Many of our clients walk through our doors for the first time without knowing what a sensitized nervous system is or how it relates to the levels of pain we experience. With an estimated 7.63 million, or one in four Canadians aged 15 or older, living with chronic pain, it seems like we should be talking more about the root causes of pain.

Pain. So many of us live with it. Sometimes because we’ve been living with it for so long, it has become a part of us. Sometimes because we don’t believe there’s anything else out there that can actually make a difference.

Since the start of the pandemic, rates of anxiety and depression have been going up at an alarming rate. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, ancestry, etc. That’s why it’s more important now than ever before to pay attention to your mental health, to know the signs of depression and anxiety, and to build some self-care for mental health into your daily routines.

Let’s start with this simple statistic: women who receive prenatal chiropractic care experience labor times that are 25% to 31% shorter. That’s enough of an incentive for many women, amiright?! But we won’t stop there. Keep reading to learn about the many benefits of seeing a chiropractor throughout your pregnancy.

Famed American midwife Ina May Gaskin says it quite clearly in her childbirth guide: “Gardeners know that you must nourish the soil if you want healthy plants. You must water the plants adequately, especially when seeds are germinating and sprouting, and they should be planted in a nutrient-rich soil. Why should nutrition matter less in the creation of young humans than it does in young plants? I'm sure that it doesn't.

Pregnancy, labour, and delivery are so unpredictable, aren’t they? Some women sail through 40 weeks with a smile on their face while others suffer from nausea, heartburn, and sciatica with little relief. Birth can go any which way – a little early, a little late, induction or impromptu, long or absurdly long, vaginal or caesarean. Whatever way it happens, the only constant is that it rarely goes the way you plan or imagine it.

It was passion that fueled the creation of Holistic Physiotherapy & Wellness. What started out with one woman and a commitment to health has grown into an integrative healthcare clinic that fosters community, empowerment, and collaboration.

Holistic Physiotherapy & Wellness Values YOU

Since the start of the pandemic, rates of anxiety and depression have been going up at an alarming rate. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, ancestry, etc. That’s why it’s more important now than ever before to pay attention to your mental health, to know the signs of depression and anxiety, and to build some self-care for mental health into your daily routines.

When my second child was born, I was completely unprepared for the postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety that quickly set in. It changed me, it changed my journey through motherhood, and it changed my career. All of a sudden, my understanding of the postnatal mental health challenges so many women face expanded – and we don’t talk about them enough.

There has long been a stigma around mental health issues, so much so that often people who are suffering keep it to themselves for fear of being judged. That stigma seems to be lifting and there are safe places you can go to get the care you need.

The lyrics to that Taylor Swift song often makes me think of all the new moms out there, some of whom are suffering in silence with postpartum depression or anxiety. Feeling like they aren’t capable of being good mothers and that, somehow, it’s their own fault. It’s not. A major life change like bringing a whole new person into the world coupled with massive changes going on in your body can cause a little or a lot of mental and emotional fog in the early days.

Congratulations! You grew a complete and tiny human in your body and then gave birth to him or her. From the moment you found out you were pregnant, you probably paid close attention to your diet. Tried to hydrate enough, increased your intake of fruits, veggies, protein, dairy, and ice cream. (Maybe the ice cream was just me?)

Your body has been through so much. You grew an entire human being! You labored to bring that person into the world, and now you spend all day every day feeding, rocking, and loving that little baby. Your breasts may feel swollen, your pelvic area is healing, and the space between your hip bones and your ribs just feels like jelly where there should be muscle.

It’s no secret that routines and rituals are restorative. Our nervous system, by design, responds favourably to the familiar. When we know what to expect, we feel safe. It’s the unexpected things in life that can cause confusion and indecision, leading to stress and a nervous system in a state of unrest. Even the simplest of routines performed with regularity can create a sense of surety and safety.

Lakota Wisdom tells us that “In the circle, we are all equal. There is no one in front of you and there is nobody behind you. No one is above you; no one is below you. The circle is sacred because it is designed to create unity.”

You might have noticed a theme this month in our blogs – all those important things we need for our own health and wellness? It shouldn’t come as a surprise that our kids need them too. And gut health is no exception.

We talk a lot about the mind-body connection here at Holistic Physiotherapy & Wellness. For anyone who needs a refresher, the mind-body connection is a link between your mental health (thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes) and your physical health. It strives to explain the many ways in which our emotions impact our health and well-being, and vice versa.

Children love to play. More than anything, they usually love to play with their parents or primary caregivers. It’s fun, it’s silly, and when movement is involved, it is a powerful tool for the holistic health of your child, from babies and toddlers all the way up to tweens and teens. When we talk about the pentagon of wellness, movement, exercise, and play check all the boxes.

You are a better communicator than you realize! Did you know that your brain is in constant communication with – of all things – your gut? That’s why an uncomfortable conversation can induce butterflies or loose bowel movements and why you might not feel like your usual perky self when your stomach is off.

We all want to be healthy. But how, exactly, does one define health? That depends on who you ask.

If you ask Pfizer, “Wellness is the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes, so that instead of just surviving, you're thriving. To understand the significance of wellness, it's important to understand how it's linked to health.”