Once again, it has been a busy year at Lifewise, with many positive changes that we hope will help us to continue to grow and to serve you better for years to come.
As 2011 comes to a close, all of us at Lifewise would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our patients and students for your support and encouragement over the past year. We feel blessed to have such happy and generous people to work with each day, and are thankful for the smiling faces you bring each time you visit the office. Warmest wishes to you for the holiday season!
Yours In Health,
Dr. Karen Baker
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
WINTER CLASSES
Winter Registered Classes (12 week sessions) will begin Jan 9th, 2012.
Be sure to contact the office to reserve your space!
Starting in January, we will be offering a series of 4 & 6 week yoga and pilates workshops.
If you already have one of our drop-in passes, you are welcome to use it to attend these sessions.
Stay tuned for more details!
Winter Registered Classes (12 week sessions) will begin Jan 9th, 2012.
Be sure to contact the office to reserve your space!
Starting in January, we will be offering a series of 4 & 6 week yoga and pilates workshops.
If you already have one of our drop-in passes, you are welcome to use it to attend these sessions.
Stay tuned for more details!
Exercise Can Help Ward-Off Cancer
Studies show that exercise has a positive effect in cancer prevention efforts. Several explanations have been offered as to how: First, exercise leads to higher levels of NK cells, the frontline of defense against the emergence of tumors that might produce cancer. Second, being seriously overweight is statistically related to the development of certain types of cancer – breast cancer in particular. It seems logical, then that people who exercise regularly would be less likely to be obese and therefore more likely to avoid the types of cancer that are influenced by body size. Exercise also speeds the passage of food through the body, leading to faster elimination of potentially cancer-producing compounds in food. This might explain, in part, an exercise-related decrease in colon cancer.
Exercise and Chronic Illness
If you have a long-term health problem, don’t automatically assume you should not exercise. Physical activity can increase energy, strength, balance, and coordination, as well as ease pain. But be sure to ask your doctor for guidance in putting together an appropriate regimen, especially if you have any of these conditions:
Heart Conditions: Angina (chest pain), Atherosclerosis, Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Valve Disease, High Cholesterol, Hypertension (high blood pressure), Low Blood Pressure, Past heart attack or bypass surgery, Heart Rhythm Disorder
Lung Conditions: asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, history of collapsed lung
Bone or Joint Disorders: Arthritis, Low Back Pain, Osteoporosis
Other Health Issues: Autoimmune Disorders, Blood Disorders, Neurological Problems, such as a history of stroke, a seizure disorder, or Parkinson’s Disease, Pregnancy, Vision or Hearing Impairments.
Studies show that exercise has a positive effect in cancer prevention efforts. Several explanations have been offered as to how: First, exercise leads to higher levels of NK cells, the frontline of defense against the emergence of tumors that might produce cancer. Second, being seriously overweight is statistically related to the development of certain types of cancer – breast cancer in particular. It seems logical, then that people who exercise regularly would be less likely to be obese and therefore more likely to avoid the types of cancer that are influenced by body size. Exercise also speeds the passage of food through the body, leading to faster elimination of potentially cancer-producing compounds in food. This might explain, in part, an exercise-related decrease in colon cancer.
Exercise and Chronic Illness
If you have a long-term health problem, don’t automatically assume you should not exercise. Physical activity can increase energy, strength, balance, and coordination, as well as ease pain. But be sure to ask your doctor for guidance in putting together an appropriate regimen, especially if you have any of these conditions:
Heart Conditions: Angina (chest pain), Atherosclerosis, Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Valve Disease, High Cholesterol, Hypertension (high blood pressure), Low Blood Pressure, Past heart attack or bypass surgery, Heart Rhythm Disorder
Lung Conditions: asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, history of collapsed lung
Bone or Joint Disorders: Arthritis, Low Back Pain, Osteoporosis
Other Health Issues: Autoimmune Disorders, Blood Disorders, Neurological Problems, such as a history of stroke, a seizure disorder, or Parkinson’s Disease, Pregnancy, Vision or Hearing Impairments.
Green Tea ~ Red Tea
Indulge in the soothing ritual of tea this holiday season.
Green Tea is lower in caffeine than regular black tea, and is high in catechins, powerful antioxidants, with strong anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to reduce the risk of cancer and high blood pressure.
To prepare: Bring your kettle to a boil and let it rest for 3 minutes, then pour the water into the tea in the pot and allow it to steep for 3 minutes. Having the water temperature a bit lower than a full boil when poured on the tea leaves and only steeping for a short period of time helps to maintain the true taste of green tea.
Red tea (Rooibos) is actually an herbal product that is naturally caffeine-free, has a soothing effect on the central nervous system, and contains antioxidants not found in other teas.
Pour boiling water on the tea leaves in the pot and let it steep for 4 to 5 minutes. The result is a pleasant aroma, great taste and good health.
Red or green, both teas can be enjoyed on their own, or with a meal, at any time of the day. Raise a cup for good health this holiday season!
Indulge in the soothing ritual of tea this holiday season.
Green Tea is lower in caffeine than regular black tea, and is high in catechins, powerful antioxidants, with strong anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to reduce the risk of cancer and high blood pressure.
To prepare: Bring your kettle to a boil and let it rest for 3 minutes, then pour the water into the tea in the pot and allow it to steep for 3 minutes. Having the water temperature a bit lower than a full boil when poured on the tea leaves and only steeping for a short period of time helps to maintain the true taste of green tea.
Red tea (Rooibos) is actually an herbal product that is naturally caffeine-free, has a soothing effect on the central nervous system, and contains antioxidants not found in other teas.
Pour boiling water on the tea leaves in the pot and let it steep for 4 to 5 minutes. The result is a pleasant aroma, great taste and good health.
Red or green, both teas can be enjoyed on their own, or with a meal, at any time of the day. Raise a cup for good health this holiday season!
Ladies... what’s the deal with high heels?
Sure they look fashionable, make you feel sexy, and increase your height... but are they worth it? Women are four times as likely as men to experience foot problems due to ill-fitting footwear.
The excessive wear on your body from high heels can put you at high risk for serious health complications, bring about leg and back pain or intensify existing conditions. When your foot is on a high heeled incline, it forces your entire body to realign, which causes your posture, stride, and balance to suffer. Increased knee internal rotation and instability can result in osteoarthritis and the constant pull on the ankle can lead to Achilles tendinitis or even ankle fractures. With all the pressure pooling in your forefoot you run the risk of developing bunions, not to mention calluses, corns and blisters.
It’s never too late to take care of your feet. Try wearing lower heels (which are actually better for balance than flat shoes), or even just save high heels for special occasions and you’ll avoid a myriad of problems down the line.
Sure they look fashionable, make you feel sexy, and increase your height... but are they worth it? Women are four times as likely as men to experience foot problems due to ill-fitting footwear.
The excessive wear on your body from high heels can put you at high risk for serious health complications, bring about leg and back pain or intensify existing conditions. When your foot is on a high heeled incline, it forces your entire body to realign, which causes your posture, stride, and balance to suffer. Increased knee internal rotation and instability can result in osteoarthritis and the constant pull on the ankle can lead to Achilles tendinitis or even ankle fractures. With all the pressure pooling in your forefoot you run the risk of developing bunions, not to mention calluses, corns and blisters.
It’s never too late to take care of your feet. Try wearing lower heels (which are actually better for balance than flat shoes), or even just save high heels for special occasions and you’ll avoid a myriad of problems down the line.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Lifewise Health & Wellness Bulletin - November 2011
Studies show that 80% of our population experience low back pain at some point in their adult lives. Whether this pain is caused by an injury, sitting hunched over a computer for hours on end, or from stress, if you fall into this category you know how unbearable this condition can be. There has always been a plethora of anecdotal evidence for techniques to palliate your pain, but recently a focus on evidence based care has pushed for scientific studies to support our choices. Very recently a study supporting yoga as an effective means to cope with chronic low back pain was released; below Dennis discusses a study supporting massage. Whatever treatment type is right for you, the evidence is saying movement is the key. So get your body moving and feel your aches and pains melt away.
Yours In Health,
Dr. Karen Baker
Yours In Health,
Dr. Karen Baker
MOMS & CRAWLERS YOGA
6-week workshop: Nov. 15th – Dec. 22nd, 2011
This unique all-level class series is for shoulder relief, abdominal strengthening and an all-over body stretch especially for moms. Moms get to de-stress and children get exposed to yoga and have fun. This class series is taught to the adults and the kids participate how they want to. Our yoga practice does not wait for the situation to be perfect but invites the skill of accepting things just the way they are now. Bring a favorite toy to share.
1 class per week: $90 ~ 2 classes per week: $162
6-week workshop: Nov. 15th – Dec. 22nd, 2011
This unique all-level class series is for shoulder relief, abdominal strengthening and an all-over body stretch especially for moms. Moms get to de-stress and children get exposed to yoga and have fun. This class series is taught to the adults and the kids participate how they want to. Our yoga practice does not wait for the situation to be perfect but invites the skill of accepting things just the way they are now. Bring a favorite toy to share.
1 class per week: $90 ~ 2 classes per week: $162
30 Class Yoga & Pilates Challenge!
Our mission at Lifewise is to educate, inspire and motivate the people in our community to live healthier lives.
On that note… we would like to challenge all our existing patients and students to get your body moving this fall!
For $30 attend 30 of our drop-in classes between now and the end of the year.
Our mission at Lifewise is to educate, inspire and motivate the people in our community to live healthier lives.
On that note… we would like to challenge all our existing patients and students to get your body moving this fall!
For $30 attend 30 of our drop-in classes between now and the end of the year.
So, what’s the deal with the cracking anyway?
Karen Baker, BSc, DC
There are a lot of preconceived ideas about chiropractic adjustments. And, many people are afraid of the “cracking” sound that often accompanies a classic manual manipulation. Rest assured, the crack you hear is NOT bones breaking, but is a result of gas bubble being released quickly from solution - this sound even has a name: cavitation.
An analogy I often use is that of a soda bottle. You may have noticed that when you open a bottle of pop bubbles seem to form out of nowhere. The carbonation process has infused CO2 into the liquid, and if kept under pressure it will stay there. When the volume of the container holding the liquid increases (or the cap is opened), those CO2 molecules, which would rather be in gas form now have somewhere to go, and come out of solution forming gas bubbles. If you open the bottle slowly, the bubbles form slowly, fizzing to the surface, if opened quickly, they “pop” out of solution all at once.
This is basically the same process as what happens in our joints. Our joints are filled with nutrient rich liquid called synovial fluid. There is nitrogen gas dissolved within this fluid. Unlike a pop bottle, our joints are flexible structures enclosed by a soft capsule that can stretch. As our joints move the volume of the space changes and these molecules escape from, and are reabsorbed into, solution on a regular basis. If the joint moves slowly, these bubbles will form slowly and no noticeable noise will follow, but if stretched quickly enough the gas will pop out of solution making a popping or “cracking” sound.
This being said, you should never agree to a procedure that you are not comfortable with. If you are afraid, there are other ways to get the joints moving that don’t require a crack. So talk to your chiropractor about different treatment methods that might meet your comfort level.
Karen Baker, BSc, DC
There are a lot of preconceived ideas about chiropractic adjustments. And, many people are afraid of the “cracking” sound that often accompanies a classic manual manipulation. Rest assured, the crack you hear is NOT bones breaking, but is a result of gas bubble being released quickly from solution - this sound even has a name: cavitation.
An analogy I often use is that of a soda bottle. You may have noticed that when you open a bottle of pop bubbles seem to form out of nowhere. The carbonation process has infused CO2 into the liquid, and if kept under pressure it will stay there. When the volume of the container holding the liquid increases (or the cap is opened), those CO2 molecules, which would rather be in gas form now have somewhere to go, and come out of solution forming gas bubbles. If you open the bottle slowly, the bubbles form slowly, fizzing to the surface, if opened quickly, they “pop” out of solution all at once.
This is basically the same process as what happens in our joints. Our joints are filled with nutrient rich liquid called synovial fluid. There is nitrogen gas dissolved within this fluid. Unlike a pop bottle, our joints are flexible structures enclosed by a soft capsule that can stretch. As our joints move the volume of the space changes and these molecules escape from, and are reabsorbed into, solution on a regular basis. If the joint moves slowly, these bubbles will form slowly and no noticeable noise will follow, but if stretched quickly enough the gas will pop out of solution making a popping or “cracking” sound.
This being said, you should never agree to a procedure that you are not comfortable with. If you are afraid, there are other ways to get the joints moving that don’t require a crack. So talk to your chiropractor about different treatment methods that might meet your comfort level.
GOT LOW BACK PAIN? TRY A MASSAGE!
Dennis Newhook, RMT
New study on Chronic Low Back Pain Supports the use of Massage Therapy! Researchers in Seattle, Washington were curious if massage therapy could improve disability and decrease the symptoms associated with chronic low back pain. Their single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was published in a recent edition of a prominent medical journal. The bottom line: Massage improves function in patients with chronic low back pain. The subjects received weekly massage treatments for 10 weeks, either a general relaxation massage or one aimed specifically at addressing musculoskeletal contributions to low back pain. The study "produces a clinically meaningful reduction in dysfunction and symptoms as compared with usual care". While the effects seemed to gradually fade once treatments had ended, the functional improvement persisted for up to 1 year! The massage treatments consisted of myofascial, neuro-muscular, and other soft-tissue techniques, all of which are part of the Ontario registered massage therapists’ scope of practice.
(Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Kahn J, et al. A comparison of the effects of 2 types of massage and usual care on chronic low back pain. Ann Intern Med 2011;155(1):1-9.)
Dennis Newhook, RMT
New study on Chronic Low Back Pain Supports the use of Massage Therapy! Researchers in Seattle, Washington were curious if massage therapy could improve disability and decrease the symptoms associated with chronic low back pain. Their single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was published in a recent edition of a prominent medical journal. The bottom line: Massage improves function in patients with chronic low back pain. The subjects received weekly massage treatments for 10 weeks, either a general relaxation massage or one aimed specifically at addressing musculoskeletal contributions to low back pain. The study "produces a clinically meaningful reduction in dysfunction and symptoms as compared with usual care". While the effects seemed to gradually fade once treatments had ended, the functional improvement persisted for up to 1 year! The massage treatments consisted of myofascial, neuro-muscular, and other soft-tissue techniques, all of which are part of the Ontario registered massage therapists’ scope of practice.
(Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Kahn J, et al. A comparison of the effects of 2 types of massage and usual care on chronic low back pain. Ann Intern Med 2011;155(1):1-9.)
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