Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony. ~Thomas Merton Above is one of my favorite quotations, and while Thomas Merton s words refer to the concept of happiness, I believe the same could be said of wellness. True health is a result of balance in every aspect of life and at Healing Touch Chiropractic, we re redefining health and the role balance plays in achieving overall well-being. Wellness is a result of realizing the interconnectedness of body, mind and soul. Finding this connection, allows you to not only live a healthier lifestyle but experience a level of performance you may have yet to experience in your life; an alignment of your skills, talents, desires, and passion that lead you to your full potential and an expression of your best you. It s about truly living life at it was intended, not just surviving it. In this program I ll be sharing the concept of balance, how a balanced lifestyle can transform your life and your health, and how to recognize imbalances in your life that may be holding you back from being your best. Plus, I ve also included my favorite tips for living in balance; mind, body and soul. Most importantly, however, I hope to inspire and empower you to take action and pro-actively work toward your health goals and ultimately a state of balance and harmony in your own life. And, if I can be of support in your journey, I invite you to contact me. Helping you achieve balance in your life, allows me to achieve balance in mine. Dr. Tiffany Johnson, D.C. Meet Dr. Tiffany Johnson, D.C. Healing Touch Chiropractic Dr. Tiffany Johnson, Healing Touch Chiropractic, West Fargo, is passionate about transforming lives! I love what I do because through the transformation of one person, a thousand lives are being changed! You can find Healing Touch Chiropractic on Facebook and learn how you can transform from tired and stressed to energized and balanced by visiting their website at! 45 21st Avenue East, Unit D, West Fargo Phone: 701.893.3150 Visit our website: Find us on Facebook
bal ance *bal-uhns+ noun State of equilibrium, harmony in the parts of a whole, habit of calm behavior What is balance? When you think of balance in relation to health, terms like balanced diet, work-life balance and more come to mind. Yet, balance encompasses so much more. Think back to your high school science days. Certainly you studied cells under a microscope. Little did you know that you were also witnessing a major similarity between all forms of life...balance. It is the same for all living things, each cell is programmed to maintain an environment of stability and balance, a process termed homeostasis. What role does balance play in overall health? From the smallest cell and organism, to the most intelligent human being; we must maintain balance to maintain health. The body is a miraculous self-healing, self-regulating organism, designed to strive toward wellness. As long as this important function is not altered, disturbed or blocked, this delicate balance of health is maintained. If balance is lost, the life force gets weaker, and soon symptoms, and then illness, begins to occur. How is balance in the body maintained? We rarely give much thought to the function of the body. Most likely you didn t consciously tell your body how it needed to perform today and yet, among its long list of accomplishments, it will digest your morning breakfast, provide the energy for your morning run, boost your immune system to overpower a virus and heal yesterday s paper cut. The nervous system is responsible for our every action and reaction of the body, whether conscious or unconscious, and thus is considered the Master System of the body. It s not often that we reflect on this marvel of engineering and yet beneath our consciousness it continuously manages every body function, including that of maintaining our delicate health balance. Yes, what the nervous system can accomplish, when functioning normally and without interference, is nothing short of amazing. So, what causes these imbalances? Basically, life! Unfortunately, our nervous system is usually under heavy attack. The result is imbalance and interference within the communication throughout our bodies. That is when we begin to experience problems in the form of symptoms and eventually illness and disease. The specific causes of interference and the resulting imbalance are varied, but can be described with one word that I m confident you ll recognized, and unfortunately know very well: STRESS.
What does stress have to do with it? Ninety percent of all illness and disease is linked to stress (or rather the imbalance that stress causes), and once you understand what stress is, and the effect of stress on the nervous system, it s easy to understand why. There are three distinct types of stress and each can have a debilitating effect on the function of the nervous system, which as you now know, regulates all body function including immunity and healing. Physical Stress: Causes include injury and trauma to the body, birth, repetitive motions affecting the spine, bad posture, improper work habits and workstation design, and weak or imbalanced spinal muscles. Chemical Stress: Causes include poor diet and nutritional practices, drug and alcohol use and abuse, and the ingestion of chemical toxins in the foods we eat, air we breathe, and water we drink. Emotional Stress: This is the stress you re sure to recognize...the feelings of stress that come with a hectic lifestyle, relationship problems, workplace challenges, and the worries of raising children. There must be an uninterrupted flow of communication from the brain, to the body, through the nervous system, for balanced and proper body function. Chemical stresses such as alcohol and diets high in refined sugar and artificial additives and preservatives, physical stress such as accidents and injuries, and emotional stress from our hectic lifestyles, can all disrupt body function. However, one of the most common types of nervous system interference is misalignments of the spinal column, commonly referred to as Vertebral Subluxation Complex. Are you stressed or out of balance? Sometimes the signs of imbalance are easy to spot because you are experiencing pain or other symptoms within your body. However, often there are no outward symptoms or pain. How can this be? Only 10% of our nervous system is programmed to perceive pain (the other 90% is programmed for function). That is why it is difficult to gauge balance and health by relying on feeling alone. By the time we experience feelings of pain, there are other more insidious matters taking place, affecting us at our very core and disrupting how our body is functioning. However, below are some of the more common signs of imbalance I see among practice members in my office. Addiction ADHD Allergies Anxiety Asthma Body aches/pain Boredom Colds and flu (recurrent) Digestive problems Dizziness Ear Infections Fatigue or lack of energy Fibromyalgia Forgetfulness Headaches Irritability Jaw clenching/pain Lack of purpose in life Migraines Muscle spasms Overwhelm PMS Rashes and Skin issues Sadness Sciatica Sleep problems Stiffness Tingling Tremors Weight gain
WELLNESS IN BALANCE ASSESSMENT "Wellness" is a healthy balance of the mind, body and spirit, that results in an overall feeling of well-being. Wellness and balance relate to many aspects of our lives. Complete the assessment below to determine your level of balance and health of each of the seven life areas listed. Give each a rating of 1 to 10 (1 being lowest level of satisfaction and balance, and 10 being highest). 1 = Lowest 10 = Highest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Physical Health: Are you a proper weight for your height? Are you eating healthy, whole foods? Drinking enough water? Getting adequate exercise? Eliminating sugar, tobacco, drugs and artificial sweeteners? Keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum? How would you describe your overall health condition? Mental Health: Are you a life-long learner? Do you seek out new experiences and keep an open mind to new ideas and ways of thinking? Do you think positively? Do you have an attitude of gratitude? Spiritual Health: Do you feel a connecting to something that gives your life meaning and purpose? Are you connected with a higher power? Do you take time daily for prayer, meditation, gratitude, and or/ connecting with nature? Career/Workplace Health: Does your career feed your passion? Do you look forward to going to work every day? Are you able to use your unique skills and talents in your work every day? Do the values of your workplace align with your personal values? Financial Health: Do you feel anxious about your current financial state? Do you have adequate funds in a savings account for emergency needs? Do you have a financial plan for retirement? Are your insurance and other financial matters in order? Social Health: Do you have one or more close friends? Can you maintain long-term relationships? Do you feel comfortable in social settings? Do you connect with others socially at least once a week? Family/Relationship Health: Are you in a loving relationship? Do you and your partner share similar values? Are you connected with your parents, siblings, and children? Do you give your family adequate attention and quality time? Review your results. The areas in green represent areas where balance and wellness exist. The red areas indicate an imbalance and potential lack of health. A balanced and healthy lifestyle doesn t just happen. However, with awareness, planning and intention you can achieve your highest potential for well-being.
How can you achieve a greater sense of balance? Wellness is the integration of body, mind, and soul; an awareness that the choices we make in one area affect all others. Unfortunately, a balanced lifestyle doesn t just happen. It requires planning, awareness and many conscious choices and decisions each day. True balance also requires a properly functioning body. The source of balance and health lie within your nervous system. For example, you can eat all the proper foods, eliminate all sugar and unhealthy fats, however if your body isn t absorbing the nutrients and digesting properly, you won t realize the full benefits of your dietary choices. The same is true for each healthy choice you make. If your body isn t functioning properly, you won t experience the full benefit. That s why I always recommend beginning by assessing body function. When your body is performing at optimal levels, everything else you do from diet to exercise, sleep to stretching, is having the greatest health benefit. How can Healing Touch Chiropractic help? A visit to our office allows me to do a complete and thorough assessment of your current health status and body function. We utilize the latest in state-of-the-art technology to provide a glimpse into the stress your body is experiencing, and the potential imbalances that may be present as a result. It s also important for me to understand your health goals and challenges. We take a holistic approach to wellness and healing in our office, and our concern goes far beyond your physical health alone. After completing a full health evaluation I can then present you with a complete report of my findings, sharing any areas of concern and my recommendations for how to improve your health. Of course I m also happy to answer your questions. You should also know that we deliver balance where you need it most. We take our health and wellness message on the road to the classroom, the board room and the living room teaching strategies to transform your health. We would love to present a wellness workshop on a timely health topic of interest to your workplace, school, club, or organization. Just contact our office for details. How would your life change if the area with the most stress was instead filled with balance?
No matter what your stress, no matter what your imbalance, no matter what the interference...you can overcome it and live your best life. It just takes a choice... Receive a thorough exam, state-of-the-art computerized health scan, and complete report of the findings. Only $49.00! Email Lyndi@htchiro.com or call 701-893-3150 today to schedule your consultation. How is your body functioning? There s only one way to find out! PLEASE SHARE THIS GIFT OF HEALTH WITH A FRIEND... Receive a thorough exam, state-of-the-art computerized health scan, and complete report of the findings. Only $49.00! Email Lyndi@htchiro.com or call 701-893-3150 today to schedule your consultation. How is your body functioning? There s only one way to find out! 45 21st Avenue East, Unit D, West Fargo Phone: 701.893.3150 Visit our website: Find us on Facebook