Dr Roger Sperry, (Nobel prize winner, 1981) stated that 90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by movement of the spine. Decades later, new science confirms that healthy movement patterns in our joints, specifically our spine, supercharges brain activity, reduces the amount of stress hormones in our body and increases learning and development in children. Most of us realise the importance of a healthy brain. Your brain is the boss of your entire body and with help from the rest of your nervous system, controls everything you do. It has been said that brain health equals heart health. so one of the best things you can do to optimise your brain health is move your body, simple! When we exercise, we move our spine. Our brain uses mechanoreceptors to senses movement, joint motion and location in our vertebrae and other joints. This brain body communication (via mechanoreceptors) stimulates brain activity through healthy joint motion and because the majority of our mechanoreceptos are located in our spine, proper spinal alignment and movement is essential for optimal brain health. Spinal alignment reduces sympathetic stress to our body. Movement of our body switches our nervous system from 'fight or flight' into the rest and repair state that our bodies require to regenerate on a daily basis. Recent research proves exercise "turns on" our brains and conditions them for learning. Some schools have conducted experiments and the results were undeniable. One school turned their cafeteria into a fitness studio and had students spend the first hour of the day exercising before heading into a classroom setting to learn and their test scores in math and science improved exponentially. Another school used exercise as a means to switch on their students brains and in turn experienced an eighty three percent drop in discipline problems. Basically the more fit a child is, the better they are able to learn, the more motivated and emotionally stable they are. Improving your physical health is one of the best things you can do to look after your brain. As a guide, children should do at least one hour of physical activity daily and muscle strengthening exercise at least 3 days per week. Adults should limit sitting, any exercise is better than none, be active every day and aim for three to five hours of moderate exercise weekly with muscle strengthening activities on at least 2 days each week. As Chiropractors we check every segment of your spine to ensure it is moving and functioning as it should. If your spine is locked, restricted or out of alignment not only can it cause you physical pain but it can affect how your brain is able to communicate with the rest of your body and what messages are relayed back to your brain. Get in touch at hello@livelovelifechiro.com if you would like us to help you power up your brain and have a wonderful connection mind and body!

Whiplash: The Symptoms You Need to Know Whiplash is an injury that occurs when your body is suddenly forced backward and forward. It's the most common injury during an automobile accident and is one of the leading causes of chronic neck and back pain. While a little fender bender may not seem like a big deal, new research has shown that even small accidents can result in significant injuries. The violent forces that occur during an auto accident can cause damage to your spinal discs, ligaments, tendons, and bones-even at "low" speeds. Most of these injuries happen because your head is quickly whipped backward and forward. This rapid back-and-forth motion frequently results in ligament tearing and spinal disc injuries. Symptoms such as neck pain, back pain, headaches, confusion, and even depression indicate that you've suffered a whiplash injury. You may not immediately notice any pain because of a spike in adrenaline during the accident. For many people, these symptoms may take hours or even a few days to develop after the initial shock of the car accident wears off. Whiplash is an acceleration-deceleration injury that can affect your ligaments, spinal discs, muscles, and facet joints. There is often a period of little to no pain before the symptoms become worse. Symptoms of whiplash include neck or back pain, headache, radiating pain, confusion, and difficulty sleeping. It's smart to get a complete evaluation after an auto accident to minimize your risk of long-term pain. Getting the right care at the right time can make a big difference in your ability to heal quickly and avoid long-term chronic pain. Remember, even small accidents can cause injuries, so if you've been involved in an auto accident, be sure to reach out to our office as soon as possible so we can help you get on the relief road. How Long Does Whiplash Last? Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, back pain, headaches, dizziness, or confusion—none of these sound like a good time. So, if you've been involved in a car accident, you may wonder how long these symptoms will last. The good news is that with a proper evaluation and early treatment, you have a high likelihood of getting well within a matter of weeks. One of the most common injuries associated with whiplash is ligament tearing. Ligaments are short, tough bands of connective tissue that hold together the bones in your neck and the joints of your body. If these ligaments are torn, it can cause neck pain. The average time it takes a ligament to heal is about six weeks with the proper care and treatment. If you notice symptoms like headaches, dizziness, or memory issues, you may have suffered a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). A majority of people with a mild TBI recover within three months. Whiplash injuries frequently cause tearing of the ligaments that support proper spinal motion and stability. The acute inflammatory phase of injury lasts up to 72 hours, the repair phase takes up to 6 weeks, and the remodeling phase of healing can last up to a year.A non-healed ligament injury can result in osteoarthritis After an accident, the most important step you can take is to receive a full evaluation. Only after a complete evaluation will you know what type of injuries you've sustained and, most importantly- how to get well. You would be surprised how many people shrug off a "small" accident and push their symptoms aside. While that may save you a little time today, it's likely to result in much more pain down the road. Shoulder Pain After a Car Accident: What Does it Mean? You may be surprised to learn that shoulder injuries and whiplash are some of the most common challenges after a car accident. If you are the driver and have your hands on the wheels at the time of the crash, the sudden force created by the accident can lead to a torn rotator cuff. Your shoulder is one of the most complex parts of your body and comprises a collection of bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The rotator cuff is a ball and socket joint made up of three bones: your arm bone (the humerus), your shoulder blade (the scapula), and your collarbone (the clavicle). The supporting muscles, ligaments, and tendons are designed to help you lift and rotate your arm. Your shoulder is one of your body’s most dynamic and unstable joints. It's hard to ignore a torn rotator cuff because...it hurts! Signs of a tear include shoulder pain when lifting your arm, weakness, pain when lying down, or a limited range of motion. Shoulder impingement has been estimated to occur in up to 10% of people involved in car accidents. The shoulder is one of the most complex, dynamic, and unstable joints in the body, with a complex network of bones, ligaments, and muscles.The risk of neck or shoulder pain seven years after a collision was three times higher for patients with initial whiplash injuries than those without. Ignoring a shoulder injury after a car accident is not a good idea. Your shoulder is designed to move, and if you try to "let it heal" by not moving it, you're putting yourself at risk for a frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is when your shoulder develops adhesion due to lack of movement. This can result in severe pain that takes months to heal. If you have shoulder pain after an accident, time is of the essence! Our team is here and can provide a complete evaluation and treatment plan for you to get moving safely and heal quickly. Finding Relief After a Car Accident without Drugs or Surgery Screech. Bam. Uh-oh. You've been involved in a car accident. Your day has been thrown upside down, and a million thoughts are racing. If you don't feel immediate pain, you may be tempted to think you don’t have a problem. But waiting too long to seek care has been shown to increase the chances that you'll need more aggressive interventions. Taking the right action steps as quickly as possible after a car accident can greatly improve your overall health and healing. With the stress of an accident, calling the insurance company, getting a car repaired, etc., it's not uncommon for people to put their health and well-being last on the to-do list. The problem is that the longer you wait to get evaluated and receive care, the higher your likelihood of needing more aggressive medical care. Without a proper diagnosis and treatment, your body may begin to "heal" with more scar tissue than necessary. You may also try to live "around" your injuries, which can cause additional stress and compensation on other parts of your body and lead to additional injuries. Research has shown that active care involving range of motion, mobilizing exercises, and strengthening can effectively reduce pain. We recommend three simple steps to give yourself the best chance to find relief without needing drugs or surgery. The three steps to finding relief after a car accident: Get an evaluation: A complete evaluation can provide you with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Begin receiving care: After reducing inflammation, movement-based techniques are often recommended to help you regain your quality of life . Stay consistent: Getting well is a process. Stay consistent with your care to heal as quickly as possible Next Steps: There's no way around it- auto accidents aren't fun. But with the right healthcare team, most people can return to their full lives and activities without needing drugs or surgery. The key is to follow the three steps of evaluation, care, and consistency. While it seems simple, following the three steps will give you the best chance to get well quickly and stay well for years to come. And if you’ve been in an auto accident, book with us today by email hello@livelovelifechiropractic.com.au Science Source: The Effectiveness of Conservative Management for Acute Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) II: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.PLoS One. 2015 Biomechanics of whiplash injury. Chinese Journal of Traumatology. 2009 Ligament Injury and Healing: A Review of Current Clinical Diagnostics and Therapeutics. The Open Rehabilitation Journal. 2013 The association between exposure to a rear-end collision and future neck or shoulder pain: a cohort study. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 2000 Subacromial impingement in patients with whiplash injury to the cervical spine. Journal of Orthopedic Surgery and Research. 2008

Digital devices guide our modern life, they can enhance learning & build community but they can also interfere with everything from sleep to creativity. In addition to physical changes to posture, repetitive strain issues and inactivity resulting from constantly staring at a smartphone, screen time can also change your child’s behaviour & brain development. Your child’s brain is constantly building neural connections & discarding diminished ones. Much of what happens on screen provides lower quality stimulation & studies show the quality of media can lead to structural changes in the brain. Thoughtful use increases capacity whereas mindless exposure leads to atrophy or loss of tissue.  Not having a chance to be bored also means less space for imagination & creative thinking to develop. Sleep is another key component to brain development. Screen time before bed can disrupt sleep patterns by leading to less deep REM sleep which is essential for processing & storing information into memory. Most games & social media work on a reward system similar to gambling. The effects of screen addiction on the brain are very similar to other addictions & your child's brain lacks the self-control system to help stop obsessive behavior. So as a parent what can you do? Being aware of digital distraction is a good start. A large number of parents & children sense distraction when talking to each other. You could try the following: Have regular sit-downs & screen-free meals. Be present with your child & teach them to be present also. Avoid blue light-emitting screen use before bedtime. Change screen display to warm settings in the evening. Come up with a healthy media diet plan as a family. Limit recreational screen time, let your child know what they watch can have a positive or negative effect on them. Help your child plan how to spend their time, focusing on important and favorite activities. At LiveLoveLife we aim to support healthy growth & development in children & healthy spinal & brain function in everyone! If you have any concerns about, or are looking for more information about the health of your child or yourself please contact us at hello@livelovelifechiro.com.

As we are approaching the depths of winter, you are probably finding yourself wanting to sleep more, staying home and relaxing by the warmth of the heater rather than going out and facing the elements. Our bodies remember the days when the weather dictated our behaviour as hunters and gatherers and typically winter would mean increased time resting by a fire and more sleep overall. Even though our busy lifestyles mean we often behave as if seasonal changes are irrelevant, our bodies require cycles of activity and rest, daily and annually. In winter, we produce hormones that make us sleepy and encourage us to take time to restore body, mind and soul. Sleep just makes everything right again!  We need sleep to survive just like we need food and water. Good quality sleep allows cells to repair and increase in their turnover which is how your body regenerates, so it’s no wonder sleep is a vital building block of optimal health. Chiropractors are concerned with sleep because our nervous system needs rest to function optimally.  While you are sleeping the sympathetic nervous system calms and your body moves from ‘fight or flight’ into ‘rest & digest'. Nerve cells communicate and reorganize during sleep, which supports healthy brain function. Studies have shown that not getting enough sleep can alter or even halt the formation of different pathways in the brain that help us retain, process and even learn new information. With consistently good sleep you are more likely to have the physical, mental and emotional resilience to deal with the daily stress of modern life. Other benefits of getting enough good quality sleep include hormone balance, blood glucose regulation and increased likelihood of overcoming many diseases. A strong immune system depends on sleep as that is when your body makes cytokines (the proteins that fight infection and inflammation), certain antibodies and immune cells. So what does enough good quality sleep look like? Basically it means getting at least 7 hours sleep per night, falling asleep in 30 minutes or less, waking up no more than once per night, being awake for less than 20 minutes after initially falling asleep and breathing well while you are asleep.  If this is not how your sleep looks or feels, if you wake up not feeling refreshed or wake up with a headache, neck, back or joint pain you may need some assistance to get the most out of your sleep. There are a number of ways regular adjustments can assist with sleep.  Each adjustment shifts your body from ‘fight or flight’ into ‘rest & digest’ and helps create new neurological pathways for sustained ease in your nervous system. Your adjustment can also help to improve posture, rib and respiratory muscle function, jaw alignment and sinus congestion, all of which can lead to poor breathing habits and affected sleep when not working at their best. If you are experiencing sleep issues including difficulty falling or staying asleep, still feeling tired upon waking or difficulty getting comfortable during sleep please get in touch!

Stand up straight! This is something most of us have heard or said at some stage in our lives but many of us may not fully realise that the impact of our posture goes way beyond physical appearance. While a good posture can make us look and feel confident and of course help us stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions that place the least strain on our body, it can also affect our breathing, digestive system, cardiovascular system and even brain! Normally, our posture is not something we consciously maintain as this is done by certain muscles (which are under the control of our nervous system) and we don't even have to think about it. When functioning properly these postural muscles prevent the forces of gravity from pushing us over forward and maintain our posture and balance during movement. To maintain proper posture, it is necessary to have adequate muscle flexibility and strength, efficient and balanced postural muscles on both sides of the spine, normal joint motion and of course spinal function! Spine Health An upright spine is made up of three important spinal curves. A misaligned spine pulls on different muscles, overworking some and shortening others and these imbalances can lead to injuries in other parts of the body. Poor posture also distorts the spines natural curves and it’s probably no surprise that these changes can cause back pain, neck pain and headaches but over time, poor posture can actually lead to a loss of function and even deformity in the spine and further associated issues. Breathing To easily test how your posture can affect other systems in your body, stand up straight and take a deep, full breath in. Next sit down and slouch forward, take a breath here and you should easily feel the difference. Poor posture means our rib cage is unable to elevate and expand and potentially reduces our breathing capacity by 30% which means our body is not receiving the oxygen it requires to function optimally. When this becomes a constant process, our breathing muscles shut off which then forces our body to rely on muscles in our neck (which are only supposed to be accessory breathing muscles) and can end up causing neck conditions and headaches. Stress can also lead to poor posture because it causes you to breathe more shallowly, which leads to slumping. Digestion & Circulation Slumpy, slouchy posture compresses the space in your abdomen which affects your internal organs. Digestion is impaired if your stomach and intestines do not have the space required to process food efficiently and increased pressure on your heart makes it harder for it to do its job, leading to impaired circulation and improper blood flow throughout the body. Brain Health Similarly, poor posture (specifically forward head posture) affects your Autonomic Nervous System which regulates the functions of your internal organs and controls everything that happens automatically in your body such as your heartbeat, breathing and digestion. Normal posture is required for processing of information that goes to your brain to be normal and forward head posture causes overreaction to stimuli and sends us into sympathetic dominance (fight or flight). For more information please read our recent blog post 'The effect of forward head posture on your brain'. Mood The connection between posture and mood goes both ways. People who are depressed tend to have poorer posture than happier people and posture seems to affect people’s mood. Good posture can help you feel less fatigued and have more positive emotions. When you consider all the information that travels between the brain and the body through the spine, it makes sense that a healthy spine feels good all over. Posture Tips Now you know the importance of posture, you must be wondering what you can do to improve yours! Here are some of our tips: 1. Focus on everything around you - Rather than being ‘pulled in’ by what is near, being aware of your wider surroundings uses different muscles in your eyes. The different feedback to your brain then causes your postural muscles to keep you more upright. 2. Strengthen your postural muscles - Focus on exercises to strengthen extensors: back muscles, gluteal muscles and neck muscles. Do push ups, rowing exercises or supermans to keep those upper back muscles strong. 3. Stretch - Shoulder/chest: stand inside a doorway with your elbow and hand at 90 degrees and lean forward through your body to stretch your upper chest. Upper back: lie with your spine along a rolled up towel or foam roller with your hands out and knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Focus on breathing through your chest and relax here for 10 - 20 minutes. 4. Rotate your hand, palms facing forward - This is very simple, but by rotating your palms forward, you automatically open up your shoulders. This is a wonderful break to take when sitting working at the computer. 5. Reset your posture - Stand with your feet, buttocks and shoulders against a wall, with the back of your neck pressing against it and your chin in. Push the back of your head against the wall. This is how your posture should be. 6. Sit Less - Get a standing desk and don’t sit for extended periods, take little breaks when possible. If you must sit, have your feet on the ground, uncrossed with your  back supported against the back of a chair. 7. Technology Hygiene - Limit use where possible. Lie on your tummy when using technology or watching tv to encourage spine extension, strengthen upper back and neck muscles and keep airways open. Lift your smartphone to eye level to use. 8. Get your spine checked - A Chiropractor can ensure the alignment and segmental movement of your spine allows you to stand straight, to breathe completely and is supporting optimal control of your postural muscles through your nervous system. With a little awareness and willingness to make small, consistent changes you can feel, look and function better! Please get in touch if this is something we can help you with!

Here in the studio we have been talking about forward head posture for a long time.  When you think about the way we live now, we are constantly looking down at our phones, hunched over a laptop or desk and not moving near as much as our body would actually like.  Chiropractors have realised the changes in general posture over time and the negative effects of forward head posture but now The Journal of Gait and Posture has published a study regarding this issue. The study compared a group of people with normal spine alignment to those with forward head posture and showed that if areas of the cervical spine (neck) are not functioning as they should be biomechanically, it could lead to distorted nerve impulses feeding back to the brain. Your cervical spine provides proprioceptive feedback to your brain and this sense of where we are in space is essential for our function and safety.  Poor proprioception can affect balance leading to falls and general clumsiness and links to our vestibular system can also contribute to motion sickness. The study used electrodes to record skeletal muscle activity and specifically measured the level and speed at which the skin reacts to stimulus or stress (our sympathetic response which is modulated by our nervous system). Given every organ, muscle and tissue in our body is under the control of our nervous system (brain and spinal cord) the results are relevant to everyone.  The significant findings regarding forward head posture included: Upper neck and head alignment affects your Autonomic Nervous System which regulates the functions of your internal organs and controls everything that happens automatically in your body such as your heartbeat, breathing and digestion. Important stuff right?! For processing of information that goes to your brain to be normal, normal posture is required. Those with forward head posture experience higher sympathetic activity (overreaction to stimuli controlled by your Autonomic Nervous System) compared with the group with normal head alignment. When our body is overreactive to stimuli poor posture is considered a stressor itself and sends us into sympathetic dominance (fight or flight). The study therefore found that forward head posture is associated with abnormal functioning of the Autonomic Nervous System and disturbance of cervical sensorimotor control. Previous studies revealed the relationship between forward head posture and neck pain and its potential to cause stress, early wear, tear and degeneration to the spine and this study supports previous work showing links between forward head posture and decreased brain function, distorted joint position sense (or proprioception), multisensory integration and decreased mental response times for complex rotation tasks. In our opinion we definitely have enough information to show head posture matters!  Do you need some help you with yours??

Worry, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, concern, unease... These are all words and feelings most of us know too well but should we be concerned about how much time we spend being worried? What effect is all this worry having on our health? If you lay in bed at night worrying about every day things, going over and over situations in your head, worrying about upcoming events, your health or your family, you are not alone. In fact approximately 1 in every 3 of us are doing this on a regular basis and that is a lot of worry in the world and potentially a lot of sleepless nights. Most of us know a good night's sleep is absolutely vital for our health and well being. During sleep our body is busy restoring, regenerating and healing and the more sleep we miss out on, the less these essential functions can occur but that is not the only downside of excess worry. When we are consumed with worry, it is all too easy to miss out on so much of what life has to offer. We feel so overwhelmed that we are just trying to keep our head above water and get through each day rather than really appreciating the experiences and the people we have around us and enjoying all the wonders of being alive! Missing out on noticing all the good stuff and only focusing on the negative can lead us down an unhappy path which of course is no good for our mental health. Physically, think about what happens to your body when you are worried about something. Does your heart race? Is it difficult to breathe or do you feel nauseas and loose your appetite? These are short term effects of anxiety which is a stress response of the body and causes the nervous system to shift into fight or flight mode. Everyone has experienced this stress response, now more than ever because of our busy modern lifestyles and it is probably no surprise to most of us that long term worry can lead to respiratory problems, digestive issues, decreased immune function, heart disease, memory loss, weight gain, muscle tension and even chronic pain. No thanks! When you are worried or anxious, your nervous system is in the stress response state of fight or flight. A Chiropractic adjustment aims to remove interference from your nervous system and may help to switch you from fight or flight to rest & digest which is the state in which your body is able to heal, regenerate and adapt to your environment. This may also mean it is much easier for you to get a better night's sleep rather than being stuck in that cycle of recurring worries. One Case Study investigated the effect of Chiropractic adjustments on blood pressure and anxiety and it was found that patients felt a significant decrease in anxiety following chiropractic care and that their blood pressure also reduced significantly (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3075649/). At LiveLoveLife we are passionate about helping people live their best lives.  We offer world-class Chiropractic care along with proactive education, positive support and early intervention, which is key to ensure you are building a strong, healthy and resilient body for the future.  Get in touch with us today!

As human beings it is normal for us to worry at times, it is one of the many emotions we experience and when your brain is functioning well, worry leads to thoughts and actions which actually alleviate the worry, so it is constructive! The problem begins when, for one reason or another we are unable to effectively deal with this worry and become stuck in a vicious circle of worrying about our worries. In this cycle, with no solutions in sight the worry is no longer helpful and the feelings just seem to snowball. This occurs as certain areas of your brain are not working at their best individually or communicating effectively with other areas. Specifically, the areas of the brain that deal with worry and anxiety are: Limbic brain (particularly the amygdalae and hypothalamus) which deal with feelings and emotions; Anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex which deal with thinking about our feelings; and The frontal and prefrontal cortex which deal with thinking and acting based on feelings. You may not realise that persistent worry can actually change the way your brain functions and it can even change the visible structure of the brain as it becomes re-wired to create and fuel more worry and this is the reason we snowball. Anxiety, stress and worry actually become a part of the brains design and we reinforce these patterns every day as we fuel it with more worry. This of course leaves less of the brain available to focus on being calm or taking action to alleviate the worry. Once we get to this stage, the functional structure of your brain is in need of some serious remodelling and here is the good news! Just as your brain can form negative patterns, it can also re-wire to form more beneficial neurological patterns, basically giving itself an overhaul! As with any change it will take some time, effort and dedication but it can be done! Learning changes the brain. As the saying goes, if you want something different, you have to do something different. Learning something new and putting what you have learned into action is the basic formula we can use to create lasting change in the brain. This can be challenging but rewarding in the long term and can lead to changes in your habits, behaviour and they way you experience life. There is so much information at our fingertips these days it can be overwhelming but the positive side of that is the availability of so many resources which are accessible and user friendly, everything from online learning tools and self help programs to breathing exercises, meditation and exercise routines. Implementing a daily practice including mindfulness, gratitude and positive thinking is a great place to start retraining your brain. And of course there are professionals that can help if you need it. Here at LiveLoveLife Chiropractic we can help by getting you adjusted! Your spine is the protective casing for your nervous system and the motor for your brain.  The function of your spine can therefore affect every aspect of your health including how you experience life, how you deal with stress and anxiety and how well your brain is able to do its job. When you are worried or anxious, your nervous system is in the stress response state of fight or flight. A Chiropractic adjustment aims to remove interference from your nervous system and may help to switch you from fight or flight to rest & digest which is the state in which your body is able to heal, regenerate and adapt to your environment. At LiveLoveLife we are passionate about helping people live their best lives.  We offer world-class Chiropractic care along with proactive education, positive support and early intervention, which is key to ensure you are building a strong, healthy and resilient body for the future.  Want your health to be different? Want your life to be different? Then you have to DO something different. Get in touch with us today!

We can feel it, with the warmer weather and sunny days (which we welcome with open arms) can also come the not so welcome hay fever or allergy symptoms... If the above image reminds you of sneezing fits during spring, you are the 1 in 5 individuals affected by this condition in Australia. If you are that 1 person, your immune system identifies a harmless substance (such as pollen) as harmful and produces antibodies in response which means when you come into contact with that pollen the next time, your immune system will release chemicals and trigger symptoms associated with hay fever. These can include cough; itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat; postnasal drip, runny nose and/or nasal congestion; sneezing; swollen blue-colored skin under the eyes; watery, itchy, red eyes; and fatigue. Most treatments available tackle the symptoms, and can be very effective at doing so, but are unable to get to the root cause of the problem. On the other hand, chiropractic care may tackle the underlying interference to your nervous system and help your body to function at its best. The primary goal of chiropractic adjustments is to remove or release stress from your nervous system so your brain and body can communicate more clearly with each other. A stress-free body can be more capable of dealing with allergens, healing and regenerating, adapting to your environment and doing everything else you require of it everyday. Your body is brilliant and when its basic requirements are met and your nervous system is functioning properly you are better able to feel healthy and happy, to continue to do the things you need to do and the things you love to do in life. There are many things you can do besides taking medication to help reduce your symptoms but most of them involve isolating yourself indoors and avoiding activities that you probably enjoy. Chiropractic care and getting adjusted regularly seems like a much better option which may help you carry on enjoying life rather than hiding away for periods of the year, especially beautiful times like spring! If you would like to find out more about Chiropractic care, nervous system function and spinal health and well being please get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com

In a world where technology has us feeling like we are more 'connected' than ever, some of you may be surprised that statistics confirm loneliness is reaching epidemic proportions globally, showing we are actually a society that is growing apart rather than together. This may also not surprise you, whether you realise how much more time you now spend connected to your devices than your family and friends or you wish your partner or children paid more attention to you than their phone, there are also many individuals who are just unable to be with family or loved ones during the festive season. Whether because of travel restrictions, relationship breakdowns or any other reason you may be spending more time alone than you would like this year and that can be upsetting and affect your health. People who lack connection ultimately tend to lack vitality. The festive season can be one filled with joy and love but can also be a time of intense emotions and expectations and can trigger loneliness. Many things have been unknown this year but one thing we do know and need to remember is that meaningful human connection and relationships are essential for us to remain happy and healthy but when that is not entirely possible or available, here are some tips to get you smiling this season! 1. Gratitude ~ This comes up a lot and may seem like the answer to almost everything and well, it can be! Practicing gratitude helps build emotional resistance, create stability, shift you to a positive mindset and can rewire your brain for enhanced health including better sleep, less stress and and overall better mood! Be happy for what you have and receive happiness in return, now that is the opposite of a vicious cycle! 2. Volunteer ~ helping others less fortunate than you can also help boost your self esteem and inspire a feeling of purpose in your life. The festive season is a wonderful opportunity to give love and support to others who need it, increasing their happiness and wellbeing as well as your own. 3. Bring people together ~ chances are you are not the only person in your area feeling lonely. You could decide to do something as simple as smiling or saying hello to everyone you pass in the street or you could get creative and arrange a small social gathering in your street, building or community for anyone who might not be having the festive season they had hoped for this year. 4. Self care ~ have a warm bath! The link between being cold and being lonely and between warmth and security is scientifically established so if you are feeling a little blue, have a warm bath or a cuppa tea on top of whatever self care routine you already know makes you feel good! 5. Cut back on social media ~ not only will this solve some of the relationship issues touched on previously, it is important to remember social media is just the highlights reel, it is not reality. Our reliance on social media has changed the way we spend our leisure time and can contribute to feeling isolated. Many of us cannot live without it but studies support the opinion that too much time on social media can negatively effect mental health so balance is key. 6. Talk about it ~ humans are hard-wired for connection! Cultivate this by forging new relationships, put effort into existing relationships that bring you joy and if your regular support network isn't enough there are always professionals you can turn to so you do not need to suffer in silence. 7. Get adjusted ~ if you would like to find out more about how Chiropractic care can support your health and well being please get in touch with us today at hello@livelovelifechiro.com

It's that time of year again, school's back and we want to make sure you and your little one/s are prepared not only to learn and develop but also to have a happy and healthy year ahead! While most parents and children have a checklist of stationary and supplies for starting the school year, we would like to provide a different 'checklist' to remind parents and children of the importance of building positive habits in school. We know getting your child to school can be stressful so below are some tips which can easily be incorporated into your everyday routine to limit the impact that common activities like sitting in a classroom, carrying a heavy bag and excessive screen time can have on the overall health and wellbeing of our future generations. Backpacks ~ have your child wear both shoulder straps, only pack essential items with heaviest items to the back of the bag and use the waist and chest bag straps. Food ~ pack a healthy and nutritious lunch and snacks with lots of fresh vegetables and fruit or better still teach your child to pack their own healthy options. Posture ~ remind your child to sit with their shoulders back and relaxed, with both feet on the floor and chair tucked in during class. Screen time ~ reduce and limit your child's screen time wherever possible. Two hours recreational screen time a day is plenty. Exercise ~ 60 minutes of exercise is essential every day, find something they enjoy doing and encourage them to have fun! Adjustments ~ a healthy spine and nervous system is essential to growth and development and ensuring your child remains as happy and healthy as possible. At LiveLoveLife we aim to support healthy growth and development in children and healthy spinal and brain function in everyone! If you have any concerns or are looking for more information about the health of your child or yourself please contact us at hello@livelovelifechiro.com.

Now that the craziness and unpredictability of the festive season is over it's time to get back into the swing of things and a solid morning routine is an important self-care practice that can set the tone for your entire day ahead, seems like a good place to start. As soon as you wake up, every decision you make dips into your brain’s willpower reserves. Research suggests our willpower is a limited resource so anything we can do to maintain those reserves should make our lives a little easier. When we automate our mornings, the habits we develop start to feel like second nature which can cut out some of the decision fatigue from constantly having to ask yourself, what do I need to do next? Experiment with what works for you, and remember that the key is consistency but here are some tips to get you started. 1. Make your bed ~ this can be your first 'accomplishment' of the day and while it is technically a chore, it is a deceptively simple way to make yourself feel good. Having a made bed can declutter your space (and mind), give you a small sense of pride which encourages completion of further tasks throughout the day, create good sleep hygiene (a freshly made bed to crawl into at the end of the day is sooooo enticing) and serve as a simple guidepost for other healthy habits. 2. Put the phone down (or better still, do not pick it up) ~ When you first wake you are typically quite calm and it is beneficial to maintain that as long as possible. When we check our phones first thing in the morning, we invite a flood of stimulation and potential stressors into our brain, things that demand our attention and shift our focus. Considering most of us are 'plugged in' for the majority of the day, why not try to delay the start time a little? 3. Hydrate ~ similar to making your bed, ensuring you have a glass or more of water in the morning (even better, some warm water with lemon) will get things started right! We all know the benefits of adequate fluid intake physiologically but adding this step to your morning routine is mentally stimulating you to stay hydrated all day without having to think too much about it, you will definitely not get to lunch time and realise you haven't had a drop of water yet. 4. Stretch your body ~ a full on workout or yoga routine is super beneficial in the morning and good for you if you can make it work, for those who are not morning people, you can at least enjoy a good stretch in the morning! Taking a few minutes to get your body moving in the morning will get your blood pumping and ensure that morning stiffness does not last all day. Click here for our short (7min) spinal stretch sequence. 5. Do something you enjoy ~ the word “routine” can have negative connotations and isn't appealing to everyone. Making time for something you enjoy can help you see the morning as your own unique segment of the day rather than just a prelude to work. When your alarm goes off instead of feeling dread you can look forward to what you are waking up to. Whether it is crafting, dancing around to pump-up music, playing with your pets, reading, trying a new breakfast recipe, meditating or whatever fun, grounding or creative activity you enjoy, carve out some space to do it first thing. Life should be enjoyed and every beautiful moment treasured so let's aim to make the most of every day this year by starting 2021 full of love and positive vibes! At LiveLoveLife we aim to support healthy spinal and brain function in everyone! If you have any concerns or are looking for more information about your health please contact us at hello@livelovelifechiro.com.