Over the next few weeks I am going to share a series of distinct memories from my time in Japan with you.  My intention is to shed more light on my perspectives with regards to health and perhaps open your eyes and minds to this same light.  Whether or not you break out and make changes to your day immediately is not as important as beginning to look at our collective health and wellness from new angles.  If we are to move forward with any lasting health and vitality as Canadians we must build a globally realistic self-image of our health and healthy habits.  This first snapshot came within weeks of my arrival to Japan and made me shake my head at the differences between our cultures.

The rain spattered and slipped down the windows of the commuter train as it sped through the urban industrial and residential pockets of Osaka.  Between the trees and buildings I caught glimpses of industrial courtyards and school yards filled with people all sharing in some morning movement.  From what I could see the movements were a mix between Yoga, T'ai Chi and Calisthenics and all I could think about was why we don't do this at home.

 From that day forward I rode my bike as far as I could each morning before boarding whatever connecting transit was needed and shook my head each time I thought of the reverse happening at home.  I think it was in the days following those first glimpses of morning movement that I began to appreciate the impact of culture on our collective health.  These glimpses have in no small way given shape to my dreams and chief aims in life.  As I move forward with designing a strategy and plan to effecting a cultural change in how we interact and invest in our health I will often think back to those rainy-day images and smile as I ride my bike to my next client or stroll to catch the train or bus on those snowier days.

Choose to start your day with some movement and smile knowing you are not alone in your steps, breaths and bounds towards being well.

(Part 4 will be posted on April 7, 2009)

Scott Tate 

I ended the last contribution with a note about my return from Japan with a renewed interest and perspective on health but I think it is worthy to note how this perception was shaped before leaving.

Although sports and performance have always been a passion, Dr. David Dyck and the nutrition course I took of his, Nutrition, Exercise & Metabolism, really opened my eyes to the increasing burden on our society imposed by the epidemic proportions of people suffering from chronic diseases.  The impact of the numbers he would present in his classes really began to hit home as we learned about the physiological causes of these diseases and that they were essentially lifestyle related diseases.  I became increasingly engrossed in my education from this point forward as I began to understand the impact I could have on our society if I could somehow put myself in a position to educate and transmit this knowledge beyond the university classroom.  My program leaned towards more exercise and movement mechanics courses and my passion for education was shaped by this and I became more infatuated with the idea of movement as an integral part of the cultural shift I was envisioning.

It was in part this education that I alluded to in my first contribution to this series that led my ascension to a level of living I was much prouder of and happier with, but I firmly believe that nothing happens in a vacuum.  Just today I watched a lecture by James Surowiecki entitled "The moment when social media became the news", in it he describes the circular mill theory about networks that resonated with me and had me retool this post.  Essentially he describes the ant colony scenario in that groups can produce amazing things when collaborating but also that should this collaboration be blindly followed, it can lead to disaster.  Surowiecki describes a circular ant farm, 12 miles across where the ants just march and march, following the leader until they die.  The reason I bring this up is that the social network I integrated with while at the same time becoming more passionate about my education dramatically shaped my progress in living, whereas my previous network and community had me somewhere on that 12-mile track. I entered this new ant race but did my best to keep in touch with my past to keep perspective and stepped off the beaten path when I felt I needed to.  It was this trust in my previous selves that lead me to Japan after completing my degree but it was also the trust and love from my new social network that allowed me to take that next step towards a more self-realized Scott, whether they or I knew it or not.

So it was in this mindset that I came to Japan and it was this mindset and perspective that was shaped and changed dramatically and subtly by the people, environment and experiences I shared with myself and with many a solid person while abroad. (Part 3 will be posted on March 31, 2009)

I think I have been choosing for quite sometime to find a healthier and better way to live and reach my goals, but I am beginning to see just how my definition of choosing has been shaped and I hope this journey helps you find a more personal way to choose and move forward toward your goals along with me.

 Scott Tate 

The following is an email exchange I had with a client that I would like to share.  This great client forwarded me an interesting and thought provoking 'letter' put together by Health Canada and I replied with my own version along the lines of Health Canada's idea:

Dear So and So,

What the hell are you doing?

I'm trying very hard to keep all systems going: brain, heart, liver, GI, lungs, the whole shebang. And what do I get from you? A bag of chips and a pop. 

This isn't going to help. Let's try focusing, shall we?

Here's my deal. 

You give me something to eat right after you wake up, and I don't mean a donut and a coffee, and I'll make sure you don't pass out at your desk before lunch.

And that midday meal would come in handy. I just can't think clearly if you aren't going to give me something with protein around 12:00 noon. A nutrient dense egg would be nice, maybe some heart healthy beans, or how about a nice roasted turkey sandwich on whole grain bread? Remember that time all you had for lunch was a latte and then you inadvertently pushed send and that pissed off email that was supposed to go to the Mayor ended up going to your boss? Nice one, that's what happens when you don't have any protein at lunch.

I'd love to have a snack around 4:00 pm so you don't have to give the finger to the guy that cut you off. I need your blood sugar to be on an even keel when you're driving a ton of steel through traffic.

And how about dinner? Please let's stop snarfing down fast food. Would it kill you to eat some veggies? As a matter of fact it will if you don't. I'm not playing hard ball here, just letting you in on the facts.

I've sent warnings. That rise in blood pressure, the breathless feeling you get after walking up the stairs, the whole tingling thing in your left arm; but so far nothing. Don't make me smite you.

Give me a break here. I can only do so much given the fuel you keep putting in. 'Cause, you know I saw the premium gas going into the car. What the vehicle is more important than me? The dog eats better. Come on, it's National Nutrition Month and you're doing really badly.

How about trying for five servings of fruits and five servings of vegetables tomorrow? Whole grains would be nice. So would a handful of unsalted nuts. What about eating salmon a couple of times a week? How about adding an apple a day? Washed well, peel left on. You can carry it to work. Hey, try checking out Canada's Food Guide; your tax dollars at work. 

I just don't know how much longer I can keep doing my bit if you don't come on board. You need to try a little harder. Who am I kidding? You need to try a lot harder.

Love,

Your Body.  

Here is the reply I crafted:

The Mind

 The moral of the story is Choose wisely, but understand that your choices are often already made for you so seek guidance where you can to ensure that you are making the smartest choices possible!

In health,

Scott 

Over the coming weeks and months I am going to be changing the scope of this blog by taking you through the Choose to Stay Well Inc. journey.  As much as this blog is for my clients and fellow people in health it is also for my growth and discovery.  With this in mind as I look back on the steps I have taken to get me to this point I am eager to learn more about myself and the community I live in to better develop my vision moving forward.

Although my childhood and youth contributed substantially to my interest in health and health care I think a more productive place for us to start is within the last five years.  My health reached an all-time low about five years ago when I was in a relationship and community that did not support health.  From the place I worked to the social time I spent with people to the food I ate and didn't eat my community was not on my side.  It had produced a Scott with a knee injury from years previous that continued to nag me, a body that was at least 20 pounds beyond a healthy weight and a mental and physical performance level that was not at my true potential by a long shot.

Education and awareness is what began to shape me.

As I learned more and more (re-learned more often than not... my parents and teachers were pretty smart it turns out!) I awakened into my community and my life, albeit groggy and disappointed.  I looked around, tested the waters and stepped out into a different world.  I began to put my education to use.  I made wiser choices with food, I increased my activity levels, I sought the expertise of health experts and began to roll with a new crowd.  Within the next two years I had separated myself from the most toxic of my relationships, built a new social network and begun to shape a new health and vitality for myself.  I completed my degree in Human Kinetics at a completely different level of commitment and understanding from when I started it and left the country to gain more perspective on life in this world of ours.

I left with the full intention of returning and I left to build on the wellness and vitality I had begun to truly live.  I left to keep learning and I returned with more perspective than I realized.  (Part 2 will be published on March 24, 2009)

I am excited to have the opportunity to share these thoughts and dreams with you in practice with Choose to Stay Well Inc. and in the shape of this blog.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity.  Until next time,

 Yours in health,

Scott Tate 

We live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.  

We are lucky enough to experience four distinct seasons of weather in this place we call home and yet we shut ourselves out, or rather in.

Taking time out to me means two things.  It means moving your mind and body away from the every day tasks needed for survival and it means taking time to be out in this world that we can't live without.  It is taking the time to appreciate where and how we are lucky enough to live and breath.

Start with 5 minutes, grow it into an hour, take along a friend or loved one, have a good stretch, talk about life, love, happiness, the air or the architecture.  Our options, routes and destinations are nearly endless and so is our potential for health if we can all take time out and use it wisely.

Choosing to save all your time outs until the end of the game only works if you are keeping ahead, instead, choose to make a routine of taking time out.

Choose to Stay Well. 

The benefits to be had by engaging and investing in your community, be it with time, energy or dollars are quite limitless.

Over the past weeks as I continue to seek out and meet with some of the many fantastic health practitioners in the Guelph area I am experiencing the reality of the above philosophy and thoroughly enjoying each moment.  From Chiropractors like Marco Lozej and Rebecca Whitney to Naturopaths like Sarah Wyer and life development coaches like Cheryl Laird, I am experiencing first hand the knowledge, care and contagious attitudes towards health that I believe will begin to shape our culture towards one that sees the reality of health in Canada.

We live in a two-tiered health care system and society, one tier that is satisfied with the health care that is generally provided and available under OHIP and most company insurance and employment plans and another tier that sees the real value in living a healthy life and choosing to invest in health.  The Globe and Mail to name but one news agency reporting on results of the growing body of longer-term health studies on the effects of preventative lifestyle measures and final health outcomes has proven this once again.  To summarize briefly the results of the study that the Globe reported on, taking preventative lifestyle measures with healthy habits in movement and nutritional health is more effective than taking medicine.

Choose to make a healthy lifestyle the centre of your personal culture.  Choose to consider the investment, not the cost of preventative health and choose to live your dreams.  Choose to stay well.