SPORTS, FITNESS &SPORTS, FITNESS & 
HEALTHY LIVINGHEALTHY LIVING 
Mountain View News Saturday, January 24, 2026 
1010 
SPORTS, FITNESS &SPORTS, FITNESS & 
HEALTHY LIVINGHEALTHY LIVING 
Mountain View News Saturday, January 24, 2026 
1010 
PELVIC FLOOR BUZZ 

UNLOCK YOUR LIFE 


Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 
professional who offers semi-private/virtual fit-
ness classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit. 
com. Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness 
Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness. 


For years, the message about the pelvic floor was simple: 
if you leak urine, do Kegels. That advice helped some but 
left many confused or in pain. Today, doctors and physical 
therapists are talking about something fitness professionals 
have understood for decades. A muscle can be weak. A 
muscle can be tight. Sometimes, it can be both. The pelvic 
floor is no exception. 

This issue affects far more people than most realize. It is 
not limited to women or older adults. Athletes, weekend 
exercisers, and people who have never stepped into a gym 
can all experience pelvic floor problems. Many notice 
leaking when they cough, laugh, run, or lift. Others feel 
pressure, urgency, pain, or difficulty emptying the bladder 
or bowels. Symptoms often appear in active people who 
brace their bodies during workouts and in older adults who 
hold tension from fear of falling or leaking. 

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles at the bottom of the 
pelvis, forming a supportive sling for the bladder and bowel, and in women, the uterus. These 
muscles play a key role in bladder and bowel control, posture, balance, breathing, and core 
stability. Like all muscles, the pelvic floor must tighten when needed and relax when safe. It must 
also have endurance and move with breathing. Problems start when this balance is lost. 

Pelvic floor issues usually develop slowly over time due to chronic stress, poor breathing, surgery, 
injury, childbirth, or years of holding tension. Many people tighten their pelvic floor without 
realizing it, especially during exercise or lifting. Over time, this constant holding changes how 
the muscles work. 

A tight muscle can feel weak. When a muscle stays tense all day, it becomes shortened and 
tired. It loses its ability to contract strongly and relax fully. This is why some people faithfully doKegels, strengthen their abs and glutes, and still leak, hurt, or feel worse. They are strengthening 
a muscle that never learned to let go. 

Doing the wrong thing for the wrong problem can make symptoms worse. Strengthening 
exercises help a pelvic floor that is weak but able to relax. Strengthening an already tight pelvic 
floor often increases pain, urgency, and dysfunction. This is why pelvic health experts now say 
that if a pelvic floor muscle cannot relax, it should not be strengthened yet. 

Pelvic health physical therapists do not guess. They look at symptoms, breathing patterns, 
posture, and how the hips and core work together. They assess how the pelvic floor feels at rest, 
whether it can relax, and how well it contracts and releases. They determine: can the muscle fully 
relax? If the answer is no, the issue is not just weakness. 

Athletes often experience pelvic floor problems because of over-bracing. Heavy lifting, high-
impact sports, and intense core training can train the body to stay tight. This can lead to leakingduring exercise, pelvic pain, hip and back problems, and reduced performance. Learning how to 
relax the pelvic floor before strengthening it often improves control and power. 

Older adults face a different challenge. With age, many breathe more shallowly, sit more, and 
move with extra tension. Fear of falling or leaking can cause constant guarding. In these cases, 
the goal is not just strength, but control, coordination, and confidence in movement. 

People who worry they may have a tight pelvic floor often notice patterns in their body. They 
may hold their breath during movement, clench their stomach or glutes without meaning 
to, or feel tension in the hips, tailbone, or low back. Bathroom habits can offer clues, such as 
difficulty starting urine, feeling unable to fully empty, or straining despite soft stools. When 
clinicians identify excess pelvic tension, treatment usually focuses on relaxation rather than 
strengthening. This includes breathing retraining, letting the pelvic muscles drop instead of lift,
improving posture and movement habits, gentle hands-on therapy, and reducing unnecessarybracing linked to stress. 

If pelvic floor muscles never learn to relax, they can’t work properly. Strength becomes limited, 
pain and tension persist, and bladder or bowel problems may continue. Even athletes may 
notice reduced core stability and performance, while everyday activities can feel uncomfortable. 
Without relaxation, the pelvic floor is always “on” and never fully functional, making long-term 
strength, comfort, and control much harder to achieve. 

Luckily, most people can regain balance with awareness and consistent practice. Learning to 
breathe, release tension, and move naturally allows the pelvic floor to support strength rather 
than resist it. For anyone dealing with leaks, pressure, or pelvic discomfort, the first step is 
learning to let go. Notice your tension, breathe fully, and allow your muscles to relax, the 
foundation for true strength and comfort. 

ALL THINGS by Jeff Brown 

Fire Survivors Face a Second Disaster-Their Insurance 
Companies By Richard Rieber, Opinion 
Piece in CalMatters Jan 12,2026 
I am an Altadena resident & an aerospace engineer 
at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, but for 
the past year my second full-time job has been 
fighting my insurance company. I am one of thousands 
of Eaton Fire survivors caught in a second 


disaster — not in the canyons, but in the fine print.
After the Eaton and Palisades fires, survivors turned to insurers to help us rebuild. We had paid 
premiums faithfully for decades, exactly for this moment. Instead, we encountered obstruction, 
delay and bureaucracy. Navigating this system has compounded the trauma of losing our 
homes, possessions and communities.
California’s Unfair Insurance Practices Act, enacted in 1959, was designed to prevent precisely 
this kind of misconduct. Yet nearly every fire survivor I know has experienced violations: rotating 
adjusters, ignored emails and phone calls, and missed legal deadlines. Despite widespread 
complaints, there has not been a single public enforcement action related to these fires. California’s 
insurance protections have become a regulatory mirage — visible on paper but absent 
in practice.
One of the most harmful practices is what many survivors call “toxic gaslighting.” Thousands 
of residents downwind of the fires are dealing with smoke and soot contamination, yet insurers 
routinely deny these claims, arguing that smoke does not qualify as fire damage. The soot that 
blanketed our communities contains carcinogens, including lead, asbestos and heavy metals. 
Still, insurers often refuse to pay for the industrial hygienist testing needed to identify these 
hazards. Instead, homeowners are told that a simple vacuuming or wipe-down is sufficient — a 
response that leaves toxic particulates behind and puts families at risk. Some survivors have 
paid thousands of dollars out of pocket for testing, only to have the results ignored.
The Department of Insurance complaint process offers little relief. For most homeowners, filing 
a complaint leads to silence. Only when an overwhelming number of complaints accumulate 
against a single insurer will the department consider a “market conduct examination,” a process 
that can take years and typically concludes long after rebuilding is complete. It provides no 
timely remedy for individual families.
For survivors, time itself becomes a weapon. Additional living expense coverage is meant to pay 
rent while homes are repaired, but in a post-disaster housing market where rents have soared, 
those funds are quickly depleted. Every ignored call and delayed inspection drains that coverage. 
As the money runs out, families face an impossible choice: homelessness or accepting an 

unsafe and unfair settlement. Delay has become a profitable business strategy.
This imbalance is structural. A 1988 California Supreme Court decision stripped consumers of 
the right to sue for violations of the Unfair Insurance Practices Act, leaving enforcement solely 
to the Insurance Commissioner and removing immediate consequences for insurer misconduct.
California must change course. The state should create a streamlined administrative process 
allowing the Department of Insurance to validate complaints and refer them to administrative 
law judges who can adjudicate claims in real time, determine fair payouts, and impose 
significant fines paid directly to the insured. Insurer-caused delays should trigger a “delay tax” 
in the form of additional living-expense payments beyond policy limits. Insurance companies 
deserve due process. But fire survivors deserve the good faith we earned by paying decades of 
premiums. Until noncompliance costs insurers more than delay and denial, Californians will 
continue to be victimized twice — first by disaster, then by their insurers. 

Lori A. Harris 


EMOTIONAL SELF-CARE FOR MOM, 
DAD AND OUR LITTLES: 

Introduction to Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
(Originally published January 2025) 

As we recalibrate 
from the devastation 
of the fires, 
we find ourselves 
searching for ways 

to restore emotional 

balance and resilience. 
In challenging times like these, self-care 
is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. This is true 
for all of us. Seeing the vast destruction of our 
community is impactful for each of us. Navigating 
a loss on such a grand scale is difficult. 
One powerful tool for calming anxious minds 
and fostering emotional well-being is the Emotional 
Freedom Technique (EFT). This method 
isn’t just for adults; it’s simple enough to share 
with children, helping the whole family navigate 
stress together. 

What Is EFT? EFT, or Emotional Freedom 
Technique, is a scientifically backed practice 
combining tapping specific acupressure points 
with an intentional focus on emotional challenges. 
Often described as "emotional acupressure," 
EFT has been shown to help individuals 
recover from stress, anxiety, and trauma, including 
veterans and victims of crime or other life-
altering events.

 Gently tapping on designated points stimulates 
your body’s energy meridians, releasing 
emotional blockages and promoting relaxation. 
It’s a technique grounded in science that reduces 
cortisol (the stress hormone), alters brain wave 
activity, and encourages emotional balance. 

How to Perform EFT? Here’s a simple guide to 
practicing EFT for emotional relief: 

Identify the Issue: Clearly define the emotion or 
issue you’re experiencing—fear, sadness, anger, 
or survivor’s guilt.
Rate the Intensity: On a scale from 0 to 10, rate 
the intensity of the emotion, with 10 being the 
most severe. 
Setup Phrase: Tap the side of your hand (the “karate 
chop” point) while saying, “Even though I 
feel [emotion], I deeply and completely accept 
myself.” 
Tap the Points: While repeating affirmations like 
“I release and let this go” or “I love and accept 
myself,” gently tap on the following points:

 Top of Head: Center of the scalp. 
Eyebrow: Inner edge, near the bridge of the 

nose. 
Side of Eye: Outer edge of the eye socket. 
Under Eye: Just below the eye. 
Under Nose: Between the upper lip and nose. 

Chin: Center of the chin, just below the lower 

lip.

Collarbone: Just above the collarbone.

 Wrist: Grab the wrist of the tapping hand with 

the opposite hand and gently release the 
wrist. 

Repeat the process, reassessing the intensity of 
the emotion after each round. Many people notice 
a significant reduction in emotional intensity 
within just a few minutes. 

Benefits of EFT Reduce Stress and Anxiety: EFT 
promotes relaxation and helps release pent-up 
tension. 

Enhance Mood and Well-being: Addressing 
emotional blockages fosters a sense of calm and 
happiness. 

Build Self-Confidence: EFT challenges negative 
self-beliefs, empowering you to embrace your 
strengths. 

Strengthen Relationships: Managing emotional 
reactivity improves communication and connection 
with loved ones. 

Sharing EFT With Your Children

Children, like adults, experience emotional ups 
and downs. By teaching them EFT, you provide 
them with a lifelong tool for managing stress and 
building resilience. Engage them in the process 
by explaining it as “magic tapping” that helps 
emotions feel better. Keep the language simple 
and the tone lighthearted, making it a fun and 
comforting activity. 

Moving Forward Together As we move forward 
from our collective challenges, remember that 
healing is a journey. EFT is one of many tools to 
help us and our little ones find peace, strength, 
and balance. In the weeks ahead, I will share additional 
techniques and insights to support your 
family’s emotional well-being. Together, we can 
create a foundation of resilience and hope for 
the future. 

Today, try EFT and involve your children. You 
might be surprised how a few taps can make a 
real difference. 

About the Author: Lori A. Harris is an award-
winning coach and former lawyer who helps people 
live intentionally and authentically. Learn more from 
her on her podcast, Unlock Your Life with Lori Harris, 
available at loriaharris.com and all streamingplatforms. 


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