February 2021 marks 1 year since the first case of coronavirus in NZ. It has been a crazy rollercoaster ride this last year, with stress being at an all time high for a lot of people for a lot of different reasons. It’s a good time to remind ourselves that the most important thing we have going for us- at any age and under any conditions- is our health & wellbeing.

Health is defined by the WHO (World Health Organisation) as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease.

Wellbeing is defined by the University of Cambridge as positive and sustainable characteristics which enable individuals and organisations to thrive and flourish.

To help yourself and your family to flourish, here are a few tips to help you on your way:

Daily pause and breathe- the power of a simple breath is amazing. Appropriate oxygen into your system activates a certain part of the brainstem, which helps to promote proper function of the stress management systems.
Heart Rate Variability/ Heart-Brain Coherence Training- When a person is in a more coherent state, and has high heart rate variability (to be discussed in a later post), there is a shift towards balance of the stress-response system, impacting on the function of other systems throughout the body. In this mode, the body’s systems function with a high degree of efficiency and harmony and natural regenerative processes are facilitated. Chiro Connect will be offering HeartMath Heart Coherence training sessions for those who are interested in getting more of a handle on their stress management.
Daily Move and Stretch- stimulate the power of your own natural opioids through movement. This can be as simple as light stretching for a few minutes while you’re watching tv or winding down at night, to a 15-20 walk during the day. MovNat- a program focusing on natural movement- have just released a fantastic online mobility training module to help you get the basics started.
Nourish your mind and body- read something new, something opposite to your belief system to stimulate thought, do a crossword. Try swapping out that tasty sugar, dairy and gluten-filled muffin for a lower processed one or even a piece of fruit (I know, boring. That probably wouldn’t be my choice! Try swapping for quality high percentage dark chocolate instead).
Chiropractic Care- chiropractic adjustments activate certain parts of the brainstem and prefrontal cortex which are essential in stress control in your body. Holistic chiropractic care helps your brain & body to better manage and process stress through improved brain-body function.

Whatever you choose to do to promote your health and wellbeing, make sure it is manageable in the time you can prioritise for it. If all you have is 2 minute chunks of time, work with that! Focus on a snack-sized hip stretch or neck stretch for one block, then in your next 2 minute block take time out for a pause and focused breathing. In your next 2 minute block, think of 3 things you are grateful for.

Find what works for you, and that meets you wherever you are on any given day (physically and metaphorically!).