Poor posture and relative lifestyle habits are a topic I write about often, as these are such integral components in avoiding chronic pain. Chronic ailments can often escalate to other mental and physical health issues. Coping with chronic pain eventually takes its toll on the individual and those around them.
Posture is the relative placement of the human body and its components such as, but not confined to, the spine and limbs. Many people in the United States experience some type of chronic pain at some time in their lives. Causes of pain can vary depending upon the individual and their circumstances. Poor posture can be responsible for many ailments ranging from ankle, knee, hip and back pain. A spinal misalignment, due to improper posture, an injury, hereditary or even congenital conditions, can have an eventual ripple effect throughout the human body. A shift of .375″ (13mm) can cause the many ailments. A simple habitual tilt of the head or shift in the body weight over time, changes the alignment of the spine. This re-alignment begins to effect the muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves causing a total imbalance within these body systems. An injured ankle or knee can become the spark that cause a ripple effect literally from head to toe.
Common causes of poor posture:
Poor standing habits
Driving with one arm forward, back hunched, knees higher than hips
Head and shoulder pinching together to hold telephone
Sitting or standing cross legged
Short leg syndrome
Lack of muscle tone and core strength
No regular exercise schedule
NOTE: Occasional execution of the a fore mentioned practices, doesn’t necessarily lead to pain and other problems. It is the repetitive and accumulative effect over years that seem to cause the dysfunction.
Straining the neck forward to see closer, puts strain on the neck and upper back. This leads to hunching forward of the spine and a gradual realignment of the 3 natural curves (cervical, thoracic & lumbar).
Poor posture, combined with long hours sitting stagnant in a chair working or driving, can cause muscles within the legs to shorten and tighten over time. These muscles, specifically the hamstrings, cause the pelvis to tilt the tailbone forward. Or the quadriceps can tighten causing the tailbone to tilt backward and the lumbar spine to arch even more forward.
Habits of stress on the cervical spine caused by posture and position of the head, specifically an increase in forward head position. This increases the weight on the cervical spine especially in the C-7 to T-1 vertebrae. Addition bone mass is accumulated in this area to compensate for the extra strain on the muscles, tendons and ligaments within the neck.
Anterior head position can cause permanent damage resulting in: – Back, neck, shoulder arm pain – Decrease in spinal curves – Gastrointestinal problems – Headaches – Lung capacity decreased – Muscle damage – Nerve damage – Spinal disc compression – Spinal disc herniation
What is the solution to these issues?
get up out of the chair more often
become more active
consult with your physician or chiropractor
have your posture checked
stretch regularly
perform non-specific symmetrical exercises
inspect footwear for uneven wear patterns
evaluate poor posture habits and adjust
review career choices if necessary
exercises from tai chi, yoga and qigong offer methods that specifically focus on balancing poor postural habits.
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I write often about topics that affect our health and well-being. Additionally, I teach and offer lectures about qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Method of Moxibustion
Moxibustion is the method of burning Mugwort (Ai Ye) or other herbs on, around, or above Acupuncture points. The leaves of the Moxa plant, as Mugwort is sometimes called, are usually dried in the sun, finely ground to a texture like wool or cotton, and then sifted until a fine, soft, and light green consistency is obtained. Moxa holds together well, burns evenly, and is relatively inexpensive. Moxa can be rolled into balls, shaped into cones, or purchased commercially in small or long rolls. The moxa balls and cones can be burned directly on the skin, or indirectly on a medium in between the Moxa and the skin. Small balls can also be used on the end of a needle as in the Warm needle techniques. Tiny pre-rolled Moxa or “Shish” Moxa can be purchased commercially, and is sometimes used at the end of a needle in place of loose Moxa. The longer moxa sticks, eight to ten (8-10) inch are usually used in a circular or “sparrow pecking” (rapidly moving the burning end near and far from the skin) motion around an Acupuncture point.
INDIRECT MOXIBUSTION Practitioner places burning moxa wool on the top of the acupuncture needle. After the desired effect is achieved, the moxa is extinguished and the needle(s) removed. Indirect moxibustion is the more popular use of moxibustion because there is a much lower risk of pain or burning. Indirect moxa is probably the most commonly used as it can warm a greater area of the body with greater comfort. This too can be further broken down into the two most commonly used forms: warming needle and moxa pole. The moxa pole looks a lot like a cigar. It is lit at one end until it is smoldering hot, and then it is held over an acupuncture point or region of the body to warm it. In warming needle, an acupuncture needle is placed into a point on the body, and then a small ball of moxa is placed on the head of the needle. The moxa is then lit, so that the entire ball of moxa burns and smolders completely, thereby warming not only the surface of the skin below the moxa, but also the needle itself, and in turn the qi deep within the acupuncture point.
DIRECT MOXIBUSTION A small, cone-shaped amount of moxa wool is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned. Then it is extinguished or removed before it burns the skin. With direct moxibustion the patient will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the skin, but should not experience any pain, blistering or scarring. Direct moxa means the moxa is applied directly onto the body. This is further broken down into what is called the scarring and the non-scarring methods. Most practitioners these days don’t perform scarring moxa anymore. It is very strong and quite effective! The non-scarring is the more common direct moxa method, and involves a small bunch of moxa being put onto the body, usually in the shape of cone, and burned down until the warmth is felt by the patient, and then removed. Many rounds of this would be done until a very strong sense of heat was felt at the point.
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I write often about topics that affect our health and well-being. Additionally, I teach and offer lectures about qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga.
All of our senses are a pathway into our inner pharmacy where tonic thoughts produce tonic chemicals, and toxic thoughts produce toxic chemicals. Stress and negative emotions help produce cortisol, nor-epinephrine and epinephrine. Relaxation and serenity help to produce dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins.
We truly are the architect of our own healing and destiny, where our perspectives and beliefs can shift our own biology and physiology.
Our consciousness is an interpretation of the information that our senses obtain from our immediate internal and external environment.
Our cells adjust their biology from the chemical messengers produced within our body and circulated throughout our blood chemistry.
Most people actually have the ability to change the perception of their own environment, thereby adjusting the functions of the cells.
We need not be the victims of our heredity as we change our perception, change our environment and thereby control our genetic activity. We can become the master of our genetic activities.
Our health can be viewed as something that we can regulate through the choices we make in our lives.
What we think, what we feel, what we believe and the emotions we choose to respond with, all affect immunoglobulin A (IGA) in the blood. IGA is the primary defense against bacteria and viruses. circulated in our blood chemistry and affecting relative organ functions.
American society has been indoctrinated to believe that Western, conventional or allopathic medical doctors know best for everyone’s health and well-being, and the patient should not question this. Pharmaceuticals, surgery and convenience are major components to their healthcare.
Many people have little knowledge of what naturopaphy, chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese medicine and others being legitimate healthcare modalities. Western doctors often will not even acknowledge other modalities beyond being placebos, let alone recommend them for a patient’s specific individual needs. Ironically, the US allopathic healthcare system also relies substantially on the patient’s potential belief in medicine improving their ailment. Factors such as trust in the doctor prescribing the medication, specific details regarding the medicine, like its brand, color, price, name, and place of origin can all affect this perception that medical pharmaceuticals can fix all or many ailments. If placebos can be accepted as a major part of the healing process, more people will be able to take control and accountability of their own well-being. Maybe it truly is “all in our heads”.
Hope & Gratitude
People can resist the unfounded fears in their lives. Our bodies know how to be healthy, but our fear affects our body’s ability to heal itself.
Our lives are as beautiful or terrible as we choose to perceive them. We have as much or as little opportunity as we choose to pursue.
We can choose to see what an amazing gift it is to be alive. We can choose to focus on love in our lives, of our family and other loved ones. We can choose to be grateful for what we have, and often for what we don’t have.
The human body is brilliantly designed to perform seemingly miraculous events of self-regulation and self-healing.
Regardless of how severe or long someone has been ill, there is a hope that they are capable of some level of healing. Many with much less hope or resources, have achieved much more than those with deep pockets, power and celebrity.
We Are Not Our Thoughts
The mind is composed of two independent entities, being the conscious and the subconscious minds.
The subconscious mind is the default autopilot program, which is where we operate most often throughout our waking hours. This is where we execute mundane tasks, seemingly without much thought or effort. The subconscious mind comes primarily from absorbing other people’s behavior and actions.
The conscious mind is the engaged, thinking and creative mind. It is in this state of mind that we can become aware as the observer of our thoughts.
Understand how our mind works, in that it is actually our own consciousness that directs our thoughts and emotions. Once we realize this, we are empowered to become the director of our actions with unlimited potential.
Healthcare modalities of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine recognize disease as occurring in patterns, cycles or stages. The idea that an individual just becomes ill one day, is hard to acknowledge when obvious patterns in lifestyle choices affect overall health and well-being over the course of a lifetime.
6 Stages of Disease
Six stages of how disease comes into being:
1 – accumulation
2 – aggravation
3 – spread
4 – localization
5 – manifestation
6 – diversified
These stages have everything to do with the individual’s own accountability of their health and lifestyle choices and not so much about what others are doing or not doing.
TCM view of stages of disease
Focus
The world around us is vastly shaped by what we pay attention to at any given moment. Research shows that most people can only hold their attention for about 90 minutes at a time, depending upon the activity or subject. A huge component of focus is motivation. When properly motivated the human mind, body and spirit are quite capable of accomplishing what might have been perceived as improbable or impossible.
People often demonstrate amazing levels of focus when performing skilled work or tasks while using their hands. A theory for this is that such tasks provide a framework of values. It is here where the mind engages the body. Heal the body by using the mind. Heal the mind by engaging the body. This has worked for thousands of years, but in recent years this concept has lost popularity to modern pharmaceuticals to improve focus.
The mind directs the body, while the body protects the mind. Practices such as yoga, tai chi and qigong, all have proven the test of time for their healing properties of the mind, body and spirit. I have personally healed many physical injuries to my spine, shoulders, and knees from these methods. I have treated my own ailments of headaches, allergies and various other aches and pains. Additionally, I have addressed and managed other issues of anxiety, grief, and anger through my diligent practices. I have shared these techniques with hundreds and possibly thousands of others, over my years whether through in person instruction, lectures, publications, or online video classes.
If we can get ourselves all worked up and stressed by watching disturbing news shows or engaging in other negative issues and activities, we can conversely put ourselves in a state of peace, joy or contentment through our thoughts and actions. We are our own architect of our life, our health, our happiness, our destiny.
Control the body with the mind. Manage the mind by disciplining the body, through physical activity. Learn to be more active, eat healthier, sleep better, stress less – these are the key components to maintaining a strong mind, body, immune system, and outlook on life.
I am currently offering wellness lectures and classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park.
Sitting for prolonged amounts of time is as, or more detrimental than tobacco smoking.
Most people are beginning to realize that sitting too much is unhealthy. Most feel lethargic after sitting after a long day at work or a TV binge . What exactly goes downhill in our bodies when we sit on the average, for nearly eight hours per day?
Common health issues from prolonged sitting:
Tightness of hips & relative muscle groups
Weakened abdominal muscles
Pancreas over-stimulation
Achy shoulders and back
Weakened glute muscles
Vertebrae issues
Heart disease
Colon cancer
Neck strain
More specific health issues:
Head: Long periods of sitting can help to form blood clots, which can eventually travel to the brain resulting in stroke.
Neck: Muscles in the neck become strained and tight. Fluid retained in the lower body during the day, returns to the neck region during sleep causing sleep apnea.
Lungs: All day sitting raises doubles the risk of pulmonary embolism or blood clotting.
Heart: Heart disease and diabetes risk doubles for those with a sedentary lifestyle versus those who are more active.
Stomach: Prolonged sitting often leads to obesity, colon cancer and other digestion ailments. Metabolism is impaired as enzymes within muscles responsible for breaking down fats are essential turned off from lack of physical movement.
Spine (muscles & vertebrae): Prolonged sitting puts excess pressure on vertebrae and muscles, compressing nerves connected to the whole body affecting many bodily functions.
Arms & Legs: Lack of physical movement of the limbs helps lead to high blood pressure.
Glutes: Pressure on nerves running through glutes and legs can become compressed causing pain and leading to more lack of activity.
Posture: Posture is the relative placement of the human body and its components such as, but not confined to, the spine and limbs. Many people in the United States experience some type of chronic pain at some time in their lives. Causes of pain can vary depending upon the individual and their circumstances. Poor posture can be responsible for many ailments ranging from ankle, knee, hip and back pain. A spinal misalignment, due to improper posture, an injury, hereditary or even congenital conditions, can have an eventual ripple effect throughout the human body. A shift of .375″ (13mm) can cause the depicted ailments. A simple habitual tilt of the head or shift in the body weight over time, changes the alignment of the spine. This re-alignment begins to effect the muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves causing a total imbalance within these body systems. An injured ankle or knee can become the spark that cause a ripple effect literally from head to toe. Instinctively, as humans we try to center our head directly above our physical center of gravity. Poor posture, short leg syndrome, injuries or habitual body movements can cause remodeling of the muscular, skeletal and nervous system. These root problems can be the cause of many chronic ailments.
What is the solution to these issues?
get up out of the chair more often
become more active
consult with your physician or chiropractor
have your posture checked
stretch regularly
perform non-specific symmetrical exercises
inspect footwear for uneven wear patterns
evaluate poor posture habits and adjust
review career choices if necessary
_______________
Control the body with the mind. Manage the mind by disciplining the body, through physical activity. Learn to be more active, eat healthier, sleep better, stress less – these are the key components to maintaining a strong mind, body, immune system, and outlook on life.
I am currently offering wellness lectures and classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park.
“Cardiovascular disease kills more people each year than Covid at its worst. We know how to prevent it. We just need the political will.”
Excerpt from the article:
“First, some basics. In the first two years of the pandemic, Covid killed nearly 900,000 people in the U.S. In those same years, heart attacks and strokes killed more than 1.6 million. Globally, Covid killed more than 10 million people in the first two years of the pandemic; in the same two years, cardiovascular disease killed more than 35 million. The three leading drivers of heart attacks and strokes—accounting for around two-thirds of the global total—are tobacco use, hypertension and air pollution, and all three are preventable.”
consult with your physician, nutritionist, chiropractor or other healthcare professional regularly
have your posture checked
exercise and stretch regularly
perform non-specific symmetrical exercises (engage both left & right, top & bottom)
inspect footwear for uneven wear patterns
evaluate poor lifestyle habits and adjust
review career choices if necessary
have an outlet for your stress and emotional ups & downs
evaluate alcohol and drug consumption
_______________
Control the body with the mind. Manage the mind by disciplining the body, through physical activity. Learn to be more active, eat healthier, sleep better, stress less – these are the key components to maintaining a strong mind, body, immune system, and outlook on life.
I am currently offering wellness lectures and classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park.
United Martial Arts Association 