"Today is the first day of the rest of your life." My father kept this saying upon on his desk. (a saying in which I was raised). here it is, already
March. Does it seem like time is just flying by? I go to bed in February and wake up in June. Everyone and everything around us seems to be so
busy. Caught up with details of putting out fires, never really making any substantial changes or impact in their lives. There is a degree of comfort
and security in routine, but often times it can generate complacency, apathy, lower productivity, and ill health. When was the last time you challenged yourself? Now is a great time. Here it is, Spring! A season that signifies growth and new beginnings. Upon reading this newsletter, I want you to challenge yourself. Write down some new goals that will change you or make a positive impact on your life. Join a Toastmasters Club, start a new exercise program or commit to a health renewal plan that will include dietary changes as well as exercising, and regular spinal adjustments. Remember, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." Thanks pop.
GUARANTEED BACK PAIN:
The word doctor is derived from the latin verb "docere" which means "to teach". As a doctor of chiropractic, i take this role very seriously. All patients entering my office are educated about their back problems and are counseled on steps to take to avoid future back problems. Most of my patients listen to these steps, some of them even attempt to employ a few of them into their lifestyle. However, most of them just want to " get fixed" so they can go on doing whatever it was they were doing that brought them into my office in the first place. While there was an initial sense of frustration on my part in treating these individuals, I have partially come to accept my role as the "quick fixer" versus "the healer". I have also learned that if you are going to teach anyone anything you’ve got to first capture his or her attention. Since most individuals already know the basic causes of back problems and do not want to be told something they already know, here is a list of steps to take which, if implemented, will guarantee a full, unrelenting life of chronic, nagging pain:
1. Gain an extra 100 lbs.
2. Sit all day without moving anything. Sitting is one of the worst positions for your low back and almost always guarantees a low back problem.
3. When lifting something heavy, do not bend your knees, rather, isolate those weak back muscles and after lifting the object to a 45 degree angle, torque and twist your back at the waist. You’ll hear those support ligaments tearing from their body insertions.
4.
Seek out stress and internalize it. 
5.
Utilize high-impact sports for your workouts. Skip rope with your
spouse on your back. Find the most sadistic aerobic instructor in
town. avoid those wimpy, low-impact routines such
as
cycling, swimming, or walking
6. Sleep on a mattress that is at least 20 years old.
7. Wear high heels whenever possible.
8. Work full time at a computer without stretching or moving.
If you implement anyone of these suggestions into your lifestyle, you will increase your chances of joining the other 80 million americans who suffer from back pain annually. Fortunately, most back problems are preventable. If you are not interested in being one more statistic, then you should diet to your optimal body weight, develop a low impact exercise routine at least three times a week, stretch your major muscle groups on a daily basis, learn some basic defense for postures, sitting, lifting, and by all means stay adjusted!
ANATOMY OF AN
ADJUSTMENT FROM A VERTEBRAL PROSPECTIVE:
(Martha’s
low back vertebrae, talking…) Ache! Ache! Ache!, That’s
all I ever do. Once again, she’s been sitting on me
for
three hours. No Stretching!, No moving!, Just sit, sit, sitting. I’ve
been kinked out of position for years. I always feel like I’m
strangling,
Gasp!, Gasp!-not getting enough oxygen. Boy does this make my nerves irritable.
Oh, now she wants to rub me. Now what is she doing? Oh boy!, she’s
taking that stuff again. My friends, The kidneys hate it and besides, it
slows me down. Humph!, That’s all I need. The things people
do for temporary relief. (The next day….): Hey what’s
this? Somebody is poking at me. It feels funny and it kind of hurts.
Oh my!, She’s lying down. What’s this? Pre-Pre-Pressure,
Yes! I feel pressure "Crack", Whoa Nelly-Bell!. What was that? Hey
wait a minute!, I can breathe and I am moving more freely. My nerves have
relaxed and my blood vessels are flowing like rivers. Now this feels sensational,
no tingling, No numbness, and no stiffness. "This is what I’ve
been needing!"
ATTITUDE:
By
Charles Swindoll
The
longer i live, the more I realize the impact attitude has on life. To me,
attitude is more important than facts. It’s more important than
the
past,
than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes,
than what other people think, say, or do. It is more important
than
appearance, giftedness, or skills. It will make or break a company….A
church….A home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday
regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change the
inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have,
and that is our attitude…I am convinced that life is 10% what
happens to me and 90% how I react to it. So it is with you….we
are in charge of our attitudes.
HERB BLURB:
Ginger
root Historically, the majority of complaints for which ginger was used
concerned the gastro-intestinal system. It is regarded as an excellent
carminatine (A substance that promotes the elimination of intestinal gas….).
It is also helpful in reducing inner-ear problems, dizziness, and motion
sickness. One other application is it stimulates circulation in the extremities.
There are no known side effects. Dosage is 1-2 grams per day.
QUOTE OF THE QUARTER
What
lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what
lies within us.
Ralph
Waldo Emerson