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A quick introduction
The Slow Path to a Healthy Back is a complete yet simple program for improving your health. It is a compilation of the best back care from many sources, plus some key new ideas that make a huge difference. Perhaps most importantly, it uses an innovative approach to self-improvement that, combined with your committment, not only ensures your success, but can make getting healthy one of the most fun and rewarding experiences of your life.
I promise you there is nothing to buy
Right off the bat, let me say this: I am not selling anything here. I developed this program to address my own back problems. It worked so well for me, I want to share it with others. You will find no pitch or links to some product or program you have to pay for. If this website gets some traction, maybe I will publish a book based on it. That is my only ulterior motive. But the book will not be required. It will be the program in a different form, and with (quite likely) a better presentation.
A complete back care program, made simple
The back is a complex thing. The only way to treat most back pain is to combine treatments, addressing all aspects of poor back health:
- Psychological stress
- Muscular tension
- Weak core muscles
- Lack of limberness
- Pure posture and ergonomics
- Bad body mechanics (lifting, sitting, standing, etc)
- Excess weight
The Slow Path to a Healthy Back addresses all of these problems, and the program only takes a few minutes each day.
- Establish and maintain a positive, hopeful attitude
- Relaxation Techniques
- A ten minute exercise and stretching program
- Proper body mechanics and anytime stretches
- Eating correctly to lose weight and maintain the right weight for you
- Celebrate each day's success
- Never give up
Follow the progress
I am posting articles on The Slow Path program as they are completed. So read what is written so far, and come back to read new articles as they appear. If you follow the program, and you will be on your way to a healthier back.
What I mean by "The Slow Path..."
The term "the slow path" might strike you as odd. After all, it is usually used to mean "slower than necessary" or "a daunting task." For example, "My contractor is taking the slow path to fixing my leaky roof." Anything slow is considered not so good, because we all, quite understandably, want everything fast. And often, faster is better.
Well, when it comes to developing a healthier, less painful back, my program makes the case for going slow. Or rather, taking your time. Going at whatever pace is right for you. By taking your time with health and fitness, you will discover that it can be rewarding in many ways. You might even find you enjoy it. Certainly, you are more likely to stick with it for the long run.
How I developed this program
I am not going to focus on my personal medical history. But for those who are curious about how I came to write this blog, here is a brief background. Feel free to skip this section if you are not interested.
I have had back problems for many years, since an injury in high school while loading produce trucks at a grocery store chain warehouse. I saw family doctors, an orthopedist, a physical therapist, chiropractors, and a massage therapist. I read many articles and books on back pain treatment. No where did I get a holistic treatment plan. Doctors gave me some good advice, but they do not have the time to lay out a detailed treatment program, and there are aspects to back care about which they were not aware. Physical therapists gave me some exercises that were helpful, but only after I added some additions that made a huge difference.
Books on lower back pain were especially confusing. Many of the leading experts on treating back pain focus on only one aspect and treatment. They recommended stretching alone, or they concentrated only on certain exercises. One of the best selling books tells you to stop all exercising and address only the psychological causes of your back pain. I suppose it is natural for people to feel they have found the one magical key to a problem, and write a book or start a clinic focused on it.
What I found was, while each of these experts have some good ideas about their specific area, they fail to address all aspects of back care. And the articles I found that try to combine treatments do not give enough details, and are still missing some key elements.
Also, as I already mentioned, no one provides a strategy for self-improvement which gives you the best chance at being successful, and actually enjoying the process. I had already begun to intuitively formulate "The Slow Path" approach when I read Robert Maurer's One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way. That book convinced me I was on to something. In fact, the process contained in my program might be the most important. Because no matter how good advice may be, if it is not followed, it has no value. The Slow Path approach is largely applying Mr. Maurer's general advice to the treatment of lower back pain.
I suggest you read all of the articles in the order they were written. Then come back to read new posts, because there is more good information coming. You can also sign up to get an email sent to you when a new article appears, and to comment on the articles.
Now, let's get started!
click here to start reading at the beginning
click here to start reading from the most recent post
or, click on the "content" tab at the top for a list of current and future articles.