Colds, Coughs, Congestion & Chiropractic!

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Many times when people in the practice are dealing with colds, coughs, sore throats, or congestion they want to stay home, but you’ll often hear me encourage them to come get adjusted and stress the importance of it during illness.

If germs were the only factor that made us sick, we would all be in serious trouble! But a healthy body is dealing with germs everyday, and does not become ill. Sure, some bacteria or viruses are more threatening than others, but in general when we become ill it’s because our body’s ability to cope with the demand on our immune system has failed.

Congestion, coughing, sneezing, fevers, and a runny nose are all signs the body is effectively creating an immune response to help the body eradicate the bacteria or virus causing the infection. This is a good thing and not to be suppressed! Medications to make you feel better offer temporary relief, but often create other imbalances in the body that can affect your long-term health.

As per any ailment, my recommendations are always to support the body as best as you can and strategize to boost the immune system, and Chiropractic care is a huge contributor to a healthy immune system!

Chiropractic works:

A study by a neurologist found that 92% of children with chronic tonsillitis had upper cervical misalignments, and after studying 76 children with chronic tonsillitis it was concluded that “tonsillitis goes hand in hand with movement restriction in the cranio-cervical skull and neck junction”

If you’re sick and suffering make a spinal check-up high on your priority list. In addition to increasing fluids, sleep, and nutritional support, your body will likely recover without any other intervention and give your body better health moving forward.

~ Dr. Melissa

Disclaimer: Chiropractic is not a cure or treatment for common illness.

ERM 034: Melissa Enfield | Yoga Philosophy For Everyday Life, Big Picture Thinking & Post Partum Anxiety

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Melissa Enfield is a Yoga, Pilates and Ballet Barre instructor in Collingwood, ON.  Her crazy life includes two wild little boys, one large husband and a new puppy – because why not? Having suffered post partum anxiety after both pregnancies, these days Melissa focuses her fitness practice on using our connection to our bodies to calm the anxieties of life.  Through Buddha Rider Yoga and Cycle Studio in Collingwood, Melissa teaches a variety of classes including fitness for new parents as well as an introduction to yoga for children.  Her sense of humor and empathetic approach to guiding humans big and small through the process of physical awareness defines her work.

In this interview with Dr. Melissa Longo, Melissa candidly shares her experience with post partum anxiety, and what helped her get through it. Melissa also discusses how the yoga philosophy shapes her daily life, and how living with an attention to taking care of yourself as a woman is key to being present for your family.

Another great interview with another everyday rockstar mom!

If It’s Not Broken…

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So many times when I speak with someone about what I do, they comment “I would hate to know what you’d find in my spine, it’s probably a mess!”.  This attitude still surprises me.

The attitude “if it’s not broken, why fix it” does not apply to the human body.

Some of the sickest people on this planet have no symptoms and “feel fine”. We all know people who seemed to be fine but then suddenly are diagnosed with a major illness. People who ‘suddenly’ have a heart attack, stroke, are told they have cancer.

Waiting for your body to give you symptoms is like waiting for a bomb to go off…everything is quiet until suddenly there is a huge impact.

I cannot tell you how illogical this seems to me, but I certainly didn’t always look at health this way.

Like many people, I too viewed things differently, only responding to challenges in my body with medications. Luckily, 20 years ago, a shoulder injury forced me to see a Chiropractor, and from that point on everything changed. Not only my own health, but my attitude about it.

The Chiropractic approach is just that – an approach to supporting your body from the inside-out in every way.  Giving the body what it needs from the top-down (neurological function from the brain through the spinal cord), as well as all the other ingredients necessary for optimal function….food, hydration, movement, love and social connections, sleep, purpose and passion!

Chiropractic is not just an adjustment or treatment for a symptom, it’s an approach to looking for the causes of problems in the body, rather than just reacting to them.

Waiting for something to happen before you take action often makes the healing take longer, and requires more investment of your time and resources.

People who choose to make chiropractic care a regular part of their life understand this, but they also see the profound changes in their health, and are more empowered to be in control of their body. It’s a beautiful thing to watch in my practice and something I will never tire of.

People often hear me say “health comes from choice, not by chance”. Choosing to honour your body and give it what it needs on a consistent basis is one of the wisest decisions you can ever make.

If you’re still struggling with some aspects of your health, ask for direction.

If I can’t help you, we’ll find someone who can.

Life is short. Give yourself the gift of better health so that you can live more fully.

– Dr. Melissa

Forget Resolutions, Why Not Set a WORD instead?

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Anytime is a great time for making changes in your life, but there is something special about the start of a new year. Whether you feel you need to make some drastic changes, take a few small steps in a new direction, or simply get back into an established routine, commit to doing something  this month to live a better life. I’ve never found resolutions work, and I stopped setting them years ago. Instead, I love this concept and have been implementing consistently. Maybe this year you might want to give it a try!

Think about your aspirations – what do you want for the year ahead? Is there an overriding theme that comes to mind for you? Can you sum up your intentions in a single word? I bet you can.

A great word can set the tone for your actions and keep you focused.  A word can also serve as a reminder of what’s important when everyday  ‘life stuff’ frustrates us. For example, when my sons were young and I wasn’t in practice, my word was “Nurture”.  It reminded me of my focus on raising my sons and looking after myself.  It allowed me to accept that my career aspirations would be fulfilled at a later date, and that the little boys in my kitchen were simply more important for the time being. In other years the words “Grow”, “Balance” and “Focus” have worked well for me.

A great word sets your intention and will help manifest the people, places,  opportunities (and challenges!) to help you achieve your goals.  A good friend recently shared her story of using theme words during the past few years. “Abundance” was her focus at one time and she grew her business substantially. “Love” was her focus another year, and she met the man she married.  Metaphysics aside, what you focus on tends to happen!  The simple act of awareness can powerfully  keep you oriented towards actions that support your goals, and make you more likely to attract success.

Your ‘word’ might come to mind easily.  You may already have one that has been running through your thoughts repetitively, especially if you have set resolutions or goals for yourself. If not, carve out some time in your week to think about it. Sit quietly and reflect.   Journal if it helps you sort out your thoughts, or, on a blank sheet of paper simply write down words that depict your hopes and dreams for the year ahead. Something will pop out at you, or you may notice a pattern in the words you write down. Don’t over-think it!

Friends, colleagues, and people in my practice have shared their words with me for added support and accountability. Here’s some of their theme words to get you started:  Relate, Believe, Focus, Simplify, Build, Mindful, Refresh, Rejuvenate, and Fun.

Once you have your ‘word’ write it down where you can see it regularly. Use it as a password so you have to consciously think about it many times a day. Place post-it notes all over your home if you need to. Get creative and do what works for you – and share your ideas! I’ll tell you my word!

One word is easy to remember. Pick one for yourself and let it shape the months to come.

Set an intention for what you want 2017 to mean to you, choose a word to define it, make deliberate choices and take action! I’m here to help if you get stuck 😉

~ Dr Melissa

ERM 033: What’s Your Theme Word For 2017?

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What do you want 2017 to look like for your business and your family? What are the most important things for you to achieve and learn, and how do you want to feel? More importantly, how are you going to make some changes?

Listen to this episode with Dr. Melissa Longo to hear her top strategy for setting her intention and directing all goals for the 12 months ahead.

ERM 032: Niru Terzolo | CEO Who Cooks Dishes Out Her Ideas About Motherhood

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img_6772Niru Terzolo is trying to prove that women can truly do it all. She’s President & CEO of Sensor Technology, mom to Anouk (5) and Nora (3), and wife to a very spirited Frenchman for the past 9 years. Food is a passion and stress reliever and thanks to short commutes, she tries to make it home for lunch every day. After getting pregnant with her first, Niru got some great advice from her OBGYN that she needed to start looking after her body a little better. There began her sporting endeavours which got her to her first Triathlon this past fall.  In this interview with Dr. Melissa Longo Niru shares her story and success in developing a structured schedule, a solid support system (that you have to create yourself) Niru believes that you can be a mom, and fit in the things you love, without sacrificing career goals – or style! You can follow her pursuits in life via

Holiday Fit Tips!

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id-10065565There are lots of opportunities during the holiday season for indulgent foods, extra alcohol, and with the busier pace many people find themselves moving, workout routines can also slip away. However, this doesn’t have to be how you spend your December! You can celebrate, indulge and still feel good! 

These two tips might help you: 

Move Your Body Everyday – Physical activity makes every system in your body work better. Instead of taking a break from your exercise routine during the holiday season, keep it up! Or consider getting started! You don’t have to wait until January to resolve to get in better shape.  The fact is, exercise is simply something most people have to build into their lives, work into their schedules. You will always find something better to do with your time!(Trust me, I make excuses and procrastinate sometimes too! Ask my trainer!) Exercise helps relieve stress and prevents weight gain.  Moving your body will always give you a boost, even just a some stretching or a brisk walk will rejuvenate your body and mind.

Eat Regularly & Prepare for Outings – If you are going to  a party or dinner, don’t starve yourself all day in anticipation.  Doing so will  slow your metabolism, leave you ravenous and more likely to overeat later in the evening. Instead, eat small meals or snacks throughout the day and you’ll be less likely to overindulge when you are out. If you are planning on consuming alcohol be sure to increase your intake of water to compensate for the dehydrating effects.

Healthy holidays ARE possible. If you make a few small adjustments to your habits you’ll feel good throughout the season. If you need a few tips to maintain your emotional wellbeing read this blog post too! 

What’s Your Intention This Holiday Season?

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id-10065565Set an intention.

But first, be realistic and consider:

What’s happening in your life these days? Where are your children or extended family in the current stage of their lives? Given their ages and interests, what do you want the holidays to look like for you?

Every year our lives are a little different, and it’s important to change our expectations accordingly.

Maybe you have a holiday planned, maybe there is someone in your family who having a tough time, maybe your grieving a loved one? Maybe there has been a change in your home or work life somehow?  Maybe your finances are more strained than usual?Depending on your reflection on these areas of your life and the people in it, you might want to adjust your plans and celebrate a little differently this year.

Decide what you want the holidays to mean, what your priorities are, and how you want feel? And then I want you to write it down.

Choose 3-5 words or perhaps write a brief statement or sentence, then put it somewhere you can see it. You can get creative with this! Make it look pretty or decorative if you like, but what really matters is that you will see it and be reminded of what you wrote. Whether you post it on your fridge, put it on your phone, or write it in a journal that you will look at every day, this is the most important step!

When you have an intention to refer to, it will help you make solid decisions about how you spend your time and money this holiday season. You’ll feel better about your choices because they will be more realistic with your current lifestyle, and this will ease your mind, and help you find more JOY (and less stress) holiday season.

Holiday Connections

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ID-10067023We all need social connections, it’s part of our fundamental design as human beings, and research has also shown that having friendships supports our health! However, during the holiday season many people are ‘overstimulated‘, ‘overcommitted’, and ‘overwhelmed’ with too many events.  This can leave people feeling emotionally and mentally drained, and certainly getting  a lot less sleep than they would like! 

What can you do to avoid this? 

Be choosy about how you spend your social time. Be assertive and learn to say no to situations that will upset you.  Decline invitations (if you can do so without grossly offending the invitee) that create unnecessary emotional stress, or will simply burden your schedule and shortchange you of sleep. 

At the other end of the social spectrum is loneliness.  With changing family dynamics, different living arrangements, and simple geography for some people, many are left alone during the holidays.  If you feel lonely or isolated consider getting involved in different activities, volunteering your time at seniors homes, food banks or other organizations geared towards helping others. Reach out to people who may find themselves alone during the holiday season and consider including them in your plans. The rewards will be far greater than just the social stimulation.

You CAN celebrate, and still feel good in January! Make a few adjustments in your social calendar and you will enjoy the holiday season and start 2017 in good health.

ERM 031: Dr. Melissa’s Top 5 Tips For A Healthy Holiday Season!

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mel (25 of 26)The holiday season is a time of celebration, joy and so much fun! But for many moms it’s also a time of added stress with more cooking, baking, gift wrapping, concerts, shopping, and entertaining to do – while still parenting, working and trying to make time to take care of themselves! This isn’t good for our physical or emotional wellbeing. It can be different though! With a few small lifestyle adjustments and fresh perspective you can indulge during the holiday season, feel great, and be present with the people who matter most to you.

On this episode with Dr. Melissa Longo we discuss the importance of setting your holiday intention, exercise and food hacks, and some ideas for gift giving that make a world of difference to both the giver and receiver.