(Vancouver-December 27, 2010) What’s the difference between the day before your birthday and the day after? “Practically speaking, nothing at all,” declares Colin Milner, CEO of the International Council on Active Aging (www.icaa.cc), a membership organization that brings together professionals in the independent and assisted living, fitness, rehabilitation and wellness fields to dispel society’s myths about aging..

“Whether you’re turning 30, 40, 50, 65, or 90, there’s no reason to assume you’re doomed to decline after a certain age—especially if you’re doing everything you can to stay healthy and active.”

Milner offers the following “E-tips” to help you extend a healthy life, or embark on one if you haven’t yet done so (citations available on request):

1. Expectations: If  you’ve been following a healthy lifestyle up ’til now, simply keep going; if you need to make changes, anticipate succeeding, not failing—and don’t let age be a barrier. Research has shown that thinking positively about getting older can extend your life by as much as 7.5 years.
2. Enthusiasm: Few people are thrilled with every aspect of their lives, but many have at least one area—family, friends, work, avocation—they feel good about. Identify an activity or connection that sparks your enthusiasm and make it your lifeline; try to extend that enthusiasm to other areas of your life.
3. Energy: Having the energy and motivation you need to age well are hallmarks of healthy living. If you’re fatigued all the time, don’t let apathy and lethargy drag you down; get a checkup to try to determine the cause—and the solution.
4. Eating: Eating a balanced diet and attaining/maintaining a normal weight are keys to physical and mental health; if you need to lose weight or make changes in your diet, keep your expectations high—you can do it.
5. Exercise: Staying physically active fuels the body and mind. If you’re already exercising regularly, keep it up; if you’re getting started, know your skill level, set goals, progress at your own pace, and be consistent.
6. Engagement: Volunteers have higher levels of well-being and life satisfaction than those who don’t volunteer; volunteering and other forms of civic and social engagement can play an important role in maintaining good health in later life. “Get involved,” Milner urges.
7. Emotions: Everyone feels down at times, but full-blown depression is a major cause of disability. If you’re feeling out of sorts for two weeks or more, talk with your doctor or take an online screening test at www.mentalhealthscreening.org/. In many instances, simply exercising and eating right can change your mood.
8. 8.      Education: Life-long learning is important to living an independent and fulfilling life. Start now to learn a new area of knowledge or physical activity. It’s good for the brain.
9. 9.      Effort: Changing expectations and embarking on new behaviors take energy and effort, but the results are well worth it.
10. 10.   Enjoyment: A healthy life generally is a joyous one. “Savor the process of being or becoming active, engaged, and truly alive,” Milner enthuses.

“The new year is a great time to take stock and ask yourself, ‘where do I want to go from here?,’” Milner says. “Emphasize the positive and don’t let your age, or anyone else, deter you.”

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About the International Council on Active Aging

The International Council on Active Aging® is the professional association that leads, connects and defines the active-aging industry. ICAA supports professionals who develop wellness facilities, programs and services for adults over 50. The association is focused on active aging—an approach to aging that helps older adults live as fully as possible within all dimensions of wellness—and provides its members with education, information, resources and tools. As an active-aging educator and advocate, ICAA has advised numerous organizations and governmental bodies, including the US Administration on Aging, the National Institute on Aging (one of the US National Institutes of Health), the US Department of Health and Human Services, Canada’s Special Senate Committee on Aging, and the British Columbia ministries of Health, and Healthy Living and Sport.

Naturopathic doctors have been around for decades, but most people are unfamiliar with their training and expertise.  Naturopathy, or naturopathic medicine, is based on six principles. 

• Let nature heal
• Identify and treat causes
• First, do no harm
• Educate patients
• Treat the whole person
• Prevent illness

A licensed naturopathic doctor is a primary care physician who is trained as an expert in natural medicine while also being able to function in the same capacity as a general family medical doctor.  Typically they start with the least invasive treatment and get to the “root cause” of illness instead of just controlling symptoms.   This is the biggest difference between an ND and MD.  Naturopathic Doctors promote the healing power of nature, focusing on health rather than disease, and use natural therapies that are gentle, non-toxic and non-invasive.

Currently, only 15 states license Naturopathic doctors.  When choosing a natural practitioner keep in mind that, because of the current lack of licensure, anyone can advertise themselves as a naturopathic doctor.  It is important that the patient seeks out a qualified professional.

Whole Body Vibration exercise provides many health and fitness benefits, and is simple and convenient. The mercury may be rising, but the numbers on the scale don’t have to. Think about doing WBV exercise in the comfort of your air conditioned house!

To make it even more convenient, let me ask you this: do you ever watch TV? If you answered yes, which I assume you did, then consider how easy it would be to do your daily exercise while watching your favorite TV show. What could be easier or more convenient?!

As a follow up to the review of how Whole Body Vibration works, below is a summary of the 3 types of WBV:

Vertical
• Ideal for accelerated training, muscle toning, and osteoporosis.
• The platform moves straight up and down with minimal horizontal movement.
• You can feel vibrations through the top of your head when standing straight. Imagine jumping on a trampoline 20-50 times a second.
• Power Vibe Pro II

Oscillating
• Ideal for fat loss and core strengthening.
• One side of the platform elevates up, while the other side lowers down, alternating like a “teeter-totter”.
• You feel a “back and forth” movement focused on your hips and pelvic region. It feels like you are taking 25 steps a second.
• Power Vibe Motion I

Elliptical
• Ideal for balance, stability, and rehabilitation.
• Elliptical platforms move similarly to vertical units but with more horizontal and less vertical movement.
• You feel the vibration massage mostly in your legs and feet. It’s comparable to a foot massager that’s made for your whole body.
• Power Vibe Balance I

In Whole Body Vibration (WVB) training the entire body is exposed to vibration, just as the name suggests. It is implemented through a vibrating platform for the user to utilize during stretching, weight lifting, yoga, pilates, physical therapy or just simply standing. This controlled motion is transferred up through the body causing all of the tissues to react to the stimulus. WBV can be used to increase circulation and lymphatic drainage, improve flexibility, bone density and muscle tone and strength, as well as to promote fat loss.
The way you position your body on the vibrating platform determines what tissues are affected. You have complete control over the body part you want to target and how challenging the workout is. Varying degrees of intensity can be utilized to suit the individual user’s needs.
Vibration training falls into 3 different categories. The types of platform used, and the direction of the vibrations, are used as a moderator of the effect and result of the training or therapy performed. Different machines will be utilized to achieve various results and health benefits.

Up next: a review of the 3 types of vibration training.

Practice Benefits

66% say that “patient satisfaction with care has increased”.

47% report that patients enjoy the experience and have referred others as a result.

13% say reputation in the community has been enhanced.

WBV treatment is pain free and drug free.

Patient Benefits

87% – DC’s successfully address musculoskeletal complaints;

55% – Muscular strengthening/relaxation;

23% – Increased bone density;

12% – Overweight and obesity.

WBV is helping with increased circulation, pain relief from peripheral neuropathy, arthritis, fibromyalgia, parkinsons, paralysis and we have DC’s healing broken bones in record time.

What Else

93% of DC respondents would recommend other DC’s add vibration equipment to their practice.

66% say that using vibration equipment is a very effective part of treatment strategy.

64% are considering adding vibration equipment to their practice.

33% of respondents currently use vibration equipment in their practice.

So, as you can see, vibration training can be an convenient, efficient and effective way to improve your fitness, either as a starting point in a new fitness program or as an adjunct to your current exercise regimen.

We are looking for donations to help purchase the supplies, so we can load the plane with as much as possible.  Family members of The Vitality Depot and a Red Cross official will personally assure that the items reach the right people for maximum effect.

The airplane will land in Cap Haitian, and from there the medical supplies will be taken by the local Rotary Club to the facilities of the Doctors without Borders and the food and blankets will go to the Red Cross in Haiti.  This has all been arranged through extraordinary efforts of our Vitality Depot family.

100% of your donations will go directly to this effort and The Vitality Depot will transfer the funds on your behalf.  All support staff has volunteered for this.  Your support goes directly to help the Haitian people.
We expect to take off on Wednesday morning to provide immediate assistance.  The Vitality Depot will front the support, but we need your assistance to fill the plane.  Please help us to assist the Haiti community in this time of dire need.

I am personally asking you to assist us with this effort.  Here’s how you can donate:

• Call us at 866-941-8867 and pay the donation by credit card or pledge a check.  If you are getting this after hours and we don’t answer, please leave a message.

OR

• Email us at info@TheVitalityDepot.com with your pledge.

OR

• Visit us online at make a pledge at The Vitality Depot Haiti Relief by clicking here.

Please act now because the plane is literally taking off Wednesday morning and we want it to be full!  Thank you for your help with this and please share this message with all those people that you know.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Mark Mandell, DC, MBA

President

The Vitality Depot

The exhibitors are all set up and the doctors are either in seminars or wandering down the exhibit hall.

Foot Levelers, The American Chiropractor Magazine, Thera Band, BioFreeze, Scrip Companies, Meyer Distributing, and Vitality Depot are all here just to name a few.  All the familiar faces are rockin!

We’ll be posting live from booth #1526 all week. Check back for updates!

Take high quality supplements - Take the time to buy directly from a health care provider or health store, as many “drugstore” vitamin brands are less potent, and contain many fillers. The list below is important for everyone at all times of the year. Infants will receive the benefits from their mothers if being breastfed, and can also take an infant-formula probiotic.

a) A Multivitamin / multi-mineral combination

b) Essential fatty acids (omega 3,6,9)

c) Probiotics/acidophilus

Choose natural approaches before medications – The easiest step is to notice the early signs and nip symptoms in the bud. ALL symptoms in a healthy body are working to keep you healthy. A fever is your body’s means of raising the temperature to “cook off” bacteria and viruses and keep them from multiplying. Coughs, sneezes, diarrhea and runny noses are all ways your body eliminates bacteria and viruses. Look first to boost your body through food & teas, then consider herbal or homeopathic remedies with some guidance from a knowledgeable health care provider.

Get adjusted by your chiropractor – Remember that the purpose of an adjustment is to open up communication between your brain and your body – which is ALWAYS necessary for optimal function in every system of your body, including your immune system. Adjustments stimulate immune responses for a quicker, more efficient healing. To strengthen your immune system, you should be adjusted on a regular basis for general health, at the first signs of a cold or flu, and once symptoms have started to help your body’s immune system work more efficiently.

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