Elevate Chiropractic Blog - Elevate Chiropractic

A simple approach to eating better

13/1/2019

When it comes to training and diet, I always think of the quote “you can never out train a poor diet”. What you are putting into your body is a major factor in what it could look and feel like. If you are wanting to have a “6 pack” you WILL need to have a good diet. Diet is such a big topic and there are so many different ‘diets’ or ways of eating out there (I don't even like using the term 'diet' as it has so many negative connotations for lots of people). In this post I will show you the approach has worked wonders for me. I would encourage you to read it and see what you think and make a decision on whether you would like to try it or not. As I said, there are lots of different approaches out there, this is simply one approach.

Over the last year I have followed the eating plan designed by ‘The Robards Method’ and follow what they call the 7-2-1 philosophy. Continue reading to see what it is all about.

It's our first "6 week Body and Lifestyle challenge"

9/1/2019

This year we are going to be running our first 6 week body and lifestyle challenge from January 14 - February 25. The aim of this FREE challenge is simple, to get your new year off to a great start, make some new healthy habits and FEEL GREAT. Do you want to get involved? Continue reading to see how to participate.

My Favourite Core Exercise

17/12/2018

In my latest video I show you how to do one of my favorite core exercises called 'Stir the Pot'. I love this exercise because it can used by beginners, but can also be progressed as your level of strength improves. Try it out and see what you think.

Note: When doing the exercise, just remember to do it slow and controlled and to keep breathing.

Tips for better aging

18/11/2018

I recently listened to a talk on the AM show here in NZ by Grant Schofield who is a Public Health Professor at AUT. The segment was named “How to save your body from breaking down as we age”. I must say it was a fascinating watch (you can watch the 6min video here). It brought up some simple ideas on how we can actually achieve this. The key thing here is that the answer to better aging is not a difficult one. It just requires some simple changes. Continue reading to find out more.

3 Tips to help #LoveYourSpine

19/10/2018

This year for World Spine Day we asked the question "What are you doing to #LoveYourSpine?"

I decided to record a quick video with 3 simple tips that you can do to show your spine some love. They are easy to do but very effective. Try them and see what you think. Your body will thank you for it.

2 ways to protect your back when looking at your device

1/10/2018

Just about everywhere you look you will see someone bent over looking down at their phone, tablet or book.

This position puts a lot of stress on their upper back, shoulders and neck. In this video I show two different ways of looking at your device that will help take the strain off of your back and neck. Try them out and see what you think.
If you like this video, feel free to share so other people can benefit from it.

You can also like our Facebook page here, or our YouTube page here.

Try these simple neck stretches

17/9/2018

Most people will suffer from neck tension or tightness at some stage. Here are a few simple neck stretches you can try to help alleviate some of the tightness. They are simple, but if done regularly, are really effective.

As with any exercise or program, consistency is key.

If you haven't watched my video on diaphragmatic breathing, you can watch it here.

Protecting your back at a standing desk - PART 2

2/9/2018

In part 2 of this standing desk series I discuss 2 more simple tips to help make your standing desk experience more enjoyable.

In particular, I look at what you should be standing on and what shoes you should be standing in.

I hope you find this information useful.

If you haven't seen part one, you can watch it by clicking here.

3 tips to help protect your back at your standing desk

19/8/2018

Standing desks are becoming more common these days and from a movement point of view, this is great. However, it is important to realise that you can stand poorly just as much as you can sit poorly.

In this video I give 3 simple tips to help take the strain off of your lower back and feet so you can reduce the risk of injury and feel good at the end of the day. The tips are easy to implement and can make a big difference in how you feel. I know if you try them, your body will thank you for it.

Non-Exercise Movement - Are you doing enough?

9/8/2018

Non-Exercise movement is any movement you do that is not associated with traditional exercise (i.e. gym work or team sports). Research has shown that even if you exercise 3-4 times a week at a reasonably high intensity, it still not enough to counteract the negative effects of a predominantly sedentary life (If you sit at a desk all day at work then this could be you).

If you can increase the amount of non-exercise movement in your day, then your body will function better and it will help to counteract the negative effects of sitting.

In this video I discuss what Non-Exercise movement is, why it is important and how you can add it into your busy day. It is simple to do, but super effective. Your body will thank you for it.

Is using an exercise ball instead of a chair a good idea?

22/7/2018

I am often asked whether it is a good idea or not to use an exercise ball instead of a chair in the office. Well, in this video I discuss this as well as give you an alternative to an exercise ball that I actually think is better. I also go over 4 things to be aware of if you do decide to use an exercise ball. (Note: It is not ideal to just chuck out your chair and use an exercise ball all day straight off the bat). Continue reading to watch the video and learn some more about sitting.

Stressed? Try this simple exercise to help you relax

15/7/2018

Our lives are stressful these days and anything we can do to help relax is going to be beneficial for our bodies.

In this short video I show you a simple breathing technique to help you calm your body and move into the 'rest and digest' part of our nervous system.

I also show a simple activation of a Chapman's Reflex point to help stimulate the Diaphragm and help you breathe better.

Try this exercise and see how it makes you feel. Your body will thank you for it.

Does clicking your knuckles cause arthritis?In

24/6/2018

I am always asked whether or not clicking your fingers will give you arthritis. In this short video I will answer this question for you, as well as look at how it relates to clicking your own back or neck.

Product Review: The BetterBack

24/6/2018

I decided to change things up and do my first product review. I have always brought new devices and gadgets that are supposed to help ease this or fix that in order to see if they do what they are supposed to do. For my first review I decided to do one on the BetterBack (You can see more about it on their website here) that I first saw on KickStarter and then on Shark Tank. This device is designed to help ease lower back pain by turning any chair into an ergonomic chair. Is it worth the buzz it created on social media?

In this short video I discuss what it is, what it's used for and if I think it is worth buying or not.

{VIDEO} 5 simple tips to get more out of your walks

24/5/2018

Like most exercises, there are good and bad ways of walking. In this video, I show 5 simple tips to help YOU get more out of your walks. They are all simple and easy to achieve. If you try them out, I am sure your body will thank you for it.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel to comment below or contact us here

{VIDEO} 3 simple exercises to help improve your posture

6/5/2018

In this video I show 3 simple exercises to help improve your posture. If you have 'poor posture' chances are you have weakness in your mid back. This is why you get tired quickly when someone gets you to 'sit up straight'.

The muscles in your mid back and shoulders have weakened since they have not been used properly.

These exercises are designed to help strengthen those muscles so that you can maintain a better posture for longer and ultimately get less back and neck pain.

This video is a follow on from my previous video on the 'Bruggers Relief Position'. If you haven't seen it, you can watch it here.

NOTE: If you have any pain with these exercises, please stop and consult your medical/exercise professional.

{VIDEO} A simple exercise to help ease upper back and neck pain

18/4/2018

I have just finished my latest video showing a simple exercise to help ease upper back and neck pain. Watch the short video, try the exercise and see how good it can make you feel. For a more detailed description of the exercise you can find it on one of my older blog posts here.

{VIDEO} Back Braces - Are they a good idea?

21/3/2018

In this video I discuss Back braces and whether they are a good idea or not. The research on the effectiveness of back braces is quite interesting. I also discuss some guidelines that you can follow if you are wanting to wear a brace. If you have any questions, please contact us and we will be happy to answer them for you.

Written blog post on Back Braces can be read here.

Does your pillow need replacing? Here are two tests to find out

5/3/2018

Having a good pillow is one of the most important things we need to maintain good function of the body. Unfortunately we often keep our pillows too long which affects their ability to provide adequate support for our necks when we are sleeping. In this video I discuss 2 simple tests that you can try on your pillow to see if it is still offering good support.

If you try these tests and realise that your pillow needs to be replaced, download our new e-book "Your how-to guide to choosing a good pillow". The link can be found here. Simply put in your details and download the book. It will help you choose the right pillow for YOU. There is no one size suits all pillow. What is good for me is not necessarily good for you.

If you have any questions, please comment below and feel free to share if you think the information could help others.

Does your back look like a cashew or a table when you bend over?

4/3/2018

When asked to bend over, people will often round through their back as they do it and end up with their back looking curved like a cashew nut. Repetitive rounding or bending through the lower back is one of the fastest ways to damage your back and spinal discs.

An alternative approach is to keep your back straight when you bend forward and try to look more like a table. This type of bending is called a ‘hip hinge’ and is one of the best spine sparring movements you can do (in other words it will help protect you from injury). In this post I will show you how to do the 'hip hinge' using a stick as a guide.

Ice Vs Heat: What to use and when

22/2/2018

The Ice Vs Heat debate is a complicated one and there are lots of opinions out there as to which is best. From my research I have come up with a good rule of thumb to follow and I have described it in the video below. I have also described in the video, how long you should apply each of them for (HINT: it is not the same for both).

For further information on the Ice Vs Heat debate you can read some of my previous blog posts below:
Is METH the new RICE when it come to injuries?
The best way to use heat therapy
If you want to use Ice, here is the best way to apply it

What to look for in a schoolbag and how to use it properly

31/1/2018

With school starting back soon, I have made a video showing what to look for in a schoolbag and how to wear it properly to help protect your child's back. Schoolbags are often much heavier than they should be which can put a lot of strain on their backs. Hopefully this information will be helpful. If you have any questions or would like us to have a look at your child's bag, please contact us on 09 4135312 to arrange a time.

Body hack: How to ease neck and shoulder pain when using a computer

22/1/2018

I have just finished my latest video showing 2 simple tips to help reduce the strain on the neck and shoulders when using a computer. They are very simple, but can a make a world of difference. See how your workstation compares.

Body Hack: A simple way to ease neck pain using heat

10/1/2018

In my latest Body Hack video I show you a real simple technique for applying heat to the neck. This technique gets into the main areas that can be responsible for neck pain and headaches, especially if you spend a lot of time in front of a computer or looking down at your phone.

I encourage you to try it out and see how it feels. I think you will like it and your body will definitely thank your for it.

The results of my 10 week Summer Body Challenge (+photos)

18/12/2017

For the last 10 weeks I have been participating in ‘The Robards Method’ Summer body Challenge (#TRMSBC). www.therobardsmethod.com. I have just taken my final ‘after’ photos and submitted them today for judging. The chances of winning the competition are remote, but I didn’t do this challenge just to win, I did it to improve my health, to feel better, to function better and as a bonus, look better. All I can say is that I have far surpassed what I expected to achieve over the 10 weeks, and have well and truly achieved all my goals for the challenge. When people start to ask if you have lost weight or changed something, then you know you have made some good changes. Continue reading to see the results of my 10 week challenge and what I have learnt from my experience.

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P: 09 413 5312
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