If you have shoulder pain, please review this video by Dr. John Bergman.
The Effects of High Technology on the Human Condition
The Effects of High Technology on the Human Condition
This essay is about a topic close to my heart. I have been involved in the use of computers for over fifteen years now and I have young children who want to spend all their time in front of a computer, television or video screen. I do not intend to suggest that we remove all technology and revert to completely simple lives, but rather that we need to have balance and not allow technology to rob us of our health and vitality as well as our connectedness to nature and our fellow human beings.
For a culturally relevant reference to this topic I would like to turn our focus for a moment to a recent movie by the name of Wall-e. In brief, it is about a robot whose mission in life is to clean up the planet after we have made it into a techno garbage dump. Humanity had to leave the planet in order to find a more suitable habitation. On the journey, technologically advanced robots saw to our every need and in fact pampered mankind so much that we became completely dependent on their care. After centuries of living in micro-gravity, the humans aboard the Axiom (our spacecraft) have lost considerable bone mass, rendering us too obese to stand or move without robotic assistance (Wall-e, 2008). Eventually, through the help of Wall-e and his futuristic robot friend, we humans return to the earth and start planting food and rebuilding not only the earth but our technologically degenerate lives. This is a rather humorous but serious tail reflecting the direction of humanity if we do not pay attention to the balance of nature and technology in our lives.
One of the biggest factors relating to our overall health in relation to high technology is the time it takes and activities we miss while utilizing these technological wonders. Years ago, before computers, televisions and electricity, people worked, played and lived very actively in tune with nature. Their bodies were strong from use; their minds were inspired by the wonders of the natural universe around them. They got the appropriate amount of rest, instead of staying up all hours of the night. Then along came the discovery of electricity and with it many technological wonders. With light at any hour of the night, we don’t sleep as we should. We find our mental and physical stimulus in a television or computer screen, with keyboards and video gaming consoles. We drive in our cars and think it inconvenient that we should have to walk to the mail box. We visit nature primarily thru the “nature channel” and rarely step out into the wild.
Here are a few statistics from the National Institute on Media and the Family. “Children, ages 8 to 18, spend more time (44.5 hours per week) in front of computer, television, and game screens than any other activity in their lives except sleeping.” “Approximately 30.3% of children (ages 6 to 11) are overweight and 15.3% are obese. For teens (12 to 19) the rate is almost identical: 33.4% overweight and 15.5% obese. Further the incidence of Type II diabetes in children, the diabetes linked with obesity has increased significantly in the past few decades. (©National Institute on Media and the Family)”.
The Centers for Disease Control outline the benefits of regular physical activity for children: (©National Institute on Media and the Family)
• Improves strength and endurance
• Build healthy bones, muscles, and joints
• Control weight, build lean muscle, and reduce fat
• Reduces anxiety and stress, increases self-esteem and overall energy
• Improve blood pressure and cholesterol
• Prevents disease and promotes health
So what are we to do about this? Do we succumb to the lure of a technological world of wonder and become subject to a life of ill-health and ease? Or, should we eliminate the modern conveniences that have put us at ease? I think the solution is to balance technology with the human condition. Utilize the tools that humanity has discovered. Remember, we live in a natural world with very natural human needs. These needs being: good natural foods, fresh air, clean water, interaction with nature, exercise, human kindness and association with our fellow human beings. Let’s not forget to walk out in this wonderful world we are a part of, to take care of our environment so we can continue to enjoy good health and prosperity and to share in its goodness with each other and future generations.
Royce A. Bivens
Works Cited
©National Institute on Media and the Family. (n.d.). Media use and obesity among children. Retrieved August 24, 2008, from mediafamily.org: http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_tvandobchild.shtml (not currently available) see new site for revelant info: www.parentfurther.com
Wall-e. (2008). Retrieved August 24, 2008, from Wikipedia.com: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WALL-E
Believe In Yourself
Never give up, you are responsible for and create your own dreams and reality. Create your future now, don’t leave it to the whims of chance.
Believe in yourself! — Royce
Deshun Wang is an inspiration to us all!
“Be the fiercest – Deshun Wang”
What do you believe?
“If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don’t
If you like to win, but you think you can’t,
It is almost certain you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost
For out of the world we find,
success begins with a fellow’s will-
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are,
You’ve got to think high to rise,
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN
– Napoleon Hill
Anterior Scalenes
I am honored to have learned this technique from one of my principle mentors. Dr Erik Dalton. It’s an amazing technique for releasing Anterior Scalenes
Deep tissue myofascial release for Anterior Scalenes
Open for Business
Opened on September 1, 2009
In Medford, Oregon.
ABOUT HEALING HANDS THERAPIES:
Healing Hands Therapies is a therapeutic massage practice established in 2009 by Royce A. Bivens, LMT.
The goal of Healing Hands Therapies is to help clients in their path to healing, wholeness and balance in body, mind and spirit through massage, Myofascial release, Qigong energy balancing, exercise, and meditation.
ABOUT ROYCE A. BIVENS:
I am a graduate of Rogue Community College’s Massage Therapist Program. I graduated in 2009 with over 600 hours of Massage Therapy training. I have additional training in Myofascial Release, Deep Tissue, and Myoskeletal Alignment. I continue to attend seminars and workshops to constantly refine and grow my skills and knowledge in healing. I have a background in healing through prayer and laying on of hands and have seen tremendous results. I have been studying and practicing Qigong energy balancing with my friends and family since 2007 and will continue to bring this powerful healing practice to my clients.
Royce is currently a Licensed Massage Therapist in Oregon: License # 16493