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Next Level Yoga Practice

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At 14 years old I was diagnosed with scoliosis during a routine health screening at school. Throughout the years following, mid to low back pain became an ongoing issue. As a hairstylist in my twenties, standing up for hours at a time on a concrete floor with minimal support led to excruciating back pain due to the compression of the spinal vertebrae. It was during this time I realized I needed to find relief.

I began my search for reprieve and natural healing for the pain I tolerated daily. I was unable to lie down, stand or even sit for extended periods of time without experiencing some sort of discomfort. At times my back pain would cause me to wake up from sleeping, unable to find comfort and go back to sleep. During this time I started seeing a chiropractor, however I did not remain consistent with the care. To be honest, I thought it was a scam having to see the chiropractor 2-3 times a week for at least 6 weeks. Keep reading and you’ll see why I was wrong.

While learning about the anatomy and physiology of the human body years later in massage school, I began assessing myself as a patient. This newfound knowledge and awareness guided me to yoga as a way to take control and be proactive in my healing process.

However, although I enjoyed practicing yoga, indoor cycling was my thing at the time. It made me feel good, but after realizing the postural misalignment cycling can cause on the neck, shoulders, and back, I decided to focus more on yoga. With consistent practice, I began to notice results. As I became more aware of the needs of my body, and more in-tune to the subtleties it was communicating to me, I found I really appreciated the feedback my body was providing with each vinyasa, and each breath before, during and after practice. It wasn’t until I fell down several flights of stairs at home, that I began experiencing consistent neck and hip pain. I knew I had whiplash and that my hip pain was injured from the impact as well. The pain was probably compounded from years prior of being in two car accidents where I was hit from behind, and a trampoline injury where I attempted (and failed) at doing a backflip and landed on my neck.

When I learned about The 100 Year Lifestyle, and the importance of a healthy spine and nervous system, I decided to give chiropractic care another chance and not settle for the limitations and discomfort that had built up over time. Their office was located in the same building as Nava Sen Spa (the massage studio that I work at).

Not only did I appreciate the wisdom, science and expertise, the purpose and benefits of chiropractic care became increasingly clear to me. I should have paid more attention early as I pleasantly surprised how much it resonated with me. After only a few adjustments, and now with Lifestyle Care, I continue to notice:

  • A decrease in overall neck and hip pain
  • No more numbness or tingling down my arm in certain yoga poses
  • More flexibility in my upper and low back
  • My hips adjust naturally
  • More openness in my chest doing heart openers
  • Greater lung capacity
  • Increase in flexion during backbends
  • More awareness of the subtle energies within my body
  • More ease in spinal twists
  • Greater energy flow between the energy centers (aka “chakras”) along the spine during meditation
  • An increase in my desire to practice more
  • More mental clarity, peace of mind and emotional stability
  • Faster recovery in Savasana
  • Better alignment in yoga poses
  • An increase in desire to consume better, healthier food

With these observations, I’ve decided that living my 100 Year Lifestyle is important to me and chiropractic care is one of the greatest investments for my health I could make. I wish I would have found this sooner! Now, I look forward to my adjustments and my body craves optimum alignment and healthy nerve supply! My 17 year old son, a high level high school basketball player, has had phenomenal results as well, healing quickly from a knee injury and getting back on the court quickly. He hasn’t had any issues, pain or swelling since getting started with care.

I am excited to continue exploring and discovering the many health benefits of practicing yoga supported by chiropractic care for many years to come. I no longer suffer from scoliosis, and I’m beyond grateful. Thank you to The 100 Year Lifestyle message and the education about the importantce of chiropractic care!! Not only am I pain-free, I’m a better yogi too!

It’s never too late to begin practicing yoga or take your practice to your next level. Along with chiropractic care and massage therapy, it can help you live your ideal 100 Year Lifestyle. Schedule your appointment today!

This article by Kisha Crawford reprinted from www.the100YearLifestyle.com.

The Foundation of Flexibility

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A healthy spine and nervous system is the foundation of flexibility.

For some, just getting to the gym constitutes going past their comfort zone. For many, participating in circus gymnastics has become an accessible and exciting way for them to get physical, build skills and enjoy the excitement of moving the body. Instead of the usual cardio and weight-lifting, most of these gymnastics focus on specific awareness of the body along with the strength to isolate these specific areas in movement.

With the spread of hooping, slack-lining, acro (partner) yoga, aerial silks, hand-balancing and contortion, more and more modern athletes are finding they must remain flexible, as well as strong, in order to stay fit for a lifetime.

Have you ever reached a point in your personal fitness or activity level where you felt hindered due to limited flexibility and a restricted range of motion?

Striving to stretch that extra inch, to keep your shoulders aligned or complete each training set in perfect form, high-performance athletes don’t need the extra obstacle of locked joints, muscles or tendons. Optimizing your flexibility for the long haul requires those pushing their physical limits to keep their senses sharp and their bodies limber: nerves running without interference, longevity-focused care and the correct placement of bones and joints to handle the demands of their bodies.

Stretching can already be a challenging task, but the value of flexibility far outweighs the time required. Chiropractic Lifestyle Care allows your joints and tendons to be aligned correctly, facilitating progress in flexibility. Not only has chiropractic been shown to increase range of motion but ensuring an optimum functioning nervous system helps you to be more aware of your joints’ movement through space, to reduce discomfort and to ensure correct joint and muscle alignment while building that important muscle memory.

“After I got adjusted, I went up to the gym and noticed, ‘Wow! I can stretch further, even before warming up!’ ” exclaimed Jenn Rauscher, a contortionist and aerialist for Root Elements Entertainment. She attributes much of her progress in feats of flexibility to regular adjustments from her chiropractor. The proper alignment of her joints allowed further, and more correct, movement of her body, but it also had an unexpected effect. Ms. Rauscher, like many athletes, recalls becoming increasingly aware of her joints and muscle proprioception through Chiropractic Lifestyle Care. At first, she was pulling and compressing her spine to increase flexibility; and now, “the awareness to align, then lengthen my spine, came from the adjustments.” She used her new awareness to allow more articulate and intentional movement of her body.

Many athletes’ bodies are treated as valuable commodities only when young. However, there are multiple examples of circus performers 85 years young3 continuing to push their talents to the edge. With the odds of you living to 80, 90 and 100 years and beyond are increasing every day, taking care of your spine, joints and nervous system as a priority can help you stretch the number of active, quality years you enjoy.

1. Whittingham, Wayne and Niels Nilsson. “Active Range of Motion in the Cervical Spine Increases After Spinal Manipulation.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2001; Vol 24, No 9.
2. Millan, Marlo et al. “The Effect of Spinal Manipulative Therapy on Spinal Range of Motion.” Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2012; Vol 20, No 23.
3. Poole, Sheila. “85-Year-Old Stays Young Defying Gravity.” The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. 7 June 2016 (visited 7 Sept 2016). (http://www.myajc.com/news/lifestyles/85-year-old-acrobat-stays-young-defying-gravity/nrb6T)

Pilates, Balance and Chiropractic

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The health of your brain, body and mood is dependent on the health of your spine! Neurology and structure are the bookends of fitness, allowing for optimal endurance, strength and flexibility.1

Alignment and Overall Health

Certified PMA Pilates Instructor and owner, Deb Mandeville-Bowen, of Bend Pilates in Bend, Oregon says, “Pilates increases flexibility, strength, balance, lung capacity, endurance, bone density and energy while developing body awareness.” A research study on Pilates also found that a 60 minute Pilates exercise program improved mood in sedentary women and improved their psychological health after only ten weeks of exercise.2

Core Strength and Alignment

Lifestyle chiropractic care and Pilates enhance the benefits of each. Chiropractic adjustments optimize your neurology and help balance your structure. Regular and consistent lifestyle chiropractic care will accelerate your overall body results from your Pilates routine.

Strengthening and lengthening your core muscles with a regular Pilates routine provides postural support and reduces stress on the spine and weight bearing joints. With a strong and balanced support to your frame, your entire body moves better and maintains alignment longer. Pilates exercises work deeply in the body and mind through concentration, breathing and controlled movement. This allows energetic alignment between the mind, body, and breathing patterns.

Conditioning and Core Strength

Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s and focuses on the development of core musculature, including the abdominal muscles, the low back, inner and outer thigh and gluteal muscles.3 A personalized Pilates workout engages smooth, integrated movement patterns and increases strength and flexibility.

A research study was performed on active middle-aged men and women engaged for just a few weeks in a Pilates exercise. The results were increased abdominal endurance, hamstring flexibility, and upper-body muscular endurance.4 Muscle strength is imperative to the natural aging process through improvements in everyday body movement, gait, balance and posture.5

Chiropractic adjustments align the spine, improve range of motion, posture, and work deep in your neurology to allow proper communication between the brain and the entire body. Roger Sperry, a Nobel prize winner on brain research, found that 90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by movement of the spine. Misalignments and restricted motion in the spine, called vertebral subluxations, cause interference in the nervous system and increase stress hormones in your body, leading to a variety of dysfunctions, including decreased immunity, digestion problems infertility, lack of focus, and low energy.6

Chiropractic adjustments restore your body to its natural rhythm in so it is better able to adapt to stress and maintain health. Research has revealed that chiropractic adjustments increase plasticity, or re-wiring, in the brain which allows your brain to adapt to the experiences of life at any age. Get your structure checked today to optimize your fitness routine and overall health!

References:
1. Plasker E. The 100 Year Lifestyle. 1st ed. Avon, Mass.: Adams Media; 2007.
2. Tolnai N, Szabo Z, Koteles F, Szabo A. Physical and psychological benefits of once-a-week Pilates exercises in young sedentary women: A 10-week longitudinal study. Physiology & behavior. 2016 Sep 1; 163:211-8
3. Pilates J, Van Heuit-Robbins L, Robbins J. Pilates Evolution: The 21st Century. Ashland, Or.: Presentation Dynamics Llc; 2012.
4. Kloubec JA. Pilates for improvement of muscle endurance, flexibility, balance, and posture. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2010 Mar 1;24(3):661-7.
5. Gleberzon BJ, Annis RS. The necessity of strength training for the older patient. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association. 2000 Jun;44(2):98.
6. Korr IM. The spinal cord as organizer of disease processes. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1976 Sep;76(1):35-45.

Contributed by Dr. Sarah Powers