The 148^th version of the Carp Fair started this past Friday, and instead of being there enjoying all that it has to offer, seeing the animals, the entertainment, and riding the Ferris Wheel with our families, this year, Dr. Pope and I chose to take in the fair from a different vantage point.

This year we decided to get a vendor’s booth and use the opportunity to share chiropractic with as many people as possible.  So rather than enjoying ourselves, and spending time with our families, we felt it was really important that we be there to chip away at the significant misconception that presently exists within the public’s mind about Chiropractic.

The positive symptomatic results experienced by millions has made Chiropractic the largest drugless health profession in the world, but it has also positioned Chiropractic as a just another “treatment” for aches, pains, symptoms and conditions.

Could we be shortchanging ourselves by using Chiropractic in such a limited way?

This is why we made the decision to be there this weekend, to help reframe Chiropractic in the public’s mind. To bring a vitalistic philosophy and a contemporary chiropractic practice into every household’s lifestyle. To fulfill the vision that Chiropractic began with and the one that lives in most Chiropractors’ hearts.

Our approach to Chiropractic is unique and may very well be one of the least understood philosophies of life and health. It is based on a few logical ideas…

The body is designed with an inborn ability to maintain itself in a state of proper function. A newborn baby may seem fragile and helpless, but within that body is the ability to make food into living tissue, to fight off invading organisms, to adapt to changes in the environment, to live as much as 100 or more years, in short, to lead a healthy and productive life.

The brain and nerve system are the primary tools by which the body attains proper function, what we commonly call health. The brain is the control center that distributes information throughout the body to coordinate its trillions of cells, facilitating continuous adaptation to changes in the internal and external environment. The brain must receive and send the right information at the right time in the right amounts to all cells, organs and systems of the body.

Interference in the nerve system reduces the body’s ability to function in a coordinated manner. While a corpse does have a brain and nerve system, it does not have life. There is no encoded information in the form of energy transferred across the nerve system. In a living body even slight damage to the delicate and vital nerve system will lessen its health, its performance levels and its full potential.

We address one form of interference to the nerve system called a Vertebral Subluxation. Our single objective is to aid in the restoration of the integrity of the nerve system in EVERYONE from infants, children, adults, pregnant moms, athletes and seniors, so that entire communities are able to express life at a higher level.

Our hope is that we connected with many of those that we spoke with over the weekend and that our conversation will inspire them to take the first step and get their nervous system checked so that they too can begin living the lives they deserve.

We are Designed to be active, really active.  In fact, we have clear indicators that our body requires different types of movements and at a higher frequency than is currently “normal” for the average Kanata resident.

For most of human history we had to work for our survival—literally working with our hands, arms, legs, and feet using all of our muscles and energy systems to obtain food, shelter, and security. Physical “fitness” was an absolute necessity for survival. If you couldn’t sprint or climb it often meant going hungry or even early death and the end of the line for your genes. Walking, foraging, crawling, twisting, climbing, squatting, pushing, pressing, lunging, jumping, throwing and carrying were the basic movements that helped shape human evolution for over two million years.

Today, we can have food, shelter, find a mate and secure our safety with minimal physical effort. This is fantastic in many ways but being sedentary can just as easily kill us as can a wild beast.

Our hunter gatherer ancestors were strong, fast, lean, and powerful, with significant aerobic capacity and low body fat. Their genes are almost exactly the same genes as we carry inside each of us today.  Our challenge is to determine what activities will result in the optimum expression of those genes and the lean, strong, healthy, productive body we all seek and deserve.

Move By Design was created with our genetic requirements in mind and is based on  four parameters:  Be Mobile, Lift Heavy, Go Fast, Move Slow.  Depending on goals and objectives, each one of these areas can be tailored individually, but they form the basic foundations for optimal human movement, health and longevity. The purpose of this article is to discuss the principle of Lifting Heavy.

In the past, Lifting Heavy (strength training) was primarily used by athletes to enhance performance and/or increase muscle size. However, strength training is now recognized as a critical factor in the health and fitness of all genders, ages, and abilities.

Why is Lifting Heavy so important?

Strength training has been shown to:

• Preserve and enhance muscle mass
• Preserve and enhance metabolic rate
• Improve bone mineral density
• Improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity
• Lower the risk of injury
• Improve the ability to engage in daily activities
• Improve balance
• Improve self-esteem
• Enhance strength and endurance
• Enhance speed, power, and agility
• Improve overall body composition
• Decrease bad cholesterol levels
• Decrease blood pressure
• Improve aerobic capacity

By including strength training in your routine you are giving yourself the best chance of living long, living strong and having a By Design body.

Conventional wisdom says that to be strong, one must lift heavy barbells and toss around big weights.  Strength training is using muscular force against resistance. This type of training can build the strength and size of skeletal muscles.

The essence of Lifting Heavy Things is to complete high intensity repetitions with good form using a weight that only allows you to complete a lower number of repetitions (usually 1-6).  It is very important to master the basics before attempting the technical lifts to avoid injury.

Different forms of resistance can be used when training for strength. This includes bands, body weight, and specially designed weights or machines.

Since you are not introducing any outside resistance that could overwhelm you, bodyweight is a great place to start because it is the safest way to train, easy on the sensitive joints and soft tissue that is often injured in the gym, even under expert supervision.

The Move By Design protocol is simple, focusing on several core essential movements for which our bodies are designed to execute on a daily basis. These movements were essential to our survival for two million years. Our ancestors couldn’t go about securing food, defending themselves, foraging, carrying heavy loads, or building shelter without also performing these six key movements:

1. Push-up
2. Pull-up
3. Squat
4. Deadlift
5. Overhead Press
6. Plank

Start Moving By Design and stop spending time and money on activities that don’t work.  Your “By Design” body is not simply a treadmill away.  Get lean, strong and fit, in less time while having a lot more fun!

Contact The Wellness Group at (613) 271-8555 for information about our next Move By Design Seminar.

How do you know if you’re healthy?  Most people answer this question, “I feel good.” Although we all want to feel good, there is so much more to being healthy than how you feel! The World Health Organization defines health as: “a state of optimal physical, mental, and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Webster’s defines health as: “a state of wholeness in which all organs are functioning 100%, 100% of the time.”

Health is not only how you feel; it’s how you are functioning. Thousands of Canadians die of heart attacks each and every year, unfortunately, the heart attack is often the first sign of heart disease that may have been developing for up to fifteen years before the first symptom, the heart attack, occurs.  So you can’t wait until symptoms show up before you decide to act.  Symptoms are a poor barometer of health and usually show up late in the disease process.

Think about it… Have you ever had a friend who was feeling great, had a PAP smear, a mammogram or a chest x-ray and was given bad news several days later? Cancer doesn’t develop in just a few days and yet they were feeling good. 

Do you know someone who has diabetes? You know that as long as they are taking a proper quantity of insulin they have no symptoms and feel great. Meanwhile the disease continues to ravage their body over time producing circulatory problems, nerve system disorders, kidney damage, and eventually blindness.

The choice is yours; would you rather live By Design so your body functions at an optimal level or live the typical North American lifestyle and unknowingly allow various diseases progress to a level of crisis before you seek action?

You can’t wait until symptoms develop before you decide to maintain or regain health… it might be too late!

Dr. Michael Gibson is a Kanata chiropractor and the clinic director of The Wellness Group, a multidisciplinary health facility and the creator of Lifetime Wellness. He currently practices chiropractic in Kanata full time with a focus on educating and empowering his practice members to achieve abundant health and maximum quality of life. 

This FREE seminar hosted by Dr. Michael Gibson and The Wellness Group will help you to learn the principles of Eat By Design. 

Eat By Design works in harmony with our body’s genetic make-up and design. It is not a diet, but instead an approach to fulfilling the nutritional requirements of the body for optimal function. Based on the ground-breaking work of Loren Cordain, Ph.D, Eat By Design teaches people how to eat to create health, instead of eating to alleviate a symptom or to treat a disease. Eat By Design is a sustainable, enjoyable and incredibly healthy approach to eating for life.

All attendees will receive the Eat By Design Manual.

Space is limited. Please call, (613) 271-8555, to book your spot today.

Dr. Michael Gibson is a Kanata chiropractor and the clinic director of The Wellness Group, a multidisciplinary health facility and the creator of Lifetime Wellness. He currently practices chiropractic in Kanata full time with a focus on educating and empowering his practice members to achieve abundant health and maximum quality of life. 

The Wellness Group is proud to announce that we have become a certified Life By design center.

Life By Design is an essential part of transforming the world’s health crisis.  It is based on powerful principles that are scientific, logical and easy to follow.  Health is your birthright.  It is the natural, normal expression of living your Life By Design.

Brain – Body Connection

A good nerve supply is essential to health and life.  At the core of all cellular function, from glands producing hormones and stress chemicals, to muscles contracting for optimal performance to the immune system defending against foreign invaders to tissues and organs undergoing healing and repair, is the nervous system.  Wellness Chiropractic focuses on correcting interference to this delicate and important system, establishing a base of quality communication upon which integration of the other Life By Design steps can be maximized.

Eat By Design

Eat By Design works in harmony with our body’s genetic make-up and design.  It is not a diet, but instead an approach to fulfilling the nutritional requirements of the body for optimal function.  Based on the ground-breaking work of Loren Cordain, Ph.D, Eat By Design teaches people how to eat to create health, instead of eating to alleviate a symptom or to treat a disease.  Eat By Design is a sustainable, enjoyable and incredibly healthy approach to eating for life.

Move By Design

We have clear indicators that our body requires much more and different types of movement than are currently “normal” for the average person.  Move By Design is based on 4 parameters:  Be Mobile, Lift Heavy, Go Fast, Move Slow, .  Depending on goals and objectives, each one of these areas can be tailored individually, but they form the basic foundations for optimal human movement, health and longevity.

LBD Essentials

Our current lifestyle and environment makes being fully sufficient in all required nutrients challenging and in some cases, nearly impossible.  We recommend some basic supplementation to fulfill what is missing for the majority of people.  Keep it simple: an animal source of omega 3 fats, vitamin D, a probiotic, digestive enzymes, and a multiple mineral supplement.  Eat By Design is the primary approach to fulfilling your nutritional requirements, the LBD Essentials simply fill in the gaps.

Rest, Play, Love

Do you take time for yourself?  Do you experience quality, restful sleep? Do you enjoy what you do? Is your life fun? Are you able to give and receive love?  Each of these components has an enormous physiologic effect on the function of our bodies.  Each enhances our stress chemistry, immunology, healing, energy levels, moods, digestion, happiness and our overall quality of life.

Purpose

Are you wandering aimlessly or are you anchored like a rock?  A purpose is your compass, your map and your horizon.  It can focus you, drive you and reward you. Whether it be raising a healthy, happy family, traveling the world giving to others or creating a successful business, the secret to happiness is having a clearly defined purpose.

Your Body is a Self-Healing Organism The body is a self-healing organism; it has the ability to heal itself without drugs and surgery. For instance, if you cut your arm, the body can heal the cut without Band-aids or antibiotics. Your body has within it an inborn ability to heal itself; in fact all living things have the ability to heal themselves naturally.

So, if your body has the ability to heal itself, why doesn’t it? The answer is that sometimes we don’t give our body enough time to heal on its own or the actual cause of the problem is still present interfering with the healing process. Most patients who develop health challenges search for a pill or a potion to relieve their discomfort instead of locating the cause of the problem and removing the cause. By removing the actual cause it allows our body an opportunity to heal naturally.

For example, infections are not a lack of antibiotics in our blood steam; they are caused by a suppressed immune system. Why is your immune system suppressed? Poor diet, no exercise, stress, or maybe nerve interference.

If the body is a self-healing organism, why take medicine? Why not find out why the body isn’t healing itself like it should and remove the interference?

Dr. Michael Gibson is a Kanata chiropractor and the clinic director of The Wellness Group, a multidisciplinary health facility and the creator of Lifetime Wellness. He currently practices chiropractic in Kanata full time with a focus on educating and empowering his practice members to achieve abundant health and maximum quality of life.

Introducing Life By Design…

Life By Design is an essential part of transforming the world’s health crisis.  It is based on powerful principles that are scientific, logical and easy to follow.  Health is your birthright.  It is the natural, normal expression of living your Life By Design.

Brain – Body Connection
Eat By Design
Move By Design
Rest, Play, Love
Clearly Defined Purpose

Join the drive to ONE MILLION Families Worldwide Living Life By Design.

More details to come…

Just the other day I had the luxury to speak to a group of parents about the health and development of our children, which proved to be an extremely beneficial experience for both myself and the party in which I was addressing.  As a Kanata Chiropractor it has been a long time philosophy of mine to grow healthy children, rather than wait and try to repair damaged adults.  With that being said, I have come to realize that the best way to make an impact on our community starts with addressing those individuals that control the fate of the future, our children.  

As a parent, I also realize that we are most responsible for being a positive role model in our children’s upbringing.  Many factors come into play when promoting children’s health including, but not limited to:  proper nutrition, adequate sleep, the understanding that the body was born to be healthy rather than needing medication to stay afloat, daily exercise, and last, but definitely not least, establishing a healthy self esteem.  

Studies show that our emotions and self perceptions create the environment which we live in.  In other words, emotional stressors can be equated to a large majority of health related illness’s today. We truly are what we think. In fact, it is my opinion that self esteem should be practiced from the very day that a child is able to roll over.  Children develop thoughts and establish feelings about themselves at a very early age.  Filling our children’s mind with positive affirmations at a young age can help enforce healthy perceptions of themselves as they mature.  It also creates a support system of reassurance for them to fall back on when things don’t quite go according to plan.  One thing is for certain; our children are a direct reflection of us.  

As parents, we are solely responsible for creating an environment where these types of positive behaviours can develop.  Unfortunately, this takes a little more than a pat on the back and the good ol’ “we’ll get’em next time champ”.  Our words are much more powerful than we think.  The old saying “watch what you say because there is always someone listening” rings true in this particular situation.  Our children are listening and they are mimicking our every move and adapting to our every behaviour.

I will leave it to the experts to further elaborate on this matter. Follow this link to read a very well written article on building our children’s self esteem.  I encourage you to take this article literally and practice it in its entirety.  Remember that you are the educators of our future society!  I will leave you with a quote from Ghandi: “Be the change you want to see in your children.”

Dr. Ryan Pope is a Kanata chiropractor at The Wellness Group, a multidisciplinary health facility in Ontario, Canada. He currently practices chiropractic in Kanata full time with a focus on educating and empowering his practice members to harness the innate intelligence of the body to heal itself through the chiropractic lifestyle.

You have all heard of ANTI-biotics, but how about PRO-biotics?  The term “probiotic” stems from Greek, and it means “for-life”.   Studies show that these friendly creatures are indeed essential contributors to everyday well-being.

These microrganisms not only aid in the digestion process, but they have been found to affect numerous gene activities, assisting them in expressing health and fighting disease.  Interestingly enough, it has also been illustrated that probiotics boost your immune system and assist in lowering blood pressure.  

Several studies have highlighted the fact that probiotics stimulated changes similar to those desired by the pharmaceutical industry, but naturally and therefore without negative side –effects. In fact, probiotics offer NO negative side effects at all!  Researchers also revealed that drinking a probiotic rich drink influenced the activity of hundreds of genes in a favourable manner.

Probitics are readily available and quite easy to find, and choosing a high quality version will help rebalance your intestinal tract with good, healthy bacteria.  There are probiotics available for all ages!

This beneficial bacteria has a long lasting, and potent effect on your gut’s immune system, as well as your overall immune system.  

These micro-organisms play a vital part in the mucosal immune system in the digestive tract aiding in antibody production to unwanted invading bacteria, in other words: the one’s that “make you sick”.

These friendly little guys actually train your immune system to distinguish friend from foe, and help in the delivery of an appropriate immune response.  This is so important since an over-reaction to non harmful antigens is what gives rise to allergies and most frequent colds and flu’s.

As if this weren’t enough, probiotics can also help stabilize and normalize your weight.  In fact, studies have linked a 5% reduction in abdominal fat, and 3% reduction in subcutaneaous fat, simply by drinking a quality probiotic fermented milk beverage for approx. 12 weeks!

It is quite apparent that probiotics perform a wide variety of useful and beneficial functions, and some of which have yet to be discovered.  It is such an easy addition to one’s lifestyle, that it should be strongly encouraged to all ages.

It is also note worthy to suggest the use of probiotics following the use of antibiotics for any illness’s that one may incur.  

Antibiotics are designed to kill all the bacteria within the gut flora, including the gram positive bacteria (good bacteria), to eliminate all the toxic bacteria that causes use to suffer.  It is a must that the gram positive bacteria be replenished because it is this that allows us to absorb and digest all the nutrients that our body needs from the foods that we eat.  Unfortunately, this is likely not something that you are going to hear about from your family physician.

Dr. Ryan Pope is a Kanata chiropractor at The Wellness Group, a multidisciplinary health facility in Ontario, Canada. He currently practices chiropractic in Kanata full time with a focus on educating and empowering his practice members to harness the innate intelligence of the body to heal itself through the chiropractic lifestyle.

One of the hardest things to face for a parent is dealing with a sick child.  Many make the assumption that our children are more vulnerable than the average adult, and unfortunately this means many tend to turn to potentially dangerous medications to suppress their symptoms.  

What if there was a reason for these symptoms?  Let’s look a bit deeper and explore the natural ability of the body to heal itself.  

First and foremost, our body has an innate intelligence that is designed to not only control every single cell, organ, and tissue of the body, but it also has the amazing ability to heal itself.  In an optimal environment the body will always tend toward health!  In fact, the fear that most parents have on the vulnerability of their child is often unfounded because children have the ability to heal quicker than we do as adults.  Think about this for a minute: our children have not been exposed to all the garbage that we have, not to mention the amount of physical, chemical, and emotional stress; therefore they have higher thresholds for dealing with simple pathogens that may entertain their host.  

Secondly, the intention of a symptom is to let the body know that something is wrong.  It tells the body that it can no longer adapt to its internal or its external environment. In the case of a fever, it is a way of telling the body that it is currently adapting.  Fevers are actually designed to raise the body temperature to designated levels in order to kill the viral and/or bacterial pathogen, thus; eliminate it from our system.  

Click here to read a great article, written by Susan Markel, MD discussing fevers in adolescents in more detail.  It is definitely worth the read for any parent.  

Enjoy!

Dr. Ryan Pope is a Kanata chiropractor at The Wellness Group, a multidisciplinary health facility in Ontario, Canada. He currently practices chiropractic in Kanata full time with a focus on educating and empowering his practice members to harness the innate intelligence of the body to heal itself through the chiropractic lifestyle.