SECTION SUMMARY

Stay in Touch: Touch is the most primitive of the senses, and in traditional societies it plays an extensive role. We are hardwired for neurochemical rewards from the touch we share with others, strengthening pair bonds and parent-child connections. Touch is a silent, potent language providing comfort and healing. And we don’t call them pets for nothing; touching animals can provide the same benefits. Hugs, pats, hand-holding, cuddles, and massage serve us healthy helpings of that all-important oxytocin.

Go Barefoot: The elevated heel support found in most shoes impedes our natural gait and can cause lower extremity pain and injury, skew postural alignment, and compromise correct form during activity. Evolution aligned our leg contour, hip placement, and spinal structure for barefoot travel. A radical idea, perhaps, but going shoeless can improve your coordination, agility, balance, posture, and gait. Transition slowly to allow your feet and legs to adapt properly. When it isn’t feasible to go totally barefoot, wear minimalist footwear such as flip-flops or Vibram FiveFingers.

Power of Posture: The spinal cord is essentially a high-bandwidth system for the transfer of information between nerves, organs, and other parts of our anatomy. Misalignments of the spine constrict nerve pathways and thus create pain. Esther Gokhale and other posture experts believe the ideal spine shape is a J-shaped spine, not the S-curved spine promoted by conventional medicine. The bones of a J-shaped spine are stacked in a straight line from the neck down through the lower back. One of the most common forms of bad posture is when the head leans forward instead of extending straight up from the shoulders. And don’t forget proper potty posture. We are built to squat, but the “comfort” of modern sit-down toilets inhibits our ability to fully evacuate the bowels, increasing the risk of serious health conditions.

Made to Move: When you move, you kick hormones into gear with fat- and calorie-burning benefits. Stand-up desks or workstations, or homemade adaptations, allow you to stand comfortably without bending or straining. Make a concerted effort to engage in regular, comfortably paced aerobic workouts, as well as assorted general efforts to move more in daily life. Pay particular attention to taking brief movement breaks to counter prolonged periods of sitting or static standing.