From My Local Health, Yoga and how it helps back pain
Yoga: A great way to stay fit and keep stress at bay
by: Kandy Williams
Yoga is a discipline of the body and mind that dates back more than 5,000 years. The word yoga means “to join” or “to yoke,” and it brings the mind and body together. Yoga has three components: exercise, breathing, and meditation.
There are over one hundred different schools of yoga, but Hatha yoga, which combines physical movements and postures with breathing techniques, is what most people associate with practicing yoga. According to MedicineNet, Hatha yoga is the most widely practiced yoga in the U.S. With its slow and smooth movements, it is excellent for beginners. It is also a great introduction to yoga as it incorporates many different poses (asanas), as well as breathing techniques and chanting.
Some of the most popular schools of yoga in the U.S., and the ones that you are most likely to find in yoga and fitness centers, according to MedicineNet, are: Hatha, Iyengar, Astanga (or Ashtanga), Bikram, and Kundalini.
According to the American Yoga Association, there are eight steps of Classical yoga: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. Classes generally focus on asana, physical exercises; pranayama, breathing techniques; and pratyahara, preparation for meditation.
According to WebMD, close to 11 million Americans are practicing yoga and enjoying its numerous health benefits. Yoga poses safely stretch your muscles and increase the range of motion in joints. Yoga also provides strength and endurance benefits. Different poses help you build strength in certain areas. For example, Upward Dog strengthens the lower back and increases upper-body strength. Because of increased flexibility and strength, you also naturally have better posture. The mindful breathing involved with yoga often improves lung capacity as well.
In addition to the physical benefits, there are numerous mental benefits of practicing yoga. By learning how to deepen and lengthen your breath, your relaxation response is stimulated, leaving you feeling more relaxed. Some schools of yoga also teach meditation techniques. Recently, researchers have begun studying the effects of yoga on depression. Because yoga boosts oxygen levels to the brain, it may benefit your mood.
According to AARP Bulletin Today, Dean Ornish, MD, founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in California, has been studying how lifestyle alterations can halt or even reverse the effects of serious conditions such as heart disease and cancer for decades. Since the 1980s, he has incorporated stress management through yoga and meditation with other lifestyle modifications like eating a diet low in fat and getting regular exercise. He has found in his studies that the more yoga and meditation the participants did, the more they improved their health. But it was the consistency of doing it every day that mattered more than duration.
A study published by the National Academy of Sciences and another published in the Lancet in 2008 used an identical group of 30 men with low-risk prostrate cancer. Both studies found that lifestyle changes, such as getting regular exercise, eating a low fat diet, attending support groups, and practicing yoga and meditation, turn on good or disease-preventing genes and turn off bad genes which can cause conditions such as heart disease and cancer.
Medical researchers are now studying the benefits of therapeutic yoga or integrative yoga therapy (IYT). It’s used as an aid in treating medical conditions such as clinical depression and heart disease. Yoga also helps to relieve the symptoms of asthma, back pain, and arthritis, according to WebMD.
The research evidence is mounting that yoga is good for both your body and your mind. If you want to get started on the road to a healthier you, visit www.yogafinder.com. This online directory will help you find classes, events, and retreats near you.
Sources: AARP Bulletin Today (bulletin.aarp.org), American Yoga Association (http://www.americanyogaassociation.org), Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.com), WebMD (http://www.webmd.com)
Different types of yoga
Hatha yoga: Good for beginners, it focuses on holding poses and integrating your breath into the movements. You will learn many different poses, as well as breathing techniques and chanting. It will be beneficial for stretching and working your muscles.
Iyengar yoga: Good for beginners, it uses poses that are similar to those in Hatha. It differs because it focuses more on balance and body alignment. You will also hold poses longer and use props such as straps and blocks.
Kundalini yoga: More advanced type of yoga, it emphasizes rapid movement through the poses while breathing, chanting, and meditating. It focuses on the energy balance in your body.
Bikram yoga: This yoga is designed to make you sweat as it is practiced in a room heated to around 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Its objective is to loosen muscles and to cleanse the body, removing symptoms of disease and chronic pain.
Astanga (Ashtanga) Yoga: Also known as power yoga, you move quickly from one pose to another in order to build strength and endurance. There is not an emphasis on meditation, so this is more like a strength training workout than any other type of yoga.
Yoga must be a favorite for dealing with back pain, and feeling good generally.
Stay well
Paul
Saturday 12 December 2009
Pregnancy and Back Pain
Pre- and postnatal yoga yields physical, mental benefits
Dorene Internicola, Reuters
Published: Tuesday, December 08, 2009
More On This Story
From the National Post, more about Pregnancy and Back Pain,Laying the foundation for a healthy pregnancy
Nutrition: Before and after conception
Planning is essential for a healthy pregnancy
Related Topics
Culture and Lifestyle
Exercise and Fitness
Family
Elena Brower
Jacques Moritz
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Alexander Drozdov / AFP / Getty Images Practicing yoga during pregnancy — and after birth — is gaining in popularity, due in part to its demonstrated physical and mental effects
Modern mothers-to-be are turning to the 4,000-year-old practice of yoga to put mind over pregnancy matters as they strengthen their bodies for the road ahead.
"There's a level of comport and presence women cultivate when they're practicing regularly through their pregnancies, so the changes that come are not going to shake them," Elena Brower, a New York City-based yoga instructor said in an interview.
The founder of the Virayoga studio in Manhattan, Brower has worked with celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow and Christie Turlington Burns during their pregnancies. She also has developed the DVD Element: Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga.
"It's about teaching women how to safely strengthen their abdominals," said Brower, herself the mother of a toddler. "And strengthening is complemented by learning how to stretch, so that you can be as limber as possible when that baby comes."
Yoga can also help women to get to know themselves a little better.
"You have a level of presence that allows you to ride the wave of the contraction/pain into another place. You don't think intellectually about it. You breathe."
A study of 335 pregnant women in Bangalore, India, found that those who practiced yoga experienced shorter labor, less pregnancy-induced hypertension, and higher birth-weight babies than the control group.
More than 11 million Americans are estimated to do some form of yoga. The name derives from the Sanskrit meaning yoke or union, and the practice strives to unite movement and breath.
Brower cautions that some of the pretzel-like contortions that characterize the practice are not suitable for expectant mothers, even if they are experienced yogis.
"Don't lie on your belly, don't twist. You want to keep the house as big as possible for the baby," she advises. "Do inversions if it feels right."
Dr. Jacques Moritz, Director of Gynecology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, says yoga is a fine idea for pregnant women, as long as they inform their instructors of their condition.
"Yoga is a great relaxing exercise. It's good for flexibility, it limbers people up," he said. "Part of the process of having a baby is opening up your pelvis. Yoga is one of the good ways to do that. It strengthens your core muscles and pelvic diaphragm."
Moritz, who is featured in the 2008 documentary film The Business of Being Born, said it also helps the back pain that nearly all women get during pregnancy.
Post-natal yoga can help new mothers re-tone and strengthen the pelvic floor but Moritz warned they should wait six to eight weeks after the birth before resuming yoga.
"You can't do something if you're still fatigued," he explained. "Most women are still breast-feeding on demand every three hours. So the last thing on their mind is exercise."
Then there's the challenge of losing that postpartum weight. The average woman puts on about 30 pounds of it during pregnancy.
Moritz is familiar with those celebrity supermoms who seem to drop their baby weight in the time it takes the rest of us to complete a sun salutation.
"For celebrity clients it's all about getting back in shape immediately," he said. "Most of them are doing yoga and Pilates."
I have second hand experience of this problem, my wife has given birth to 2 children, my daughter to 1. It seems unfair, however there are ways to ease back pain, some of them shown at www.backpainloss.com.
Stay well
Paul
Dorene Internicola, Reuters
Published: Tuesday, December 08, 2009
From the National Post, more about Pregnancy and Back Pain,Laying the foundation for a healthy pregnancy
Nutrition: Before and after conception
Planning is essential for a healthy pregnancy
Related Topics
Culture and Lifestyle
Exercise and Fitness
Family
Elena Brower
Jacques Moritz
Story Tools
Change font size
Print this story
E-Mail this story
Share This Story
Digg
More
Story tools presented by
Alexander Drozdov / AFP / Getty Images Practicing yoga during pregnancy — and after birth — is gaining in popularity, due in part to its demonstrated physical and mental effects
Modern mothers-to-be are turning to the 4,000-year-old practice of yoga to put mind over pregnancy matters as they strengthen their bodies for the road ahead.
"There's a level of comport and presence women cultivate when they're practicing regularly through their pregnancies, so the changes that come are not going to shake them," Elena Brower, a New York City-based yoga instructor said in an interview.
The founder of the Virayoga studio in Manhattan, Brower has worked with celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow and Christie Turlington Burns during their pregnancies. She also has developed the DVD Element: Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga.
"It's about teaching women how to safely strengthen their abdominals," said Brower, herself the mother of a toddler. "And strengthening is complemented by learning how to stretch, so that you can be as limber as possible when that baby comes."
Yoga can also help women to get to know themselves a little better.
"You have a level of presence that allows you to ride the wave of the contraction/pain into another place. You don't think intellectually about it. You breathe."
A study of 335 pregnant women in Bangalore, India, found that those who practiced yoga experienced shorter labor, less pregnancy-induced hypertension, and higher birth-weight babies than the control group.
More than 11 million Americans are estimated to do some form of yoga. The name derives from the Sanskrit meaning yoke or union, and the practice strives to unite movement and breath.
Brower cautions that some of the pretzel-like contortions that characterize the practice are not suitable for expectant mothers, even if they are experienced yogis.
"Don't lie on your belly, don't twist. You want to keep the house as big as possible for the baby," she advises. "Do inversions if it feels right."
Dr. Jacques Moritz, Director of Gynecology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, says yoga is a fine idea for pregnant women, as long as they inform their instructors of their condition.
"Yoga is a great relaxing exercise. It's good for flexibility, it limbers people up," he said. "Part of the process of having a baby is opening up your pelvis. Yoga is one of the good ways to do that. It strengthens your core muscles and pelvic diaphragm."
Moritz, who is featured in the 2008 documentary film The Business of Being Born, said it also helps the back pain that nearly all women get during pregnancy.
Post-natal yoga can help new mothers re-tone and strengthen the pelvic floor but Moritz warned they should wait six to eight weeks after the birth before resuming yoga.
"You can't do something if you're still fatigued," he explained. "Most women are still breast-feeding on demand every three hours. So the last thing on their mind is exercise."
Then there's the challenge of losing that postpartum weight. The average woman puts on about 30 pounds of it during pregnancy.
Moritz is familiar with those celebrity supermoms who seem to drop their baby weight in the time it takes the rest of us to complete a sun salutation.
"For celebrity clients it's all about getting back in shape immediately," he said. "Most of them are doing yoga and Pilates."
I have second hand experience of this problem, my wife has given birth to 2 children, my daughter to 1. It seems unfair, however there are ways to ease back pain, some of them shown at www.backpainloss.com.
Stay well
Paul
Overweight and Back Pain
From News Trends Today.
Certainly a hot topic of conversation, not only for Back Pain Loss but also for general health on a national scale.
REASONS TO LOSE WEIGHT FAST
Wed, Dec 9, 2009News Trends Today
An alarming number of people are overweight today, especially in the United States. Despite that fact that we know that obesity puts us at risk for heart problems, diabetes and even some types of cancer, the temptation to pile on the pounds appears to be more than the concept of living a healthy lifestyle.
Weight loss is not something that you should seek just to look good. You should lose weight as a way to maintain your health. Many people today are experiencing health problems due to the fact that they are overweight. This includes problems walking, joint pain, back pain, diabetes, heart disease and breathing difficulties. Many of these conditions and problems can be avoided if people simply lose weight.
Because obesity has become such an epidemic, especially in the United States, there is a lot of attention focused on the problem. Solutions for obesity range from lap band surgery that actually shrinks the stomach and prevents someone from eating to excess to simply dieting and exercising. There are literally hundreds of diet programs, thousands of diet centers and tens of thousands of books on the market to tell people how to lose weight.
In addition to that, there are hundreds of thousands of gyms, health clubs and exercise groups that are designed to help people with weight loss. The resources for weight loss are certainly there, but the epidemic remains.
As the article says, a lot of tools available for weight loss. My favorite two are NLP and Hypnosos, of the two a good course of Hypnosis combining suggestions for healthy eating with a gradually increasing exercise regime.
Stay well
Paul
Certainly a hot topic of conversation, not only for Back Pain Loss but also for general health on a national scale.
REASONS TO LOSE WEIGHT FAST
Wed, Dec 9, 2009News Trends Today
An alarming number of people are overweight today, especially in the United States. Despite that fact that we know that obesity puts us at risk for heart problems, diabetes and even some types of cancer, the temptation to pile on the pounds appears to be more than the concept of living a healthy lifestyle.
Weight loss is not something that you should seek just to look good. You should lose weight as a way to maintain your health. Many people today are experiencing health problems due to the fact that they are overweight. This includes problems walking, joint pain, back pain, diabetes, heart disease and breathing difficulties. Many of these conditions and problems can be avoided if people simply lose weight.
Because obesity has become such an epidemic, especially in the United States, there is a lot of attention focused on the problem. Solutions for obesity range from lap band surgery that actually shrinks the stomach and prevents someone from eating to excess to simply dieting and exercising. There are literally hundreds of diet programs, thousands of diet centers and tens of thousands of books on the market to tell people how to lose weight.
In addition to that, there are hundreds of thousands of gyms, health clubs and exercise groups that are designed to help people with weight loss. The resources for weight loss are certainly there, but the epidemic remains.
As the article says, a lot of tools available for weight loss. My favorite two are NLP and Hypnosos, of the two a good course of Hypnosis combining suggestions for healthy eating with a gradually increasing exercise regime.
Stay well
Paul
Reflexology and Back Pain
Fro Natural News.
(NaturalNews) Reflexology is the exerting of pressure on targeted areas of the feet (or hands) using the acupressure points found on a reflexology foot chart. The art is said to have originated in the lands of China, Egypt and India and has its basis in the belief that reflex points on the soles of the feet correspond to the various organs and parts of the body. For example, the inner edge of the foot has points relating to the spine and back, while the eyes, ears and sinuses are represented on the pads of the toes. Reflexologists believe that it is possible to restore health to the body by massaging these points.
Reflexology and Back Pain
Many people complain of back pain that ranges from niggling discomfort to chronic conditions. Mostly, this is not the result of injury or trauma. Less exercise, hard physical work and a generally sedentary lifestyle for many have contributed to the segments of the population who are virtually crippled with back problems. According to the World Health Organization, lower back pain is a leading cause of disability in the world.
The first step in addressing back problems through reflexology is to find a qualified reflexologist who will use specific techniques to exert deep pressure on the foot area corresponding with the specific back problem. This may be painful and several sessions may be required before the condition improves. Sore points are often the most important ones to work on, since they represent places where energy is blocked. A gentle spa type massage is probably not going to help much, pleasant as it may be.
Reflexology and Stress
Stress is sometimes referred to as a "silent killer". Stress is virtually considered as a normal condition in today's society. Road rage, family violence and outbursts can often be put down to stress at work or because of the fast pace of life these days. Reflexologists believe that a balance of mind-body-spirit is fundamental to well-being. Modern lifestyles tend to be more insular; the support once offered by a large, extended family is no longer available to many. The positive effect of therapeutic touch is recognized as being fundamental to a feeling of well-being.
A session with a reflexologist to alleviate stress is a drug-free, non-invasive way of reducing tension. To help the patient to relax, a practitioner may use some kind of aromatherapy massage oil or essential oil as part of the treatment. It is believed to encourage the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormones, well documented in their ability to relieve stress.
What to Expect from a Foot Reflexology Session
Reflexology is not a cure-all and may not help when there are serious underlying medical conditions. But it can reduce symptoms and aid in healing by improving lymphatic drainage and circulation, stimulation to the nerve pathways and muscle relaxation. Exercise, such as swimming or walking regularly, can aid in reducing back problems by strengthening back muscles and can also help to alleviate or reduce stress.
One of my first Therapies learnt, it is still a fascinating system to treat most ailments.
Stay well
Paul
(NaturalNews) Reflexology is the exerting of pressure on targeted areas of the feet (or hands) using the acupressure points found on a reflexology foot chart. The art is said to have originated in the lands of China, Egypt and India and has its basis in the belief that reflex points on the soles of the feet correspond to the various organs and parts of the body. For example, the inner edge of the foot has points relating to the spine and back, while the eyes, ears and sinuses are represented on the pads of the toes. Reflexologists believe that it is possible to restore health to the body by massaging these points.
Reflexology and Back Pain
Many people complain of back pain that ranges from niggling discomfort to chronic conditions. Mostly, this is not the result of injury or trauma. Less exercise, hard physical work and a generally sedentary lifestyle for many have contributed to the segments of the population who are virtually crippled with back problems. According to the World Health Organization, lower back pain is a leading cause of disability in the world.
The first step in addressing back problems through reflexology is to find a qualified reflexologist who will use specific techniques to exert deep pressure on the foot area corresponding with the specific back problem. This may be painful and several sessions may be required before the condition improves. Sore points are often the most important ones to work on, since they represent places where energy is blocked. A gentle spa type massage is probably not going to help much, pleasant as it may be.
Reflexology and Stress
Stress is sometimes referred to as a "silent killer". Stress is virtually considered as a normal condition in today's society. Road rage, family violence and outbursts can often be put down to stress at work or because of the fast pace of life these days. Reflexologists believe that a balance of mind-body-spirit is fundamental to well-being. Modern lifestyles tend to be more insular; the support once offered by a large, extended family is no longer available to many. The positive effect of therapeutic touch is recognized as being fundamental to a feeling of well-being.
A session with a reflexologist to alleviate stress is a drug-free, non-invasive way of reducing tension. To help the patient to relax, a practitioner may use some kind of aromatherapy massage oil or essential oil as part of the treatment. It is believed to encourage the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormones, well documented in their ability to relieve stress.
What to Expect from a Foot Reflexology Session
Reflexology is not a cure-all and may not help when there are serious underlying medical conditions. But it can reduce symptoms and aid in healing by improving lymphatic drainage and circulation, stimulation to the nerve pathways and muscle relaxation. Exercise, such as swimming or walking regularly, can aid in reducing back problems by strengthening back muscles and can also help to alleviate or reduce stress.
One of my first Therapies learnt, it is still a fascinating system to treat most ailments.
Stay well
Paul
Chiropractor and Back Pain Loss
This one from Dynamic ChiropractorHealth Care Is Being Dissected Under a National Microscope - But Where Is Chiropractic?
By Guy Riekeman, DC
As the debate over health care reform rages on in Washington, D.C., and in contentious town meetings across the country, there is perhaps one thing we can all agree on: The chiropractic profession is not so much as a tiny voice in the back row.
A panel of medical experts is advising the Obama administration on everything from single-payer systems to obesity management and end-of-life care. But no one from our profession has been invited in to explain chiropractic's vitalistic approach to health and human performance, even though it perhaps best reflects the president's ideal of a health care system with greater emphasis on wellness, prevention and personal empowerment that won't break the national bank.
Maybe we shouldn't be surprised. We have so successfully carved out a niche as back pain experts, it's no wonder our national leaders aren't asking what we think is the best approach to helping people realize more of their inborn potential for health.
How will chiropractic ever get its chance to influence the direction of health care in our nation? Only through the exercise of powerful thought leadership that clearly captures and articulates chiropractic's unique understanding of and contribution to health and human performance.
Finding Chiropractic's Voice: Becoming Thought Leaders
Anyone who has been involved with chiropractic for more than five minutes knows our advancement has been hampered by a muddy identity and professional infighting that have made it difficult for the public to know who we are and what we do. What we may not have realized, perhaps even until now, is just how much our "internal" problems are actually affecting the health of our neighbors, communities and nation.
On a scale never before experienced in our country, our nation's leaders are talking about health. They actually want to know how to get the population healthier, how to better care for those who are sick, and how to pay for the best care without sending us deeper into debt. What if, when they thought of chiropractic, they said, "Oh, those are the professionals who help people's bodies work better so its natural powers of health, adaptation and healing can be more fully realized"? Now that's a group that's getting a first-class invitation to the White House for a roundtable on health care reform.
Understanding Thought Leadership
The term thought leader was first coined in 1994 by Joel Kurtzman, author of Global Edge, senior fellow and publisher of The Milken Institute Review, and former editor of the Harvard Business Review and business editor of The New York Times. He used it to describe people who were contributing new knowledge to their fields. Today, it's widely understood to refer to people who understand emerging trends in their discipline and have the expertise and independent research to back up their point of view in meaningful and actionable ways.
Thought leadership is about competence. First and foremost, it stems from having a depth of understanding of your field that is nearly unrivaled and that is highly substantiated with facts. It also evolves around and inspires trust. People (patients, students, national leaders) want to be involved with organizations they believe in.
What Thought Leaders Do
Stake out a clear position. Thought leaders do not try to be all things to all people. They have unique expertise that is well-tested and are comfortable saying clearly what they know to be so without apology. One marketing leader refers to this concept as "concentrated fame" or being "king of the mole hill." It's far more effective to have the greatest depth of knowledge and expertise within your field than to dabble in many.
Add new knowledge. Thought leaders tell us something we don't already know. They are constantly learning and developing and testing new theories and approaches in their field. They don't shoot from the hip and hope they're right.
Become masters. Thought leaders specialize. They know who they are and what unique role they fill, and work tirelessly to fulfill it at the absolute highest levels of competency and professionalism. They have a passion for their field that goes beyond financial reward and can't be faked.
Speak clearly with one voice. The first thing a communications expert will tell you in a crisis is to get one clear message and have the same person deliver it again and again. The same approach works for communication over the long haul. You help people understand your message when you make it clear and consistent and deliver it repeatedly over time.
Ask lots of questions. Thought leaders are not afraid that asking someone else's opinion or considering another viewpoint will weaken their position. On the contrary; they understand that the more they test their knowledge, the stronger it will be. They pour many diverse viewpoints into their funnel and tease them out to see what makes sense and what doesn't. They also ask a lot of questions through formal research that applies the most rigorous standards to the concepts they hold near and dear. They don't want unquestioned confidence in themselves and their ideas; they want to be accurate.
Where Is Chiropractic?
Do those traits broadly describe the chiropractic profession to you? I think your answer is probably no, and I agree with you. We have excelled at halfheartedly delivering a confusing and changing message that we defend with a near-religious zeal, but are largely unwilling to expose to scientific discovery and research.
We are trying hard to change that approach at Life University. Six months ago we brought together some of the world's most renowned philosophers, clinicians and scholars inside and outside of chiropractic for the inaugural event of the Lifesource Octagon, a Center for Infinite Thinking. A key result of the conference was published proceedings that document how members of varied professions are gathering around the concept of vitalism. But we have to continue to expand the conversation and, most importantly, hold these concepts up to external and objective evaluation. We must embrace objective critique if our vitalistic approach to health and peak performance is to capture the respect of key decision-makers.
Likewise, we have recently commissioned an independent research study of millenials (those born in the late '70s to mid '90s) so we can develop a much clearer understanding of how this generation approaches health and health-oriented decisions. Armed with this objective data, we'll be far better positioned to communicate the unique role of chiropractic in helping them reach optimum performance.
That's where chiropractic can have its greatest impact. We are not low back pain gurus. We are not sciatica experts. We are vitalistic health care practitioners who have a unique understanding and set of credentials that can help people develop a far more mature and nuanced understanding of their bodies and then better manage their journey toward peak performance.
Thought leadership is not for everyone. It requires an unwavering commitment to excellence, honesty, and objective scrutiny and measurement. I think our profession has matured to the point that we are ready for that. If we can focus our communication and our dollars as a profession on researching the impact of chiropractic care on human health and performance, and sharing our vitalistic philosophy unapologetically and clearly, we can indeed help steer the national dialogue in a much healthier direction.
An interesting thought, more at www.backpainloss.com
By Guy Riekeman, DC
As the debate over health care reform rages on in Washington, D.C., and in contentious town meetings across the country, there is perhaps one thing we can all agree on: The chiropractic profession is not so much as a tiny voice in the back row.
A panel of medical experts is advising the Obama administration on everything from single-payer systems to obesity management and end-of-life care. But no one from our profession has been invited in to explain chiropractic's vitalistic approach to health and human performance, even though it perhaps best reflects the president's ideal of a health care system with greater emphasis on wellness, prevention and personal empowerment that won't break the national bank.
Maybe we shouldn't be surprised. We have so successfully carved out a niche as back pain experts, it's no wonder our national leaders aren't asking what we think is the best approach to helping people realize more of their inborn potential for health.
How will chiropractic ever get its chance to influence the direction of health care in our nation? Only through the exercise of powerful thought leadership that clearly captures and articulates chiropractic's unique understanding of and contribution to health and human performance.
Finding Chiropractic's Voice: Becoming Thought Leaders
Anyone who has been involved with chiropractic for more than five minutes knows our advancement has been hampered by a muddy identity and professional infighting that have made it difficult for the public to know who we are and what we do. What we may not have realized, perhaps even until now, is just how much our "internal" problems are actually affecting the health of our neighbors, communities and nation.
On a scale never before experienced in our country, our nation's leaders are talking about health. They actually want to know how to get the population healthier, how to better care for those who are sick, and how to pay for the best care without sending us deeper into debt. What if, when they thought of chiropractic, they said, "Oh, those are the professionals who help people's bodies work better so its natural powers of health, adaptation and healing can be more fully realized"? Now that's a group that's getting a first-class invitation to the White House for a roundtable on health care reform.
Understanding Thought Leadership
The term thought leader was first coined in 1994 by Joel Kurtzman, author of Global Edge, senior fellow and publisher of The Milken Institute Review, and former editor of the Harvard Business Review and business editor of The New York Times. He used it to describe people who were contributing new knowledge to their fields. Today, it's widely understood to refer to people who understand emerging trends in their discipline and have the expertise and independent research to back up their point of view in meaningful and actionable ways.
Thought leadership is about competence. First and foremost, it stems from having a depth of understanding of your field that is nearly unrivaled and that is highly substantiated with facts. It also evolves around and inspires trust. People (patients, students, national leaders) want to be involved with organizations they believe in.
What Thought Leaders Do
Stake out a clear position. Thought leaders do not try to be all things to all people. They have unique expertise that is well-tested and are comfortable saying clearly what they know to be so without apology. One marketing leader refers to this concept as "concentrated fame" or being "king of the mole hill." It's far more effective to have the greatest depth of knowledge and expertise within your field than to dabble in many.
Add new knowledge. Thought leaders tell us something we don't already know. They are constantly learning and developing and testing new theories and approaches in their field. They don't shoot from the hip and hope they're right.
Become masters. Thought leaders specialize. They know who they are and what unique role they fill, and work tirelessly to fulfill it at the absolute highest levels of competency and professionalism. They have a passion for their field that goes beyond financial reward and can't be faked.
Speak clearly with one voice. The first thing a communications expert will tell you in a crisis is to get one clear message and have the same person deliver it again and again. The same approach works for communication over the long haul. You help people understand your message when you make it clear and consistent and deliver it repeatedly over time.
Ask lots of questions. Thought leaders are not afraid that asking someone else's opinion or considering another viewpoint will weaken their position. On the contrary; they understand that the more they test their knowledge, the stronger it will be. They pour many diverse viewpoints into their funnel and tease them out to see what makes sense and what doesn't. They also ask a lot of questions through formal research that applies the most rigorous standards to the concepts they hold near and dear. They don't want unquestioned confidence in themselves and their ideas; they want to be accurate.
Where Is Chiropractic?
Do those traits broadly describe the chiropractic profession to you? I think your answer is probably no, and I agree with you. We have excelled at halfheartedly delivering a confusing and changing message that we defend with a near-religious zeal, but are largely unwilling to expose to scientific discovery and research.
We are trying hard to change that approach at Life University. Six months ago we brought together some of the world's most renowned philosophers, clinicians and scholars inside and outside of chiropractic for the inaugural event of the Lifesource Octagon, a Center for Infinite Thinking. A key result of the conference was published proceedings that document how members of varied professions are gathering around the concept of vitalism. But we have to continue to expand the conversation and, most importantly, hold these concepts up to external and objective evaluation. We must embrace objective critique if our vitalistic approach to health and peak performance is to capture the respect of key decision-makers.
Likewise, we have recently commissioned an independent research study of millenials (those born in the late '70s to mid '90s) so we can develop a much clearer understanding of how this generation approaches health and health-oriented decisions. Armed with this objective data, we'll be far better positioned to communicate the unique role of chiropractic in helping them reach optimum performance.
That's where chiropractic can have its greatest impact. We are not low back pain gurus. We are not sciatica experts. We are vitalistic health care practitioners who have a unique understanding and set of credentials that can help people develop a far more mature and nuanced understanding of their bodies and then better manage their journey toward peak performance.
Thought leadership is not for everyone. It requires an unwavering commitment to excellence, honesty, and objective scrutiny and measurement. I think our profession has matured to the point that we are ready for that. If we can focus our communication and our dollars as a profession on researching the impact of chiropractic care on human health and performance, and sharing our vitalistic philosophy unapologetically and clearly, we can indeed help steer the national dialogue in a much healthier direction.
An interesting thought, more at www.backpainloss.com
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