Body Moksha Physical Therapy August 2017

www. bodymoksha. com Phone : 973-310-2678

AUGUST 2017

“We help peopl e of a l l age s to be ac t ive and hea lt hy to par t i c ipate in ac t iv it i e s t hat t hey enj oy and compe te in wit hout med i cat i on or surge r y.” The /MōkSH / Monthly Moksha - Liberation - Body Moksha - Liberation of Movement

FROM THE DESK OF Dr. Ramaiya

Dear friends,

I recently went to a continuing education seminar which I really enjoyed. The instructor was an Australian trained ‘physio’ (as they call them down

CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON (OR DAUGHTER) Should Kids Quit Activities They Don’t Like?

under) who helps women strength train and exercise at high intensities before, during, and after pregnancy. After birthing a child, women have so many questions with regards to what to expect of their bodies and what’s normal and what’s not. Most women don’t know when it’s appropriate to start exercising, how to get back into their routine safely, how much they should be doing, and how quickly they should be progressing. After nine months of pregnancy, a short bout of physical therapy should be routine. The changes the tissues in the body experience over those nine months are vast, and it’s so important to learn how to rehab and recover from that journey. If you know anyone who is currently pregnant or just had a baby, do them a favor and tell them about how physical therapy can help them safely get back to doing the things they love, be it running, lifting, CrossFit, or whatever. They will definitely thank you!

“I QUIT!” There they are, the three words every parent dreads hearing, and your child just shouted them on the way to basketball practice. Or, maybe you’re on your way to a dance recital or trying to wake your child up on Saturday morning for their swim meet. Whatever the activity, most parents will eventually have to deal with their child deciding to quit. There’s no question that extracurricular activities are beneficial for a child’s growth and development. Research conducted by the U.S. Department of Education found that students who participate in extracurricular activities achieve higher grades, have better attendance, and are more likely to attend college than their peers who are not in extracurriculars. What’s more, today’s activities often come with a price tag. Parents are expected to pay for registration fees, equipment, uniforms, and sometimes even travel expenses. For this reason, parents can be adamantly against letting their child drop out of an activity. However, if you have to force your kid to keep going to practice, is the activity even worth it anymore? “I hate it,” your kid might add. “It’s no fun. I don’t want to go. You made me sign up!”

Many parents find themselves torn between not wanting to “raise a quitter” and giving their kids the opportunity to find an activity they truly enjoy. Obviously, you wouldn’t

- Dr. Tejal Ramaiya

Continued on page 2 ...

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let your child quit their math homework just because they don’t enjoy doing it, but extracurriculars are supposed to be fun. Participants should experience some level of enjoyment while doing them. Dr. David Elkind, professor of child development at Tufts University, believes it’s fine for kids, especially younger kids under the age of 9, to quit an activity if they don’t enjoy it. Elkind reassures parents that there is no evidence of “transfer of training.” Just because a child quits hockey or gymnastics doesn’t mean they are going to quit jobs as an adult. Forcing a child to continue participating an activity they hate can cause them to develop an anxiety about trying new activities in the future. However, when kids get older, Elkind encourages parents to enforce a trial period and insist their child finish out the current season, even if they don’t sign up again next year. Katherine R. Lewis, an independent journalist who covers parenting and education topics, shares Elkind’s belief. In

an article for The Washington Post, Lewis suggests that parents and children sign an “activity agreement” at the start of a new activity. The agreement acts as a promise that your child will complete the activity until the session is over, whether it’s the fall season of volleyball, an eight-week dance class, or at least five months of violin lessons. In any situation, you shouldn’t jump into action the moment your child declares they want to drop out of an activity. Licensed figure skating coach, Xan Nelson, says a parent’s first step should be to discover the root of why their kid wants to quit in the first place. Has the honeymoon phase of participating in something new worn off? Are they tired of waking up early to go to meets? Do they want to give up because “they aren’t good at it”? Are they struggling to get along with their teammates or instructor? Is it too overwhelming to maintain an activity on top of their school and homework responsibilities? Nelson suggests sitting in on a practice or speaking

with your child’s coach or instructor. By learning why your child no longer wants to participate, you can determine how to address this problem. In many cases, parents may find that the best course of action is to use Lewis’ activity agreement and insist their child stick with an activity until the end of the session. This can often help your child overcome whatever reservations they may be feeling and start to enjoy the activity again. At the very least, your child learns the importance of seeing something through to the end. However, if you discover your child is having a problem with bullying or some other serious issue, it may be in their best interest to quit the activity and participate in something else. The choice to quit or not to quit boils down to what’s best for your child. As a parent, you can trust your judgment to make the call that will most help your child in the long run.

The Effects of Negative News

They Say Ignorance Is Bliss … But Is It Healthy?

Why Is the News So Negative? As news media revenue goes down and people become desensitized, news organizations feel the pressure to show emotionally relevant material such as crime and accidents. At a basic level, for something to be “newsworthy” — negative or not — it needs to be the exception to the rule, not the norm. That means watching the news might give you an inaccurate view of what daily life is like in the world. How to Fight the Negativity It’s important to understand important issues of the day. But when the news becomes too much, psychologists encourage you to take a break with some good news — or no news at all. Advances in medicine and technology happen all the time! Seek out those stories, or take a break from news altogether. That’s when no news can become good news.

It’s nearly impossible to log on to social media or turn on the TV without seeing something distressing. Instead of dwelling on what’s troubling, let’s focus on how to protect our mental health. The Psychology of Bad News A study by Psychology Today found that people who watch negative news feel worse about pre-existing worries than people who watch happy or neutral events. That means people watching the news don’t just feel anxious about the world — they feel more anxious about their own lives. British psychologist Dr. Graham Davey, who specializes in the effects of media violence, says negative news can affect how you interact with the world around you. As you consume threatening news, you’re more likely to spot threats in your day-to-day activities that aren’t there, which leads to anxiety.

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Get Poppin’

Shake Up Movie Night With Crazy (Healthy) Popcorn Recipes

popped popcorn into the bag until it’s half full, close the bag tight, and shake vigorously. In no time, you’ll have perfectly buttered popcorn! Cinna-sugar Bliss This is a great recipe to satisfy your sweet tooth. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of sugar to 3 tablespoons of melted butter. Drizzle onto the edges of a brown paper bag, add popped popcorn, and shake well! Sriracha Sesame Celebration Here’s to the adventurous popcorn lovers! Combine 1 tablespoon Sriracha, 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Sprinkle half over popcorn and shake well inside of bag. Repeat with remaining mixture. Whether you’re preparing for a movie marathon or need an after- school snack, any of these recipes will be a tasty alternative to the chemicals saturating microwave popcorn. Enjoy!

Popcorn is considered to be a fairly healthy snack by most experts, especially when compared to other salty treats, like corn chips. Unfortunately, microwave popcorn is another matter. Many popular popcorn brands use trans fats, which the Centers for Disease Control estimate are related to 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths annually. Additionally, a study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health identified a connection between the chemical diacetyl, used to flavor microwave popcorn, and cases of lung disease in workers at popcorn factories. For popcorn lovers, the answer is clear: Make popcorn yourself! Pour ¼ cup of popcorn kernels into a regular brown paper bag, fold the top of the bag shut tight, then pop in microwave for about two minutes, or until popping slows to a second between pops. Voila! Fresh popcorn with no factory chemicals. If you’re craving some fun flavors, try these simple recipes. Traditional Butter Melt 2 tablespoons of butter, then drizzle it along the sides of a brown paper bag. Pour your already

Take a Break Ritz Cracker

ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

Make the most of these last few summer weeks and wrangle the kids for this fun, easy dessert! You can even save the leftovers in the freezer for those busy back-to-school nights.

• 4 ounces dark Ingredients

• 24 Ritz (or

• 1 pint of your favorite ice cream

chocolate pieces, melted

generic butter round) crackers

Directions

1. Melt chocolate pieces in a double boiler or in the microwave. Stir until smooth and drippy. 2. Arrange crackers, bottom side up, on a cookie sheet. Use fork to drizzle melted chocolate over crackers, then place them in freezer to cool quickly.

cream scoop in the center of 12 crackers. Press remaining crackers, chocolate side down, onto the ice cream scoop. 4. Freeze at least 4 hours before serving. Wrap individual sandwiches in plastic wrap to store in freezer for up to 7 days — but they’ll never last that long.

SOLUTION

3. Remove crackers from

freezer and place small ice

Recipe inspired by joythebaker.com.

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Phone: 973-310-2678 Hours: Monday, Wednesday – Friday 7AM-3PM Tuesday 4PM-8PM www.bodymoksha.com

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Dr. Tejal Ramaiya PAGE 1 Time to Call It Quits? PAGE 1 Ignorance Is Bliss … Is It Healthy? PAGE 2 Crazy (Healthy) Popcorn Recipes PAGE 3 Take a Break! PAGE 3 Ritz Cracker Ice Cream Sandwiches PAGE 3 View of a Lifetime PAGE 4

VIEW OF A LIFETIME

Where to Watch the Great American Eclipse

On August 21, 2017, the greatest show of the summer will take place in the United States: a total solar eclipse! This eclipse will be visible across North America, but the path of totality— the area where the moon completely covers the sun—will only fall in the continental U.S., leading this cosmic event to be called the Great American Eclipse. If you’re already in the United States, a day’s road trip is all you need to grab a front row seat for this rare astronomical occurrence. Columbia, South Carolina Need a place to watch the eclipse in the southern U.S.? Then get yourself to South

TheMuseumof Idaho, Idaho Falls, Idaho The Museumof Idaho has been designated an Official NASA Observation Site, and the museum is hosting four days of awesome events to celebrate. Enjoy live presentations, technology demonstrations, and special exhibits as you prepare to watch the total eclipse with NASA scientists. Visit the official website of the Great American Eclipse at greatamericaneclipse.com for everything you need to know about this once- in-a-lifetime sight!

Carolina, where the state capital of Columbia is almost right in the middle of the path of totality. Plenty of hotels make Columbia a great viewing location for those who don’t want to camp out, and the vibrant city life means you’ll have a lot to do even when the eclipse is over. Sandhills, North Platte, Nebraska In the heartlands, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more perfect viewing location than the Sandhills of western Nebraska. With wide- open skies, low rolling hills, and no towering buildings to get in the way, the Sandhills are sure to be a popular viewing spot.

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