WELLNESS + FITNESS

By Julia Clarke

It’s no secret that the influence of the seasons has repercussions for your health; colds and flu tend to run rampant as winter progresses whilst spring, for many, marks the onset of pesky allergies, and summer’s warm weather often provides a welcome reprieve from illness altogether. Your physiology is constantly adapting to the changes in temperature, precipitation, food availability, sun exposure and activity level that characterize the cycle of the year.

The time-tested medical tradition of Ayurveda, often called yoga’s holistic sister science, has placed special importance on the influence of seasonality on your health and well-being for thousands of years. In response, it outlines specific, practical, seasonal routines (ritucharya) to help you stay balanced and healthy 12 months a year.

To understand how these seasonal routines can benefit you, it’s helpful to appreciate two fundamentals of Ayurveda. First, the principle that like increases like. For instance, the cold, dry winds that turn the aspen leaves crunchy and blow them to the ground in the fall also provoke dryness in your physiology, resulting in dry skin, constipation and depletion. Second, we can restore balance with opposites, such as using oil to soothe dry skin.

When it comes to living in the Valley, our long cold season, which usually shows up in November and stubbornly sticks around until May, is arguably the most impactful for your health. Ayurveda divides this period up into two seasons: Shishira ritu (late winter), characterized by increased cold and dryness, and vasanta ritu (spring), characterized by liquefaction, which in our case means snowmelt and thawing ground.

Because these two seasons are markedly different — the first is dry and cold while the second is heavy and moist — they have practically contrasting effects on your physiology, and therefore require two distinct approaches to daily living.

During these coldest months, heat tends to become trapped in your body, enabling a stronger digestive fire, which helps you to consume the heavier, fatty foods you need for welcome fuel during our busy season.

+ Nourish with warm, well-spiced stews and soups, root vegetables, organic dairy, whole grains and good quality oils. Eat well with regular meals, and eat to satiety.

+ Self-massage with warm sesame oil over your entire body in the morning or before bed, followed by a shower, or take advantage of the Valley’s many spa services for a little extra pampering.

+ Stay toasty by bundling up in extra layers to avoid cold drafts down your neck; wrap up in a soft wool blanket from Hygge Life when you’re at home and enjoy hot baths, hot tubs and saunas when you can.

+ Rest to avoid depletion with earlier bedtimes (by 10:30 p.m.) and regular relaxation practices such as restorative yoga, yin yoga, yoga nidra and meditation.

+ Avoid light, dry, cold foods like salads, processed foods and crunchy snacks as well as overexposure to cold; carry a thermos with hot water, tea or hot chocolate with you on the mountain.

The thawing of winter may be mirrored by excessive mucus in the body accompanied by a sensation of physical and emotional heaviness that are best balanced with an overall approach of lightening up and getting moving.

+ Cleanse by removing alcohol, processed foods and sugar from your diet for one to three weeks and focusing on whole foods rich in antioxidants, such as fresh fruits and stir-fried vegetables.

+ Awaken earlier now that the sun is peeking over the Gore Range more promptly; set your alarm to rouse you at sunrise or even a little earlier, so you can watch the sun come up.

+ Exercise regularly to shake off that heavy feeling and move lymph to protect you against seasonal colds and allergies; enjoy more vigorous yoga, snowshoeing and spin classes to get your heart rate up.

+ Dry massage instead of oil massage, using a soft, stimulating body brush over your skin while standing in the shower; you can apply oil or lotion after your shower if this leaves you feeling dry.

+ Avoid heavy, oily foods, excessive sweets and naps.

By Laura Lieff

Christine Koelker, D.C. has devoted her life to animals. Bringing a decade of professional experience, Koelker is an IVCA certified animal chiropractor who provides comprehensive and compassionate care and bodywork for pets through her Edwards-based business, Animal Camp Chiropractic.

“I don’t recall a time when I didn’t want to work with animals,” says Koelker. “I grew up with cats and dogs, and I remember people calling my sister to babysit their kids and contacting me to look after their pets.”

In college, she initially wanted to be a veterinarian but realized she did not want life-threatening emergencies to be part of her career. Instead, she pursued advertising, which took her all over North America. During that time, Koelker sustained an injury that led to meeting a chiropractor who helped her get stronger and healthier than she was prior to the injury.

“That experience sparked my interest in medicine again, and I realized that I wanted to focus on a holistic approach to maintaining a preventative lifestyle,” Koelker explains. “That doctor taught me how to take care of my body and prevent injury, and I wanted to do the same for others.”

Koelker went back to school (she already had a Bachelor of Arts in communication advertising from Michigan State) to earn her Doctorate of Chiropractic at Logan University, as well as her Master’s in clinical nutrition and human performance. Although Koelker initially went to chiropractic school to treat humans, while she was there, she learned about getting certified for animals and decided to earn her post-graduate certificate in animal chiropractic.

While Eagle County is extremely dog-friendly, Koelker has found that not everyone is aware that animal chiropractors exist. She explains that equine chiropractic is a much more well-known practice, because horses have participated in competitive sporting events for a long time. Conversely, competitive canine events have recently become popular and, therefore, so has chiropractic care for them. She also feels that because dogs are now treated more like family members, pet owners are prioritizing their healthcare.

“I’ve seen a lot of growth within the pet industry over the last 10 years,” Koelker explains. “It’s become a billion-dollar business, and pet owners are more interested in holistic ways of taking care of their animals.”

Although Koelker has witnessed an undeniable change in pet care over the last few years, she also encounters skeptics.

“I understand the skepticism for those who have never experienced chiropractic care before,” she says. “But, they bring their dogs in because of a referral from a vet or friend, and the treatment speaks for itself. People are now more open-minded regarding preventative techniques and are more interested in wellness.”

In addition to wellness, the mobile aspect of Koelker’s business sets Animal Camp Chiropractic apart, because her services are available and accessible for locals and tourists throughout the Vail and Roaring Fork Valleys. She offers house calls to all her clients, which, she has found, benefits everyone, because it allows her to provide more thorough treatment and assessment.

“Dog parents appreciate the convenience, and I get a better a perspective on what’s happening at home — for example, wood floors and/or stairs — and then the dog can take a nap after treatment, rather than climbing in and out of a vehicle,” she says. “When I see where a pet is living, I can also make suggestions regarding adjusting the dog’s home environment.”

As for visitors, Koelker has found that sometimes people bring their dogs to Colorado and don’t consider the effects the altitude and terrain might have on their pets.

“Dogs can be like their parents; they get excited and push their outdoor activities too hard in the mountains,” she explains. “I can do in-room treatments at pet-friendly hotels, which allows dogs to have an equally enjoyable vacation as their parents.”

“10 years ago, no one was doing chiropractic care on dogs, so I was the oddball,” Koelker says. “I wanted to normalize it, and now there are other practitioners and vets who have gotten certified.”

Going forward, Koelker is excited to expand her business and continue to introduce clients to the art and science of animal chiropractic care.

“I followed my passion for animals, which is what drove me to make my practice exclusive to them,” she adds. “I get so much joy out of working with animals that it made sense for me to focus on their care.” +

Animal Camp Chiropractic’s wellness treatments include:

+ Bodywork releasing soft tissue tension, trigger point release and stretching

+ Adjustment focusing on and working the joints

+ Canine cranio-sacral therapy a gentle hands-on technique that releases tension in the central nervous system, which helps reduce pain, relieve dysfunction and improve overall well-being