As I sit and write this letter, I am being more cognizant of my posture as I am trying to make sure my back is straight, and I am not hunched over.  Many days I find myself doing rechecks of my posture to ensure I am maintaining a straight and lengthy spine. Are you like me, checking all the time to prevent the ever so known text neck a version of hunching over? Do you know that strengthening your core can help stabilize a correct posture? Shoulders back and suck the belly in are the reminders I keep in mind when standing and/or walking. I recently have been experiencing some type of sciatica pain, probably partly due to poor posture and time on the computer. 

I have been determined to exposure myself to something new each month this year, may it be food, place, activity, who knows? The past month I have tried reflexology for the first time; such an amazing experience is an understatement.  If you have not yet experienced a reflexology session, you must put it on your to-do list.  The relief from my pain was almost gone after just a few sessions. I feel more balanced, calm and have more clarity; it might sound weird, but you must do it to experience it for yourself.  Check out Bill from Reflexology and Relax, as seen on page 30; he will come to your house and can do your session outside, what more can you ask for?

All in all, standing up straight is not just something our parents remind us to do, it also happens to be good for our health. Posture describes the position of the body in space, but the realities of how we stand and move in day-to-day life is much more complex. Healthy postures encourage proper alignment of body structures, while unhealthy postures can lead to a host of issues, including muscle and joint pain, balance impairment and decreased mobility. Awareness of the body’s proper static and dynamic position is essential to maintaining a healthy spine. See page 24 for “Straighten Up and Feel Right, Tips for Good Posture and a Healthy Spine,” by Cristina Parker, PT, DPT.

Remember the saying “You are what you eat” from many years ago? It’s now becoming a reality for many of us.  It may be a bloated belly, skin rash, no energy and the list goes on.  When you put pure, unprocessed foods into your body, it can process it quicker and the whole food gives you energy amongst other benefits.  On the other hand, processed foods or junk foods, slow our body down and don’t give us the energy or the nutrients we need to sustain or keep going. In our Conscious Eating department this month, we focus on “Converting Food to Energy–Learning How Metabolism Works,” by Linda Sechrist on page 20 and look for healthy and delicious recipes, too. We may not notice the cellular mechanisms that transform fat and glucose into the oomph in our step, but when they start to wane, we definitely know something is wrong. We may feel lethargic and weak, our brains may get foggy or we may start putting on weight around the belly, with blood pressure, blood glucose and triglyceride levels on the rise. In most cases, modifying our diet is the most powerful way to regain vitality and get those biomarkers back on track.

We are far from perfect and are all works in progress; this is why through our magazine we can help support and educate you to optimal health by your own learned efforts or by utilizing many of our valued practitioners through these pages. It can take determination and a transformation to grow into the best versions of ourselves.

Happy Summer,

Lori Beveridge, Publisher