Chronic neck and /or back pain?
Aches, strain, and tension in your back, neck, and hands from computer work?
Struggling to relax and STAY relaxed?

These are a few amongst many common movement problems that can be solved gently with the Alexander Technique. Since its inception over 125 years ago, the Technique has helped countless people reduce tension, pain, stiffness, and stress; increase body awareness; and relearn how to use their body in ways resulting in a sense of grace, ease, and economy of movement traditionally seen in young children, great athletes, and gifted performers.

We can get so accustomed to the tension we carry with us throughout our day, that unless we are in pain, we rarely notice it. Yet it has a powerful impact on every movement we make. Our internal feedback system, or kinesthetic sense, which would normally tell us when something is going wrong, is no longer reliable, making it practically impossible for us to make changes in ourselves without causing new problems. An example of this is when you sit or stand up straight to alleviate that ache in your neck or shoulder only to notice you can’t maintain that posture.

The hands-on guidance of the Alexander Technique is gentle, yet powerful and profound touch. This touch helps:
Guide the body into greater balance
Release muscular tension that causes pain and stiffness
Calm the stress response of the nervous system
Release the compression from the spine and joints
Lengthen the body out of slumping positions

All these changes result in ease of movement, greater flexibility, improved breathing and a calmer state of mind.
Learn more about this gentle bodywork and see how it works in demonstrations at a presentation at Moonflower Coop on January 29th at 5:30 PM.

Want to explore more ways to soothe and heal your body? Join Christina Myers for Awakening The Wisdom Of The Body: a healing movement workshop series that uses guided and self-directed therapeutic movement to serve as a type of body/mind therapy.

Moab Regional Hospital is once again holding its Annual Low Cost Blood Draw during the month of January. The Blood Draw provides an opportunity for community members of Moab to receive important information about their health for a reduced cost. For just $60, patients can receive the following tests:
•Complete Blood Count (no diff)
•Glycohemoglobin (A1C)
•TSH
•Lipid Profile
•Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

These tests can provide a window into the overall health of patients, especially for those who suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases having to do with organs like the liver and kidneys. A patient’s family practice physician may use the results to help make informed decisions about patient care. The cost of the blood draw will be $60, regardless of whether the patient is insured. Typically, this array of blood tests costs $300-500 out-of-pocket.

Appointments are needed to receive a blood draw and they can be made by calling (435) 719-3500. Results for the blood panel will be available on the Patient Portal. The Patient Portal, which is accessed on the Moab Regional Hospital website, serves as a place for patients to look up the results of their tests and screens done at the hospital. MRH will not be mailing results to patients.

I was diagnosed with severe hip osteoarthritis at the peak of my professional mountain biking career. The devastating pain in my hip and back made it impossible for me to cycle comfortably. Upon receiving an orthopedic surgeon’s advice to prolong a hip replacement as long as possible, I set out to find an alternative path to healing. Through my recovery journey, I found that alignment of body, brain, and being was key to regaining my athletic lifestyle.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain is the longstanding pain that doesn't go away. It is not the result of an acute accident or broken bone; it comes on slowly, gradually getting worse over time. Chronic pain often doesn't have a well-defined cause, which can make it difficult to diagnose and treat. Chronic pain is often the result of microtraumas, as described by Gray Cook, MSPT, OCS, CSCS, leading physical therapist and creator of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS): “Microtrauma results from small amounts of stress imposed on the body over time caused by poor biomechanics and overtraining.” I'll add that this physical stress, which is the result of misdirected forces through our tissues and joints when we move, is often due to skeletal misalignments. This is why chronic pain comes on slowly, why it tends to happen when we're older, and why chronic pain usually doesn't go away on its own: it is an accumulation of damage, or “microtraumas,” that we’ve had our whole life to develop. The consistent chronic pain we feel is frequently a symptom of our body’s asymmetries.

Lack of body alignment, then, can cause chronic musculoskeletal pain. And, lack of alignment in our physical structure often reflects imbalances in the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of our life. Thus, we are not aligned in our brain and being. Examples of misalignments in these areas include some of the following issues: (1) emotionally—feeling depressed and unmotivated; (2) mentally—having confused and negative thinking; and (3) spiritually—failing to follow your calling or to live with purpose. To completely recover from injury, a person must have balance in four dimensions: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

I recovered, not just physically but in many other ways. I can now say that I am a better person because of my injuries and as a result of going through my healing process. When I was hurting with my hip pain, just after I’d gone through three knee surgeries, I made a conscious choice to make the most of the situation and vowed to help others through the process. That's when I started to write the book, Winning the Injury Game, nearly a decade ago. With the book now published, I am ready to spread the word about what I have learned and to help others shorten their pain experiences and return to an active life. You can heal and emerge strong, balanced and confident. Discover how at a free event this month.

A Celebration of Healing Through Alignment
Talk and Book Signing
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
5:30 - 7 pm
Moonflower Cooperative Market
Light refreshments served
FREE!

Jessica Kisiel, MS, is a local wellness professional specializing in injury recovery and pain management through alignment. Believing in an integrated approach to relieving pain, she is certified in wellness coaching, strength and conditioning, exercise physiology, medical exercise, and posture training. Stay connected by signing up for her newsletter, www.thepfathlete.com.