The Four Agreements

Yesterday, in my chiropractic office, I found myself quoting repeatedly from the book "The Four Agreements", by Don Miguel Ruiz. If you have never read The Four Agreements, go get it! It is a short but life-changing book; it simplifies the instructions of life by giving us four rules to follow:

1. Be impeccable with your word.
Always tell YOUR truth. Say what you mean. Don't use words to speak against yourself or others. Use words to spread love, not gossip.

2. Don't take it personally. (my personal favorite)
What other people say and do is not about YOU. Others' actions are a projection of their reality. It's up to you to decide how it will affect you.

3. Don't make assumptions.
This agreement encourages communication and clarity. Find the courage to ask questions and express yourself and your needs clearly.

4. Always do your best.
"Your best" will change from moment to moment. Under the circumstances of the moment, if you know you are doing your best for that moment you will not have room for regret and judgement by your harshest critic - yourself.

As simple as these "commandments" are to understand, if you put them into play they can literally transform your life!

Thank You Life, by Gary Van Warmerdam

Thank you Life

Thank you for this breath
Thank you for this inhale
Thank you for this exhale
Thank you for this Life

Thank you Heart
Thank you for this pounding
Thank you for this pulsing
Thank you for this Love

Thank you feet
Thank you for this walk
Thank you for this run
Thank you for the Dancing

Thank you Eyes
Thank you for the Sunrise
Thank you for the Sunset
Thank you for all the Colors

Thank you Ears
Thank you for The Music
Thank you for the Rhythm
And Thank you for the Stillness

Thank you Hands
Thank you for the Caressing
Thank you for the Clapping
And Thank you for the Holding

Thank you Mouth
Thank you for the nourishment
Thank you for the Wine
Thank you for the Kisses

Thank you Nose
Thank you for the Flowers
Thank you for the Pines
Thank you for the Sniffles

Thank you Arms and Shoulders
Thank you for the Carrying
Thank you for the Burdening
And Thank you for the Hugging

Thank you Voice
Thank you for the Expression
Thank you for the Word
Thank you for the Gift of Creation

Thank you for this Day
Thank you for the Light
Thank you for the Stars
Thank you for the Night

Thank you Self
Thank you for the Laughter
Thank you for the Play
Thank you for You

Thank you for the Emotions
Thank you for the Joys
Thank you for the Tears and Sorrows
Thank you for the Richness

Thank you for the Abundance that is.
Thank you for the Abundance that is given.
Thank you for the so many experiences and so many things
Thank you for this Dance.

Thank you Life

Gary van Warmerdam

Bright Sider

Dr. Nina Englander's notes from Englander Chiropractic Center

Last year, one of my neighbors was interviewing for a big job promotion; CEO of a large organization. It was an inside move and everyone thought he was perfect for the job. In fact, he had been acting CEO of the organization for the prior 4 months while they did an outside CEO search.

After the interview, I saw him at the bus-stop and asked how it went. He replied, “Well, the interview went great and I didn’t get the job.” I was surprised and disappointed for him. My first question was, “Is there a bright side?”

He looked at me sideways. Then he replied, “There actually is a huge bright side. I know now that I can be the CEO of a large organization and succeed. Now I am hugely marketable AND I have a lot of confidence in myself!” When the bus pulled away, he added, “That’s really cool that the first question you asked me was about the bright side. You’re a ‘bright sider’, huh?”

I walked home thinking about the bright side. I believe that things happen for a reason. I try to find either a bright side or a lesson learned, and many times I find both.

In 2007, my husband and I put our house on the market. It took about nine months to sell our house. It was pretty hard to see the bright side of selling a house in a tanking real estate market. But I have to say, it was a lesson learned in many things; perseverance, letting go, and looking at money differently. We ended up selling to a lovely family, a bright side indeed, especially for our former neighbors. (And we ended up just fine, another lesson learned after all of our stressing!)

This winter, I had a patient come in with neck pain. She was sledding with her children and crashed into a tree. She could hardly move her neck. She had been a patient in my office in the past, but she had not been in for an adjustment in quite some time. She lay in pain on my table and told me that she had been trying to get back in for regular adjustments, but hadn’t been able to find the time. The injury got her back into the office!

I believe that sometimes the bright side of an injury is that it gets you back to chiropractic care. We sometimes have trouble getting motivated (or finding the time) to do good things for ourselves. We know we want to get our weekly or bi-weekly adjustments, our chiropractic tune-ups, but haven’t found the time. That injury can be just the ticket for us to not only get out of pain, but also get more serious about our health and do something about it. There’s the bright side!

This Blog brought to you by Englander Chiropractic Center - Wellness for children and adults made simple.

Homeland Security?

Coming home from a chiropractic conference in San Diego last year, I was going through security and my carry-on bag was on the conveyor belt in the x-ray machine. The belt stopped and I stood, shoeless, watching an inspector look quizzically at the screen. He called over another inspector and the two of them stood there, shrugging their shoulders and pointing at the image.

“I don’t know, it looks like some kind of medical device,” one said. “Yeah, like an injection-thing,” the other replied. At this point, I realized they were talking about my activator adjusting instrument! I always bring it along - you never know who you’re going to meet with a subluxation - and I wanted to be prepared!

“I’m a chiropractor!!”, I shouted over the x-ray machine. “That’s an activator, an adjusting instrument!” One of the guys gave me the thumbs up and said to me, “So it’s like a back injection-thing?” “Oh no,” I replied with a smile. “It’s just the opposite. Adjustments keep your body healthy so you don’t need injections!”

Most people see chiropractic as a “back thing” or a “medical treatment thing”. In some chiropractic offices it may be. In my office, chiropractic is a “Life-thing.” The back is part of the body where we can easily access the nerve system (the spinal cord goes through the vertebral column). Our life runs on energy that flows through us, from the brain to the spinal cord to our cells and tissues and then back to the brain. When that energy is flowing well, we are growing and changing and healing. When that energy is blocked, we are stagnated and healing is slower or goes in the opposite direction! Clearing the connection from the brain to the cells of the body is the very essence of chiropractic and the essence of being healthy.

Chiropractic, when seen from this perspective, is totally different from conventional medicine. Medicine looks to fix what’s broken. Medicine looks to take away things: disease, pain, dysfunction. Chiropractic is about freeing up blocked energy in the body, adding life! When you have the right amount of energy flow, the body can take care of itself in the way it was designed to. This is healing from the INSIDE OUT!

...and I promise you, you don’t get that from any injection.

Reflections on the Flu Shot

The flu shot is given every year to many Americans. It is a big deal. They push it in schools, they push it at the mall, they talk about it on the nightly news. Last year, they were recommending two flu shots: the regular one and the H1N1 (which I still affectionately refer to as the Swine Flu, even though you're not supposed to call it that anymore). I am ambivalent about vaccines, and always urge my patients to inform themselves about immunizations and make educated decisions. However, I am not ambivalent about the flu shot.

Each year, 5-20% of Americans get the flu. Estimates are that about 175,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, such as pneumonia (or other respiratory problems), ear and sinus infections, or problems related to chronic illnesses such as COPD, asthma, lupus, etc. Although the media reports 36,000 flu-related deaths per year, this is thought by many to be an extremely high estimate. In addition, most of the deaths presumably due to pneumonia and other serious illnesses are assumed to be in connection with the flu, even if the person was never officially diagnosed with the flu. More reasonable estimates are 257-1765 annually. A much, much lower number.

Here's an interesting fact. Ontario, Canada, is the most highly vaccinated region in North America. In 2000, Canadians expanded a publicly funded flu immunization program which included all 12 million Ontario residents, including low risk adults and children. Statistics showed that there was no significant reduction in the incidence of flu (between 2000 and 2003), and no difference in the number of cases of flu when compared to other provinces of Canada, where they didn't vaccinate as widely. There was also little difference in complication rates (hospitalizations due to pneumonia and other flu complications due to underlying chronic illness) between vaccinated and un-vaccinated groups.

In light of this study, why are we taught that the only way to avoid the flu is to get vaccinated? Why, in all the talk last year about Swine Flu in the media did NO ONE talk about how to keep yourself healthy through flu season so that you aren't as vulnerable to the flu? (or so if you get the flu you will handle it better?)(chiropractic adjustments, good nutrition, exercise, vitamins and herbs, good sleep and strategies to deal with stress)

Here's another question for you: Do you know the ingredients of the flu vaccine? I do.
Although ingredients vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, flu vaccines are generally made with chicken embryos. Vaccines for flu include many of the following ingredients in different combinations. Formaldehyde, also known as embalming fluid, has been classified as a probable human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the EPA. Octoxynol-9 is a spermicide. Triton X-100 is a detergent, emulsifier and defoaming agent. It can alter metabolic activity and negatively affect cell function. It is considered harmful if swallowed and can cause severe eye irritation. Some flu vaccines contain polyethylene glycol (antifreeze), carbolic acid (used as a disinfectant), and MSG (used as a stabilizer to keep the virus alive and stabilize the mixture). Antibiotics, such as gentamycin, are often added, as well as thimerosol (a preservative to give the vaccine a longer shelf life). Thimerosol contains mercury, which is highly toxic to the body in any amount.

I'm sure that proponents of the flu vaccine have many reasons to vaccinate. and there those who are genuinely at higher risk for the flu who should consider vaccination. But did you know that, for the majority of people, having the flu actually makes your cells stronger against the flu? Because of the way your immune system works, getting an immunization against the flu only protects you for a short time (and only for certain strains of flu), whereas actually getting the flu protects you for several years, often 5 to 10. Of course, there is more to your immune system than how well-vaccinated you are! You need to make sure your nervous system is running well; immunity is controlled by the nervous system, specifically the spinal cord! Getting regular adjustments is vital in keeping the immune system humming along. Your lifestyle is also a huge factor in how your immune system is going to work during flu season. Eat well, cut way down on sugar, fried fatty foods and heavy carbs and make sure you have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Exercise, sleep and staying hydrated are also important. and watch that stress! Deep Breaths...ommmmm.

Vaccines are a complicated issue, and a very personal one, especially for parents. I do not judge other people's decisions and I know there are many variables to consider. The best thing one can do is be informed. Don't rely on vaccinations to make you healthy, because they don't! Take control of your own health. Get yourself into balance and then decide if you want to get that flu shot.

Adjusting Newborn Twins

(reprinted from an article originally written on 12-11-06. Last week, the babies in this story turned 4!!!!Happy Birthday, B and L!)
Last Monday I had the blessing of adjusting newborn twins! Their mom has gotten adjusted for her entire pregnancy twice per week, sometimes three times. She understands, as I do, that the body is a beautiful piece of work, and when you put energy into the system to encourage balance and flow, you get a body that does what it’s supposed to, and beautifully! Her pregnancy was gorgeous: her body flowed to each next step as it was designed to do. She fed it well, gave it lots of water and rest, lots of friends around and a supportive mate, lots of laughter and peaceful moments, and kept her nerve system beautifully clear by getting adjusted regularly! (As well as regular acupuncture and massages!)

The babies are beautiful. Think of the essence of a newborn; these are beings that have been so recently plucked from God that they emanate goodness and purity in a magnificent way. It is a very sacred task, adjusting a newborn. I am providing connection on such a deep level to one who was, so recently, totally connected. (or two, as the case may be!)

Some people can’t understand why I would want to adjust babies and children. “Their backs don’t go out!” they say. And here’s what I say. Chiropractic is about clearing the way for the nervous system to work beautifully. When a child is born, there is a certain amount of stress placed on the spine, whether that child is born vaginally or c-section. There is pulling and tugging, after nine months of progressively smaller quarters and increasing squished-ness. And I say: if I can help a child’s nervous system to work better on the first day out, will this contribute to a lifetime of better health? You Bet!

Adjusting newborn infants is a delicate art. Obviously, a chiropractor does not use the same kind of technique with a baby as with an adult! It is done with the tips of the fingers, a slight pulsation over the spine, like you are pressing on a soap bubble and trying not to break it.

From my short session with the babies in their hospital room, I learned quite a bit about their positions in the womb. I could tell from the boy’s spine that he had been pretty comfortable in there. The girl had more tension in her lower back than I expected and I could tell that there was a twisting that had occurred in the womb which was affecting her spine. I later learned that throughout the pregnancy, she was positioned like a pretzel, whereas her brother was straight. When the girl was born (two minutes exactly after the boy) there was a literal KNOT in her umbilical cord, indicating some serious flips and flops during her stay. My fingers already knew that offering the baby girl a chance to start life without imbalance is a great gift.

Adjusting an infant is magical. They take deep breaths, stick their tongue out at me, roll their eyes and make big sighs. I feel so connected to even hold a little one who’s so new, but to have the honor to give them their first adjustment, to know that I am really affecting the rest of their life in a positive way, is truly the best part of my otherwise fantastic job.

You Don't Say! New Ideas Taking Hold

Recently, my friend’s dad (a physician) was having lunch with two pediatric specialists in his hospital. One of the pediatricians was discussing how children are developing secondary sex characteristics much earlier than ever before. The other pediatrician said she thought it had to do with all the hormones in our food supply, especially the meat and milk. She had recently seen a little boy who's parents thought he was developing breasts. She suggested they switch to buying only organic food. Once the child was no longer eating hormonally injected animal products and pesticides, the breasts receded. My friend’s father called her right after this conversation to pass on the information; in his mind the latest in medical news. She said, “Thanks, Dad, but I’ve been buying organic food for a decade waiting for everyone else to catch up!”

Like my friend, I’ve been buying organic food and non-hormone meat, milk and eggs for many years. It’s always made sense to me that my children should not be eating someone else’s hormones or toxic chemicals.

It has also made sense to me to not eat foods that contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (trans-fats). These fats are responsible for all kinds of health problems! I have been a stickler for that one since the 1980’s and, believe me, people have made fun of me for it! I have also had to put up with much whining, as I do not allow foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHO) into my house. The list of these foods is vast and historically included “Goldfish”, a snack very popular with the little ones. Thankfully, the public started listening to people like me and, in late 2006, Nabisco began making non-PHO snacks (yippee! Including Goldfish!!!) The next year, New York City declared it illegal to use PHOs in restaurants. Well, what do you know? I wasn’t crazy after all.

It isn’t easy to have ideas that go against public perception. It’s never crowded on the leading edge!

I know that chiropractic adjustments remove subluxations, which can have devastating effects on your health. I know that a clear nerve system is the key to a healthy body and mind. I have seen it over and over again in my practice; when you choose to add chiropractic to your life, you are choosing to take responsibility for your health and you are rewarded with a healthier body, a happier, calmer mind and a stronger sense of who you are.

I know that when you get adjusted regularly, pay attention to your lifestyle choices and focus on your well-being (instead of pain and problems), your life takes on a new balance and a new vibrance. Chiropractors have known this for over 100 years!

Maybe if my friend had told her father about organic food 10 years earlier, he would have been eating healthier and suggesting organics to his patients, who would have been eating healthier. Who can you tell about the healthy choices you make? Who can you tell about the miracle of a chiropractic adjustment?