The Spirit Of Yoga
By Nancy Norman

The word “yoga” means to unite, to join, to bring together. Our word “yoke” comes from this Sanskrit origin. The practice of yoga is about bringing together the various parts of ourselves, enabling us to experience wholeness. When the body, the heart, the mind and the spirit are in alignment, we live more fully, as we experience a greater sense of balance and harmony in our daily lives.

We live within a culture and within schedules that can be rather fragmenting. For many years, as an English teacher, I lived “from my neck up,” believing that the only important things in life happened in the mind. Practicing yoga re-introduced and re-united neglected parts of myself as I “re-membered.”

When we move our awareness into the body, we are moving into sacred space. We are honoring the body and the wisdom it has to offer us. Many religions, plus our Puritanical heritage, have taught us to deny the body, cutting us off from our physical roots and grounding, cutting us off from a whole realm of intelligence.

Kripalu scholar-in-residence, Stephen Cope, writes: “Yoga begins for us when we become ready to meet ourselves, to claim our lives in their potential fullness. Yoga begins for us when we set out on our own personal journeys of discovery.  In the view of the [ancient] yogis, all of life is a journey back to the Source. A reunion with our true nature. A kind of Lewis and Clark expedition of the soul.

“. . . the nourishment human beings most need is simply to take this journey. What we most need in our lives is anything that wakes us up to who we really are. Anything that calls us home.”

I invite you to take this journey and give yourself the gift of yoga.

Nancy Norman holds several weekly yoga classes in Bellport Village. Click here for more information about Village Yoga. 

Click to send us a comment

What is Correct Posture?
By Dr. Joseph Merckling

As children, we were always told to have good posture.  Sayings such as “sit-up straight!”, “pull your shoulders back”, and the ever popular “don’t slouch” sound familiar to us all.  Most people though don’t know what good posture is, or how to obtain correct posture.  We recognize poor posture when we see it, as it is evident in many adults.  Poor posture is usually the result of bad habits that have not been corrected and are carried out over years.  So, what is a good posture?

Posture is defined as the position of the body in space.  Normal posture is the ideal balanced position your body should assume to counteract the force of gravity whenever you stand, sit, walk, or sleep.  Normal posture positions the body so that the least amount of stress and strain is placed on the supporting postural muscles and ligaments during movement and activities.  Normally, we do not consciously maintain our posture.  Postural control is a reflex that is built into our Central Nervous System (CNS).  The CNS controls our posture by regulating muscle tone and joint alignment.  Posture is the window to the spine and poor posture can indicate there is a problem with a person’s spine and/or nervous system.       

Optimal posture can be assessed using a variety of methods ranging from very simple to very complex.  The simplest method is to observe your posture and examining it from the front, back and sides.  When you look at a person from the front typically the eyes (or top of the ears), shoulders, hips, kneecaps, and ankles should all create straight lines parallel with the ground.  In other words, there should be no offset or angles created by these lines when comparing left and right (see figure 1).  Analyzing posture from the front, we also look for changes in the stance, i.e. the outward turning of one or both feet/arms.  When viewed from the side, a straight line (plumb line) should intersect the body equally.  From the side this line should pass through the center of the ear, center of the shoulder, center of the hips, and just in front of the ankle (see figure 1).  This is considered textbook normal for correct spinal posture.  However, if you look around, you will find that many people do not fit into the “normal posture” model.    

Abnormal or poor posture occurs when your body isn't receiving proper support in its struggle against gravity (see figure 2).  As you can see in figure 2, a small imbalance in one area, be it head, shoulders, or hips can dramatically affect the other areas of the body.  Faulty posture increases stress on the muscles, ligaments, and joints. This increased stress leads to muscle fatigue/overuse and joint wear (arthritis).  Over time your body and brain may make some compromises on what's best for you by favoring short-term positions (slouching, adapting to avoid painful movements, etc.) that feel good, but can lead to increased postural problems later on. And the longer inappropriate postural positions are maintained, the more likely they are to become your standard way of sitting, standing, walking, or sleeping.

Several factors can also contribute to the poor posture seen in most people.  Most commonly seen are stress, obesity, pregnancy, weak postural muscles, abnormally tight muscles, high heeled shoes, and backpack overuse.  In addition, decreased flexibility, a poor work environment, incorrect working posture, incorrect lifting posture, and unhealthy sitting and standing habits can also contribute to poor body positioning.  

Computerized Postural Evaluations have become the standard for non-bias Postural Examinations by physicians.  These state-of-the-art computer programs evaluate posture by using digital photography and computer software to analyze subtle positional changes from side to side, and front to back.  Doctors of Chiropractic are experts at analyzing posture and spinal problems.  Analyzing spinal curvatures and alignment, the doctor searches for the problems that contribute to the postural pattern he or she observes.  Then the doctor can create a plan to attack the postural problem, correct the joint and muscle imbalances, and break the bad postural habits.

References:
1. www.footlevelers.com
2. ACAtoday, Talking to Patients: Correct Posture.
3. Murphy, Donald R., Conservative Management of Cervical Spine Syndromes.  McGraw-Hill Pub. 2000.  
4. VentruaDesigns Posture Pro V software package. 


Dr. Merckling’s office is equipped with the Computerized Posture Pro Software mentioned in the article, which can help to diagnose and show you your postural faults. Click here for more information about Merckling Family Chiropractic.

 

Click to send us a comment

An Agreement Is Reached...

Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Carol A. Bissonette announced, at a press conference held on October 24th, 2006 at the Patchogue Volunteer Ambulance Company in Patchogue, that she has called for the full restoration of funding as submitted by each of the 9 Ambulance Districts in the Town of Brookhaven for the 2007 Fiscal Year. She was joined by Council members Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld, Kevin McCarrick, Kathleen Walsh and Timothy Mazzei, along with representatives of the Coalition of Town Volunteer Ambulance Companies (COTVAQ including representatives of the East Moriches, Manorville, Mastic, Mastic Beach, Medford, Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Shirley and South Country Ambulance companies.

The purpose of the press conference was to announce bi-partisan support to reinstate all funding to our volunteer Ambulance Companies for 2007. The plan will also establish new guidelines to ensure continued fiscal responsibility.

Councilwoman Bissonette stated that "Funding must be provided.”

"Today, I am pleased to join with members of COTVAC in announcing my support to continue funding to our volunteer ambulance companies in 2007.

As the Town Council Liaison to the Town's volunteer ambulance companies I have worked closely with our ambulance volunteers to draft a comprehensive working document to continue and ensure that the town provides necessary funding for public safety.

Over the last few months the funding and budgets for our volunteer ambulance companies has become a political football. I believe that is wrong.

After scrutinizing and analyzing the proposed submitted budgets against the 2006 estimated Service Contract requests, I have found that the majority are well within reason and do not transcend unreasonable levels for Service Contract funding."

COTVAC members stated "Taking the lead on restoring funding for COTVAC members, Councilwoman Carol Bissonette working together with members of our organization, has crafted the language for a contract that will both ensure public safety remains a priority and is funded appropriately, while putting in place the kind of fiscal oversight that she and COTVAC members believe will protect the taxpayer interests."

Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenf eld (D-CD #1) stated "I am pleased to support restoration of the Service Contracts as submitted along with this comprehensive plan that spearheaded the effort to come to a successful compromise and settlement to this vitally important Public Safety issue.”

Councilman Kevin McCarrick (R-CD #2) added "I am pleased to join my fellow councilmembers in support of Councilwoman Carol Bissonette's intervention as Council Liaison to the Town Ambulance Companies to restore funding to our extremely dedicated core volunteers and EMS personnel. This is not an appropriate area to arbitrarily slash funding in the 2007 Budget; Councilwoman Bissonette^’s efforts to work with the Ambulance Companies instead of against them will provide the best possible outcome for all of our residents.”

Councilman Timothy P. Mazzei (R-CD #5) commented, "I am pleased to stand here today in a bipartisan manner to support the restoration of our Ambulance District funding. The emphasis on budgeting should be to place public safety first. I applaud Councilwoman Bissonette's dedication to finding a positive solution to this issue and for the comprehensive plan that she has crafted with COTVAC to address their budgets and the upcoming contract.”

Councilwoman Bissonette provided a comprehensive plan that includes guidelines for Fiscal Accountability, Vehicle Control, LOSAP, Fund Balance, Budgets and Performance Standards beginning with 2007. The plan addresses issues such as uniform reporting, quarterly filings, salaried personnel and the establishment of a new Town of Brookhaven Emergency Service Personnel Staffing standard.

"The working document we outline here today is a guide that should be used by the town of Brookhaven when we renew the Ambulance Company contracts later this year. This guide has the unanimous support of our EMS volunteers and will help continue to provide the necessary fiscal oversights to ensure the towns' residents are getting the best EMS services possible,^” stated Councilwoman Bissonette.

COTVAC further stated "that they are pleased to join with members of the Town Council to announce that Public Safety has once again been made a priority. Working in conjunction with Councilwoman Bissonette, the Town of Brookhaven Fire and EMS Liaison, we have developed a comprehensive plan that restores our budgets to the safe levels we submitted, while putting in place the fiduciary oversight that will permit the departments to be transparent to the taxpayers they serve.”

Click the speaker to listen to Councilwoman Bissonette's comments in their entirety

The South Country Ambulance Company

On Saturday, October 14, 2006, Gregory C. Miglino, Jr., Chief of The South Country Ambulance Company, held a public meeting in the South Country Library to explain why the fate of ambulance service in the Town Of Brookhaven may be at risk. We urge every Town Of Brookhaven resident to take the time to listen to our recording of the meeting.

We have asked the Brookhaven Town Supervisor, Brian X. Foley, to comment and we will post his comments when they are received.

Click the speaker to listen to the meeting

Click to view the visuals from the presentation

South Country Ambulance Company Comments...

Click to send us a comment