July 4th, 1776 was the day the United States of
America officially declared independence from Britain. The core issue outlined in The Declaration of
Independence was summarized in the phase, “We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty,
and the pursuit of Happiness.”
As a chiropractor I believe these rights extend to our
bodies as well. All day, every day you experience life through the wonderful vehicle
of your body. Because you only get one body, your future abilities to enjoy life
are effected by your day to day efforts to use it actively and appropriately!
When you see kids running around on the beach playing or
adults throwing a frisbee it is apparent how much enjoyment there is in the
freedom to move. Oftentimes people forget this. I see able bodied twenty five
year olds standing on the escalator instead of walking. I see people calling an
Uber rather than walking the half or quarter mile to their next location. It is
almost as if people choose to use their healthy bodies as little as possible even
though the ability to move is one of the greatest gifts and freedoms a human
being has.
Physical inactivity makes the body progressively weaker and
stiffer, which takes away freedoms once taken for granted. Just like in a
democracy, citizens of a country must use their freedom appropriately to protect
their rights; we need to move our bodies to be able to continue to happily and
efficiently move as we age. Next time you find your inner voice complaining
about the effort of climbing a flight of steps, be grateful for the ability to
do so. Next time you are in walkable distance to your next business engagement,
leave early and enjoy the fresh air and rejuvenation of walking. If it is not
comfortable for you to do these everyday activities come into The Balancing
Center so we can re-connect you to your
natural ability to move. This Independence Day take full advantage of the
freedom of movement you have, no matter how small or great, recognizing it as integral
to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
by: Dr. Helgerman