Take a look at the latest edition of Paul's Point of View!
PAUL'S POINT OF VIEW
MAY/JUNE 2021
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ADVENTURES IN A CITROËN 2CV
Ever since I was young, I thought about seeing other parts of the world. In the last edition of the newsletter, I told you how I fell in love with traveling. I rode my motorcycle up and down the length of New Zealand, but that wasn’t enough! I wanted to learn more about different places, different lifestyles, different ways of doing things, and everything else that came with traveling the world. After graduating with my degree in physiotherapy, it was a pleasant surprise to learn that the degree traveled well. I could be a physical therapist outside of my home country. While many New Zealand therapists tended to find work in Australia, a number also found it was easy to get licensed in the United Kingdom, but there were limits on how long you could live and work in the UK. That is, however, unless you were able to take advantage of the UK’s grandparent visa. Essentially, if you were a British Commonwealth citizen (those who live in places like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, for example) and you could prove that at least one of your grandparents had been born in the UK, you could live and work in the UK with almost no restrictions. You could even travel outside of Britain while staying there with few restrictions. It so happened that my father’s father had been born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and my grandmother still had their marriage certificate. Armed with my UK license and my grandparent visa, I took the long flight to Britain just as I turned 22. However, my time in Britain would be limited. Not long after I arrived, I discovered a newspaper ad for a long- term car rental. The rental was for a French car — the Citroën 2CV — specifically for tourists and to be picked up in Paris. So, I met with a friend, and we traveled to Paris! For the next five months, the car became a home base while we traveled. That summer, I headed north to the Arctic Circle in Sweden. Then it was down through central Europe into Greece as the seasons changed. Then back to Paris.
a fine at Checkpoint Charlie, where many people lost their lives attempting to escape the communist rule in the east.
But the adventures didn’t end there. Later, I slept in a small boat on the Naples waterfront in a high-crime area, traveled from Oktoberfest in Munich to Athens with five people and all of their belongings in our car, and got into a car crash in Yugoslavia (no injuries, thankfully). Finally, there was skiing in the French alps while we waited for the car to be repaired in Nice. After completing the long-term rental of the Citroën, I hitchhiked back to London and spent a snowy Christmas living and working in a youth hostel. Early in the following year, I decided it was time to put my physiotherapy license to work. I began working at a rehab center in the town of Mansfield, north of London. I lived in an area with what’s left of Sherwood Forest — yes, the Sherwood Forest where the adventures of Robin Hood and the Merry Men took place.
That wasn’t the end of my travels. Next time, I’ll tell you about my other travels in Europe and my journey into Africa.
A few highlights and lowlights of the monthslong trip included unknowingly and illegally driving into East Berlin. I had to pay
–Paul Kane, P.T., BSC, CMP
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STRAIGHTEN THE SLOUCH 3 TOOLS TO HELP YOU PERFECT YOUR POSTURE
Slumping our shoulders is a form of poor posture that often results in neck, shoulder, and back pain. It can be a hard habit to break, so sometimes people need a little more than self- correction to improve their posture. Enter posture correctors: tools specifically designed to help correct a person’s posture. Though they should not be used regularly, they can help remind your body of what a correct posture is and how to maintain it without support. Here are three correctors that can help you. Truweo This supporter is for anyone who is on a small budget and looking to improve their posture. The Truweo posture corrector is used by wrapping around the shoulders — both over and under clothing — and can be adjusted for optimum comfort. It is lightweight, breathable, washable, and can be worn for all activities. Whether you are sitting at a desk, working out, or walking, Truweo will be there to offer you the extra support you need. Find it now on Amazon! Forme Wearing both a corrector and a bra can be uncomfortable, which is why Forme is perfect for anyone hoping to avoid that discomfort. The Forme sports bra offers an under-bust band
for posture improvement and also includes eight functional panels to help you stay comfortable, especially during physical activity. You can find this and other health-conscious clothing items at Forme.science. Aspen If you need lower-back support, this posture corrector is a great choice. Easily fitted under or over clothes, this device can ease back pain caused by fatigued muscles, spasms, or flare-ups in addition to offering lumbar support. The Aspen Lumbar Support is completely adjustable, so you are in control of the amount of pressure applied. To learn more about this item, visit the Aspen website at AspenMP.com. Before deciding which corrector you should use, talk to your doctor. They can help you choose the best option for this journey of posture correction and overall health improvement.
AN ANCIENT PRACTICE WITH MODERN BENEFITS
GIVE TAI CHI A TRY
Martial artist and actor, Li Lianjie — aka Jet Li — is best known for his roles in the films “Fist of Legend,” “Shaolin Temple,” “Fearless,” and “Hero.” He has over 30 years of experience as a tai chi practitioner and is an advocate for the traditional Chinese martial art form. That’s because it comes with a long history that shows its many benefits.
Yang, Chen, Wu Hao, Wu, and Sun styles. The most commonly practiced form is Yang, which places an emphasis on slow and exaggerated movements accompanied with slow, deep breaths. Because it includes gentle movements, Yang tai chi can be practiced by many individuals, regardless of their age or mobility. Tai chi is also a perfect way for anyone recovering from an injury to exercise without straining their bodies. Benefits For aging adults, tai chi offers many benefits, including balance, strength, and flexibility, which begin to fade with age but are necessary to help people stay active and reduce the risks of falling or developing arthritis. Because tai chi also focuses on the mind and breathing, it also improves mental and emotional well-being.
Origins While the exact age of this martial art form is unknown, tai chi can be dated back to as far as 2,500 years ago. Tai chi, also known as tai chi chuan or qi gong, was originally created and used as a form of self-defense. However, practitioners adapted it over the centuries, and many began using it as a form of meditation and exercise. Today, tai chi includes a focus on the mind, breathing practices, body awareness, and motion through slow and deliberate movements. Practicing this discipline brings calm and balance into the mind and body, which can be integrated into every aspect of life.
Learning tai chi is easy, and it starts with attending the right class. Find a local martial arts school or consider joining Jet Li’s online academy at TaijiZen.com. Through this ancient form, you can bring peace, balance, and health into your life.
Forms Tai chi consists of several different forms, including
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‘FINALLY, A LEGIT NUTRITION STUDY!’ THE LINK BETWEEN PROCESSED FOOD AND WEIGHT GAIN
Instagram star, Doctor Mikhail “Mike” Varshavski went truly viral in 2015 after being dubbed “the sexiest doctor alive” by People magazine. Though his good looks brought him initial fame, Doctor Mike’s steadfast approach to his profession as a certified primary care physician is what keeps him relevant. Today, he shares educational videos on his YouTube channel about medicine and health. In his video, “Finally, a LEGIT Nutrition Study,” he breaks down new research on highly processed foods and our health. Studies have shown that a diet filled with highly processed food increases our risk of obesity and diseases like diabetes and heart disease. These all too common health concerns decrease our longevity, yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports: • 42.2% of the U.S. population is considered obese. • 1 in 10 people has diabetes. • 18.2 million adults over the age of 20 have coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease. Despite knowing this, scientists were unsure whether these outcomes were linked to people eating highly processed foods or people not eating enough unprocessed whole foods. Doctor Mike explains that this uncertainty was due to a lack of randomized controlled studies. But in 2019, the
National Institutes of Health conducted such a study and was able to prove a causal relationship for the first time. “Eating a diet rich in highly
processed food causes weight gain,” researchers concluded.
In this study, 20 participants lived in a facility where their meals were prepared for them. For two weeks, participants received meals made only
from highly processed foods, and for the other two weeks, all meals were made with unprocessed foods. On the weeks that participants ate processed foods, they gained 2 pounds per week on average. On the weeks they ate unprocessed foods, they lost 2 pounds per week on average. The study also showed that when the participants ate only processed foods, they consumed an extra 500 calories per day. Doctor Mike theorizes that’s because those foods are addicting, they taste better, and they’re more accessible. If you’re interested in learning more about the relationship between food and health or any other medical topic, check out Doctor Mike’s YouTube channel. His fun and educational videos dive deep into these topics and offer easy-to-understand explanations.
SHAVED ASPARAGUS SALAD Inspired by ACoupleCooks.com
TAKE A BREAK!
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• 1 lb asparagus spears
1. With a vegetable peeler, shave each asparagus spear from tip to base. This is easiest to do if the asparagus is on a flat surface. 2. Place shaved asparagus in a bowl and blot off excess moisture with a paper towel. 3. In a separate bowl, make a vinaigrette by whisking together lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and olive oil. 4. Pour vinaigrette over shaved asparagus and add Parmesan cheese, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
6464 SW Borland Rd., Ste. B5 Tualatin, OR 97062
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
2. THE SUPPORT YOUR POSTURE NEEDS
BRING PEACE AND BALANCE INTO YOUR LIFE
3. PROVING THE WEIGHT-GAIN CULPRIT SHAVED ASPARAGUS SALAD 4. CAN YOU DO CARDIO AT HOME?
GET YOUR HEART PUMPING AT HOME! 4 LIVING ROOM CARDIO WORKOUTS
Walking for 30 minutes a day is a great way to get in some exercise, but getting in a daily walk outdoors isn’t always possible. If you're unable to enjoy your regular cardio exercise, what can you do? Try these four cardio workouts to get your heart pumping right from your living room. March in Place Marching is a great way to start slowly increasing your heart rate. Start by standing in place then lifting the legs up in a steady march, lifting each knee as high as you can without losing your balance. Make sure that you are also pumping your arms in time with your feet. For the best outcome, lift your legs 20 times. Side Steps Start by standing in the middle of the room with plenty of space for you to step left and right. Take a side step in one direction, then two side steps in the opposite direction, then move back two steps. If you’re worried about keeping your balance, try doing this within an arm’s length of a wall so you can reach out to steady yourself, and remember to keep your back straight. Repeat 20 times. Seated Rows While sitting in a chair, keep your spine straight and shoulders back. Extend your arms until they’re out in front of you,
parallel with the floor. Using your shoulder and back muscles, pull your arms toward you then back out in front, as though you were rowing a canoe. Repeat this exercise 8–10 times.
Dance Dancing is a great cardio exercise and plenty of fun
too! Pick your favorite dance style and start moving those feet. Some styles, such as ballet or hip-hop, can be more challenging, especially if your mobility is limited. However, freestyle is plenty of fun too. No matter how you choose to dance and whether you’re by yourself, with a friend, or with your spouse, turn on some music and start grooving to your favorite tunes. A Note on Safety: Before you get started on any exercises, make sure that the space around you is safe. Give yourself plenty of room to move around so you don’t have to worry about bumping into furniture and accidentally hurting yourself. If you’re an older adult, be sure to have a stable surface nearby just in case. A chair, for example, can help you steady yourself if you begin to lose your balance.
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