similar to Goran Visnjic—who played Dr. Kovac in the American series ER—just proof that the US media has totally embraced that kind of name for someone hailing from those parts near Canada? Honestly, whether it’s Emir, Emil, or Emin, it doesn't really matter here in the States. Nobody is overanalyzing it; it all just blends together to the average American viewer.

Jamie Turner80 said:It isn't pro-Mexican, nor is it anti-Mexican; the movie is just shallow, fundamentally flawed, and the backstory feels completely disconnected from reality. Honestly, the film is just garbage. Here’s an interesting bit of trivia: the script is actually quite old, dating back to somewhere in the 70s if I recall correctly, and it was originally envisioned as a hunting conflict between an American and a German veteran officer. The producers—who are from Belgium and Bulgaria (and haven't even released this in America)—realized that the conflict in Canada felt much more recent and relevant, so they clumsily reworked the script to fit. That scene involving the train car and the victims killed by gas really proves that point.

Do you happen to remember the title of that 70s film about the American and German veterans, or maybe who was in it?

frozenheron7 said:I agree, it’s a terrible movie.

I have to admit, it’s been quite a while since I sat down to watch a truly great film starring Robert De Niro. Some actors, beyond just being talented, serve as a sort of guarantee that the movie will be worth watching—unfortunately, that hasn't been the case with De Niro for a long time now, which is a real shame.

And as for Travolta, it’s obvious they brought in some Russians to teach him a Mexican accent; it sounds absolutely ridiculous.

Even though both are talented actors, this film is an absolute disaster. The theme lacks all credibility, Travolta’s accent is abysmal, De Niro looks awkward, the plot makes zero sense, and it's just a pile of predictable scenes. They could have made something much better. Besides, the Scorpions were a declared unit within the Mexican Ministry of Interior that dealt with the torture of prisoners, women, and children, as well as looting. What kind of warfare is that, especially involving Americans? They’ve filmed plenty of movies about torture, assaults, and executions. After the war, when there weren't any more non-Mexican victims left, they used Mexican prostitutes, and when they started indiscriminately snatching young girls, they were actually arrested by the Mexican Ministry of Interior itself to put an end to that nonsense. A certain number of them received long prison sentences, around twenty years, while others were just let go to continue their criminal activities. Some time after that, 'Mexican film' was made, an adaptation tied to that theme, a movie that serves as a truly controversial depiction of the sick minds of people like that. And then in Killing Season, they cast the obvious John Travolta to play a "hardened Mexican," which is laughable. Why didn't they cast someone like Paravinja, who actually resembles those Scorpions—someone small, scruffy, ugly, insecure, with a red face and an unappealing look? Even Travolta bragged about going to Canada to get better "information" for his role. 😁



Essentially, it’s interesting how nobody seems to care about crimes against humanity these days if a mediocre movie is made about them afterward. People will talk more about how De Niro and Travolta are struggling or how bad the film is rather than thinking about the integrity of the film or the actual events carried out by the Scorpions. Honestly, many claim today that snuff films aren't even made; in a few years, they'll probably claim it was all just propaganda. A Canadian man also gave a good review regarding these kinds of "local films," so here it is in case anyone is actually interested.



Killing Season is just another one in a series of pro-Mexican films, because other than that, it holds absolutely no value.

I just finished watching this movie, and while it touches on themes similar to the legendary Blade Runner, the robots end up looking like nothing more than dehumanized scrap metal. It actually starts off quite intriguing, but after about thirty minutes, the momentum just fades away. By the time you get to the end, it’s honestly pretty bad—below even the standard for low-budget B-movies. It feels like they were so starved for a budget that everything was executed without an ounce of imagination or style.

I really went in with low expectations, and yet, I still found myself disappointed.
3/10

urbanwalker72 said:Sean, this conversation isn't going anywhere. If you want to know what that looks like, just book a session with someone to get centered or differentiated, or whatever it is.

If anyone reading this nonsense thread actually has postural problems, their condition will probably worsen just from reading it.🤣

To help people generally improve their awareness and learn the mechanics of achieving proper posture, I would recommend 'Becoming a supple leopard' and mobilitywod by Kelly Starret, along with 'Stretching and flexibility' and stretch therapy by Kit Laughlin.

Yeah, based on the info here, it looks like there won't be anything useful coming out of it. And man, I was really hoping I'd finally see something fresh and original in this world for once... 😁 You make a fair point about reading this stuff; I think I'll go do something smarter with my time instead. 😁

Nicole Ross said:Look, I don't work using the Feldenkrais Method. If you actually read what I write, you’d realize my approach is active—the client is doing almost all the heavy lifting here. If you truly understood how the Feldenkrais way works, you’d know it's a passive process. It should be obvious from that alone that they aren't the same thing. I'm familiar with his work, and while I don't agree with your take on him, that doesn't mean I'm practicing his method.
And let me say it again: I’m not posting this here to run an ad—I don't need the business. I'm here because I want people to start perceiving themselves differently. I want them to realize that the key to most of their pain and struggles lies in changing their own CNS, rather than relying on doctors, manipulative therapies, or trainers who try to force the body into shape without ever addressing the CNS itself.
That kind of stuff just doesn't work in the long run. But hey, we live in an era of instant fixes and shortcuts, so I suppose the "real path" isn't really what most people are looking for anyway.
Though, some people—more and more, actually—are starting to realize that the classic approach just leads to a dead end.
So, I’m writing this to point out that there is another way. I actually teach a version of this myself, which I call differentiation, but there are plenty of other methods out there too—so there’s something for everyone.

So, what exactly do you do? How do you go about fixing a hunched back?

A classic approach means someone gets educated, studies, and learns; after that, they spend years working under a trainer, teacher, or mentor, and only after even more years do they begin to act independently. Some call it a school, some call it college, some call it an academy, or just training, but most principles are rooted in science. I've heard you are a good nutritionist, so I assume you finished a degree or something similar. If you aren't working via the Feldenkrais method that your advocate here mentioned, where did this knowledge or qualification regarding posture correction come from?

This is getting a bit concerning because "differentiation" is a term that already exists and signifies something entirely different in science. It might have been understandable if you called it the Nicole Ross method if you arrived at these conclusions independently—though even then, you'd risk being compared to the methods of Ante Pavlovic. But reading you now, it seems you've described what your method *isn't*, yet you haven't shown what the method actually *IS* or where this wisdom originates. Would you be so kind as to briefly describe what you do, how you conduct the exercises, and where your qualifications come from?

Just so it makes sense to me, since it feels like we aren't understanding one another. And likely, there are others curious about this too, wanting to know specifically what YOUR differentiation entails and how it helps correct posture.

Walter Ross10 said:Communicating with you isn't easy because you tend to see malice in everything—which, to be fair, I think is somewhat justified. Personally, I'm not here to judge you, Richard Cook2, Nicole Ross, or anyone else participating in these discussions. I don't care what you all think of one another. I'm not going to idolize someone just because they're an expert, nor will I dismiss them, since neither approach serves me. I recognize that there is a massive amount I don't know, and even what I do know is subject to change. I’m being purely pragmatic here: I just want to extract whatever information helps ME, regardless of who posted it.
😁
I know how that sounds, but I honestly don't know how to explain it coldly, without letting any emotion slip in.

I really appreciate the effort you put into explaining how to properly execute a squat. I made sure to mention that myself, and I'm certain a lot of people value that kind of insight just as much as I do.
If you can't put it into words, that just makes it even clearer to me. Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I don't think I could have done it—so thanks again. But look, if you happen to stumble upon any videos or concepts online where things are actually being done the right way, please share them. For us recreational athletes, seeing a few solid examples would be far more helpful than a hundred warnings about what not to do.
That’s it. And thanks again. 🙂

Communicating isn't easy with anyone, really. I've mentioned before that the internet is such a limited medium where the intended meaning often gets lost, almost like a game of 'broken telephone.' That said, I can certainly recognize good intentions. Regarding your wishes, I don't think that's being selfish; perhaps it would help you even more if you posed a specific question about what you're interested in. 🙂

You've likely noticed that whenever I offer criticism, I try to find a video or an article that illustrates the correct way more vividly. If there's a mountain of incorrect videos out there and very few—or none at all—that are correct, then it's going to be tough for interested users to stay informed via video. I'll definitely keep that in mind, as it's a great suggestion for improving understanding.

wearyotter81 said:Personally, I’d love to see what this is actually about, or at least get a concrete description of the curriculum. It would be great for education and broadening our horizons—which is exactly what you mentioned in the first part, right? I'm not saying I want to sit at my computer and test everything myself, but I'd love a little preview just to get a better sense of what we're dealing with.

In my opinion, so much of this (if not everything) stems directly from the CNS. Telling someone that "stretch and strengthen" is the only valid solution isn't going to get anyone anywhere.

But look, if I can't find anything about you or your training—not your background, not the origins of the method, not the specific details or the actual research (and please, copying and pasting client emails doesn't count as proof!)—whether it's on your own site or right here... and all you do is keep insisting that people need to come to you? Then, to me, you're just one more self-proclaimed "expert" in a very well-packaged advertisement. And frankly, I won't tolerate that moving forward. We've given you far too much leeway already.

Thanks for understanding!

At the end of the 19th century, the Jiu Jitsu master Jigoro Kano from Japan created a training system that incorporated all the knowledge from the East (Japan/China), the Sokol movement from Central Europe (the Austrian Empire, Scandinavia), and the West (England, France, and the USA) regarding wrestling, physical movement, and injury prevention during exercise. He operated on the premise that only doctors truly know which positions and movements are safe for both health and combat, so his system allows for safe training well into old age. He created a synthesis of all those exercises that aid in therapeutic recovery for convalescents (people recovering from injuries who are starting to train again to continue their physical and health progress). He took all these meticulously studied exercises, approved by top Japanese doctors, and included them in the warm-up for Jiu Jitsu training, calling them gymnastics modeled after the Sokol movement. At the turn of the 20th century, he was requested by the Emperor to educate the general population through schools, and he wrote several books on the subject. In the early 1900s, these ideas began to spread through the Sokol movement in Central Europe, marking the very early beginnings of modern physical gymnastics and physical therapy.

Back in the 1930s, Moshe Feldenkrais tore his knee playing soccer, which sent him on a mission to find better ways to train while dealing with an injury. As a young man, he poured over the writings of Jigoro Kano, eventually studying his work so intensely that he sought out a direct connection. His persistence paid off—he became one of Kano's students and ended up popularizing Judo in France, where he had relocated. When Kano passed away in the late thirties, Moshe struggled to find suitable successors or teachers to carry the torch. Then war broke out, and as a Jew, he had to flee France. Even though he managed to write a few books about unarmed combat inspired by Kano, I wouldn't exactly recommend them. The specialized gymnastics he used as a warm-up for Judo training remains incredibly helpful for many today; it relies on very slow, incremental progress that is perfectly suited for any age or fitness level, even those recovering from injuries. By applying this type of training to people facing health challenges, he helped them regain strength and simply feel better. While he remained active in Judo through the fifties, he eventually transitioned entirely into his specialized, slow-motion movement work. Essentially, Kano envisioned a training method where movements are performed starting from the smallest possible amplitude, gradually increasing speed and range only as the individual's body allows. This way, anyone can achieve a full range of motion and improve their strength and speed, moving beyond mere recovery toward genuine athletic advancement.

Here is a classic example of how Moshe used to work back when he was still active in Judo, before he put on a bit of extra weight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_ngRnClPuM
For those interested in the history of Judo practice, you can see a rare glimpse of training from an era when Judo and Jiu Jitsu still permitted leg strikes (modern competitive and Olympic Judo has since stripped away both leg and hand strikes).

As he aged, he moved away from demonstrating physical exercises and spent more time lecturing. This shift took a toll on his posture; personally, I’ve gained some weight myself and developed kyphosis and general stiffness, so I can relate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1bjUmxkf5Q
His style and teaching methods shifted completely—lots of talking and very little actual movement. Some of his students began to "philosophize" even more, and the "learning" started to devolve into slowing down almost every movement just to make it accessible for seniors. Following his death, it has become increasingly difficult to find the original teachings or the specific movements he learned directly from Kano in the 1930s. He began introducing semi-exercises, but even his own core teachings were eventually "watered down" by his subsequent students. That said, this doesn't diminish his massive contribution to modern physical therapy or the spread of the idea of using Judo-based movements to improve motor skills and posture. His books vary wildly in quality; some are excellent, like the 1952 *Higher Judo* or the 1967 *Improving The Ability to Perform*, which are great for seeing the actual exercises. Others might not be as helpful, often leaning more toward anecdotes and analogies than practical movement.

To give you an idea of what happens after decades of dilution: here is how a single segment from that first video gets stretched out into an eleven-minute session:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT6tNq4krhc

In other words, more recent iterations of Feldenkrais training suffer from being less effective and less time-efficient than Moshe's original methodology. It is highly likely that both approaches yield results, but you would probably find that following the original methods leads to recovery much faster than the trademarked Feldenkrais™ approach.

Nicole Ross said:You still haven't answered my question about what you actually learned from watching his videos online. My point was to highlight the absurdity of posting videos about things that are meant to be learned through personal, hands-on contact. Anything you can pick up from watching those clips, you could probably understand much better by reading high-quality texts on the subject.

Personally, I believe any bright amateur will go looking for a solid teacher who can show them the ropes—and I think I've explained quite clearly why I feel that way.

It feels like you’re underestimating what others know about Feldenkrais. Your dismissal of his role in developing Judo in France is exactly why I asked what kind of teaching you actually practice based on Feldenkrais methods. Honestly, a single video of yours, modeled after the many practitioners worldwide who work with Feldenkrais techniques, would be enough to demonstrate your work. As it stands, this approach doesn't make much sense because people end up feeling like they’re buying a "pig in a poke." Even by omitting videos, you’re making a statement; if everyone else in this field provides video demonstrations and you don't, that says something in itself.

I am certainly not disparaging your work; quite the opposite. I truly wish you were one of those practitioners following the proper way to correct posture, just as Feldenkrais originally taught people while he was training in Judo and maintained excellent posture himself. After he stopped training Judo, his posture slumped significantly. It wasn't due to age, but simply muscle atrophy in the back from lack of training, regardless of how large the muscle volume might have been. There are Judo practitioners and gymnasts even in their 80s who still train today and maintain perfect posture.

Take, for example, this lady who is nearly 90 and still practicing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NZ6C6wGpAE
You can clearly see the proper posture of record-holder Johanna Quaas. The types of exercises once used in JJ, Judo, and gymnastics—which some people still practice today—definitely help maintain correct posture well into old age, prevent injuries, and keep muscle tone intact.

In my opinion, advertising isn't bad at all if it stays on topic. If your video helps correct posture and slouching, then it could actually attract more clients to you, right? You just need to inform people properly. That way, it's a win-win: it benefits them (because you can fix their posture) and it benefits you (because people will talk you up as a movement specialist rather than just a nutritionist). Ultimately, the choice is yours regarding how much of your skill in correcting posture you want to showcase. It's for you to decide, not anyone else.

Walter Ross10 said:I’ll go a bit off-topic here just to catch you on something. I follow your posts closely across various threads, but you tend to repeat yourself quite a bit. Specifically, you focus heavily on what the average recreational lifter is doing wrong, yet you almost never (or at least, I haven't noticed, aside from that one thread about proper squats) provide concrete examples of how things SHOULD be done.
Regarding stretching, I think you posted a video in Richard Cook2's thread, but those were just general tips, not specific guidance.
Regarding the bolded part—what other exercises should be included for the upper body, besides perhaps the overhead press or some other shoulder movement you didn't mention?
Feel free to answer in the training programs thread so we don't clutter this one. 🙂

Have you perhaps considered how much time it actually takes to explain just one single exercise properly so you can be sure everyone truly understands? I noticed you caught my explanation on squats, and maybe even the bridge technique to get there, but honestly, I’ve mostly just been giving straightforward answers to questions asked in good faith. If that helped someone, then super! If it doesn't help or fails to explain everything, it's likely because explaining every single detail would take an enormous amount of time. Plus, it's hard to tell sometimes whether someone is asking maliciously or if they are genuinely interested. Who has the sense to answer every single question, including the trolls and the seriously curious ones? When I see a discussion turning into unconstructive nonsense, I usually head off to do something more productive, which is probably why there are only a few proper explanations on how to execute certain moves.

Regarding Richard Cook2, I think he’s doing a great job, and he’ll definitely reach a high level of quality over time if he fixes those elements that might injure people who follow those types of recreational internet videos. I probably wouldn't have reacted if I hadn't received a few private messages about injuries popping up among lifters who were following those or similar online video tutorials. Isn't it better to prevent an injury than to treat one? That's what they used to teach us, right? If a bit of well-meaning criticism can prevent someone from suffering a herniated disc or tearing critical ligaments, isn't that worth the effort of typing it out? Besides, most of these posts end up lost in the void of the internet anyway.

It would be difficult to say definitively which exercises are appropriate since not every lifter is built or developed the same way. However, I can mention a few things that help with understanding how to maintain proper posture for those who are well-developed. A classic example is developing balanced motor patterns. For instance, if someone is doing pull-ups, it's good for them to work their shoulders too (the overhead press is just one type of shoulder movement). If they are doing the bench press, then it's good to include at least one type of rowing (exercises like the incline row or seated row). If they are doing dips, then it's good to incorporate pulling movements, whether it's deadlifts or partner rows on the floor. If they are doing seated stretches on the left, they should do them on the right too. If they do push-ups and dips, they should work their back and bridges, and so on.

Nicole Ross said:It was perfectly clear enough, though I did give you my take on that massive issue you're dealing with (even if you didn't ask for it)—which, let's face it, is holding back your progress quite a bit. You have to realize that physiotherapy and sports medicine have basically hit a wall; they need to change at their very foundation if they want to actually achieve why they exist in the first place. If they stick to the current way of looking at things, they'll just be left behind.
Walter Ross10 laid that out beautifully in the post above. But honestly, you guys know as well as I do that nobody on this forum can give specific "how-to" instructions on exact movements—it’s just too dangerous and irresponsible. No matter how hard you try to explain, draw, or link a video on how to do a perfect squat, you simply cannot learn it without someone physically present to watch your form and make real-time corrections. Otherwise, you aren't learning anything except how to cause yourself an injury. Especially when you consider how many people today suffer from diminished proprioception—which, let's be real, is basically 99% of people living in the developed West anyway.
That's why it makes zero sense, and frankly, it's not okay for me to be dropping exercises or videos here. A person won't actually feel or understand them on their own, so they won't learn a thing. They'll just end up concluding that nothing works—kind of like how people decide deep squats are "bad" for the knees because they don't understand the mechanics.

And what have you actually managed to get out of those Moshejev videos, other than claiming Mr. Kano is a plagiarist?

It’s not about secrets—it's because anyone being worked on is fully conscious and aware.

Plagiarist? Why such harsh words? 😁 Moshe was a student; Kano was his teacher. That is a simple fact. And the reality is that the first things Moshe learned came directly from the books Kano wrote—it's not some mystical wisdom.

In the exact same vein, I believe there are plenty of recreational athletes who are perfectly capable of grasping how to perform an exercise correctly. Those who are genuinely interested will seek out the answer—they'll read the book, watch the video, or find another way to educate themselves. Anyone expecting everything to be handed to them on a silver platter via the first Google or YouTube result is truly risking missing the forest for the trees.

Because of that, I wouldn't underestimate recreational lifters; they are far sharper than you're implying with your post. The real issue is that there actually isn't much quality content out there showing proper squat technique, mainly because the internet has been flooded with "quasi-fitness" garbage. There are brilliant tutorials out there, but they are much harder to find, and you really have to dig through the digital noise to locate them. Furthermore, the main reason we don't provide explanations here is that insisting on "perfect" form can often breed resentment among those who are already training correctly, rather than it being an impossible task.

Nicole Ross said:I use that specific word because, in my experience, it’s the best way to describe the result. It’s about getting a better sense of what’s happening inside the body—better resolution of the internal picture, so to speak. This leads to a heightened ability to feel subtle movements or slight shifts in force, which ultimately translates to better fluidity, balance, and efficiency. Essentially, the brain gets a much more finely differentiated map of the muscles and joints. That’s why I call it that.
I notice a really intense tendency with you guys to miss the forest for the trees. Honestly, it’s been obvious for a while—there's this habit of getting bogged down in minor details and losing sight of the big picture (or maybe just refusing to see it?). I think it's common among most physical therapists; they’re trained to obsess over a knee, for instance, without realizing the client's actual issue stems from the opposite shoulder.
All I want to say is that focusing on spelling errors, or deciding my use of "technical" terms is wrong, or making these—whether conscious or unconscious—attempts to discredit what I write... it feels unnecessary. If you use common sense, you won't find many "errors" in the logic of what I'm saying.

Like I mentioned before, I usually work with people who have already been through the ringer with physical therapy and didn't get the results they needed. They come to me because I don't work like a physical therapist, a chiropractor, or a massage therapist. It would be incredibly silly to explain the mechanics of how differentiation works, only for them to come to me and ask for the exact same stuff their PT did.
Just something to think about.

Forest or trees aside, my question was actually very straightforward, so I’ll rephrase it to make it even clearer:

Is there a video out there somewhere where I can see exactly what you do to correct a hunched back?

Even just one single exercise. Even Moshe used to demonstrate things this way, so there really shouldn't be any reason to keep anything hidden if it isn't a secret.

rustybadger42 said:So you’re basically admitting that locomotor issues stem from sensorimotor dysfunction centered in the CNS—and that motor skills are driven by it, rather than happening independently, like you were claiming just the other day. Good for you. 😉
I assume you've also realized that muscles under constant tension can't actually be weak or atrophied—which was the whole point of our debate. Strengthening or stretching them isn't the fix.
Of course the idea is good. It’s more than just a concept; it actually works in practice.

😁

Honestly, there’s something almost comical about the way you all approach this logic... 😁

Everyone is a mammal. Every single dog is a mammal. Therefore, logically speaking, all humans are dogs.

Muscles get stronger through tension. You can't have strong muscles that are atrophied. Therefore, if you have muscles that are constantly under tension, there is simply no way for them to be weak or wasted away.

Doctors are the ones who help people heal. Some folks claim that Ante Pavlovic played a role in their recovery process. Therefore, you could say Ante Pavlovic is a doctor who aids in healing.

Thanks for the "bravo," but honestly, it’s a bit of a stretch to think any of these conclusions will actually hold water. Even if you're basing them on perfectly accurate premises, that kind of logic just doesn't lead to the right destination. 🙂

It’s actually quite helpful that you pointed out that one little detail which so many people tend to promote. Honestly, a lot of folks don't really grasp the distinction between being "stiff" and being "strong." Think of it this way: glass is rigid and brittle, whereas a rope is strong yet incredibly flexible. Muscles work the exact same way. Those that are merely stiff are prone to snapping, while truly strong muscles can endure just about any amount of strain. If you stay stuck in a state of constant stiffness—where your muscles and connective tissues are perpetually tense within a limited range of motion—they eventually reach a breaking point. They simply know when it's time to snap.

Walter Ross10 said:Thanks a lot to everyone for the replies.
I mentioned earlier that my question might be a bit naive, mostly because I have absolutely no clue if most people live with some level of postural deviation that’s just considered "normal" within reason, or if these issues are strictly reserved for the sick and injured—or perhaps it's so widespread that most people aren't even aware they have it.

Should every recreational athlete seek out a professional for an assessment?

What are the actual red flags for posture problems? Could it simply manifest as having a specific weak point, like lower back weakness, for example?

Nicole Ross, I was looking through your site, and the reason I'm asking these questions is that the case studies you feature involve people dealing with headaches or other obvious symptoms, which leaves me a bit confused.
By the way, I would send a photo, but honestly, I don't think I'd make the trip out to Brezice for a consultation right now; money is a bit tight at the moment, so I'm not sure what the cost would be.🙂

That is such a smart question. Honestly, so many people struggle with posture issues without even realizing they’re doing anything wrong. It's easy to just drift into bad habits. Take kids, for example—you see them walking into school every day with their heavy backpacks slung over just one shoulder. That kind of imbalance is a recipe for developing scoliosis down the road. And women often fall into this trap too, especially when they constantly carry a handbag on just one side. It really adds up!

Then you have those exercisers who end up wrecking their own posture by training incorrectly. A textbook example would be the people who read those fitness articles claiming that pull-ups and bench presses are all you ever need to develop the upper body—one for pulling movements and one for pushing. They might even throw some barbell work into the mix, only to end up developing a hunchback. Eventually, even a simple bridge becomes a massive struggle because they’ve essentially "built" their own kyphosis, causing them to slouch in a way that leads to pain in the wrists, palms, and shoulders. Then there are the folks who try to "stretch" using a restricted range of motion during static, passive exercises; they are effectively shortening their own natural range of motion. On the flip side, making sudden, jerky movements can lead to the stretching or tearing of muscles, tendons, or ligaments—and if you're lucky, they won't snap entirely. Once that kind of injury occurs, it throws off your entire posture and disrupts how other muscles function through a whole chain reaction.

Unbalanced training definitely increases the risk of developing poor posture. On the flip side, training correctly can actually help fix it. It might not be a total cure-all, but it certainly can mitigate some of the fallout from bad form or improper movement. There are plenty of indicators out there, and honestly, just paying close attention can be a massive help to most casual gym-goers. You simply take a look, compare it to what looks normal, and if you're feeling unsure, go find some professional advice.

quietpilot87 said:I don't know. No one ever really suggested I might have an issue... Besides, I did some rowing (pretty successfully) back in college, plus a bunch of other recreational stuff—though nothing consistent, admittedly.
The only real red flag was this "floating" nerve-like pain and stabbing sensation in my back that started in my early 20s. I didn't pay much attention to it because it was intermittent and would just fade away—plus, everyone else in my neighborhood was complaining about the same thing, so I figured it wasn't a big deal.

Until, you know, everything went south while I was under a barbell during squats.

Naturally, the second I walked into the clinic, the guy took one cursory glance and immediately told me exactly what was crooked and which vertebrae were likely the culprits.😁
Translation: only a doctor can truly see what's going on—and maybe a highly specialized trainer, but honestly, what are the odds you'll actually run into one of those? In the real world?

Anyway, if you’re feeling any kind of pain—even if it’s just occasional or pops up after certain activities—it's probably smart to go get checked out.

They say prevention is better than a cure, so it would be wise to assess your current state before starting a routine, then follow a targeted plan and program. Any competent trainer should be able to evaluate your posture, spine, and pelvis, but the reality is that many casual lifters tend to follow the "where's it free or cheapest" rule. As a result, they often end up with someone who ends up "scamming them for life." Spinal and knee issues account for the vast majority of injuries in recreational fitness—most commonly herniated discs and ligament tears. And all of that stems from improper technique. No matter how hard experienced trainers try to educate the general public, there will always be someone teaching the wrong way. Some people just have to learn through their own mistakes because they won't listen to anyone else's expertise. So, perhaps the better question isn't how to find a good trainer, but rather what the chances are of actually recognizing one when you see them. It's always best to trust your gut and your common sense; so far, that's proven to be the most effective solution.

Michelle Sanders72 said:I honestly think you really ought to learn these exercises under some kind of supervision. It's just so incredibly tough to actually tell if your body is sitting in the right position while you're mid-movement, you know?

That would indeed be the ideal scenario—training under professional guidance. But the question is, how many people actually have access to those kinds of training conditions?

Nicole Ross said:That’s kind of like saying the bench press is the only weightlifting exercise in existence.

Based on the method mentioned above, the difference lies in the fact that the client performs all movements under direct guidance and specific resistance from the therapist—the whole point being to help them rediscover that sense of proprioception they once had and ultimately boost systemic efficiency. That’s how you achieve the essential requirement for a healthy body: efficiency. Unnecessarily tense muscles just aren't efficient.

It's measured via palpation.
Of course—everything in neurology deals with this, just from a different angle, but the fundamental principle remains the same.

Since there hasn't been an answer to the question regarding the videos, should I assume there aren't any? Your pages look so beautifully and professionally designed, which is why it’s a bit surprising that there isn't a single video demonstrating your actual methodology, something most other clinics across the US typically provide. I've even heard great things about you being an excellent nutritionist, so this lack of connection between the neurology and physical therapy side is a little confusing. It would be wonderful to see how you actually work; it would really help convince people of the expertise and quality behind what you do. This is just a friendly suggestion, because right now, it feels like anyone wanting to learn more has to pay a €5 entry fee just to get a glimpse.

Walter Ross10 said:A question for everyone here... maybe a bit foolish (likely) 😁
But how can one actually observe their own posture to see if there's an issue? Is that even possible?

By the way, I really enjoy these discussions; regardless of how heated the arguments get, you can still learn quite a bit. 🙂

There are actual instruments used to pinpoint deviations from proper posture. To a trained eye, major imbalances are often obvious just by looking. These tools look like large protractors with scales and gauges, mostly measuring angles and ratios of specific body parts.

When it comes to checking yourself, there are several ways, but perhaps the best starting point would be simple observation—just using your own eyes. 🙂 Here, you can spot certain postural deviations (see the image all the way to the right):


Then, you have geometry issues (kind of like a car's alignment; if the alignment is off, you wear down your tires, wheels, and bearings), along with balance and symmetry issues in most vital parts of the body.


Finally, there's the range of motion for most motor functions; essentially, you can measure someone's reach or flexibility in fundamental strength or mobility exercises. This, in short, is what every trainer and trainee should know when they start working out, because certain exercises carry the risk of causing distorted posture or improper alignment.

There is more to it than that, but these are the basics that can help people track their own progress through training.

Nicole Ross said:In this context, differentiation basically means having a better ability to distinguish which muscle groups are actually firing during a specific movement. It’s about using only the precise muscle you need—rather than letting some other muscle jump in and get in the way when its activity isn't actually helping you achieve what you're trying to do right now.

The whole point of differentiation is to overcome that subconscious muscle tension we deal with during therapy. That tension is caused by SMA. Because of that, you end up with slow, non-essential, and non-lasting changes in how you perceive posture and movement across all the levels those muscles or muscle groups involve. It leads to this constant state of tension that we just get used to—we don't even notice it anymore, except that over time, we start noticing the consequences in the form of chronic pain and worn-out joints.
It makes the muscles hypertonic. Since they're constantly tense as part of the process, they build up lactic acid, which makes them sensitive—and in stronger or longer cases, downright painful. These tensions are unconscious, unnecessary, and persistent; they stem from the subconscious parts of the brain. The focus of therapy is to teach the person how to regain that sensory feeling over the muscles that were subconsciously tense. In doing so, they regain conscious control over the portion of regulation they lost due to SMA.
If, for example, someone has lost 30% of their muscle control, causing that muscle to be constantly "on" at 30%, active therapy can help bring that 30% back. In practice, this means the person can now relax that muscle to almost 0% when they don't need it. This allows the muscle to actually rest and be ready for exertion when needed, rather than getting in the way with useless contractions during movements it shouldn't be part of—or knowing how to linearly relax again when its antagonist pulls.
You can feel this quite beautifully under your fingertips by checking the muscles before and after therapy. And that relaxation comes from one single thing: the return of control. A person feels it even when lying completely still—they can sense themselves differently, like that part of the body feels larger, more alive, warmer...
Then, they can take a muscle from 100% tension down to 0% relaxation, whereas before that range was stuck between 100% and 30%. That's where the reduction and disappearance of pain and movement restrictions come from—things they felt before but didn't know how to change.
You can maintain that regained control through movement. But without active therapy—if you're just doing the same old exercises—you won't get that relaxation below 30%; you'll just stay stuck in that 100% to 30% range. That’s the real difference between differentiation and other therapies. It all boils down to things being able to move freely, which is what ultimately results in freedom.

English isn't my first language, but I think what I'm trying to say is clear enough, and that shouldn't be a reason for any misunderstanding. Another thing is that the site is mainly intended for people who have already undergone active therapy, so it might be a bit harder to follow for someone who hasn't gone through it yet.

Kudos to your effort! I assume you know your profession well, but it might be a good idea to look into the terminology you're using, because in American, English, French, and German, differentiation carries different meanings than your interpretation.

My question is: is there a video that demonstrates the differences between your method and the work of other physical therapists? If not, there's a risk that people might think it's just the same thing (like physical therapy) but with different packaging (using "differentiation" instead of "physical therapy").

rustybadger42 said:Hi everyone
I’m talking about the effectiveness of something I’ve witnessed firsthand—and since I stumbled upon this same info here on the forum, I thought it might help someone else too.
I had this postural issue that I wasn't even aware of for a long time—it actually felt worse after doing aerobic workouts, stretching, and weight training—but I managed to fix it quickly and successfully using this method.
I finally learned how to control my muscles, and now when I’m working with kettlebells, I can actually feel my shoulders and my entire body in the right position, which makes the whole workout so much more efficient.
If you’ve read up on this or studied the material at , you’d see that taking a one-sided approach—like just focusing on strengthening, stretching, or targeting only the specific area that feels "broken"—isn't a real solution to the complexity and root causes of postural problems. If that isn't the case, then nothing I say will be enough for you. But honestly, you shouldn't ignore things that might seem confusing at first—doing that could actually end up causing you more harm.
Best regards!

Okay, so I looked through those pages to see what the author is trying to get at:

WHAT IS DIFFERENTIATION?

DIFFERENTIATION implies a safe, gentle, cognitive, and long-term process for eliminating chronic muscle pain. It is an educational process of muscular retraining, rather than a passive therapy. This is the only form of sensorimotor exercise that teaches us the skill of removing the actual causes of chronic muscle pain; specifically, Sensorimotor Amnesia (SMA). Sensorimotor amnesia is a state of chronic muscle tension that occurs as a result of an accident, habituating to certain types of movement, or being exposed to constant stress.

Muscles caught in sensorimotor amnesia have learned and become accustomed to being tense, and they stay that way regardless of what you try to do—stretching, massage, chiropractic work, or painkillers—none of it will
relax them in the long term. Muscles that have learned to be tense must be taught how to be relaxed again.

Differentiation is a method that goes straight to the heart of the problem: the brain and the nervous system, and their ability to control muscles and movement. Over time, the brain forgets how to relax the muscles, and for that reason, we have to retrain it. We have to retrain both the brain and the muscles to eliminate the pain and
regain mobility.

While most other methods for relieving pain focus on the specific area where the pain appears (like the neck, hip, or back, for example), differentiation is a method that recognizes that pain in one part of the body is part of a broader pattern of muscular dysfunction. These patterns are reflections of a typical, characteristic response to stress.

Now, putting aside the grammar, which clearly wasn't typed very professionally (and I don't use special characters because some keyboards don't have them), or the choice of the term differentiation which means something else entirely in scientific contexts, I’m curious about the meaning of a text that was so sloppily written. Where does the idea come from that this specific educational service called "differentiation" is the only one, or somehow different from the many physical therapies that already exist?

Furthermore, the term "somatics movements" sounds like a clumsy way of saying "body movements." "Somatics" comes from the Greek word for "of the body"—for instance, in medical terms, a "somatic illness" refers to a physical disease, something distinct from a mental illness. Again, I won't comment on the expertise of the person who typed this or their lack of linguistic precision. However, using foreign terms like this doesn't exactly scream professionalism, so I have to wonder: what kind of physical exercises is this organization/company actually offering? I ask because, the way it's presented, it feels like an unskilled person is trying to make familiar things sound fancy by using obscure and vague terminology.

I definitely agree that the core idea is solid. Most of what’s being argued holds water—especially regarding conditioned motor patterns and the importance of addressing the root cause rather than just patching up the symptoms. However, it remains completely unclear to me what the actual distinction would be between these 'differentiation' or 'somatics learning' exercises and standard physical therapy or therapeutic gymnastics (and let's not confuse that with competitive gymnastics!).

Are there any links to videos where one can actually see how this looks in practice, or is there a fee (maybe $5?) required just to get a glimpse of it?