Posted by chiropam on Jun 30, 2009 in Chiropractic
Everyone experiences stress on a daily basis. What causes one person severe stress, may be a minor source of stress for another.
Causes of Stress
Stress is defined as “a reaction to any internal or external stimuli that upsets normal functioning and disturbs mental or physical health”. Internal conditions such as illness, pain, or emotional conflict; as well as external circumstances, such as a death in the family or financial problems can cause stress. Even positive experiences like a new marriage or job promotion can provoke stress. Long lasting or chronic stress suppress the immune system, which in turn increase the susceptibility to illness, especially to immune-related disorders or cancer. Emotional stress also leads to hormonal imbalances that interfere with immune system function.
Knowing the causes of your stress is an important step to relieving stress. Everyday annoyances can lead to stress-related health problems. While your own daily hassles will vary, the important thing here is the frequency and duration and how you react to them. To gain a better understanding of your daily stressors and how you react to them, try using a stress diary. If you reduce stress, you will help to maintain balance and health. The fact is that something needs to be done to reduce stress levels.
A basic principle in mind and body balance is that chronic stress can contribute to illness, and that relaxation restores the physical and mental functioning that improves one’s health. More important than the stressors themselves is our ability to cope with them.
Meditation has been shown to have a positive effect on immune functions. Meditation is extremely effective in that it slows the breathing rate, increases oxygen consumption, creates a relaxed brain wave rhythm, and increases blood flow. These are effective reactions to reduce stress and tension. Just close your eyes, take a few deep, easy breaths, and recall a time and place when you felt relaxed and peaceful. Maintaining this relaxed state is said to help the body to heal itself. Yoga has been effective to reduce stress and anxiety, lowering blood pressure and heart rate, alleviating pain, providing relief from addictions, and improving memory, intelligence, and motor skills. It can also help your metabolic and respiratory functioning. The concept behind all relaxation therapies is the relationship between mind and body, that when the mind is restless and agitated, the health of the body will be affected. Conversely when the body is ill, mental functioning will decline.
Many symptoms of stress can be explained by examining your diet and nutrient levels. You can reduce stress by avoiding caffeine and food additives; and by eating fresher, whole foods. Limiting simple sugars and alcohol should also be incorporated. Eating the right foods, like superfoods can make a huge difference.
A complete balance of exercise will work in making the body healthier, thus reducing overall stress. Make a plan to exercise everyday and stick to your program! It’s important to understand that the way we think or feel can play a very significant role in our overall health. Reducing stress is necessary to restoring and maintaining good health. Our immune system can be enhanced or suppressed by what we think and how we respond emotionally to everything around us.
Stress and Chiropractic
Some of the most common symptoms of stress that many chiropractors see involve headaches, fatigue, and pain in the neck and back. If left untreated, unhealthy stress could cause more serious problems in the body like high blood pressure, ulcers, and disrupted sleeping patterns. Millions of people are unaware of how stress can be directly tied to these symptoms but can become educated about the correlation through chiropractic care.
Chiropractors who deal with stress management aim to revitalise the body to a healthier state of being. Chiropractic care can assist people who suffer from various problems due to chronic stress. If the body isn’t processing stress in an efficient manner, it suffers consequences later. Chiropractic care is one way to help the body process stress more effectively.
Part of my transition included a book I had read earlier this year called, “How Would Love Respond?” by Kurek Ashley. I had the book for a couple of months and got so busy toward the end of the year that I hadn’t taken the time to intentionally pick it up. The journey of life has a lot of unknowns, and the messages in this book couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Now that I have read it, I realised that it wasn’t “too late” it was actually perfect timing. My mind and heart were more ready to absorb what was in the book whereas months before, I might have missed a few things. I believe in reading books more than once, especially ones that have impact. I regularly skip through it now and see what messages may apply at the given time.
I’d like to share some points of this with you and encourage you to read this and see how it applies or can apply to your own life. Part of overall wellness includes a balance of information stimulating the brain cells.
One of the first pages of the book before it starts reads, “Your mind is like a parachute. It works much better when it’s open!” – How true this statement is, and that is where we can change our life so much. Things like social, family or religious conditioning can cause our minds to not be “free”. The first step in creating change is awareness. Awareness is the key. From here, we can make changes in our lives. There are several examples of his personal journey, and the fact of the matter is, “we all have a story.” We got here today by the life experiences we have had thus far. There are no accidents. We have choices on which perception to believe – choosing to look at it from a positive view or a negative view. We have that power to choose, whether you believe this or not. By learning how to access this power, there are ways to open the mind and keep it open. Keeping it open is even more important, because old patterns and old behaviours can creep up and get in the way.
“Life Doesn’t Turn Out The Way It Should” – Kurek Ashley shares his amazing story in detail of his life-changing experience. We have them in different times, different forms, different places with different people – SEE’s (Significant Emotional Events) that literally change your life. I’ll leave Kurek’s personal story described in Chapter 1 for the reading in the book – don’t want to spoil any of the details, but the messages and summary is this:
“Trust in the fact that there are no accidents and that there is something in this book that you’re searching for in your life. And even if you don’t yet know what it is you’re searching for or maybe you didn’t even know that you are searching, have faith that it will be revealed to you, and that’s why you chose this book.”
Usually, circumstances and events don’t appear or reveal themselves for what they truly are until later. Knowing what questions and thoughts to form around those events can make the biggest difference in the evolution of your life. That has always been the case with me. Trusting the process of life is a very big challenge for us all. The points in this book set the stage for the beginning of the last 6 months of my transition.
Today I write from a place of more personal sharing. I am in the middle of a major transition in my life. I have been practicing chiropractic for 11 years now and it has been rewarding both professionally and personally in so many ways. Recently, I have felt the need for a change to the current form that it is in. I recognised within myself that while I love what I do, and do what I love, there are other things that I want to do as well. I also recognised the signs in myself alerting me to needing a change – to develop other aspects of myself. Rather than ignoring them, I chose to explore the signs. Covering them up can result in crises such as illness, accidents, even death. How many times do you hear of people getting news of heart attacks, strokes or cancer or a major sporting injury or car accident? It’s all over the news, and with these tragedies there are usually underlying “wake up calls” to give us a hint to realise what is really important. I really don’t want to wait until that happens in order to make changes in my life. Life is a gift – something we should not take for granted. I am so grateful for all of the people and experiences in my own life – they have all been significant and with purpose.
I feel so fortunate to have been able to pursue my dreams from a young age and carry them out. The path was definitely different to the way I had planned it in my mind early on as a university student! It has been more than interesting and has made invaluable contributions to every bit of my personal growth and development along the way. The path now is going in a different direction, and I am excited and looking forward to seeing what is in store. I have learned from the past that while there are dreams and goals we have, it is the path to get us there that is not what we expect. I expect my dreams to be realised, and trust in the timing and the journey that will unfold.
A way I have been describing this to my current patients in my practice is: “instead of having a mid life crisis – I am choosing to make it a productive mid life transition”. We all have choices, but most of the time it is the mind that gets in the way. By being proactive in reflecting, meditating, having quiet time to actually step out of the “busy-ness” of life – we are able to listen and observe the signs and be more true to ourselves by stepping off the treadmill of life.
During pregnancy, there are incredible changes occurring in a woman’s body and the creation of delicate new life within. The significance of pregnancy cannot be over stated. Chiropractic care during pregnancy is focused on caring for both mother and unborn baby.
Studies have shown women who have consistent chiropractic care throughout their pregnancies have shorter and less painful labours, with fewer complications and fewer interventions.
I can speak from experience not only as a chiropractor, but 12 years ago as a pregnant patient myself. I am fortunate to have experienced the health benefits from chiropractic care personally, and passed on to my child as well.
Why is Chiropractic care important during pregnancy?
The nervous system is like the “electricity” for the body. It supplies this “electricity” to every body system including the reproductive system. Therefore, keeping the spine aligned helps the entire body work more effectively. This is true throughout all stages of life, and very important throughout pregnancy for a woman. Chiropractic care is also a drugless way to manage symptoms of pregnancy, such as back pain. A common misconception is that back pain during pregnancy is “normal”. Back pain is not normal, it is only common.
A few aspects of pregnancy that may lead to spinal misalignments:
Rapid increase/decrease in weight
Postural changes
Stress
Changes in sleep patterns & positions
Altered appetite and eating habits
Loosening of body ligaments to allow for growth and labour
Flat feet/pronation due to weight gain/loose ligaments
Emotional changes (hormonal shifts/new family stress)
Not only does what you eat and drink during pregnancy affect the unborn baby, but the way you sleep, sit, stand, walk, drive and handle stress will affect the baby too. Your baby needs your nervous system to be functioning optimally in order to develop correctly.
Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?
The answer is Yes! There are no known contraindications to chiropractic care throughout pregnancy. General wellness of women who are pregnant or trying to conceive is a routine treatment.
Chiropractors that have been trained to work with pregnant women may use tables that adapt to suit a pregnant woman’s body, and will use special techniques that avoid unneeded pressure on the abdomen. Exercises and stretches that are safe to use during pregnancy are recommended by chiropractors to compliment any adjustments made to your spine.
Why should I have chiropractic care during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, there are several anatomical and physiological changes that occur to the woman’s body. The following changes could result in a misaligned spine or joint:
Protruding abdomen and increased back curve (lumbar lordosis)
Pelvic changes
Postural adaptations
Establishing pelvic balance and alignment is another reason to obtain chiropractic care during pregnancy. When the pelvis is misaligned it may reduce the amount of room available for the developing baby. A misaligned pelvis may also make it difficult for the baby to get into the best possible position for delivery. When the pelvis or lumbar spine is misaligned, there are also increased chances of developing back pain, groin pain or sciatica.
What are the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy?
Chiropractic care during pregnancy can include a variety of health benefits for women who are pregnant. Potential benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy include:
Maintaining a healthier pregnancy
Controlling symptoms of nausea
Reducing the time of labour and delivery
Relieving back pain, neck pain or joint pain
Preventing a potential caesarean section
What about chiropractic care and breech deliveries?
The late Larry Webster, D.C., Founder of the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association, developed a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment which enables chiropractors to establish balance in the pregnant woman’s pelvis and reduce undue stress to her uterus and supporting ligaments. This balanced state in the pelvis makes it easier for a breech baby to turn naturally. The technique is known as the Webster Technique.
Post-natal:
After your pregnancy, chiropractic can help to ensure that the loosened ligaments and joints to get back into their proper places. A spinal check-up is recommended for mother and baby to assist in enabling optimal nervous system function.
Which one, you may ask….in fact, many of my chiropractic patients ask me all the time which is best. Well, questions like this always depends on the individual and their personal needs. Both Yoga and Pilates work in supporting your body, mainly the muscular system. Core muscle strength is one of the Health Benefits of Yoga and Pilates.
A little background from a chiropractic perspective:
The muscles of the abdomen, the back and the buttocks all support the spine. These are the core muscles. If these core muscles are weak, they often contribute to the root of back pain, especially lower back pain.
Muscles are the spine’s main support system. Strengthening the muscles that support the spine with exercises can assist in preventing, reducing and even eliminating back pain.
Strong abdominal muscles (primarily the deep abs) are as important as strong back muscles for supporting the lower back and preventing lower back pain. Strong quadriceps (front of thigh muscles) are important to prevent back injuries when lifting. Proper lifting techniques involve using your legs. If your legs are weak, you may end up using your back, which can lead to injury.
Shortened muscles can throw the spine out of alignment and cause back pain. Stretching exercises lengthen shortened muscles and help to relieve back pain. Tight back muscles, tight buttocks muscles, and even tight hamstrings (back of thigh muscles) or quadriceps (front of thigh muscles), can affect the alignment of the spine. Stretching the back with stretching exercises also increases mobility of the joints of the spine.
Flexible and strong muscles help maintain proper posture and prevent back strains and sprains.
Here are the basic differences to help give a better understanding between Yoga and Pilates.
Yoga
Yoga is aimed to unite the mind, the body, and the spirit. Yoga’s view is that the mind and the body are one, and that if it is given the right tools and taken to the right environment, it can find harmony and heal itself. Yoga therefore is considered therapeutic. It helps you become more aware of your body’s posture, alignment and patterns of movement. It makes the body more flexible and helps you relax even in the midst of a stress stricken environment. Benefits include feeling more fit, more energetic, balanced and peaceful. Your own body’s weight is used for resistance from one posture into another. There are several different Yoga styles. It boils down to personal preference and individual needs.
One example and a common one is Vinyasa Yoga. Vinyasa Yoga makes use of modified yoga poses that are designed to enhance healing, flexibility and strength of joints. The poses also intend to promote the feeling of well-being and strength. The emphasis of this branch of Yoga practice is on coordinating breath and movement. Practices may also include meditation, reflection, study and other classic elements.
Pilates
Pilates is aimed at reaching similar goals with a series of controlled movements. The major difference is that the Pilates technique has a full complement of mat work, as well as incorporates work on the Pilates machines. The emphasis of the exercises is to strengthen the abdominals, improve posture, stabilise and lengthen the spine, improve balance and overall strength.
Pilates works the whole body, emphasizing control, precision and concentration in both the mind and the body. The focus is on quality not quantity, so movements are not performed rapidly or repeated excessively. The abdominal muscles, lower back and buttocks (”powerhouse”) serve as the centre of all movement, allowing the rest of the body to move freely. This focus on core stabilization makes one stronger from the inside out and is critical for advancement. The low impact nature of Pilates makes it ideal for injury prevention and rehabilitation. The balance between strength and flexibility creates a healthy, vigorous and symmetrical workout for all muscle groups resulting in a leaner, more balanced, and stronger body.
Are you still left with a question of which of these two fitness techniques is right for you? Here’s an answer for you: do them both! You don’t necessarily have to choose. The nature of the techniques makes it easy for them to complement each other. Get the stretch from Yoga and keep it from Pilates. Strengthen your abdominals and watch your poses improve. Join the breathing techniques of Pilates and meditative aspect of Yoga into your daily routine and see the stress of your everyday life begin to dissipate. Both techniques are time-proven and established, and with the help of an experienced instructor, you will surely reach the goals you set up for yourself!
Chiropractic is an art, science and philosophy focusing on a nervous system free from interference to allow the body to reach it’s optimum potential, naturally.
Chiropractic is a main passion and interest in my life. Not only is it my profession, but a way to connect the mind and body; a lifestyle - a natural way to allow your body to heal itself, and so much more. It is about looking at the entire body. Our bodies act as a whole unit - from Above, Down, Inside, Out! I love serving the community and being pro-active in making a difference…both individually and collectively as a whole.
