This new program streamlines paperwork and approvals so the practitioner can focus on patients’ care and recovery. The patients would not have to worry about making any payments, submitting separate claims and dealing with any administrative work. The focus of this program is solely for patients’ benefits.

Patients can choose whether or not to participate in the program with doctors, like myself, that are enrolled with ICBC.   For more information click the link below or call the clinic.

http://partners.icbc.com/health-services/docs/PI339.pdf

Dr. Soroush Khoshroo

Here is another offering for people who want to get started meditating but don’t know an easy route.  The best and easiest routes are to utilize those things we are already doing – like breathing!

There are many techniques to meditate using your breath, most involving altering your breathing patterns consciously.  That can mean slowing it down, speeding it up, using your mouth and nose in different ways to stimulate different effects.  We will run through a few easy ones to get you started and if you have questions you can always ask.

For all these techniques you can sit comfortably either on the floor or in a chair, making sure your clothes feel comfortable and you are not too distracted by outside stimulus.  Truly, the greatest thing about breath meditations is that you can actually do them anywhere but obviously BE SAFE!

Each meditation can be practices for 3-30 minutes depending on how much time you want to devote to it and the level of transformation you are looking for.  But don’t underestimate the power of doing just 3 minutes every day - people have changed their whole lives by committing to that small amount of time every day – I’m not kidding.

LONG DEEP BREATHING (relaxing):

A great stress-buster and re-focuser when you are feeling overwhelmed.

Take a moment to notice what your regular rate of breathing is – if it takes you two counts to breathe in slow your breath in and out to 5 counts each (5 in, 5 out).  As you practice and your diaphragm relaxes you will be able to up the time to much higher numbers (ie: in for 15, out for 15 or in for 20, out for 20).

Simply count to yourself the number of beats in and the number of beats out as you breathe, focusing on how the breath feels as it moves in and out of your body.  Breath into your belly and lower lungs before filling the upper lungs – too many of us just use our upper lungs, which is enough to keep us alive but does little to increase our vitality.

LEFT NOSTRIL BREATHING (relaxing):

Breathing through your left nostril relaxes the body by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system – great to do this technique if you are feeling wound up, angry, frustrated, stressed etc. and want to calm down

Keeping your spine and head straight simply reach up with the side of your right thumb and block off your right nostril so only your left nostril is available to breath through. If your nostril is blocked just intend for your body to breath through that side and make the motions as if you are.  If you must allow air to seep in through the right or take  some intermittent breaths through your mouth then do so but try to keep the intention of breathing through your left.  With time your nostril will clear and you will be able to breath smoothly through the one side.

RIGHT NOSTRIL BREATHING (stimulating):

Breathing through your right nostril stimulates your sympathetic nervous system and wakes up your body – great to do if you are feeling sluggish or depressed, fatigued, worn out or need a boost.

Keeping your spine and head straight reach up with your right hand and with your right index finger block off your left nostril and breath in and out through the right nostril.  As above, if your right side is blocked simply intend for your breath to move through this nostril as you breath through whatever means are available to you.  If you keep the intention for long enough your nostril will clear and you will be able to breath quite naturally through it.

ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING (balancing):

Alternating the breath through the nostrils creates a balance through your whole body and mind, great to do at any time and for any reason.

Keeping your spine and head straight reach up and block off your right nostril with your right thumb and breath in through your left nostril.  Before you breath out release your right nostril and reach around to block off your left nostril with your right index finger; allow the breath to escape through the right nostril.  Continue alternately breathing in through the left nostril and out through the right.  If one nostril is blocked do your best to breath through it, keeping your intention clear and feeling as if you are breathing through the blocked side until it naturally clears on its own.

Blocked nostrils on one or the other side is very natural.  The body switches back and forth of its’ own accord through out the day, which we usually don’t notice.  The more toxins in the body the more clogged the nostrils get so consciously clearing the nostrils can have a cleansing effect on your body as a whole

There are many ways to meditate, some utilize movement, some chanting or mantras, some silent with concentration or trying to still your mind.  All of them are valid and truly there are as many ways to meditate as your imagination can allow.  The important thing is regularity – even a short amount of time (ie: 3 minutes) repeated daily can change your life.

In this blog we will focus on a walking meditation.

WALKING:

A simple moving meditation for those of you who have a hard time sitting still.  Choose a quiet place with little distraction or if you must be where other people are use some soothing music to tune out the rest of the world.  Ideally you want to be in nature but truly anywhere will do, even your living room.

Take some deep breaths to ground and calm yourself and begin walking slowly.  Concentrate on your feet, on your legs, on the feel of the surface below your feet and what you are walking on.  Slow down until you can really focus on what you are feeling, really notice how your body moves with each step, how your breath moves in and out of your body.  See if you can feel the blood moving in your limbs as you move them around, your muscles contract and relax with each step.  Try and time your breath to match your movements, allow your breath to slow to coincide with your footfalls.

The most important thing is to BE PRESENT.  If your attention wanders, just be easy with yourself and bring your awareness back to your feet and breath.  You may have to do this 100 times, no problem.  It is a process of quieting yourself down to focus on something, movement just helps a restless body have a task, a channel for the excess energy.

Give yourself between 5-30 mins of practice.  As stated above it is the regularity that makes the difference.  One two hour session will show you some interesting things to be sure but for true inner transformation regular practice brings about a gradual and steady change.

The chakras’ start at the base of the body and sit vertically up the center to the top of the head. They are generally thought to be shaped like mini-whirlpools or spheres. The first layer of the HEF is the same shape as the physical body, with each successive layer getting wider and more round until the final layer is shaped like an egg and several feet off the body.  Below is an overview of each chakra and the first four layers of the field:

ROOT CHAKRA (1st):

Location: Perineum -between anus and genitals

Color: Red

Attributes: Grounding, safety, family, tribe, the right to be here and take up space, the right to have needs and have those needs be met, finances, the physical body, the material world, sexuality

Imbalances: Fear, ungrounded behavior, weakness in the legs, trouble with family or primary group, unreliable, trouble letting go, hoarding

Corresponding layer of HEF: 1st, Etheric body, linear, the base weave the physical body is built upon

SACRAL CHAKRA (2nd):

Location: Lower belly/sacral area

Color: Orange

Attributes: Creativity, emotions, flow, movement, feminine, moon center, reproductive organs, sexuality, joy in Being

Imbalances: Overwhelming emotions, shame, guilt, infertility, non-receptivity, dysmenorrhea, stagnation, rigidity

Corresponding layer of HEF: 2nd, Emotional body, non-linear splotches of color signifying the emotions carried within the Self

SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA (3rd):

Location: Upper belly/solar plexus

Color: Yellow

Attributes: Activity, goal-setting, accomplishing tasks, logic, direction, movement, masculine, Doing, warmth, strength, willpower, personal strength

Imbalances: Tyrany, over-activity, ulcers, digestive issues, anger, rage, beligerance, acne, poor self-esteem

Corresponding layer of HEF: 3rd, Mental body, linear lines radiating out from center of body

HEART CHAKRA (4th):

Location: Heart center/sternum

Color: Green

Attributes: Warmth, love, acceptance, compassion, altruism, generosity, inclusion, happiness, empathy, the meeting place of the personal and divine

Imbalances: Stinginess, cold, inability to love or connect with others, lack of caring, heart attacks, heart murmur, trouble breathing, collapsed chest

Corresponding layer of HEF: 4th, Astral body, non-linear opalescent colors signifying the higher emotions and divine connections, the Divine Feminine

*Layers after this become more abstract and less personal and will not be discussed in this blog

THROAT CHAKRA (5th):

Location: Throat area

Color: Blue

Attributes: Communication, expression, talking, hearing, listening

Imbalances: Over-talking, lack of communication, inarticulateness, poor listening, lack of self-expression, thyroid imbalances

THIRD EYE CHAKRA (6th):

Location: Center of the head between the brows

Color: Indigo

Attributes: Vision, perception, clarity, clairvoyance, thought, logic, reasoning, higher thought

Imbalances: Narrow mind, over-busy mind, ADD, ADHD, lack of perception, unwilling to see anothers’ view point, sleep disturbances, insomnia

CROWN CHAKRA (7th):

Location: Crown of head

Color: White

Attributes: Spiritual connection, awareness of all things, Oneness, collective states, higher thought, spiritual clarity

Imbalances: Lack of connection, lack of awareness of Divine, separateness, low/cloudy consciousness

Healing with energy can help clear any blockages within your energy system, wether it be in your chakras (over/under active, torn, kinked, off center), in the layers of your energy field (cloudy, sparking, torn, jammed, grooved etc) or within your soul energy (soul retrieval, personality/soul friction).  Many emotional blockages, habits and unneccissary patterns can be made aware of and ultimately cleared through sessions with a qualified energy healer.  

REFERENCES:

Brennan, Barbara Ann, 1987. Hands of Light, Bantam Books, U.S.A.

Hydrotherapy is the use of water and temperature to heal the body.  There is often confusion when to use heat or cold so this article is to clear up some of the basic points.

COLD:

When to use it: Cold applications, such as ice or cold water are used in an acute conditions like a recently sprained ankle or strained muscle. An injury is acute within the first 72 hours, during which the swelling is most prominent.  Cold is used to drive excess fluid from an area, which decreases swelling and allows the reparative elements carried within the blood to access the injured area more effectively, thereby reducing healing time.  In addition, cold has an analgesic effect lessening pain with its’ numbing effect.

Cold applications should not be used for more than 30 minutes at a time.  Cold should not be used if circulatory problems are present, if decreased skin sensitivity is present that would inhibit knowing when your body has had enough or there is a particular cold sensitivity.

HEAT:

When to use it: Heat is most effective with chronic conditions or those that have existed for two or more weeks.  Heat brings increased blood flow to the area, which brings with it all the healing properties such as fibroblasts that lay down new fibres for the body to re-build itself and white blood cells to carry away damaged tissues and pain chemicals.  Heat can slow the pain signals of damaged nerves thereby lessening pain registered by the brain, reduce muscle spasms, excess tension and has a relaxing, sedating effect to the area.

Heat applications can be administered with a heating pad, hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, bean bag heated in the microwave, warm water etc.  Heat should not be applied for more than 30 minutes at a time and only within the body’s comfort level.  

Heat should not be used in acute conditions or where swelling is already present as it increases fluid to the area, hypertension, decreased sensitivity to heat or any other condition where the body cannot regulate itself effectively such as happens with burns.

As with all self-care techniques use your common sense and if you have questions please consult a qualified health-care professional before beginning.

Early in the 20th century, Dr. Sutherland, an American Osteopath, noticed that the bones of the head resemble the gills of a fish and surmised that they were designed to accommodate a kind of respiration for the nervous system. This discovery led him to explore a complex physiological system which includes the bones of the face and skull, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, cerebral spinal fluid and the fascia and connective tissue, the craniosacral system. He found that all tissues respond to a previously unidentified tide-like, polyrhythmic movement.

Sutherland and his colleagues experimented with palpating and interacting with this movement, and found remarkable benefits for their clients. Subsequent osteopaths particularly Rollin Becker, DO, expanded the applications, and in the early 1970’s John Upledger, DO, introduced the concepts outside the osteopathic world. Some current well known teachers who are working with the fluid forces and refining the biodynamic model include Franklyn Sills, DO, Michael Kern, DO, and Michael Shea PhD.

A skilled biodynamic craniosacral practitioner “listens” to the subtle tide-like movement of the system as the body tells its story. The body speaks through its rhythms, micro-movements and particularly through its patterns of stress and restriction. Quietly listening, the practitioner encourages revitalization of the inherent healing potential of the system, and facilitates the release of resistance patterns. This approach emphasizes hearing the health of the system and encouraging its expression.

- Brenda Pulvermacher CST, BCST, B.Sc

Sciatica is a common condition started from aggrivation of the sciatic nerve, most commonly from a spinal disk herniation. If the gelatenous center of the spinal disk that sits between the vertebrae bulges out from the fibrous ring around it, it can cause pressure on the nerves running through the spinal column and send pain signals to the lower limbs.  The sciatic nerve is actually a collection of nerves originating from the lumbar and sacral plexi and together they form the sciatic nerve – one  of the largest nerves of the human body.  A bulging disk can pressurize the origins of the sciatic nerve.

Other causes can be due to a tight piriformis muscle, one of the deeper buttock muscles, which the sciatic nerve runs through; a tight muscle here can impinge the nerve, causing shooting pain down the leg.  How to differentiate between the two is low back pain: sciatica caused by a ruptured disk often has low back pain accompanying it but sciatic pain due to a tight piriformis muscle (called “Piriformis Syndrome“) usually does not have low back pain associated with it, only pain shooting down the leg.

SYMPTOMS

“You may feel a shooting pain down your buttock and into the back of one of your thighs, your calf or even the sole of your foot — with or without actual back pain. It almost always involves unilateral pain, one leg or the other. You may also have sensations of burning, numbness or tingling. Sometimes, pain radiating around the hip or buttock can feel like a hip problem.”[1]

WHO IS AT RISK?

Many people who sit for a living experience excess pressure on their lower lumbar spines [2] and are at a greater risk for disk herniation than people who are active for a living.  There does not seem to be a difference between men and women but people between the ages of 30-65 [3] are at higher risk than those younger or older than this age range.

WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?

Simple workplace ergonomics:

If you are sitting at a work station that is ergonomically incorrect you will feel the effects of it sooner or later.  Examples of incorrect work station equipment are a computer screen at the wrong height or placement, a chair that does not fit your body correctly leaving your shoulders hanging or hunched, your feet off the floor or your legs cramped in a small space, keyboard at an awkward height or placement and having to reach too far for your mouse.

What are some good workplace ergonomics?

Your computer monitor should be at eye level and one arms length away.  Your keyboard should allow your arms to be at a 90 degree angle at the elbows and the length of your forearm and palm away from your body so your upper arms are comfortably close to your trunk.  Your chair arms, if you have them, should rest naturally under your elbows so your arms are neither hanging nor hunched. You want the chair arms to support your elbows easily and without strain, this makes a big difference for your shoulders and neck.  Your hips and knees should be at a 90 degree angle with your whole foot resting easily on the floor.  Your mouse should be within easy reach so you don’t have to use your shoulders to lift your arm or turn your body to reach it. And of course your back should be straight.

How often should I get up during my day?

While we want you to be productive ideally you should be getting up (for at least a stretch) every 15-20 minutes.  You can walk to the trash bin, get a glass of water or just raise your arms above your head for a moment as you stand but moving frequently relieves tension created by a static posture.  If you can’t manage every 15-20 minutes at least get up every hour or so.  Your brain will refresh itself and you will re-start the blood flow throughout your whole body, keeping you healthier and happier for longer periods of time.

I am getting headaches and am finding it harder to move my neck. What can I do?

If you are sitting still for long periods of time and have poor work station ergonomics you may find your head, neck and shoulders are starting to hurt.  Provided you have no neck injuries simple neck rolls and shoulder shrugs can go a long way to alleviating tension.

Start with bringing your right ear to your right shoulder as far as possible without pain and take a deep breath.  As you breath out slowly allow your head to roll forward so your chin comes down towards your chest and then slowly up to the left side, bringing your left ear towards your left shoulder.  Bring your head back to neutral and slowly raise your face towards the ceiling, then down to your chest.  Repeat this cycle as many times as feels good but don’t overdo it! Always listen to your body and stop when it says to stop.

For variations on the shoulder shrug you can raise both shoulders up towards your ears, hold them there for a count of three and then release them, letting them drop to their natural position.  You can raise one shoulder at a time either quickly or slowly and you can also roll them backwards or forwards for greater tension release.

These simple exercises can be done while sitting at your desk or standing during a break.  They are highly effective for releasing stored tension.

How can massage therapy help me?

A registered massage therapist is trained to work with the muscles, ligaments and bony structures of your body and can help a great deal in relieving tension in your back, neck and shoulders.  In fact it is the number 1 reason for people to visit registered massage therapists.  Sometimes your body has gotten beyond what you can help on your own and you need a professional to step in for some deeper work.  You should feel some relief within 1-3 treatments.