BoomerGirl Diary

Q. I am in fairly decent shape. I stay active and exercise. What does it mean when I hear my bones sometimes "crack" when I do some movements? I do not ever feel pain. Will the exercise help and maybe stop the popping?

A. Exercise is good for both the body and mind, but it probably won't stop the popping. People of all ages and fitness levels experience that popping sound, and it doesn't necessarily indicate any abnormal condition.

Your joints are lubricated with a substance called synovial fluid. It contains nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide gasses. The popping sound is actually bubbles of those gasses escaping when you move your joints. This is normal and nothing to worry about. But people who feel pain at those moments should consult their doctors. They may have arthritic joints due to the loss of cartilage.

Q. I am in a high stress job. I exercise at the gym at work at least three times a week. I try not to bring work home with me but I am always tense and I have trouble sleeping at night. My mind is racing. Warm milk hasn't worked, bubble baths make me more tense and I don't want to take drugs. Any ideas?

Stressed

Dear Stressed,

You are not alone. Stress is one of the main contributors to aging and disease.

It sounds like you have a build-up of stress, so it's important to relieve tension at work as well as when you are trying to fall asleep.

Try this breathing exercise in a seated position and then again as you are lying in bed. It should help relax you and slow down your thoughts. Start with taking a breath and holding it for three seconds and then exhaling. Repeat and hold for 4 seconds and continue each time holding a second longer until you get to 10 seconds. After the last breath, keep your eyes closed and focus on a peaceful memory. A place or time when you felt most relaxed. Stay there as long as you can or at night until you fall asleep.

Send your Moving Free with Mirabai questions to askmirabai@movingfree.com.