I was a student of the Northeastern University physical therapy program and worked with Fukuji & Lum as a part of their co-op program. I learned so much from the whole team including treatment techniques but also how to manage a busy schedule with calm and patience. I learned how to put the aloha spirit into practice and embrace everyone I worked with from patients to colleagues.
Since graduating Northeastern, I worked for a year in South Carolina in an inpatient/outpatient mixed setting and have been living and practicing for the past four years in Spokane, WA. My clinical focus is outpatient orthopedics. I am a board certified orthopedic clinical specialist with a certification as a strength and conditioning specialist.
I am so passionate about living a physically active lifestyle and sharing that passion with others. This commitment led me to give a Ted Talk encouraging others and showing how to incorporate stretching into their daily lives.
I owe so much of my journey to my Fukuji & Lum family for teaching me and giving me my start!
At Fukuji and Lum Physical Therapy Associates, we challenge ourselves to deliver fun, happiness, and compassion in serving our patients and the community. In doing so, we strive to support those in need of a higher quality of life, as a family. For 20 years, we have served the community in need of physical therapy, but have also branched out to address another need: maintenance after physical therapy. Thus, the Performance Plus Program (PPP) was created to help patients maintain and improve upon their levels of fitness after physical therapy is completed, and no prescription is necessary. The program is also offered to community members that want to improve on their fitness levels and achieve goals they never thought possible.
Here is a testimonial from one of our regular PPP clients at our WORC clinic who asked to remain anonymous.
“I was in a fitness quandary. I quit the fitness club after 5 years. I was tired of fighting for the treadmill and bikes and didn’t want to compete with the jocks for the other machines. Everyone there seemed to have his or her own fitness agenda. My hairdresser spoke of the Fukuji & Lum YWCA location. She raved about the physical therapy she received there, and had continued with an exercise program after being discharged.
I was not in need of physical therapy, but Fukuji & Lum did offer a Performance Plus Program, primarily for PT clients interested in continuing their therapy with an exercise regimen. So, I signed up for my first 8 sessions. My goals were to improve my strength and improve my conditioning. I was told I was in poor to fair condition; so much for the fitness club routine.
Today, 2 years later and starting my third year, I have completed 200 visits; my health profile has improved and I am able to do exercises I never thought possible. The staff teaches me the correct way to do the exercises; always offering helpful tips to improve my technique and correcting my mistakes. The staff pushes me to do more so I can continue to improve.
My overall health has improved; my doctor is happy; I’ve lost weight; gained muscle and toned my body. I’d say that I fixed my fitness quandary.”
That testimonial is typical of a lot of our PPP clientele. No more fighting over equipment, as everyone is scheduled at flexible times to accommodate for overcrowding. Our land-based Performance Plus Programs are offered at our Honolulu clinic located in the Kuakini Physician’s Tower and WORC location in Kaneohe, and is also open to high school students with parental consent. We have also expanded our program to include an Aquatic Therapy Performance Plus Program, located at the Kokokahi YWCA. For questions or more information about our programs, please call our Honolulu Clinic at (808)521-4922 or our WORC clinic at (808)234-5353.
I’m often asked by patients “What’s THE most important exercise I should do?” My answer changes as my experience as a physical therapist evolves throughout the years. I would normally tell my patients to do some form of stretching or strengthening, until recently, when I started doing deep, abdominal breathing exercises as part of my morning routine. I now tell my patients that abdominal breathing is one of the most important exercises they can do.
There are a number of contributing factors that make abdominal breathing so important. A couple of years ago, I began focusing on abdominal or diaphragmatic breathing after studying Heart Rate Variability (HRV)which is a measurement of the balance between your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. By measuring your HRV, you are able to assess your body’s response to stress. The body reacts to stress by changing breathing patterns, which leads to physiological changes including hormonal responses and neurological patterning.
In normal breathing patterns, we SHOULD use abdominal breathing, which is focused on using the diaphragm, a muscle located below the lungs. This muscle is controlled by our parasympathetic nervous system via the Vagus nerve. Because of the daily stresses of life, we’ve adapted our body’s most vital need: to breathe. Abdominal breathing has such profound effects on our ability to handle stress, anxiety and physical activity. However, some of us have changed our breathing patterns and use more of a thoracic breathing pattern. This pattern is shallow, shorter and typically used when we are reacting to a “fight or flight” situation and triggers the production of cortisol leading to a weakened immune system.
“Habitual chest breathing not only reflects physical and mental problems. It creates them. It mildly but chronically over-stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, keeping the heart rate and blood pressure too high, precipitating difficulties with digestion and elimination, and causing cold and clammy hands and feet.” – David Coulter, The Anatomy of Hatha Yoga
I often see this shallow breathing pattern in my patients. Pain is a factor in changing the way we breathe and we unconsciously respond to pain by holding or shortening our breath. When I see this response, I spend time educating the patient on focused abdominal breathing exercises which helps moderate pain.
One of my favorite references on how to breath correctly is Jill Miller’s The Role Model. Her book is excellent in explaining how the body breathes, the anatomy involved, and how to correct your breathing pattern. I incorporate her “Breathing Primer” into my breathing exercise routine each morning and it has positively affected everything that I do.
After learning about the importance of breathing correctly, I discovered Breath Reset, a type of meditative breathing that helps me to focus my thoughts, settle my body, and allow me to get in touch with my body. This breathing practice has been performed by many for centuries and has been the foundation of Buddhism.
Chapter 4 of The Breath of Life
One who has gradually practiced, Developed and brought to perfection Mindfulness of the in-and-out breath As taught by the Enlightened One, Illuminates the entire world Like the moon when freed from clouds.
(Theragatha 548)
Each morning, I perform a routine of meditation, yoga, body weight exercises and reading while drinking my Bulletproof Coffee. This routine usually takes about an hour which is why my alarm goes off every morning at 5 A.M., even on the weekends. But the most important part of my routine, is my “belly breathing”.
I start by walking out to my backyard deck, a place that is quiet and peaceful. A regular spot in your home will help your routine become permanent. I usually sit with my back supported and with my legs crossed. With my eyes closed, I begin by taking a long inhale through my nostrils and exhale through pursed lips. I focus on my abdomen drawing in and out, trying to feel as if my diaphragm is elevating and depressing. My thoughts usually wander which is normal. I think it’s impossible to expect my brain to stop having random thoughts or emotions, so I don’t put pressure on myself to suppress them. Instead, I try to focus on feeling my body breathing.
During my breathing exercises, I am able to quiet my mind, induce a relaxed feeling, and trigger the hormones in my body that create an improved level of function. I start every morning this way so that I can control my thoughts and emotions throughout the day. The value of this ten minute practice is more valuable to me than an extra hour of sleep. It has helped me become more focused, productive, and clear about what my life’s journey is about. It has also improved my posture, breathing capacity and has taught me how to reduce my stress level at any time. No other exercise has had as much profound affect on my life as meditation and breathing. It is a simple practice that anyone can learn to improve your life immediately.
References:
Wikipedia contributors. “Heart rate variability.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 4 Jul. 2015. Web. 5 Jul. 2015.
