Date: Wed. August 26th
Time: 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Location: Lifewise H&W
(2034 Yonge St)
Come join us for some food & beverages. Try a demo. Take a tour of the office or ask us your health questions
Monday, August 10, 2009
7 DAY YOGA WORKSHOP
August 10th – 16th
Join Dennis for a guided practice each morning at 7am for 7 days.
In this daily morning workshop, experience a guided, seven-day practice that will exercise all the body’s systems.
The week will begin with standing postures, building our way to backbends by the end of the week. The final day is a quite, restorative practice for complete rejuvenation.
Join Dennis for a guided practice each morning at 7am for 7 days.
In this daily morning workshop, experience a guided, seven-day practice that will exercise all the body’s systems.
The week will begin with standing postures, building our way to backbends by the end of the week. The final day is a quite, restorative practice for complete rejuvenation.
Backpack Safety Tips
Dr. Karen Baker, BSc, DC
Believe it or not, kids get back pain! It’s more common every year. Kids (university students too) carry large, heavy backpacks. Between lunch, textbooks, jackets and binders, backpacks can weigh up to 15 – 20 pounds or more.
Lugging around these heavy bags can result in poor posture and put undue strain on the spine, especially if the heavy load is unevenly or improperly distributed. This can cause muscle strain, headaches, back, neck and arm pain, and even nerve damage.
The Ontario Chiropractic Association provides the following recommendations for backpack safety:
Choose the right backpack. Leather is too heavy; choose vinyl or canvas which are much lighter. Pick a bag with wide, padded straps, a hip or waist strap, and a padded back with plenty of pockets. Make sure it fits.
Pack it properly. Pack sparingly, and distribute the weight evenly. The total weight of the pack should be no more than 10 – 15 percent of the wearer’s own body weight. Pack heaviest objects closest to the body and odd-shaped items away from the back.
Putting the backpack on. Teach young children to lift their bags with the arms and legs, bending with the knees and to put it on a waist-level surface first, not swing it around the shoulders.
The right way to wear a backpack. Use both straps on both shoulders - always! Adjust straps so that the pack fits snugly. Use the waist strap for added stability.
Believe it or not, kids get back pain! It’s more common every year. Kids (university students too) carry large, heavy backpacks. Between lunch, textbooks, jackets and binders, backpacks can weigh up to 15 – 20 pounds or more.
Lugging around these heavy bags can result in poor posture and put undue strain on the spine, especially if the heavy load is unevenly or improperly distributed. This can cause muscle strain, headaches, back, neck and arm pain, and even nerve damage.
The Ontario Chiropractic Association provides the following recommendations for backpack safety:
Choose the right backpack. Leather is too heavy; choose vinyl or canvas which are much lighter. Pick a bag with wide, padded straps, a hip or waist strap, and a padded back with plenty of pockets. Make sure it fits.
Pack it properly. Pack sparingly, and distribute the weight evenly. The total weight of the pack should be no more than 10 – 15 percent of the wearer’s own body weight. Pack heaviest objects closest to the body and odd-shaped items away from the back.
Putting the backpack on. Teach young children to lift their bags with the arms and legs, bending with the knees and to put it on a waist-level surface first, not swing it around the shoulders.
The right way to wear a backpack. Use both straps on both shoulders - always! Adjust straps so that the pack fits snugly. Use the waist strap for added stability.
TCM’s Role in Repetitive Strain Injuries
JoAnn Alafriz, BSc, Dipl ST, Dipl Ac
One out of every ten Canadian adults has a repetitive strain injury (RSI) serious enough to limit his or her normal activities. A study published in Health Reports, shows that RSI’s are affecting a growing number of adults. - Statistics Canada, The Daily, August, 2003
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) are a group of disorders caused by repeated movements that affect the muscles, tendons and nerves; of these, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is probably the most well known.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) repetitive strain injury is considered Qi (Energy) Stagnation. In this circumstance, the energy in the affected area is not flowing properly and becomes “stuck”. When Qi is stuck - pain arises. By stimulating channels (meridians) that run through the body carrying Qi (as well as blood) facilitating the smooth flow of this energy, TCM treatments effectively help to reduced pain, numbness, and tingling, and ultimately calm the nervous system allowing the body to innately heal itself.
WARNING SIGNS of RSI’s: Recurring pain or discomfort in neck, shoulders, upper back, wrists or hands; tingling and/or numbness; loss of grip strength; lack of endurance and/or weakness. Muscles in the arms and shoulders feel hard and ropey. Pain or numbness often occurs while lying in bed.
PREVENTION is Key! Good posture and ergonomic working conditions help to prevent or halt the progress of RSI. Rest, stretches and strengthening exercises, along with appropriate treatment, will reduce the symptoms associated to RSI. Listen to your body: BEFORE you begin to feel pain and fatigue – STOP. Pay attention to posture: the shoulders and head should not be hunched forward. Problems may be aggravated by other actions: carrying children, knitting, even using a knife on a cutting board can have an enormous impact. Be sure to take regular breaks, invest in a headset, and avoid tucking the telephone between your shoulder and ear. When typing, hold wrist straight rather than bent up, down, or to the side. Improve strength and blood flow in the affected muscles by regular aerobic exercise Get adequate sleep and drink plenty of water. Relax muscles by using muscle-relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or qigong to reduce pain.
One out of every ten Canadian adults has a repetitive strain injury (RSI) serious enough to limit his or her normal activities. A study published in Health Reports, shows that RSI’s are affecting a growing number of adults. - Statistics Canada, The Daily, August, 2003
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) are a group of disorders caused by repeated movements that affect the muscles, tendons and nerves; of these, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is probably the most well known.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) repetitive strain injury is considered Qi (Energy) Stagnation. In this circumstance, the energy in the affected area is not flowing properly and becomes “stuck”. When Qi is stuck - pain arises. By stimulating channels (meridians) that run through the body carrying Qi (as well as blood) facilitating the smooth flow of this energy, TCM treatments effectively help to reduced pain, numbness, and tingling, and ultimately calm the nervous system allowing the body to innately heal itself.
WARNING SIGNS of RSI’s: Recurring pain or discomfort in neck, shoulders, upper back, wrists or hands; tingling and/or numbness; loss of grip strength; lack of endurance and/or weakness. Muscles in the arms and shoulders feel hard and ropey. Pain or numbness often occurs while lying in bed.
PREVENTION is Key! Good posture and ergonomic working conditions help to prevent or halt the progress of RSI. Rest, stretches and strengthening exercises, along with appropriate treatment, will reduce the symptoms associated to RSI. Listen to your body: BEFORE you begin to feel pain and fatigue – STOP. Pay attention to posture: the shoulders and head should not be hunched forward. Problems may be aggravated by other actions: carrying children, knitting, even using a knife on a cutting board can have an enormous impact. Be sure to take regular breaks, invest in a headset, and avoid tucking the telephone between your shoulder and ear. When typing, hold wrist straight rather than bent up, down, or to the side. Improve strength and blood flow in the affected muscles by regular aerobic exercise Get adequate sleep and drink plenty of water. Relax muscles by using muscle-relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or qigong to reduce pain.
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