Focus PT - December 2019 - January 2020

Focus Physical Therapy Bi-Monthly

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December 2019/January 2020

10 Years of Change Around this time each year, I like to reflect on the highlights of the past year and look ahead at my goals for the coming year. This month, I was hit with the realization that January doesn’t just signal the start of a new year; we’re starting an entirely new decade!

What Did the 2010s Mean to Me?

have answers! That’s a challenge in parenthood no one warns you about.

These last 10 years with my kids have been great. Kaden and Macy were homeschooled for a while, and we made a point to take some time off and visit a bunch of national parks. We hit Zion, Yosemite, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, and the Redwoods. These were the first trips we took as a family when our kids were old enough to look after themselves a little. Instead of us having to carry them everywhere, there were times when our kids were waiting for Laura and me to catch up with them. That was a great year, possibly my favorite year of the 2010s.

Ten years ago, Focus Physical Therapy was just a small, young practice. Now we’re 18 years old — the practice can vote now! A lot has happened over the last decade. We changed locations and moved into our current building. In the last two years, we were able to expand a bit more by acquiring the suite next door. We’ve been blessed with some good growth over the last 10 years as new patients find us and our team grows to meet the needs of all our patients and clients. We’ve also grown our place in the community. I’m proud to see that we’ve been able to make a bigger impact on Rancho Santa Margarita and our surrounding communities. It’s not just the practice that has seen a lot of changes. When I look at my family, I’m blown away by how different things are. In January 2010, my kids were 3 and 5 years old. Now they’re 13 and 15! That’s a whole different world. Going from little kids who want to hang out with you all the time and are totally dependent on you to teenagers who want their independence is a big change. I know this happened slowly over the course of 10 years, but I swear my kids were just toddlers, and in the blink of an eye, they’re on the cusp of young adulthood. As a parent, I have to balance giving them a little more independence while still being their dad. The way I interact with my

I’ll miss these days, but when I look ahead to this brand-new decade, I see a lot of good things. A more immediate change is coming just next year when Kaden starts driving. Another crazy thought! Over the next decade, my kids will become adults. I can’t quite wrap my brain around that just yet. By 2030, Kaden and Macy will be in their 20s, graduating college and starting their lifes. My son will be the same age I was when I got married. That’s crazy to think about. As my kids grow into the next stage of their lives, I hope to see the practice do the same. I want to see Focus PT become a bigger part of our community. My plan is to get involved with more charities and really make an impact both on the health of our patients and on the health of our community as a whole.

kids has evolved. We’re getting to a more mature level where we can have different conversations. Kaden and Macy are asking my wife and I different kinds of questions, and we have to

Here’s to the start of a brand-new decade. May these next 10 years bring you unexpected joys and happy memories.

–Julian Manrique

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SUCCESS STORY Holistic health products, which were often reserved for expensive online shopping or limited boutique releases in the past, are becoming more accessible as drugstores and big-box stores around the country jump on the holistic health train. Chains like Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, and Target have started stocking their shelves with notable holistic staples, especially those related to digestive and immune health. You can even find cleaner beauty and cosmetic products from brands like Burt’s Bees and Tom’s of Maine “We love the Focus Physical Therapy team! They are very professional, knowledgeable, funny, and caring. We love our therapists, Julian and Ming, who made a huge difference in just a short month in my daughter’s life! They were able to help my daughter move better and reteach her muscles to do things she couldn’t do since birth. These things should’ve been corrected many years ago, but no one cared until we met the amazing team at Focus PT! Thank you!” H olistic wellness is sometimes seen as an inaccessible form of care. Holistic treatments and products can be hard to find, but access to them should never be restricted based on location, demographics, or affluence. Thankfully, this problem is becoming less relevant as more stores begin stocking holistic products. Holistic Health Products for All Coming to a Store Near You

in many of these stores. Safer baby products, like cough syrup made with all-natural ingredients and diapers from brands

like The Honest Company, are being placed in the eyesight of more people everywhere. With this shift in availability, customers have more options than ever before when shopping for holistic care. These stores have an incredible opportunity to bring alternative wellness to areas that haven’t experienced it. Citizens in small, rural, or distressed communities where specialty stores and holistic medical practices are scarce can now explore more options. And if more options at reasonable prices result in healthier and happier people, then that’s great for us all.

Focus Physical Therapy patients ENTER TO WIN Find the misspelled word in this

–Petra Vilmos-Pizarro

newsletter and call 949.709.8770 for your chance to win a $10 gift card CALL 949.709.8770 Contest for past and present Focus Physical Therapy patients only.

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Best Year Yet

Proven Tips to Make a Successful New Year’s Resolution

We’re approaching the start of a new year, and that means a fresh start! Many people will be making New Year’s resolutions, determined to make a positive change in their lives. Unfortunately, despite their best intentions, U.S. News & World Report found that 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. Here are some tips to help make your resolutions part of that lucky 20%.

New Year’s resolution, it should read like a game plan for success. “I’m going to exercise more by hitting the gym every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.” Physically write down your goal and put it somewhere you’ll see every day, like your bathroom mirror or your desk at work.

Change your outlook.

Too often when we make a resolution, we vow to instantly transform our lives. For example, we often declare that we’ll never eat fast food again. While it’s great to aim big, when we adopt an “all or nothing” mantra, any mishap can derail our goals. Your health is a series of choices you make and one bad choice doesn’t ruin all the progress you’ve made. Did you skip the gym one day or hit the drive-thru because you forgot to pack a lunch? It’s okay! Commit to making a healthier choice tomorrow.

Set goals.

Waking up on Jan. 1 and saying, “I want to exercise more this year!” isn’t a goal; it’s a really nice idea. The best goals are SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound). When you make your

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

One proven way to stick to your New Year’s resolutions is by telling people about it. This way, you’ll be held accountable. Double your chances of success by telling someone who can help you achieve your New Year’s resolution! Want to exercise more? Ask a friend to be your gym buddy. Ready to adopt healthier eating habits? Get the whole family on board! Eager to make fitness a priority? Talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes to make that happen. Asking for help can mean the difference between success and failure this year. At Focus Physical Therapy, we’re eager to help our patients achieve their New Year’s resolutions for 2020. Whether your goal is to heal faster, move better, or improve your golf game, our trained team is here to help. Give us a call at 949.709.8770 and tell us about your New Year’s resolutions today!

HAVE A LAUGH

BACON-WRAPPED CHESTNUTS “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” is an iconic image of Christmas, but we’re willing to bet most people reading this have never eaten a chestnut. Change that this year with this awesome paleo-friendly appetizer.

Ingredients

• 2 8-oz cans water chestnuts • Tamari (wheat-free soy sauce), but can substitute with coconut aminos

• 1/4 cup coconut sugar • 1 lb sliced bacon, quartered

Directions

1. Heat an oven to 400 F. 2. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet lined with parchment and set aside. 3. Drain liquid from canned water chestnuts, add tamari to cover, and let soak for 15 minutes in the cans. 4. Drain tamari, roll each chestnut in coconut sugar, wrap with bacon, and spear on toothpick. 5. Place chestnuts on prepared rack. Bake for 30–35 minutes. 6. Plate and serve.

Focus Physical Therapy • Call 949.709.8770 • 3

30212 Tomas #120 Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, USA

949.709.8770

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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SPECIALIZING IN: LOWER BACK PAIN • SCIATICA • NECK PAIN AND HEADACHES HIP PROBLEMS • SHOULDER PAIN, BURSITIS, AND TENDINITIS SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPY • GOLF PERFORMANCE KNEE PAIN • PLANTAR FASCIITIS • DIZZINESS AND VERTIGO AQUATIC PHYSICAL THERAPY • AND OTHER CONDITIONS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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New Year and a New Decade

The Rise of Holistic Products in Big- Brand Stores

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Success Stories

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Make Your New Year’s Resolution Stick

BACON-WRAPPED CHESTNUTS

Yurts: Glamping at Its Finest

Yurt Sweet Yurt GLAMPING IN BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS

you can find a few shops, restaurants, and art galleries if you decide you’ve gotten your dose of nature for the day.

The allure of the great outdoors

calls to many, but pitching a tent and cooking over a fire isn’t for everyone. If that describes you, consider the yurt: a

Spruce Hole Yurt, Colorado

Nestled in the San Juan Mountains about 10 miles north of New Mexico, this yurt is a snow-lover’s paradise. Skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking trails are plentiful in this backcountry location. At the end of a chilly day, come home to comfy beds, cooking supplies, and decor made to feel like you’re camping — but with sturdy walls to keep out the cold.

small, permanent structure often outfitted with electricity, plumbing, and other modern amenities. Expertly nestled in remote locations, they provide comforts of home in the midst of nature. Here are just a few around the United States available for rent.

Falls Brook Yurts, New York

Treebones Resort, California

For the glampers who truly want to get away, hike just under 1 mile into the woods of the Adirondack Mountains to discover rustic yurts beckoning you to cook over a fire or bundle up with a book. At night, the yurt’s domed skylight offers excellent stargazing. For those keen on winter activities, skiing and snowshoeing trails start right outside the front door. In the summer, enjoy hiking, fishing, and swimming.

For those new to the glamping scene, this is a great choice for an easy transition. With picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean, the Treebones Resort in Big Sur has an array of spaciously comfortable yurts to choose from. The resort has heated pools, a cozy lodge, and even a sushi bar. About an hour up the coastline,

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