KettleBell Olympia

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE

I have people who say they would be happy as me if they had my life. They think I live this charmed life but what they don’t realize is I have the same stressors as everyone else. I am no different than anyone else. What I do believe sets me apart from most adults is I laugh and I laugh a lot. I laugh all day long. There is a saying that adults laugh 15 times per day and children laugh 300 times per day. I believe it. I have had patients come see me who never laughed. I think laughter is what keeps me sane. I always find something to laugh about. OK, I admit sometimes I laugh when I shouldn’t but I believe we should error on the side of laughter.

Laughter is one of the best ways to stay healthy. I don’t get sick and I believe laughter has to do something with it. Laughter is great for:

1. Endorphin release = natural painkillers.
2. Reducing blood pressure.
3. Reducing stress hormones.
4. Strengthening the abdominals (just try to laugh without contracting your belly muscles).
5. Burning calories – laughter burns one calorie per minute.

Your goal for the next month is to laugh as many times as a kid. So how do you do it?

Hula Hoop -yep this will do it. I had a patient come in and try it and she was laughing the whole time she was doing it. How fun!

Watch funny movies. Some of my favorites are Tommy Boy, Elf, Office Space, Hitch, and Stripes. I think 80% of the movies I watch are funny. Life can be stressful so the last thing I want to do is watch an intense drama. Let me laugh out my days stress.

Read comic strips and jokes.

Hang around a 2-4 year old child. They are the goofiest people on the planet. I laugh so hard watching them interact with the world.

Just laugh. Fake it until you make it.

I have been a chiropractor for 19 years and the longer I am in practice the more I believe most people have chronic pain because there is an imbalance in their muscles. They tend to have tightness in a muscle group with weakness in the opposing muscle. They are able to get by in their day but anything that exerts their muscles causes pain. What usually happens is they continually work the tight muscles (think chest presses, bent over posture at the computer, reaching forward), which accentuates the imbalance. When patients begin stretching the tight muscles and strengthening the weak muscles they get better.

Headaches and pain in the neck and upper back can be caused from weakness in the muscles between the shoulder blades and too tight muscles in the pectorals (chest).

Pain in the lower back can be caused from weakness in the buttocks and core and tightness in the hip flexors.

Leg pain (sciatica) can be caused from weakness in the core and buttocks and tightness in the hip flexors.

I have heard every excuse under the sun on why patients can’t exercise. My job is to take away those excuses and give them reasons why they “can’t not” exercise. I know there is something that you will enjoy. I have one patient that I have been seeing on and off for years. She always told me she HATED to exercise. She came in the other day and said she tried Qi Gong and loved it. Walk, run, swim, bike, kettlebell, yoga, hula-hoop, tai chi, lift weights, chase your kids or dog around the neighborhood, mini trampoline, or zumba..I don’t care just get your body moving. You will have more energy, less pain, less stiffness, more self confidence, and you will just plain old feel good. I challenge you to have fun.