Julia Segal, N.D.

Started my morning with this 30 min standing Pilates from Margot at Body Harmonics right at my desk. It felt amazing! Sitting at the computer for the next five hours straight is going to be easy now :) Summer exercise and self-care look one way, and I find it has to be more of an effort in the fall. I know I'll be doing this one again - it feels rhythmic, it all happens fast and on my feet, and I can tell I'm more limber and connected to my core. I hope we can all find things like this, or even smaller/shorter things to keep moving, healthy and connected this fall. It makes a huge difference to everything from digestion to mood to immunity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_6XECnwCnA

This free online summit coming up this week is sure to be full of amazing pearls of practical wisdom as well as great food for thought. Parents and practitioners alike - check it out!

Have you been outside lately? I have spoken to a lot of people where I am lately, where the messaging is to "stay home," who have not been going outside. Many are not doing so great. Those who get out for regular walks or bike rides are thriving. Fresh air. Sunlight. Variety. Flowers. Trees. ... Smiling and waving at elderly neighbours (who usually seem relieved). "Running into" someone I know from meters away. Spotting beautiful and encouraging drawings and phrases in windows. Our mental and physical health can never be the same for long without a little outdoor time and it's ok and safe to go out if you socially distance.

A good article that talks about medical possibilities in the treatment of Covid-19 but also about how much of this disease is about the person's underlying health, with the virus as a seed or trigger. Perhaps the greatest evidence of this here, is that in the US, many more people of low socioeconomic status are getting severely ill. "Variation in immune responses between people is due to much more than age or chronic disease. The immune system is a function of the communitie...s that brought us up and the environments with which we interact every day. Its foundation is laid by genetics and early-life exposure to the world around usfrom the food we eat to the air we breathe. Its response varies on the basis of income, housing, jobs, and access to health care." My hope is that in reading this, we can focus a little bit more on being healthy every day in the ways we can. Good food. Expressing emotions. Managing stress. Movement. Time outdoors. Joy and connection.

Here's what I'm doing to balance out my nervous system these days: -Taking a deep breath (or several... or meditating, once) -Getting cozy and warm -Spending time in the forest ... -Self massage and acupressure - especially around the face, front of my neck, and chest which does reach the vagus nerve -Hugs (including pillow hugs) -Serving my family and patients -Using Dr. Cohen's AcuProducts which combine warmth, acupressure AND lying down -Kitchen singing and dancing -Surprise video chats with friends -Trying very hard to get to sleep at a reasonable time What are you finding gets you into rest/digest/trust and out of fight/flight? Here's an article that shows how profound a physical effect this has, including on the immune system, inflammation and cytokines.