Inside The Polished Apple

Thanks to Dr Robert Clarke, Chiropractor at Elan,  for this article on Awaken-the third Sacred Season in the Seasons of Wellbeing.  When we have effectively connected to ourselves through discovering and transforming, the next sacred season is Awaken.  Having let go of our attachment to our stories from the past we naturally flow into the space of all possibilities. In this place of soulfulness, we connect with our authentic selves. The authentic self always looks to grow and expand. In an awakened state we experience our connection with everything around us. We see the gifts in our challenges.  Understanding this we are compelled to share our gifts and receive gifts from others, allowing for a true connection with community. From this place we can effectively see the big picture and begin to create a richer fuller life. As much as the insights from this state often have us pause and absorb the energy of this beautiful space, awaken is an active state. The ins...

Thank you to Dr Robert Clarke, Network Spinal Practitioner at Elan Family Wellness, in Bowness, NW Calgary, for these insights from his recent Vision Quest. June is our Appreciation Month!  I recently had the honor of doing a Vision Quest, during which I got to sit for 4 days on a Beautiful parcel of land with myself, the earth and the cosmos. I received many insights over those days, one of the biggest gifts was appreciation of my journey and all the blessings I have. My health, my children, my work, my friends and family, this beautiful country and so much more. I am truly grateful for the teachings I have received throughout my life. The vision quest had less than ideal conditions, during the rain and the snow of that weekend I saw the reflections of those challenges and the challenges I have faced in my life. When things are flowing well in my life, I am grateful, when challenges come my way I work to see the lessons. It takes practice and often the wisdom gained, or the gift...

Thank you to Dr Robert Clarke, Chiropractor at Elan Family Wellness in Bowness, NW Calgary, for this article on incorporating mindfulness into our daily routine.  In life it is easy to fall into routines and habits. The upside of this is we don’t have to expend a lot of our attention to get many daily tasks done. On the other hand it can become easy to let routines and habits take over too many aspects of our lives, this is where its important to bring mindfulness in our lives on a daily basis. “Take time to Smell the Flowers” Slow down, allow your senses to expand, breath deeper, in doing this we bring more mindfulness into our lives. When paying more attention to all of our senses we begin to understand that not only our sight, smell, sound, touch and taste are more sensitive, but our intuitive senses also improve. Firstly, this helps you know when your body is in a stressed ”Fight or Flight" and when it is in “Rest and Digest” this awareness informs us. Technology has ...

Thank you to Dr Robert Clarke, Chiropractor with Elan Family Wellness Centre in Bowness, NW Calgary, for this article related to our Mother Earth month.  With Spring here, its great to feel the warmth of the sun and see the budding of new life everywhere. It helps us soften the memory of one of the coldest February's in recent history. Yet Mother nature is wise always balancing elements. We had a milder than usual January, this woke up the Pine beetles and Ticks, so they began to wake from their winter hiding to then be faced with The February Freeze. This helps to control the destruction of our pine forests, and decreasing the tick populations, both good things that we humans could not adequately manage. So take the time to observe the flow of nature from a grander perspective and marvel in the wisdom of Mother Earth. In the same way, monitor your body and your health. Often our body responds in ways that don’t make sense to us. Being sick isn’t always a sign of poor health. In ...

Thank you to Dr Robert Clarke, Network Spinal Chiropractor at Elan Family Wellness Centre in Bowness, NW Calgary, for these words about Nourish-our theme for the month!  Nourishment comes in many forms. Of course what we eat and drink play a big role, but it's also the air we breathe, the people we socialize with, our thoughts and the information that fuels our brains altogether that nourish us. Food – there is so much information on how we should eat, recently the Canada food guide came out with its latest recommendations. It is by no means ideal, yet it does highlight a few things that are good to pay attention to. Fruits and Vegetables should be a primary cornerstone of our meals. Drink more water, it should be our drink of choice. There is nothing wrong with having a cup of tea or coffee, but make sure it doesn’t replace your water consumption. Another recommendation I endorse is, turn off your screens and eat with friends or family. Not only does this create...

Thanks to Dr Robert Clarke, Chiropractor at Elan Family Wellness Centre in Bowness/ NW Calgary, for these thoughts on Perception-part of the Triad of Change.  After looking at Structure and Behaviour the past two months this time we will look at Perception and how we can sometimes use our Perception in creating change in our lives. For some people finding their inspiration or motivation is key before taking action. The feeling of accomplishment is what drives them create a structure or to get things done. If you are one of these people, it is essential to get to know what makes you feel good, where in your life you get inspiration from. For me personally, I lead with Structure, take action then feel that sense of accomplishment. The shift in perception is the reward for me. Take a little time to think of things that make you feel good: being with family, mountains, water, certain colours or a nice tidy work space, etc. Once you have identified some, hold them in your consciousnes...

Thank you to Dr Robert Clarke, Chiropractor with Elan Family Wellness Centre in Bowness, Calgary, for his thoughts on how Behaviour and Your Body are connected.  Building on our discussion on Structure last month, we now look at Behaviour. How you act, behave, and move affect your structure and how you feel. When you do things that feel rewarding or that you enjoy, notice how you hold your body and how you feel. What you will notice is that you have better posture, stand taller and are more open hearted. You will feel good. So notice how you respond and bring this feeling and openness to other activities. Pay attention to the increase in your productivity, your overall feeling of satisfaction and joy that it brings to what you are doing. This increases your energy from neutral or low to an energy rich state.   The more you pay attention to how you move your body and how it affects how you feel and how you hold your body, the easier it becomes to shift towards...

Thank you to Dr Robert Clarke, Chiropractor at Elan Family Wellness Centre, for this article coinciding with Structure in September. Dr Rob offers Network Spinal care at our office in Bowness, Calgary.  What makes up this physical structure we call our bodies? Certainly bones, muscle, connective tissue, nerves and fluids all are parts of our physical self. What influences the expression of our body is an interesting exploration.  Our thoughts, feelings, social programming, every aspect of who we are affects, our body (our structure). So when you are on the table at the office, where and how you hold tension, is a reflection of your life. As we palpate, where and how you hold tension, we are asking ourselves  what series of mental, emotional, spiritual and physical stressors have influenced you resulting in this expression of you. Then what gentle contact would best help you shift the pattern you are in. In this way, a gentle contact, can have a powerful ef...

Thank you to Dr Robert Clarke, Chiropractor at Elan Family Wellness Centre in Bowness, for this article on Community. Dr Rob practises Network Spinal Care and 12 Stages of Healing Somato Respiratory Integration.    Human nature craves community. For some it’s a small intimate circle of friends, for others it’s a large group of friends, coworkers, relatives and the people connected to them. Regardless of size it is an essential element in our health and happiness. There are books and seminars on building community, but really it’s as simple as, talking to your neighbors, calling a friend or cashier at your grocery store. It’s about reaching out. A fun way to engage is having a potluck; it used to be the way people connected in the past, sharing food, conversation and helping each other. In our modern times we are almost too independent, in the past we had to help each other to survive. Now it is essential for us to thrive. Our successes are better when share...

Thank you to Dr Robert Clarke, Chiropractor at Elan Family Wellness Centre, for this article on some ways to nourish yourself this March!  As the days get longer and we can feel spring in the air, the snow begins to melt nourishing the trees, the grass, and gardens. Nature has a natural cycle, naturally composting. Microbes in the soil are always actively transforming the leftovers from past years growth into nutrients to fuel and support new growth and so the cycle continues. As you move towards spring how are you nurturing yourself?  It's always good to take inventory before jumping into action. How active have you been over the winter, what has your diet been like? These types of questions will help you nourish yourself in the best way possible. With the winter we just had maybe you are feeling a bit of cabin fever, so you will want to get outdoors, go for a hike. It may be as simple as a walk around the block, taking a pause to feel the sun and wind on your face. Maybe a...

Thanks to Dr Robert Clarke, chiropractor with us at Elan Family Wellness Centre, for this article on warmth.  I recently had the pleasure of spending time in Mexico and felt the warmth of the tropical sun. What was even more enjoyable was the warmth of the Mexican people. As soon as they would hear I was from Canada their smiles widened, they would say how much they loved Canadians. It was tangible, you could feel their affection. Even though we live in cold weather climate, warmth is something I feel Canadians naturally display. When I travel I am proud to say I am Canadian, when I do, it almost always brings out an openness and a desire to share more of themselves. We all have the opportunity to be more open, share our warmth. Don’t wait until you are traveling to warmly share who you are. One simple thing to do that will help you do this is let your breath expand. When relaxed our breath should travel the full length of our spines, tailbone to skull. When your breath...

With each New Year, most of us hit a reset button. We set intentions for the new year - what we would like to see change in our lives and what we would like more of. At Solstice, I made a prayer bundle while visioning the upcoming year. Through the holiday season, I revisited my intentions, refined them, looked for clarity on my vision for the year ahead. On New Year's Day, making a Vision Board helped translate the inspiration into images, this allowed to flesh out my vision. Helped me to see if there was balance, if all the aspects of my life were congruent with my intentions. Did the aspects of my life that are important get enough attention in my vision board? For me, balance was an essential element to my vision for the upcoming year. Balance between work and play - does it allow me to spend quality time with my family. As a practitioner my needs for self-care are essential. So in reviewing and refining my vision for the year naming the requirements for me to stay healthy, st...