News

10 Thoughts on Whole Living, June

1) IT’S IMPORTANT TO OCCASIONALLY GO OUT ON A LIMB-especially if you expect to get the best fruit.

2) WALT WHITMAN MAY HAVE SAID IT BEST: “IF ANY THING IS SACRED, THE HUMAN BODY IS SACRED.”

3) Think about the places or environments that bring out the best in you. Now figure out a way to visit them more often.

4) Dwelling on small joys is more rewarding than obsessing over little annoyances.

5) FILE UNDER CLICHED-BUT-TRUE: The quirky things that make you “you”- even the so-called flaws- may turn out to be assets.

6) When we look after our health today, tomorrow starts to look much brighter. (And more fun!)

7) TIME YOU ENJOY WASTING ISN’T WASTED TIME.

8 ) Those tiny changes we make in our personal worlds can be stepping-stones to big changes we make in the wider world.

9) The upside to grand failures: THEY MAKE GREAT STORIES.

10) Burgers and hot dogs can be part of a balanced diet. Yes, really.

50% Off Massage

Receive 50% off your first Massage with your first Chiropractic visit. Experience what many are calling “The Best Massage of their life” from Laura Hill or Jo Linden, Licensed Massage Therapists extraordinaire.

10 Thoughts on Whole Living, April

1) Action is one of the best remedies FOR FEAR.

2) IF YOU WANT HAPPINESS FOR A LIFETIME, HELP THE NEXT GENERATION.

3) Worth asking: Where in my work is the opportunity to improve the world, EVEN IN THE SMALLEST WAY?

4) Making waves may be riskier than treading water- but it’s also more productive.

5) Going green is like protecting your health; it comes down to respecting the place you inhabit.

6) Often it’s not our values that are faulty, but our priorities.

7) It’s impossible to learn to swim WITHOUT JUMPING IN THE WATER.

8 ) FOLLOW WHAT MAKES YOU NATURALLY CURIOUS; IT WILL LEAD YOU TO YOUR PASSIONS AND PURPOSE.

9) TRY NOT TO CONFUSE ONE DEFEAT WITH TOTAL DEFEAT.

10) EACH TIME YOU TURN ON THE FAUCET, LET IT BE A REMINDER TO GO WITH THE FLOW.

*from Whole Living Magazine, April 2012

Home Care ESSENTIALS

How can you get the most out of your treatments at Lula? Well, I’ll tell you. After years of practice, we have narrowed down the wide world of home care tools to 6 of the most important. Every household should have these in their arsenal to keep the healing going beyond the Lula table. And you don’t have to go Googling about town because we carry them at Lula Health Center.

1) Trigger Point Ball- Well, this is actually a lacrosse ball. I found that a lacrosse ball is the perfect size and texture for relieving knots and trigger points from muscles. Place the ball between your sore spot and a wall, the ground or, for a softer amount of pressure, lie on your bed. Hang out for at least five breaths, then release and feel fresh blood flow through the area. This is so effective at breaking up tight patterns in muscles.

2) Foam Roller- Imagine your body as a ball of dough and the foam roller as the rolling pin that rolls it into the length and shape we want. Foam rollers are like your very own in house massage therapist!

3) Balance Ball- These balls are great for soooo many things. Stretches, core exercises, even used as a chair for the office or at home. If you decide to use the balance ball as your desk chair, we suggest alternating between the ball and your regular office chair. This will keep your body on its toes so it is less likely to slouch. This will also remind you to get up and take breaks away from the computer!

4) China Gel- This is a topical pain reliever. The cool feeling of China Gel may be just the thing to get your mind off of your pain. Did you know that just thinking about your pain can increase the amount of pain you’re in? Yep, the mind is a powerful thing!

5) Epsom Salt- Epsom salts contain Magnesium which is a natural muscle relaxer. Put 1-2 cups into your warm bath before bed to enter a state of cozy bliss.

6) Heat/Ice pack- Heat and ice are natures anti-inflammatories. Ice is best used when an injury is fresh- in the first 3 days or after a Graston treatment at Lula. After this it may be better to alternate between heat and ice to promote cleansing circulation through the area. If you are experiencing chronic tension, heat only may be your friend. This softens and relaxes tissues. Talk to your Lula provider about which is the best combo for you right now.

Spring 2012 Artist

Come see the latest artistry on the massage room chalk wall. One client said she felt as if she was getting a massage up in the trees. Check out Andrew Simard’s “In the Time of Monarchs” and see more of his work on his Facebook Page. Andrew specializes in pet portraits on velvet. Get ‘em while they’re hot!

Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

Some of us feel that sleep is a luxury. Demanding jobs mean getting up early, and for some of us going to bed early feels like you’ve lost the day, so we compensate by sleeping less. But is that good enough? The oft-cited optimal level of sleep for an adult is the magic eight hours. However, individuals vary in their sleep needs from as little as five hours to as much as ten hours per night. Feeling drowsy during the day might mean you’re not getting enough winks, so how can you tell if you’re sleeping too much or too little?

A recent study conducted at the University of Westminster has concluded that there are people who are at their best and who are ready for action first thing in the morning, and another group who just cannot do mornings well. This may seem obvious, but why are some people early birds, and others night owls? The group who were awake early in the morning was found to have higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, than those who prefer to sleep in. The results of this study indicate that there may be a physiological difference between early risers and late sleepers. The difference in cortisol levels may also contribute to different temperaments between the different sleep groups. Those who awaken early in the morning, tend to be busier and more concentrated, but are also angrier and have less energy at the end of the day than their late-rising counterparts. In late-riser group, people are more likely to be relaxed and less busy. Cortisol is a hormone known to affect both mood and concentration. While it’s hard to specify an ideal time to get up in the morning, if you’re feeling stressed there is an increased chance you’ll feel better if you add an extra half an hour of sleep to your night.

What about the effects of sleep deprivation? It is well known that sleep deprivation can be dangerous, especially if you are driving or using heavy machinery. The effect on driving may be as dangerous as driving under the influence. Not sleeping enough can also suppress your immune system and increases your perception of pain.

Most scientists believe eight hours of sleep is a safe amount and is enough to function comfortably. If you’re alert during the day, then chances are you’re sleeping enough. However if you feel a dip during the day, then even a 10- or 15-minute nap can make a big difference in your concentration and performance.  If you can’t get enough sleep on a certain day, you can always make it up afterwards. Sleep longer by going to bed earlier, sleep in on the weekend or even take a nap to help to replenish the sleep debt left. In general, however, try to have a regular sleep schedule to keep your body as rested and ready-to-go as possible.

The Right Desk Chair Makes All the Difference

For the majority of us who work in office and at desk jobs, we spend a great deal of time sitting down. While sitting for most of the day seems pretty low risk compared to other occupational hazards, sitting in the same position all the time can stress the structures of the spine, and may result in injuries to the back, neck and even the wrist. It is important to find an office chair that is ergonomically designed to support the lower back and promote good posture. An ergonomic chair cannot only prevent injury and pain in the back, but it also maximizes your function at work.

When looking for the right ergonomic chair for you, it is important to find one suited to your needs. With so many ergonomic office chairs on the market, it’s important to research them, since there is no single chair that could be labeled the “best.” There are specific features that should be considered when looking for a desk chair, such as adjustable seat height. Your feet should be flat on the floor with your thighs at a horizontal position, and your arms should be even with the height of the desk. Having an adjustable arm rest is also beneficial, since users can rest their arms and relax their shoulders, which can eliminate significant tension while working. You should also look for a chair with a seat that has sufficient width and depth to support any user. While working, you should be able to sit with your back resting against the back of the chair. In addition, the back should also be adjustable in its tilt forward and backwards.

One big issue about working at a desk all day is that many chairs are not designed to support the lower back. Support for our lumbar spine, or our lower back, is very important. Our spinal curvature has an inward curve in the lumber spine, and sitting for too long without supporting it will lead to slouching and straining the structures of the lower spine. An ergonomic chair must offer lumber support and adjustment, so the user can fit the chair to the inward curve of the lower back.

Additional things to also consider are the seat material: is it comfy? An ergonomic chair with a swivel on the chair can help you reach different areas of your desk without strain.

After researching the properties of the ergonomic chairs on the market, you need to consider your specific job and what functions you need to perform. Consider your priorities and properties you need for your ergonomic chair. Once you’ve decided on the chair for you, explore stores to try the chairs out. See if they’re comfortable and meet your needs. Shop around, both online and off to make sure you get the best price and quality out there. You might also want to consider alternative ergonomic chairs, such as kneeling or saddle chairs and even the exercise ball chair.

50% off Massage.

Receive 50% off your first massage with your first Chiropractic visit. Experience what many are calling “The Best Massage of their life” from Laura Hill, Licensed Massage Therapist extraordinairre.