Spring has Sprung!

Posted by: Dr. Fedeli

    

June is such an energetic month and we see a lot of our patients increasing their activity levels as they enjoy the good weather. That’s why we thought it was time we had another conversation about...

Foundational Movement Practices!

You’ve heard about them. You’ve worked on them. And you love them...right? The truth is that many patients could use a refresher. There is so much new information to digest at The Balancing Center and something as compelling as the FMP program is definitely worth extra study. It’s our hope that this month we can all renew our commitment to Foundational Movement Practices in order  to maximize our energy, stay balanced, and get the most out of our workouts.

What are Foundational Movement Practices?

They are movement patterns and sequences that encourage your body and nervous system to re-calibrate and stay balanced. They teach you to navigate and move your body as it is anatomically designed to move so that your nervous system creates new and more balanced muscle memories. You will also gain a new sense of proper posture in everyday activities, such as sitting at your desk, standing in line, lifting things, and working out.

How do I learn them?

Your third visit to The Balancing Center is your introduction to FMP. In just ten minutes your doctor can teach you the exercises and help you practice them. Many of our patients enjoy such fabulous results that they schedule an FMP session for every visit. Any time you stop by our office you can request an illustrated packet describing the exercises in detail. These will help you practice at home.

Any additional resources?

So glad you asked! The doctors have created short videos demonstrating and explaining each exercise in the FMP sequence! These are incredible visual tools for patients who want to get the most out of their care at The Balancing Center. You can find these videos in the FMP section of our website.

What’s so great about these exercises?

Another excellent question! Foundational Movement Practices have helped many of our patients achieve breakthrough results, whether they are trying to get out of pain or maximize their day-to-day performance. Check out what some people have said about how FMP have helped maximize their care: Whitney's testimonial!

Experience amazing results by scheduling your Foundational Movement Practice session today!

During the month of June, refer a Friend and receive a FREE Foundational Movement Practice session on your next visit (a $45 value)!
Offer Ends June 30, 2013. 

Blood Sugar - Take Control!

Posted by: Dr Ken Bennett

A patient of mine, let’s call him Doug, came in primarily for help with anxiety issues, but also some pain and discomfort in his back and body.  He is also floating between pre-diabetes and diabetes.  In about six weeks or so of treatment with Barry’s bodywork and my care (primarily B.E.S.T. treatments) Doug’s spine and alignment are better and his nervous system is functioning with more ease.  As a result his anxiety and discomfort has improved a lot and he’s very excited with his progress.  

Last week, I encouraged him to try using Orenda’s Balance Spray.  The herbal ingredients in this spray have been shown to have a ‘balancing effect’ on blood sugar and insulin; both are issues for those with diabetes, and cortisol, our stress hormone that goes up when we’re anxious or stressed.  People like Doug with anxiety and pre-diabetes can greatly benefit from this ‘balancing effect’.  

It’s been less than a week since he started using the Balance Spray and the first words out of Doug’s mouth this week were, “What in the @#$^% is in that Balance spray?!”  He said he’s never seen his blood glucose numbers this low in the 3 years he’s been checking it 4x’s a day.  He’s also lost 5lbs in a week after being stuck at a weight plateau for the past 3 years.  

Of course, you don’t have to have anxiety or diabetes to benefit from our care.  We help the nervous system, which is the master control of your body, to function optimally.  When a healthy nervous system is combined with the right supplement, amazing results are possible.

Flu Shot: Are 50/50 Odds Worth It?

Posted by:Dr Dan

A recent article from USA Today, stated that the flu vaccine was effective in only 9% of adults 65 years and older.  Stated more clearly, the flu vaccine was 91% INEFFECTIVE.

In all age groups, it was said that the vaccine was 56% "successful".
Where in the world are 50-50 odds considered successful except in the weather department of the newsroom?!

The flu shot is definitely a big money maker for the pharmaceutical industry. At its worst, it fills your body with toxic chemicals which ironically weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to the flu and other germs. Check out our previous blog from November where Dr. Ken covered this topic.

There are better ways to improve your immune system than with a faulty vaccine system. We recommend the Orenda products such as Immune and of course we provide chiropractic support for the immune system as well.

Here are a few highlights to help your immune system work properly. (Read the full blog here.)

#1 Way to Boost your Immune System - Get adjusted and let your nervous system do its thing.
~ The nervous system runs the immune system.  Adjustments allow the nervous system to function better.  The more your nervous system is able to function as it is designed to function (healthy and well) the more resilient and vital every system in our body is, including the immune system.

#2 Way to Boost your Immune System - Eat a healthy diet and take quality supplements.
~ What we eat and drink and the vitamins and supplements we take either support us or hinder us. Eating plenty of organic, fresh fruits and vegetables and organic, free range meat gives our body the vitamins, minerals, protein and good fats necessary to be healthy. A few supplements we carry in the office are great for immune system support.

Orenda Immune, Vitamin D, Detox Essentials, Orenda Balance, 
Alka Green, and Arabinogalactans (Larch Tree Extract).  

#3 Way to Boost your Immune System - Sweat.
~ There are two ways to sweat that support your health in different ways. First, passive sweating is sitting in a sauna or hot bath, it’s almost like giving yourself a fever.  As your internal temperature raises your body detox’s from the inside out. Second, active sweating is exercise.  You really don’t have to exercise until you are dripping wet. Just getting up and getting your body moving helps to increase circulation throughout your body but especially the circulation of your lymphatic system.

Posted by: Barry Krost

Over at HuffPost we found this amazing article describing the negative effects of stress on our bodies. We know that a little stress can be good for you, but when you're constantly feeling under pressure -- overwhelmed, anxious, totally frazzled -- the effects can actually add up to something dangerous. As if a clear, peaceful mind wasn't incentive enough to de-stress, we rounded up some of the scariest ways stress can wreak havoc on our bodies -- from fueling cancer to raising the risk of heart attacks.

For tips on beating stress, read this, this, this and this.

This link will take you straight to their article. Enjoy and live stress free!

Is the Flu Vaccine Right for You?

Posted by: Dr. Ken

Just the other day I had a patient, Laura, email me asking for my opinion on flu shots. So I thought I’d share my response because it’s an important topic and something that all of us at The BC are passionate about.  So many places have flu shots available these days that it seems like Starbucks might start offering free flu shots with every Grande Mocha Latte…

Here’s my email:

“Thanks for asking. I do indeed have an opinion.  I think flu shots are pretty useless. The bug slightly mutates every year and the shot is nothing more than a mix of previous years’ bugs.  It seems to me that people commonly get the flu after the shot…

In general, I’m not a fan of vaccines.  Bugs, diseases, etc. rarely get into the body directly through the blood.  Our immune system has skin, mucous, hair, digestive enzymes, white blood cells, etc. set up in defense.  Shots bypass all of our natural defenses and go straight into our blood.  This leaves the immune system at a loss and trying to play catch up.  On top of that, they are mixed with many toxic chemicals and fillers that do more even more harm to the body.

My biggest issue is that nowhere in nature is anyone ever exposed to measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, hepatitis and more all at one time and then again a few months later…it’s not natural and not safe.  A much slower and smaller schedule is much safer.

I know this is much more than you asked for but it is a topic I’m passionate about. There’s so many chemicals we intake daily without much choice as is.  Why bother adding another that is from last year’s bug…”

There’s a lot of evidence supporting Vitamin D as a great way to strengthen your immune system and fight the flu.  I actually blogged about the importance of Vitamin D last year, check it out here: The "D" Defense Against the Dark 

Regardless of what you choose to do, we take it as our responsibility let you know that there are plenty of safe and effective alternatives to keeping yourself healthy; Alternatives that don’t involve needles, pill bottles and side effects."

Studies say sitting might be killing you, but we say it doesn’t have to

Posted by: Whitney Compton

As you know, we talk a lot about how important posture is.  Sitting, standing, walking, running, yoga-ing.  As many of you remember, Dr. Ken had a great article in Yoga Chicago (“The 90 Degree Solution”) a few years ago talking about ergonomics in your workplace.  We talk about posture a lot because many people underestimate how much your posture affects so many aspects of your life! Your energy, your digestion, your weight, your pain and discomfort, your attitude... all are affected by posture.

We do suggest you create time in your day for movement (getting a quick walk around the block or a mini FMP session would do wonders for you).  While studies are beginning to show that sitting has very negative health effects,  we know when it comes down to it, many of us have to sit longer than we really want. That is why at The Balancing Center we want to educate people on how to sit properly.  By learning this, you will negate these bad health effects and perpetuate better ones, like more energy!

Watch this fun, quick, easy video Dr. Taka found about how to simply adjust your sitting station, at the office or around the house- for ALL AGES!  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jbV5dGvJWyo

Temporary Fix or Real Repair: What do you want?

Posted by: Dr. Ken Bennett

Just like repairing a road, true healing takes place over time.  Anyone who lives in Chicago knows how annoying construction season can be.  Sure they could just fill in the potholes over and over again until they wind up swallowing a bus.  Or they can do it right and tear things up, take a few month to resurface and repave, and leave the smooth sailing to us.  You have to admit that once it’s done, it is great to drive on a well paved road.

Your health is very similar to road repair.  Of course you can take Advil to cover up the pain and hope it goes away.  But, these strategies don’t work because the underlying problems remain.  At The Balancing Center, people get optimal results when they embrace a process that allows the body to heal over time. We help people go beyond pain relief to an awareness of better health and happiness. The key is to really understand the concept that the pain/problem didn’t appear out of the blue.  

Just like the pothole, conditions like joint pain, heart disease or headaches, were already eroding and breaking down under the radar. Because the body is designed to compensate, problems can be silent until BOOM you hit a crisis. The doctors at The Balancing Center are great at helping you manage the crisis and get out of pain.  Success!  You feel better, but, you’ve only just begun to heal.

As the crisis was building, your tissues (muscles, nerves, bones, ligaments) were straining and inflaming due to uneven wear and tear.  Once balance is restored and the pain is gone, the tissues can finally heal.  If you want more than just a temporary fix, you need to stick with your treatment plan.  The care you receive when you’re already feeling good helps take your body to a whole new level of functionality and health.  The home exercises the doctors can teach you (Foundational Movement Practices) will help  support your adjustments, retrain your muscle memory and reset posture, allowing  your body to repave the road to an experience of strength and well being.

Keep your eyes peeled for our next blog, where we’ll talk about the ‘cycles of repair’ and how old aches and pains coming back can actually be signs that you are on the right track.