Memorial Day Recovery Tips

Even if you stayed at home like millions of Americans in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19, you might have engaged in some couch surfing, or maybe some backyard barbecuing, not to mention ate and drank some foods and beverages that might not be the best for your health and wellness protocol. Below, Holmes Chiropractic goes over a few ways to recover from your Memorial Day in an effective way.

First, hydrate! Make sure you drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water, especially if you’re feeling a little under the weather.

Next, take part in a short stretch routine. Maybe take a nice steam shower and stretch your muscles with the heat, which will make your body more pliable. Put the water on its coldest setting and stay in that as long as you can before exiting. It might not sound like it, but it feels amazing.

If you’re feeling lingering muscle tension, an acupressure mat and pillow can go a long way in providing active recovery — whether it’s to counteract the tension from exercise or for weekend festivities.

Chiropractic treatment is also a great way to recover from any abuse you put your body through on a daily basis. Contact Holmes Chiropractic today to schedule your consultation in order to learn more.

Tips to Avoid Tech Neck

Tech neck was a common problem even before millions of Americans started working from home in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. Now tech neck is even more of an issue with so many of us staring at our computer screens and smart devices day in and day out.

With the way most of us crane our necks when we stare at our smartphones, neck pain and neck tension associated with tech neck might seem unavoidable.

However, Holmes Chiropractic would like to provide patients and readers with a few tips to avoid tech neck.

Tip #1: Stand if You Can

Whenever you can stand while working, you’ll limit the pressure that sitting in a chair puts on your spine and our neck. Using a standing elevating desk will help you switch up the monotony of a workday.

Tip #2: Stretch it Out

Take 20-45 minutes each day to stretch your body, especially your neck. Staring at devices like our smartphones and computers, not to mention keeping less than perfect posture, can cause tension, which needs to be counteracted by stretching.

Tip #3: Visit Your Local Chiropractor 

Visiting your local chiropractor will help treat tech neck and back pain that persists despite stretching and other therapeutic measures. Chiropractic treatment will help you unlock your true potential. Contact Holmes Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation.

When Should I Start My Own Chiropractic Treatment Again

SOT

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to run its course, you may have put a halt to your own health and wellness protocol in efforts to serve the greater good. The truth is, it was probably okay to continue with your chiropractic treatments all along — we keep a safe and sterile environment where the focus is always on the patient. Our treatments help boost the immune system and ensure that your body is functioning at optimum capacity.

Right now is a great time to get back to your treatment protocol, especially if you’ve been feeling aches, pains, tension, and stress from living your life “all cooped up,” so to speak.

Please know that not getting outside and staying away from others has more than likely taken a toll on your immune system and wellbeing, but we’re here to correct that — just like we’re here to correct any misalignments that are holding you back from health and happiness.

Contact Holmes Chiropractic today to schedule your consultation. We’re here help you take your health back!

Immune System Boosts for Essential Workers

For those of us who still have to suit up and show up for work during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is surprisingly little information being offered about what you can do to boost your immune system beyond using hand sanitizer and wearing a mask of any sort any time you leave your home.

The truth is we’re walking germ farms. A part of the human experience is even trading germs so our bodies can mount healthy defenses against them, defenses that safe your life down the road.

Getting outside so you can get fresh air, vitamin D, and maybe have some healthy exchanges with some low-risk folks around this time, that will do a lot toward keeping your body in shape for warding off infection.

Right living is extremely important during this time. Eat clean, whole foods and cut out processed sugars and carbohydrates that cause inflammation, which disrupts your body’s natural processes, leaving you vulnerable to getting sick.

Get 7-9 hours of sleep. Your body uses this time to regenerate and detoxify itself. Anything less and you are rolling the dice when it comes to your health.

Chiropractic adjustments are another great way to give your immune system a quick boost, setting you up for success if you’re an essential worker. We’re here to provide our essential treatments during this time at Holmes Chiropractic. Contact us today to schedule your consultation. We’re here to help you take your health back!

Getting Back to this Year’s Goals

As COVID-19 restrictions begin to loosen and things are looking to get back to some semblance of normal, it’s perfectly okay for you to start looking at yourself again in order to see where you stand when it comes to assessing your 2020 health and wellness goals.

It’s okay if you have to make some adjustments. You might not be able to hit that annual mile mark for running if you haven’t been able to lace up those running shoes faithfully every day like you might have before this pandemic. Cut yourself a little slack and maybe decrease your numbers a bit in consideration of the two months the world has been closed. 

Maybe you’ve had to settle for processed foods and whatever was available to you during these uncertain times. That’s okay, too. Maybe now is a good time to get back to your normal diet and maybe not settle for those comfort foods that might not be the best for your overall health and wellness.

Maybe you started yoga or martial arts class and those have been put on hold. If your classes are offered via Zoom right now, that still gives you an opportunity to stay on top of your practice, whatever it is.

As May gets underway and more businesses begin to open up, it’s time to get back to your goals. Holmes Chiropractic offers treatments that go hand in hand with a healthy lifestyle and we’re open during this time to give our patients essential treatments.

Getting Back to Healthy As COVID-19 Restrictions Loosen

The effects of social-distancing and self-quarantine have been known to have negative health consequences for those who put themselves through such isolating conditions. In the end, human beings are meant to be around each other. During this time many of us might have a whole new appreciation for others.

However, the fact remains that our immune systems could be compromised from this time we’ve stayed indoors. That’s why it’s important to make healthy choices and to double-down on our own wellness protocols as we acclimate back to some semblance of normal society.

First, it’s important to eat clean, whole foods. Don’t bog your body down with processed foods that also cause inflammation that makes your body more susceptible to infection. Drink plenty of water (half your body weight in ounces per day). Exercise, especially incorporating your cardiovascular system.

As restrictions become more relaxed, start meeting one-on-one with people you haven’t seen in awhile, as long as their not susceptible to COVID-19 and did not test positive. That way you can start exchanging that healthy biome that helps protect you from viral invasion.

Chiropractic treatment is also a great way to boost your immune system, setting the tone for a healthy summer. Contact Holmes Chiropractic to schedule your consultation today. We’re here to provide our essential treatments during this time of rebuilding.

3 Amazing Mindfulness Exercises

When it comes to mindfulness, it’s something we should all be practicing more every day. As we continue to live in a world where most of us are staying at home and limiting our contact with others, it’s a good time to turn things inward and check-in with yourself.

Below, Holmes Chiropractic Goes over a few ways to exercise your mind during this time.

1.) Meditation

Sit down and try to think of nothing for 10 minutes… every day. That’s pretty much what meditation is. Sit down with your back straight. Maintain good posture and focus on your breathing. If you have an invasive thought, identify it and let it drift on down the stream of consciousness. Initially, you’ll probably find yourself thinking quite a bit. As time goes on and as your practice strengthens, you’ll find yourself thinking of nothing more and more, which is the idea! Proper meditation is like a power nap for the brain, you’ll find yourself coming out of your session refreshed and ready to carry on with your day in a positive way.

2.) Thinking of Others

We tend to think of ourselves all the time, plain and simple. The more time you can spend thinking of someone else, the less narcissistic you will be yourself. Apart from your meditation practice, it can be nice to close your eyes and close the distance between yourself and a loved one. During your meditation, you can even invite people who you’ve loved and loss to sit with you. You’ll be surprised how much of a spiritual presence you’ll start to feel. The truth is, the love we share with others is not completely contingent upon them being there in the flesh. It’s beneficial to explore keeping these connections strong.

3.) Reading Something Difficult

As the last two modes of mindfulness are more easygoing, balancing these practices out with exercising the mind more rigorously might serve you well. Read a difficult book that requires concentration and thought. Do this for 30 minutes to an hour each day to strengthen and expand your mind.

Contact Holmes Chiropractic today to learn about how our treatments go hand-in-hand with a healthy lifestyle.