Mister Doctor Sir Stephen, Sir:
I so enjoyed the advanced workshop; it was like eating a delicious meal for my brain!
I’ve learned through many seminars that if I learn 1 thing from seminars and implement it in my life, I’ve won the day. From your workshop, I specifically got three main things that will help me in my progress:
- You explained that mentors can be dead or alive…. I’ve been struggling for a while to find mentors, especially in my spiritual pie…I now feel like I can pinpoint some great ones.
- I’ll be spending the next 21 days working on a daily workout, and hope that it becomes a true habit and part of my every day.
- That it’s progression, not perfection!
I’ve been sharing it with everyone. I’m infecting people with all that I’m doing! I just want to let you know that landing at Franson Chiropractic has been the tipping point in my life. It’s taken me 31 years of work to feel like I’ve found my path.
I’ve already incorporated no dairy in my diet. Working on no grains (about an 80% success rate so far). I’ve incorporated breakfast every day. I spend all of my time in the veggie/fruit/meat aisle at the grocery store (I honestly find it odd now to have to go through the other aisles).
The intensity of my migraines has been reduced. I feel very balanced in my life, married life, etc. The slices of my pie are looking like they’re on their way to be in harmony…my vision of how I want to be/live/love/etc. is becoming clearer and clearer. I, too,
smell/visualize/touch/feel the future me, future projects, etc.
Okay, I’d better stop here, because I could write forever. Oh, and journaling…I went home and read some old journals (I always thought of them as my philosophical thought books), and boy…it was amazing to see how my struggles have changed, diminished, become different, etc…
Have an amazing moment.
Silva
Alright, enough is enough - this has to be written, and honestly, it is waaaaayyyy overdue. But before it can be written, we must put modesty aside (just for a minute). You see, here at Franson Chiropractic, we know that we are all a bunch of nice, helpful, happy, and pleasant guys and gals; however, when it comes to these character traits, one of us shines brighter than the rest.
Look at that Shine!
That’s right - Sarah Tymann stands out like a spotless Dalmation in a group of Chocolate Labs. This is quite remarkable, because frankly, FFC has one of the finest teams in chiropractic that has ever been assembled.
Sarah never hesitates to greet you with a smile, and a super genuine one at that! You can always tell that it’s no facade and that she really is that happy to see you. She always does her best, and really cares for the patients and her team here at FFC. She’s always pleasant (not just cool, but nice and helpful), even on the rare occasion she is put face to face with someone not as pleasant. She is always willing to help, no matter the task, and somehow makes even tough news seem -well, again - pleasant.
Sarah is thoughtful and kind, and one of the more empathetic people on our staff which is full of empathetic people. We here at FFC are sooooooo thankful and lucky to have Sarah on our team because not only is she a passionate fan of chiropractic and the brains behind our social media, but also, Sarah is an inspiration and an example of how we should treat each other.
Thank you Sarah for being our face and our shining example.
Love,
Dr. N (and everybody else, because I know they were thinking this as well)
Structure is the path to freedom.
Last week I had the great pleasure of delivering one of my favorite workshops (Total Life Conditioning) to an eager crowd of about 100 patients, Bonfire members, and random guests. I was first introduced to the concept by one of my mentors, Dr. CJ Mertz, at a retreat in Texas in 1999. (To learn more about TLC read here.)
I can usually spot the newcomers during the Question and Answer period that naturally follows each presentation. Each workshop topic has its moment. There is an inflection point that shifts the audience in their seats. The eyebrows raise, the heads tilt, the whispering begins.
Total Life Conditioning promotes a very conscious, deliberate way of living in balance and on purpose.
This lifestyle requires discipline and structure. A purpose-driven person will seek to master their time, energy, focus, and money. Schedules will be kept, budgets will be followed. Of course the world will throw its agenda into the mix, but the On-Purpose person will choose to keep to the path.
For many, this doesn’t sound like much fun. All that structure? It seems so rigid.
A well-balanced life is anything but rigid.
I paddled out at Straw’s Point early this morning into perfect ground swell groomed by light westerly winds. The waves were back-lit by the rising morning sun. The water was unusually warm – as were the surfers packed in side by side at the peak – satiated by the last three straight days of hurricane waves. I exchanged glances and head-nods with the familiar faces around me and waited out the first set of waves filling in at the point. As surf etiquette states: first come, first served.
This morning it was easy to be patient and wait for my turn. It was Monday morning, and soon the crowd would thin and head off to work. But not me… I had called in healthy.
Part of a well-balanced life is knowing when you’d be better off just playing. Living On Purpose creates greater flexibility in your life. Structure provides better stability and predictability. When the conditions in life come together to create storms, this lifestyle will better equip you to ride them out. And then when the wind switches, you’ll also be more likely to enjoy the waves.
Now go call in healthy,
Dr. Stephen Franson
Leading up to Dr. Nick Araza’s Ergonomics workshop at the end of September, I am going to write a series of posts about the causes of subluxation. As a chiropractor who spends all day checking spines and looking at full spine x-rays of a broad range of patients, I can tell you that the spinal health of the average U.S. population is very poor. However, this can be a surprise to many people who have never had their spine checked by a chiropractor.
So over the next few weeks we will review some of the causes of subluxation that create so many of the problems that we see.
This week we will discuss the most common first cause of subluxation – birth trauma and the birth process.
First, an overview of some of the factors involved.
The birth process involves a large amount of stress on the infant. According to Nirumpama Laroia, MD, Professor of the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Rochester, the birth process is a blend of compression, contractions, torques, and traction. This pressure on a child’s head and neck during the delivery is enough to actually create deformity of the skull, or to fracture the collar bone. So there is no doubt that the birth process is the hardest journey that most of us will make.
In one study performed in Germany, 114 of 600 children were found to have significant problems in their infant spines from the birth process, primarily in the neck1. These resulted in various symptoms, such as restricted motion of the cervical spine, torticollis, cervical scoliosis, facial scoliosis, asymmetric muscle tone, improper hip joint function, opisthotonos (retraction of the head and arching of the back, with infant unable to hold the head erect), restless sleep, and not eating or drinking well.
Many of the symptomatic presentations were rapidly resolved following adjustments of the infants spine.
1. Biedermann H. Kinematic imbalances due to suboccipital strain in newborns. J. Manual Med (1992) 6:151-156.
YOU NEED THE BOX!!
“Life without vision, without purpose, is like trying to complete the most difficult puzzle you have ever done without the help of the box cover.” – Dr. Stephen
Can you imagine?!
The most difficult puzzle ever, without any picture to look at for guidance?! It makes sense that we need a mission, a purpose, a vision for our lives.
Purpose was described last night at our Total Life Conditioning workshop as the compass that guides our life and keeps us on track, so we don’t get distracted by the day-to-day life that happens in between.
But how do you find your compass?
Using an analog to Jim Collins book from “Good to Great,” Dr. Franson said that your purpose lies in the nexus or center of what you have passion for, talent for, and get fulfillment from. It is the thing you would do even if you didn’t get paid to do it (and maybe you don’t). Viktor Frankl, survivor of the Holocaust and psychiatrist, stated in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning” that the purpose of life is a purposeful life. He found that it didn’t matter what our purpose was, just as long as we felt as though we had one.
Finding purpose can take different amounts of time for everyone - the important thing is that you keep looking. I would suggest it may not be your job - it may be your hobby or relationship or role in the family. It doesn’t matter what it is, so long as you don’t give up until you find it – or it finds you.
Finding purpose is so important because then you have a compass to help you in all of life’s challenges. You just ask yourself, by doing ____, am I following my purpose and getting closer to my vision?
That brings us to vision. It isn’t enough to have purpose - we must also have vision. Vision is what you see for your life or who you see yourself becoming. That is truly the puzzle box - your purpose is deciding what puzzle to do, and your vision is getting a good look at the box while working the puzzle.
That takes planning…it just doesn’t happen! You must work on your vision in each area of your life: family, work, recreation, physical, mental, etc. One by one, figure out exactly what you want (goals are important), then imagine how the person who accomplished those goals would act (what they would have done to get them done).
For more on this awesome topic, check out the “Total Life Conditioning” dvd, or the “Anchor Your Purpose, Spark Your Health” dvd (coming soon) in our lending library.
Plan 4 a Purposeful Life,
Dr. Nicholas Araza, DC CCWP
We’ve all been there. You are halfway down the first aisle of the grocery store when you realize that you’ve selected a cart with a sticky wheel. The cart squeaks and sputters along, pulling to the right – dangerously close to the stack of pickles perched precariously on the end-cap of aisle one.
As a chiropractor, I am naturally drawn to the deeper meaning of the terms “balance” and “alignment.” There are physical applications that are obvious: a joint out of alignment disturbs function and creates imbalance. Restore alignment, and you restore balance and function. If only it were so easy above C1.
The deeper issues of alignment, imbalance, and dysfunction warrant our attention as well. Long term misalignment in the body produces wasting and weakness – or “de-conditioning.” The same can be said with the structure and health of our lifestyles. Imbalance between the categories of our lives creates stress and dysfunction that can derail you as readily as a disc herniation. But not all imbalance manifests as an acute issue, screaming out for attention. More common is the insidious reality of chronic, low-grade inequity that pulls us off track like a sticky wheel.
Total Lifestyle Conditioning speaks to the conscious and deliberate process of strategic living.
Regardless of our situation or challenges, we are constantly faced with the opportunity to make the best choices. Every free man and woman gets to choose behaviors, relationships, and environments that will largely predict our experience – every day. How are you designing your life?
Are your choices in line with your Life Purpose? Do you know your Purpose? Your Life Purpose Statement answers the question: Why do I exist?
Do you have a Mission Statement? This answers the question: How are you going to live-out your Purpose? How are you going to point your life?
Are these both in alignment with your Vision Statement? This answers the question: How do you see the world? What possibility do you see? How do you see your role in this becoming a reality?
It is too easy to allow the busy-ness of everyday life to stifle the inner voice that asks these questions. The pull of the world is powerful and unrelenting. If we are not careful to adopt rituals that create a mechanism to ensure quiet time and reflection in our lives, we will get swept into another day by the undercurrent of our lives.
Join us on Wednesday, August 23, 2010 for Total Lifestyle Conditioning, a deep dive into these pressing questions. Bring your wobbling wagon, challenging situation, frustrating relationship, honest curiosity, hopeful optimism, deepest confusion, or unbridled inspiration to one of the most dynamic discussions of your life.
See you there.
Dr. Stephen Franson
Those people trying to live a wellness lifestyle understand that modern life creates a never-ending parade of challenges. Long commutes in un-chiropractic friendly vehicles. Excess stress. People who don’t understand chiropractic. And, of course, a terrible challenge finding the right food.
So we are going to help you relieve some of this stress by reviewing places in the community and show examples of how they fit into a wellness, bonfire-approved, lifestyle. First up, a fantastic seafood restaurant in the North End called Neptune’s Oyster.
I was there taking my girlfriend out for her birthday. It is easy to think of the mounting challenges here - birthday dinners and the North End have most people thinking of cannolis.
Here is what I had:
A couple of fresh raw oysters. A treat I do not have very often, these were fresh, unadulterated, and a delicious way to start the meal.
Seared George’s Bank Scallops, as the entree. Roasted porchetta, rainbow swiss chard, sweet turnips, country mustard sauce, and bing cherries. This dish was absolutely fabulous and all real food. And filling, too.
So while the North End does not conjure up images of food conducive to a wellness lifestyle, it is more than possible to have great moments in life and improve your health at the same time. Thanks to Jeff and Kelli and the gang for helping make it happen.
Just make sure to get there early, because they fill up fast.
Can you believe it?!? It’s almost Ohana Day!
Our ancestors always took time to come together and celebrate life. We are genetically programmed to gather, eat, and dance around the fire. We thrive when we take a break from our frantic pace to relax and play. Come and spend some time with our Tribe – meet friends, make friends and bring friends.
This Saturday, August 21st, the Franson Family Chiropractic Tribe will get together to celebrate our incredible community. For thirteen years, we have gathered the most wonderful families in the region for a day of food, fun and family. This amazing group of people shares one thing in common – a passionate commitment to the healthiest lifestyle possible.
Of course, we will be playing games (adults and kids), listening to music, and just hanging out. For the first time, the event will be held in Beverly’s own beautiful Lynch Park. The park is right on the water, so be sure to bring your suits and lawn/beach chairs. We’ve “arranged” to have a bright, sunny pleasant day with a refreshing sea breeze. There are plenty of trees for shade, and parking is close-by.
We will be grilling all day, but we do ask that everyone brings something to “throw on the bar-b.”
This year we are hosting the first-ever Franson Family Cook-Off. In the great American tradition of the “Chili-Cook-Off,” we will be hosting a friendly competition to find our community’s finest cooks. There will be three categories: Best Salad, Best Entrée, and Best Dessert.
- You must submit a recipe with each entry. Selections will be scored on TASTE and NUTRITION.
- Please prepare enough of your dish for about 12 people to enjoy – or more if you wish!
- These delicious and nutritious entries will be judged by the Franson Family Chiropractors.
- There will be a possible high score of 10 points.
- 0 – 5 points possible for TASTE
- 0 – 5 points possible for NUTRITIONAL VALUE*
- All entries will remain anonymous until the award ceremony.
PRIZES INCLUDE:
- 1st Prize – $50 Gift Card to Trader Joes
- 2nd Prize – Some fabulous kitchen utensils!
Recipes will be collected and turned into a cookbook for your family. Please use the nutritional guidelines outlined in the Bonfire Health Principles.
Ohana Day is our day to host and entertain you and your family. We love to share time and stories with all of you. It means so much to our entire team for you to be there. It’s an open house, so feel free to swing by at any time and stay as long as you’d like. We look forward to it!
You are family!
In health from within,
Dr. Stephen Franson
Strong Bones for Everyone... YES!!!!
Vanquished, done, over, not to be thought of again - that’s how I want you to feel about osteoporosis after reading this. Not that it won’t require work or moderate change to get these results, but at least you will be armed with the knowledge to feel empowered, instead of merely at the mercy of “bad luck or bad genes.”
“Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced, bone microarchitecture is disrupted, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered.” – Wikipedia
Shocking Fact: Osteoporosis complications (fractures) affect 1.8 million people each year and account for roughly 40 million dollars in health care costs EACH DAY.
Shocking Fact II: Osteoporosis is under your control - it is a LIFESTYLE DIS-EASE. Sure, there may be a familial tendency, but that just means that if you live (eat, move, and think) as your family before you has, you will probably get the same diseases. Use this example to help understand this genetics vs. environment question: if you have a family history of alcoholism, you have a much greater chance of becoming an alcoholic if you drink, and much much less of a chance if you don’t drink.
So, here are the 4 steps to defy your heredity or just ensure you have strong bones throughout your life:
1. Get Adjusted.
I know you’re thinking “Come on, Dr. Nick, what does that have to do with bone density?”
Great question - the answer lies in the proper absorption of the foods you take in. If you have spinal irritation to your nerve system, that will cause stress to your body, and stress decreases your digestive function. So, get adjusted to ensure proper digestive function and maximal absorption of the vitamins and minerals (Vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, etc.) that make up healthy bones.
2. Eat the right foods. Americans are worried that they aren’t getting enough calcium, which is ironic because most Americans have plenty of calcium in their diet. The problem is that it is from the wrong sources, such as milk, cheese and yogurt. Sure those foods have plenty of calcium; however, when they break down and enter into your bloodstream, they end up acidifying (decreasing pH) your blood. Your body HATES having acidic blood and will do anything to correct that. Its best option is to use not only the calcium from the foods (such as dairy) but also the calcium from your bones to buffer (balance) that acidity, bringing you back to balance and slightly alkaline (basic) blood.
Hopefully you’re thinking “Does that explain why America has some of the highest levels of dairy consumption and some of the highest levels of osteoporosis in the WORLD?!”
YOU BETCHA!!
Focus on eating green, leafy veggies, which are loaded with calcium and are alkalizing, so you can actually use the calcium to build strong bones. Leave the acidic foods such as dairy and grains in the store with the other junk food.
3. Exercise.
If you want strong muscles, what do you do? WORK OUT. It’s the same thing with bones! Your body is incredibly intelligent, and will strengthen the systems that are needed based on the environment they are put in. So if you want strong bones, demand strong bones from your body by doing strengthening exercises such as walking, running, squatting, jumping, etc. Bear some weight and your bones will rejoice and get stronger to meet the demands!
What? That’s right! The Vitamin D you’re body makes from the sun’s rays hitting your skin increases the absorption rate of the calcium you ingest by 15%! Which is huge, considering most people only absorb 15% of the calcium they eat - so getting some sun can double your bone building efforts…sweet deal!
Each of these steps are vital behaviors for ALL people in order to express health and balance in ALL areas of their lives - not just bone health. So please participate in these 4 steps and reap the benefits!!
Build 4 Health,
-Dr. Nicholas Araza
Last time we talked about specific steps to take when grilling that will improve the quality of the meals that you produce. This post will cover how to prepare your food for grilling.
As we covered last time, certain grilling strategies can dramatically affect the amount of certain toxic compounds that may end up in your food. The good news is that if you take the right steps, studies have shown you can decrease the presence of these compounds, HACs and PAHs, by up to 90%.
So here are action steps to implement when you are manning the grill:
Choosing the right cuts of meat – not processed! We have written several blog posts about the importance of the quality of meat that you eat. There is a real difference between conventional, factory-farmed meat and meat that pasture-raised, grass-fed, organic, or similar distinctions. And we recognize that it is a learning process to learn what all of these mean and to make the appropriate changes.
However, it’s easy to start with the simplest, most effective change. Avoid the worst choices, which are processed meats. These are defined as meats preserved by smoking, salting, or adding chemical preservatives. The American Institute for Cancer Research says stay away from these items completely. So choose good quality meat sources. As always, consider the source of the food to help make better choices.
So don’t choose the processed meats – think store-brand hot dogs, sausages, bacon, also including deli meats. Read these blog posts about quality meat sources such as grass fed beef.
Add vegetables and fruits: Use plants as a part of your grilling repertoire. The toxic compounds discussed above and in Part I are primarily found in animal foods, especially muscle meats. So make sure to add in vegetables and fruits to your meal plan. Click here for some great recipes for grilling vegetables and fruits.
Use marinades to your advantage: It turns out that the right marinade can cut the production of HCAs and PAHs by up to 90%. Use things that include lemon juice, rosemary, olive oil, garlic, onions, etc. We are still learning what is most effective, but fresh, real foods that have high antioxidant capacity seem to be the key. Even adding some crushed cherries to ground beef burger was powerfully effective. Give it a try!
Dr. Jesse Davis
