Aligning With Your Core Values

This year, my wife and I were fortunate enough to escape winter for a week and spend it with our family on the white sandy beaches of Anna Maria Island in Florida. As this was my first trip to that part of Florida, I wasn't sure what to expect but it is an amazing area that has a fair amount of retired people visiting or spending the winter there. Along the beach you see many people exercising and walking and this is when it became painfully obvious to both my wife and I that many people were trying to make up for years of neglect. This helped clarify a core value for us that if you don't have your health, what do you really have? We saw people that should be enjoying their retirement but were instead now trying to figure out how to be healthy. We are not here to judge by any means, but if health IS one of your top priorities then your daily decisions must be congruent to support your highest values.

Remember that behaviour doesn’t lie. If health is one of your most precious commodities, then it’s time to be congruent. It’s time to start the little things that make a big difference over time. Drink more clean water, get enough rest, get more exercise, eat more organic foods, and discover your passion for life. In our workshops we often tell people how it took us years to develop the habits we now have that are second nature to us. It took time to start the implementation but it only takes a second to DECIDE what you want. In an instant you can decide that health is one of your highest values and that you’re going to start NOW to take better care of yourself so you can enjoy your later years.

We often comment in our writing that many patients come to us once a process has already begun in the body. Most commonly the issue we see is wear and tear type changes in joints. Notice I didn’t say old age. We more commonly see issues in the body that are the result of neglect vs. the normal aging process that occurs in the body. We have seen many x-rays of 40 year olds that look like 60 year olds and vice versa (so we don’t always buy the old age excuse). Most of the time we can help these people lead more active lives and reduce the discomfort in the body. People will often comment that they wish they started our process earlier. If staying active is high on your value list then caring for your body is a must. In different parts of the world where people live long and healthy lives being physically active is one thing they have in common. Your activity level now and in the future may be one of the biggest factors in how quickly you age. Ensuring optimal alignment of the body and proper function of the joints will be vital to minimizing extra wear and tear and will help you create the activity level that can prolong life.

After being in Florida I can’t help but remember my father who passed away from a heart attack while on vacation (in Florida) seven years ago. He himself was a health care practitioner, but not a person with a particularly healthy lifestyle. Instead of fearing potential doom from “bad genes” I choose to take responsibility for how I treat my body NOW. I understand the effect of accumulated stress on the body and feel that this accumulation is what takes the good years away from people. It is not our job to tell people what should be high on their values, but if you do want to be healthy then you’ll need to surround yourself with the right team. Your health is something that requires attention now so you can enjoy the later years. Think about what’s REALLY important to you and take an action step today.

Dr. Jason Plotsky

Controlled Breathing

One of the ways to help balance the body is through proper breathing. There are two parts to the autonomic nervous system: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic.

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the fight or flight response in the body. This was originally designed to help us flee from danger. Now this response is triggered from daily stressors (such as the boss, boyfriend, driving). This stress response circulates stress hormones in the body which over time can become harmful to your health. This response also has a negative impact on the muscles and joints in the body.

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for functions like digestion. Therefore when our body is stuck in the fight or flight response it can also affect things like our digestion. Most people that are caught in this fight or flight response will benefit from deep breathing exercises.

When breathing is focused on the diaphragm it helps fill the lower area of the lungs which can help oxygenate the blood. Breathing from the diaphragm also stimulates parasympathetic nerves which can directly reduce the sympathetic response.

We recommend controlled breathing in cycles of 4 seconds. For example, breathing deeply and slowly for four seconds, hold this breath in for four seconds, release the breath slowly for four seconds and hold it out for four seconds. This is one cycle. Perform 4 cycles three to four times a day and additionally when ever you feel stressed.

When you are breathing properly, if your hand was on your lower abdomen you would feel movement. This will ensure that the breath is coming from the lower abdomen.

This exercise is also helpful for people with neck pain, because it helps reduce stress on the neck muscles that attach to the upper ribs.

Dr. Jason Plotsky