The 6 Pillars: Creating a Strong Foundation for Long-term Health

If I told you that all health concerns and challenges could be categorized into one of six pillars, would you believe me?  What if I told you that you could improve your current position within any of these pillars with small, repetitive actions?

In May 2023, it will be 20 years since I began my chiropractic practice. Over the years, I have treated many patients with varying health concerns and using these pillars as a guide to improve their health has had amazing results. 

Before I introduce you to these SIX PILLARS, let’s first discuss the MINDSET you will need to be successful.  It is important that you always remember on your health journey that it does not need to be PERFECT, in order for the changes to be EFFECTIVE.  The road to good health looks different for EVERYONE.  We all have different starting positions, we all have different destinations (goals) and we all have different challenges to face getting there.  The important thing is to be honest with yourself about where YOU are starting from and where YOU would ultimately like to be when you achieve your goals.  Once you have clarity and certainty about these two questions, you will know exactly what to focus on from the SIX PILLARS to ensure you get the most out of your efforts.

Pillar 1 - Nutrition

This is undoubtedly the most complicated pillar as there are hundreds of nutrition books that have been written in the last ten years. I have read a wide variety of books and have taken multiple seminars on this topic and I’ve come up with overarching principles that apply to most people.  For some people, it’s not only information that they need, but they also need a guideline or an approach to implementation. 

For example, it’s one thing to say “eat less processed foods” and it’s another thing to figure out the swaps and the systems that you need to have in place in order to make this a reality. So you will see a lot of content in this area and our hope is that we can take some of the confusion and overwhelm away and give you a simple approach that fits in most households. 

Pillar 2 - Exercise

Let me ask you this - if there was a drug that could decrease all-cause mortality and morbidity and improve your mood, energy, and sleep, would you take it? Of course you would!  Well, essentially, that is what exercise can do for your body and your brain. For those of you that struggle with exercise, I’ve spent a lot of time in the book trying to help with implementation. How can we fit it into our schedule even when it’s busy?  Often we have to keep our big goals in mind to remind ourselves of the importance of WHY we need to fit it in.

Pillar 3 - Sleep

Sleep has been getting more and more attention in the last number of years because of its overall effect on your health. This is an area that I have spent more time focusing on in the last three to five years and it’s an area that I continue to work on and prioritize. If this is an area you struggle with, you will really want to figure out if your main issue is getting to sleep or staying asleep. This is one of the areas that we have specific protocols for within our Longevity Academy and our members are seeing some really positive changes.

Pillar 4 - Mobility

This is an obvious pillar for me, but it is often overlooked. What I am finding is that more and more people, as they get older, take their mobility for granted and by the time they lose it, it can be too late. The goal here is to find any weak areas and to begin to work on those weekly to ensure that those issues do not get any worse. This is something that can easily fit into busy schedules in 5-10 minute increments and you can even do this while you are doing another activity such as watching TV or listening to music or a podcast. I’m excited about getting more of this content into video format and trying to create simple routines for people.

Pillar 5 - Supplementation

This is an area where we often get a lot of questions and I can understand why there is a lot of confusion here.  One of our goals, when we built the Sante Centre, was to have a health food store that would provide the highest level of products with expertise and a genuine concern for people's health. While we often divert most questions to the amazing staff at Parks, we’ve always felt that there are a few key supplements that people should take in order to reduce the chances of deficiencies and the health issues that go along with it. I have written in detail about some of my favourites in previous blog posts such as Magnesium and Omega 3s and Vitamin D.

Pillar 6 - Stress Management

An entire book could have been written about Stress Management, but my main interest in this pillar is the effect that chronic stress has on the body. My goal is to also help give people routines and tools that they can incorporate daily/weekly in order to reduce the toll of stress. I’m excited to be recording some breathwork and meditations this year, which I plan to share before the launch of the book.

The information above is just a brief overview of the Six Pillars.  These pillars will be discussed in great length in my book, but if you are looking for more information now, consider joining our Longevity Academy.  It is an amazing community offering 100 hours of recorded content, access to a community manager who keeps you moving in the right direction, and an opportunity to join a Q & A webinar with me every month.

We have seen some amazing transformations in people this year, and I’m very proud of those who have decided to prioritize their health. Does this sound like something you need?  Click here to find out more.