Yoga: Practice for Life
(Published in the July 2008 issue of the Santa Clarita Valley Magazine)
According to Valerie Jeremijenko, author of How We Live Our Yoga, “Yoga heals, nourishes, and challenges us. The practice infiltrates every corner of our lives”. The ancient practice of yoga yields an extensive list of physiological, mental, and emotional benefits. I will suggest a few of these benefits from the viewpoint of a healthcare professional and as a student of yoga.
As a healthcare provider, I am an advocate of yoga because of its positive physiological effects on the systems of the body. Cardiovascular disease, which affects over 70 million Americans, continues to be the number one killer in the U.S. Several trials have found that yoga can lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and resting heart rates, and help slow the progression of atherosclerosis—all risk factors for heart disease, says Erin Olivo, PhD, director of Columbia University’s Integrative Medicine Program.
Relief for low-back pain is another proven benefit of yoga. Yoga eases lower back pain, by stretching and strengthening the muscles of the lower back. It increases blood circulation, which brings healing nutrients to the injured tissues. Yoga also helps maintain a natural curvature of the spine that is crucial in avoiding lower back pain. According to the Annals of Internal Medicine, a study suggests that yoga may be more likely to improve back function, ease chronic back pain, and reduce the need for pain medication than conventional exercise or reading a self-care book.
Another important benefit of yoga is in the mind-body connection. While almost any exercise is good for the heart, the meditative component of yoga may help to stabilize the endothelium, which is the lining of the blood vessels. When this lining is irritated, it reacts to stress. Because meditation lowers stress hormones, yoga could reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
According to research at Boston University School of Medicine, yoga does have a beneficial effect on the emotions. Yoga can significantly improve mood as well as reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety through the increase of certain neurotransmitters.
In conclusion, yoga supports cardiovascular health, back strength, and emotional calmness. From a professional perspective, I strongly recommend yoga for its cardiovascular and spinal benefits. As a former competitive athlete and dancer who has worked out extensively and cross-trained in several forms of exercise, I personally endorse yoga as a means of physical strengthening and toning and for its calming effect on the emotions.
Dr. Jennifer M. Vaccaro, DC, BS, LMT is a graduate of Southern California University of Health Sciences. She also has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science from California State University, Northridge, and is a Licensed Massage Therapist. She lives in Santa Clarita, and in her spare time loves to read, run, sing, dance, and take classes at Hot Yoga Valencia.
Testimonials
Finding Dr. Vaccaro was one of the best things I have ever done.
I’ve been having so much pain in all over my body for past 2 years including shoulder, neck, back with numbness and tingling in arms, hands, fingers, and legs. I had a hyperthyroidism and was told by my endocrinologist and nuclear med doctor that I should undergo an RAI (Radio-Active Iodine treatment) to treat my out-of-control thyroid function. I was very depressed, and had headaches everyday along with TMJ pain, and had to quit my job.
I saw so many doctors from neurologist to rheumatologist to acupuncturist, and a handful of different chiropractors. Then I found Dr. Vaccaro. 12/12/2008 was my first appointment with her, and I remember clearly how knowledgeable and incredibly kind and passionate she was. And I’ve been coming in for my adjustment every week since. She recommended I start taking the “body balance” supplement to help regulate my body function. I went on it right away. And like a miracle, my thyroid level dropped, and has been normal since Feb. 2009 without no RAI, or medication. And she helped me get through it. She is still helping me going through with “life”. A couple months ago, she suggested I might want to take the “soy protein” shake every morning to control other crazy symptoms I was having, so I did. Since then I lost 10LBs, and doing a lot better. Nice.
but no other doctors come even close to her. I highly recommend her to anyone and everyone. She is the best doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, psychologist, nutritionist, mentor, personal trainer and much more, and I feel just so lucky to have found her.
Thanks Dr. Vaccaro.
-J.K.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been suffering from intermittent back problems for a few years, but recently it became difficult to do anything. I complained to my physician who waved it off as part of the aging process and prescribed narcotic pain killers. Prescription pain killers were not an option because my job requires my concentration so I took a lot of Ibuprofen and tried to live with it.
One night a few weeks ago I was in such pain I did not sleep and every movement was agony. I went to a second doctor who told me to see an Orthopedic specialist or a Chiropractor. I decided to try the Chiropractor first. Lucky for me, I was referred to Dr. Jennifer Vaccaro. I called her office on a Monday morning and got an appointment that afternoon. I swear, after 15 minutes of treatment, the pain began to subside. I slept like a baby that night.
Another wonderful thing happened immediately. I woke up the next morning having slept on my right side. I realized that I had not slept on that side for a long time because for some unknown reason, it was not comfortable. My sense of smell has also improved. Is it due to Dr. Vaccaro and her knowledgeable treatments? I tend to believe it is. Dr. Vaccaro has a vast knowledge of anatomy and not only does she adjust the spine, she knows massage and reflexology.
I continue to see Dr. Vaccaro bi-weekly because the healing process does take some time. It is very important to keep up with the treatments for awhile.
Today was a very important day. Into my 3rd week of treatments, I had a totally pain free day today. Thank you Dr. Vaccaro.
Your dedicated patient,
-P.G.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Vaccaro treated me in her clinic a couple of weeks ago. She provided caring, educated and thorough chiropractic care. I’ve been to many different chiropractors in my lifetime, but Dr. Vaccaro should be highly recommended for her professionalism.
Her physical therapy is very effective along with her empathetic ear for the pain I was enduring in my neck and back. She provided knowledgeable, understandable answers to my questions and gave good suggestions on how to provide preventative care for myself.
Dr. Vaccaro has a real gift with her chiropractic techniques that should be commended highly.
Thank you Dr. Vaccaro!
-J.S.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I brought my 11 year daughter to see Dr. Vaccaro, she was suffering from severe back pain. Dr. Vaccaro did an extensive history and exam to determine why she was in so much pain. My daughter had never been adjusted and was very nervous about having it done. All of her fears were put to rest by Dr. Vaccaro’s wonderful bedside manner. She explained everything in a very kid-friendly manner and answered any questions she had. As she adjusted her, she explained everything she was doing and showered my daughter with praise for what a great patient she was! We saw improvements in my daughter after the first visit and my daughter even asks to go see her!
Although I could see a number of chiropractors in this valley, I choose to see Dr. Vaccaro because I know that my family and I will not be treated as just another patient. She truly cares about each individual person and takes their well-being very seriously. I know that when she recommends a treatment or product she has the patient’s best interests in mind and she truly believes that it would be beneficial for the patient.
I would recommend Dr. Vaccaro to anyone looking for a chiropractor.
-M.H.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An Angel from Heaven Descended Upon the Earth.
Her name is Dr. Jennifer Vaccaro. Why do I say this? It’s because she can cure your ailments. How do I know this? She repaired my severely torn rotator cuff. Why her? I was told by my orthopedist I needed surgery after a look at my MRI. I got a second opinion from Dr. Vaccaro. She told me I would throw a softball again if I subscribed to her treatment.
I am now playing three games a week and have no ill effects from my shoulder. I’m so happy to be pain free and playing ball again.
Thank you Dr. Vaccaro you are the greatest.
-N.G.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As a collegiate volleyball player, my body started breaking down and breaking down quickly. I suffered through a torn rotator cuff, multiple sprained ankles and debilitating knee pains. I did physical therapy for my shoulder and found no relief. In college I spent countless hours in the athletic trainer’s room trying to inject life into my chronically painful knees. Day after day, the pain failed to subside. I ended my collegiate career with only a shred of my once touted athleticism left.
Even though I was perpetually hurt, my desire to be active never weakened. I found no respite after college either because I joined multiple adult softball, volleyball and basketball leagues. Being stationary was just not an option for me.
Once I stared receiving regular treatment from Dr. Vaccaro I immediately felt better. I had been dealing with pain for so long it had become commonplace. Dr. Vaccaro’s treatment was so much more thorough and in depth than any other care I had ever received.
I had been to a chiropractor once before years prior because of whiplash. I was on the table for about five minutes and that was the extend of it. With Dr. Vaccaro you feel like you’re always getting preferential treatment. She goes way and above and beyond the call of duty to help her patients.
Currently I coach collegiate volleyball and the workload I put on my body is just as strenuous as the days I spent as an athlete. I would not be able to function at a high level without the continuous attention Dr. Vaccaro has given me.
My torn rotator cuff no longer ails me. I truly thought the pain in my knees would never diminish. I literally lost the ability to jump or make any kind of explosive movement. Now I practice regularly with my team and my knees are virtually pain free.
My entire family goes to New Life Chiropractic and Wellness. Between us, we’ve probably recommended over 30 people to go see Dr. Vaccaro.
My dad suffered from a torn rotator cuff in this throwing arm. It was so bad he couldn’t even write on the whiteboard at work without using his other arm fro stabilization.,…now he’s back to playing softball twice a week.
My mom suffers from spinal stenosis and she began losing feeling in her feet. She went to see Dr. Vaccaro and has since made a full recovery.
The best advice I can give you is if your body is in pain, is time to go to New Life Chiropractic and Wellness. I owe the ability of my body to function properly to
Dr. Vaccaro.
-E.G.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If only I’d followed my adult sons advice earlier. I suffered from back pain, numbness on my hands and feet and general discomfort. I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis but was given little assistance from my doctors.
Then I took my sons advice! Dr. Vaccaro performed a miracle after several sessions, I felt noticeable relief and my symptoms were resolved. I still visit every few weeks because the sessions are always helpful and I have also benefitted from Dr. Vaccaro’s nutritional advice. My triglycerides are now in the normal range for the first time in 10 years.
I have recommended Dr. Vaccaro to my friends and colleagues. They have all been equally satisfied with the results.
I thank my son and Dr. Vaccaro for my well- being.
-B.D.