There are only so many hours you can spend on a stationary bike before you’re ready to swear off spin entirely. And don’t even get us started on our park’s monotonous running path. Sometimes you need a change of pace. Good news, we’ve got 10.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Estelle Harford.
Estelle is an accomplished and nationally recognized wellness consultant with a multi-faceted approach that began with her work as a personal trainer. Dedicating herself to increasing the strength and dexterity of her clients in a gym setting, Estelle increasingly witnessed the pain they were in due to muscular tension and imbalances. With the goal of alleviating the limitations she observed in her clients, Estelle sought out a method that would facilitate the efficient, healthy and effortless movement she and her clients desired. She found exactly what she was looking for in the discipline of Ki-Hara. What Estelle discovered is a revolutionary technique that utilizes a person’s own resistance in the strengthening and elongating of muscles. Through assisted sessions Estelle helps you develop flexibility, increase range of motion and offers strength training and core focus all in one session. One of only 30 Ki-Hara Master Trainers globally.
Estelle also completed the rigorous and esteemed training to become a John F. Barnes Myofascial Release practitioner. Estelle and Stellar Strength and Wellness has been described nationally in the Huffington Post as one of “The Ten New Workouts You Need to Try.” Her work has been praised on “PURE WOW”, because “it doesn’t involve equipment, is only as hard as you want it to be and helps your body feel healthier and move better. As ‘Chicago’s Stretch Therapist’, Estelle has been featured in “Chicago Social” magazine multiple times, and Modern Luxury. She has shared her expertise with the local community on ABC7 HealthBeat Chicago.
Estelle has recently opened a studio in Atlanta, Georgia and has already been listed by “The Atlantan,” as one of its city’s “Dynanic Women.” Estelle is passionate about helping people live pain free, active, healthy lives.
Has it been a smooth road?
My path is definitely not a traditional one. It has been filled with many bumps. It has been well worth it. What I do is very rare and not well known yet. My challenge is to educate people about what I do and how I can holistically help them rebalance and strengthen their body. It’s taken over a decade of hard work. I feel very fortunate to have something I am extremely passionate about.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Stellar Strength and Wellness story. Tell us more about the business.
Stellar Strength was founded on the principle that everybody is unique. I pull from my years of experience to help remove painful layers of tension and help restore strength, flexibility, range of motion and balance to your body. I solve muscular imbalances that may have been holding you back. I always listen to my clients and never have an agenda in regards to their path of healing and progress.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I am positive that people will begin to seek more holistic approaches to pain, and healing. I’ve already seen a shift. So many fascial restrictions and limitations can be solved and released without surgery or invasive options. The goal is to find a practitioner that cares and knows how to help you best.
Pricing:
Contact Info:
Image Credit:
Wil Byington Photography
John Harford
Estelle Harford
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Estelle Harford of Stellar Strength and Wellness has recently relocated to the Atlanta area from Chicago. She is a Movement Therapist and helps her clients eliminate pain, increase flexibility, range of motion, muscle tone and strength. Estelle is a Ki-Hara Resistance Stretching Master Trainer and a John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Therapist. Estelle is the only Ki-Hara Master in the entire state of Georgia.
She works closely with clients on a one on one basis and helps those with acute as well as chronic injuries. She has the ability to determine which muscles are not firing properly due to injury, stress or weakness; and neuromuscularly reconnects the pathways so your body is able to work as a whole again. Each session is completely customized for you, as every body is different. Resistance flexibility is a wonderful tool Estelle utilizes that works with the eccentric motion of your body. She is able to release painful tension and limitations in your body. Estelle can help you be more active and get more out of the activities you already love to do. She helps clients improve many activities including; tennis, golf, pilates, and yoga.
Estelle helps clients with a range of symptoms, including back, neck, shoulder and knee pain. Please visit www.stellarstrength.com for a more detailed list.
Estelle also offers John F. Barnes Myofascial Release to aid in her clients healing. Fascia is best explained as a 3-dimensional web that interpenetrates everything in your entire body. A high percentage of people experiencing pain or limited range of motion may also be experiencing fascial restrictions or adhesions. If not properly released, the fascia continues to tighten and constrict, eventually affecting many other parts of the body. Bound fascia has the ability to produce 2,000 lbs of pressure per square inch. Releasing this system is extremely important to restore balance and eliminate pain and dysfunction everywhere in the body.
Some of the Benefits of working with Estelle:
Please visit www.stellarstrength.com to learn more or contact Estelle Harford at 630-730-1410. Stellar Strength and Wellness is an Atlanta, GA. based business. Sessions are offered in studio or in the comfort of your own home.
Avocado Caprese Toast
I am always tweaking things and trying to come up with the healthiest versions of food I love. This is a simple, incredible lunch I created last week with healthy ingredients I had on hand. I got so many positive responses, I wanted to share it here for reference. Let me know what you think or how you have changed it to suit your tastes more.
Ingredients:
One small Baguette sliced lengthwise and toasted
Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella, as much as you like or you can omit for a vegan version
One half of a ripe Avocado, smashed
A few sliced Organic Grape Tomatoes
A few fresh Basil leaves
Your favorite Extra Virgin Olive Oil to drizzle
Fresh cracked Black Pepper and Celtic Sea Salt
I toasted the baguette under a broiler first, then put the cheese on and allowed that to get a bit warm and melted.
I smashed the avocado, put the tomatoes and basil on top of it. I drizzled a bit of extra virgin olive oil on top and salt and pepper.
I have yet to meet a golfer that isn’t interested in improving their game. I have an incredible tool that can help you immeasurably, and I’m almost positive you haven’t even heard of it.
Ki-Hara is a unique method of flexibility and strength training that I use to help golfers improve on an already challenging game. As a Master Trainer, I am able to eliminate pain, increase range of motion and increase strength. By also utilizing John F. Barnes Myofascial Release I am able to increase these gains by working directly with restricted fascia. I am also able to diagnose and correct muscular imbalances and substitutions. Some of which are caused by scar tissue and dense fascia. Unless addressed and corrected, your body will permanently remain in this damaged position.
In golf there are an incredible amount of muscular and joint rotations that you need your body to be able to easily get into in order for you to get the most torque and control in your swing.
To be a successful golfer you need to have upper chest and shoulder flexibility. Your arm must be able to cross enough in front of your body to allow for a proper backswing. The less your arm is able to cross in front of your body the less power and control you will have on the swing. In addition to chest flexibility you need to have enough upper back strength and thoracic flexibility to be able to complete and support this movement. You also need the strength to generate enough force and power to drive the ball as far as possible.
Hip flexor mobility is extremely important in life and even more so in a golf game. I have worked with an incredible amount of people that have extremely tight and restricted hip flexors. These muscles not only allow your body to rotate, they also connect your upper body to your lower body. You need to be able to rotate both halves of the body independently of one another. If you can’t, you run the risk of injuring your low back or knees because those areas will be forced to take the torque your hip flexors are incapable of.
Another important aspect of golf that Ki-Hara can help with is putting. It is important for your upper body and shoulders to work in small movements with complete control. Your shoulders need to move in an independent manner, while your torso stays in a fixed and stable position.
Being able to eliminate accumulated dense fascia through private sessions of Ki-Hara Resistance Stretching and JFB MFR will free your restrictions, help muscles develop properly and allow for the true bio-mechanical efficiency. It will allow your bones to have proper joint rotation and alignment. Therefore creating your best golf game yet.
Estelle Harford is a nationally recognized Ki-Hara Master Trainer and John F Barnes Myofascial Release Therapist. Please call to set up an appointment at 630-730-1410. www.stellarstrength.com , Estelle@stellarstrength.com