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Wednesday, January 27, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Mind-body therapies promote well-being
By Katy Yoder
Correspondent
Pain happens. Sometimes it starts
in the mind, sometimes from an
injury. As we live with the discom-
fort, the true origins of that limp or
lower back pain or headache or stiff
knee are hard to pin down. We get
used to it. We accommodate it; and
quite often, our mood is affected by
it. Stoicism, finances and, these days,
fear of COVID-19 can stop us from
seeking help.
The mind-body connection can
be described as a person9s feelings,
thoughts, or behaviors and how they
physically manifest in the body.
Thoughts, feelings, beliefs and atti-
tudes can positively or negatively
affect biological functioning. Our
minds affect how healthy we are. On
the flip side, how we manage the body
as it relates to nutrition, exercise, and
other activities can either benefit or
undermine our mental states.
A deep dive into beliefs about
mind-body connections is compli-
cated territory. Finding a guide to
understand and navigate mental and
physical challenges can get you closer
to feeling better. Mind-body modali-
ties abound in Sisters. Practitioners
offer a wide variety of treatments used
to overcome chronic and acute pain.
Kendra Littrell manages the Shibui
Spa, known for its tranquility and
oasis-like environment. <We spe-
cialize in Ayurvedic treatments. Our
owner went to school for Ayurvedic
medicine,= said Littrell. Ayurveda
is the art and science of tuning the
body into balance. It harnesses the
natural intelligence of the body to
bring people into optimal health.
<We9re one of a few places that use
it on a spa level. We have five differ-
ent Ayurvedic treatments at Shibui,=
said Littrell. After COVID mandated
closures, Shibui reopened June 1, to
deeply appreciative clients. <We saw
clients who were almost in tears&
there9s no one hugging and touch-
ing. People need touch.= Littrell says
people are screened to make sure they
are healthy and understand COVID
rules. <We want to make sure we are
keeping our clients and our employees
safe. We9re operating at 50% capacity
for physical distancing. Shibui9s ther-
apists are trained in modalities like
lymphatic drainage for people recov-
ering from cancer, physical-therapy-
type massages and cranial sacral. In
the end, it9s all about peace of mind,=
said Littrell.
Alana Vernon is a physical thera-
pist and the clinic director for Step
& Spine Physical Therapy. She9s
learned that a successful treatment
plan includes finding the right com- mindfulness, movement, modalities as
bination of physical-therapy modali- necessary (ice, heat, laser) and mixing
ties and exercises that address each it up. We don9t want to get caught up
patient9s unique circumstances. <We with a sixth M 4 monotony. Doing
teach patients how our nervous sys- the same thing over and over can
tem changes based on what we apply be boring, and sometimes harmful.
to it. We retrain your brain so it9s not That9s why mixing it up is so impor-
reproducing the pain stimulus. Listen tant,= said Vernon.
to your body and don9t go so far that it
Greg Zadow is the owner of
increases pain. You want that perfect Green Ridge Physical Therapy that
spot where you make positive changes just celebrated their 20-year anni-
without making further harm. We help versary. Zadow says recent research
our patients find that sweet spot, rec- has shown what all good practitio-
ognizing how their body feels. Too ners have known for years: Whatever
many people ignore what their body intervention you are administering, its
feels; or they may be too sensitive affects will be magnified if you can
and overreact to
a sensation that9s
normal. You9re
training your ner-
vous system with
mindful actions.
The more your
mind recognizes
that certain move-
ments are benefit-
ing healing, the
faster the physi-
cal therapy can
make positive
changes. We9re
trying to get away
from medications.
There9s the five
PHOTO PROVIDED
M9s: meditation, Beth Hummel treats a patient with laser therapy.
Therapeutic Associates
HELPING PATIENTS
GET MOVING!
Physical Therapy • Aquatic Therapy
Post-Surgical • Sports-Specifi c Training
Strengthening
& Conditioning
Strengthe
541-549-3574
2022 Desperado Trail, Ste 201 at Sisters Athletic Club
www.therapeuticassociates.com/Sisters
Sisters Dental
We are here for you!
Trevor Frideres, D . M . D .
Greg Everson, D . M . D .
541-549-2011
www.sistersdental.com
491 E. Main Ave., Sisters
Hours: Mon., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tues.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.;
Fri., 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
For years, Therapeutic Associates has been
keeping the active folks in Sisters active, despite
the inevitable aches, pains and injuries of the
Central Oregon lifestyle.
That hasn’t changed, despite the COVID-19
pandemic. They’re still open, with strict COVID
protocols in place to ensure staff and patient safety.
Visiting Therapeutic Associates can help keep
you out of the emergency room or urgent care.
The staff are experts in triaging musculoskeletal
injuries.
Therapeutic Associates welcomes physical
therapist Taylor O’Dell to the clinic, working
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Whether you’ve banged yourself up on the
slopes or are dealing with long-term mobility
issues, Therapeutic Associates can help you recover
and learn to move better, avoid injury and perform
better in your activities.
All of their work has one goal in mind: help-
ing people in Sisters live the way they want to live
in an environment that richly rewards an active,
outdoor lifestyle.
Sisters Dental
Taking care of your teeth and gums is about
a whole lot more than a nice smile. It’s critical to
your health.
Don’t put off taking care of your dental
health out of safety concerns. At Sisters Dental,
COVID-19 safety protocols are built in. They
limit numbers in the building, sanitize intensively,
and — most importantly — circulate air so that
all air in treatment rooms is removed and replaced
every six minutes.
Sisters Dental offers a warm, comfortable set-
ting that eases anxiety. They’re even introducing
an Australian labradoodle therapy dog, named
Prim, who will be around the office to offer a lit-
tle extra comfort and fun. You can follow Prim’s
introduction on Sisters Dental’s Facebook page.
Sisters Dental offers a full scope of general
and cosmetic dentistry with expertise ranging
from porcelain veneers to dental implants, crowns
and bridges. The team is dedicated to delivering
exceptional and personalized dental care for every
patient.