Dr. Tarveen

Proudly introducing pravaala!

2009-10-26T17:47:00.009-06:00

My business partner Meenu Ahluwalia and I, are proud to announce the most innovative fitness to fashion program of its kind to Calgary!

pravaala combines the wisdom and experience of a team of professionals to propel adult men and women to a healthier, fun, effective fitness to fashion/makeover experience.

What does pravaala mean?

pravaala is Sanskrit for "new leaf" or "new branch." We invite you to turn a new leaf and take a innovative and fresh approach to your internal and external well-being.

What is the purpose of pravaala?

Our goal is to help facilitate change and improve your health behavior patterns by providing training, resources, and support throughout our program, and afterward. We combine a variety of healthy activities such as yoga, kickboxing, interval training, and Bollywood dance some or all of which will appeal and attract various individuals of various fitness levels. You will also have the opportunity to enhance your physical appearance by updating your image and style.

We are offering fitness classes in various locations in Calgary. You will have the ability to choose fitness class location and days/times that suit your lifestyle, with style/makeup workshops integrated into the program.

Who can join pravaala?

pravaala is without gender, our sessions are open to both adult men and women. pravaala youth is currently only being offered for young women between 13-17 years of age.

How can I learn more about pravaala?

If you are interested in learning more about our program please attend our complementary orientation/registration workshop. Meet some of our Transformation team members and hear a 45 min talk by our Nutritionist. Our team members will be on hand to take your body composition measurements. You can participate in or watch demonstrations of yoga, kickboxing, and Bollywood dance. A light healthy breakfast will also be provided.

To RSVP for the orientation, please email; info@pravaala.com.

When will classes start?

Our Fall 2009 season of classes will begin starting the week of November 2, 2009. To register and access more information about pravaala please visit; www.pravaala.com. For all other inquires please email info@pravaala.com.

Underwear Affair

2009-06-28T16:55:00.005-06:00

I recently had the opportunity to volunteer my Chiropractic/ART services on site at the Underwear Affair in Calgary. This event is a fun 5K walk and 10K run that raises funds for cancers below the waist such as; prostate, cervical, colerectal, and testicular. These are cancers that are often seen as being a bit dodgy and don't really get the exposure and funding they deserve.

The event seemed like one big party, with people from all walks of life and athletic abilities. The costumes were and after party were a fun way of celebrating a cause that can be heart breaking. Throughout the evening I had the opportunity of speaking and treating various individuals and learning about how their lives were affected by cancers below the waist. I spoke to a fellow health care provider who was participating in this event because he had lost both his parents to cancer. There was 1,240 people who participated and they raised an amazing $850, 000 for the Tom Baker Center. I felt fortunate to have the opportunity to volunteer my services for such a good cause.

Dr. Tarveen

The neglected blog...

2009-06-22T22:59:00.003-06:00

Unfortunately, I have neglected my blog for a while, however I am back! Its been a while since I last filled you in on whats happening with me and our clinic. But I will do my best to fill you in on my world in the shortest time period. Dr. Abelson and I have both become Twitter fans...we tweet on a regular basis, so if you are a "Twit", follow us:)

We are still working away at writing the books, a few of the exercise books are almost done, and the rest are still works in progress (kind of like us, I guess:) The feedback letters and emails we get from our You Tube channel are amazing. More and more people are watching our video's on a regular basis, so thank-you for your continued support and words of encouragement.

I was in San Francisco in February, my first trip back after I moved back to Calgary almost 4 years ago. I went to California, to take the Active Release Technique, Long Tract Nerve Entrapment seminar in San Francisco. It was a great experience and I enjoyed learning more about treatment and resolution of peripheral nerve entrapments. It was also really nice to be back in the Bay Area and meet up with all my friends after so many years.

I will stop there for now, and the story will continue in the next blog...

Wishing you the best in health,
Tarveen Ahluwaila

Medical Specialist at World Health Club

2007-11-12T21:34:00.000-07:00

It is with great pleasure I announce that I will be joining forces with the World Health Club in Edgemont, Calgary as a Medical Exercise Specialist. The following is an open letter sent to me by the head of the Medical Exercise Specialist Department.

MEDICAL EXERCISE SPECIALIST (MES) DEPATMENT

The idea to create the medical exercise specialist department at World Health Club was born from the identified need that many of our clients have to get access to a fully integrated health program incorporating physical training and injury prevention as well as post-rehabilitation plans. Our clearly defined focus is: “to utilize physical exercise as a means to strengthen our bodies and minds in order to lengthen and improve the quality of our lives”.

MISSION

To provide expert guidance in the execution of exercise programs designed to achieve optimal function of those areas of the body presenting specific alterations or pathological dysfunctions in order to minimize or eliminate such dysfunctions

VISION

The department of medical exercise specialist at the World Health Club will become a center of specialized attention for those clients who have conditions previously diagnosed by physical therapists, physicians chiropractors and other health specialists and referred to this department in order to access post-rehabilitation programs with the objective of improving quality of life using a multidisciplinary approach.

General Information:

Our Team is comprised of Personal Trainers with Medical Exercise Specialist Certification.
Some members that have already experienced the benefits of these services are: Jennifer Scott (LCL and MCL tear), Siew Li Alzetta (Patello femoral Syndrome), Nastaran Rahimzadeh (Lower Back Pain), Zam Lafranier (Bicipital Tendonitis), and many more.

A member Testimonial:

Zam Lafranier
I have been a member of the Edgemont Club for the past twelve years. I injured my right shoulder last year and Roselin has helped me tremendously on my road to recovery.
Roselin provided an exemplary personal program for my needs (stretching, strengthening, and weight bearing exercises) to achieve full range of motion, and developed an exceptional program for my lower body which I enjoyed immensely. I would recommend her to my family, friends and colleagues.

Roselin Perozo is the leader of this department. If you or somebody you know would like to reduce pain, maintain improvements from secondary medical therapy, or make further improvements in an existing chronic condition, please contact Roselin Perozo, and for any further information.
roselinperozo@shaw.ca
Cell: (403) 975-0724
Bus: (403) 239-4048

She is back...

2007-10-19T21:34:00.001-06:00

Hello readers how are you? Wow! I was just looking back at previous posts and I have realized how successful I have been at fulfilling my new years resolution of adding to my blog regularly. Pretty good eh!?!

Having said that, first and foremost I must apologize for not updating this blog regularly. Things have been busy and involved to say the least. I guess I should start with updating you with what has happened with me and our clinic over the last 10 months. Ever since January I have been a Chiropractor at Kinetic Health. Our clinic has two Chiropractors, a "he-doctor" (Dr. Abelson) and a myself the "she-doctor". Practice is great! I am loving every moment of it, our patients are improving and sending us friends and family, (which we truly appreciate!!). Slowly but surely everyone is learning how to say my name...Dr. Ahluwalia (pronounced Ah-loo-wa-lee-a), at first patients would arrive at the clinic to see me and they would tell our front staff "I am here to see Dr. Ah---" followed by a long pause, the girls would have a good chuckle, and say "yes you have arrived at the right place, Dr. Ahluwalia will be with you shortly". Those that found it difficult to say my name simply call me Tarveen, which we are all comfortable with.

We started the year off by adding videos to our You Tube channel at www.youtube.com/kinetichealthonline. Yup, we joined the You Tube bandwagon, I guess if there can be silly video's of cats chasing their tails, why could we not put informative, health related video's that would be of benefit in some way!?! Several beloved viewers have informed me that that their favorite video is the "Jaw Exercises" video, I skillfully put my finger in my mouth and talk at the same time, its definitely a sight to see, meaning its a good laugh! The response we have received is incredible, people call and email from all over the world. Our patients have also given us positive feedback and we hope to continue adding to the library of videos.

We also started carrying Fitter products (www.fitter1.com) in our clinic!! This decision came by public demand; our patients were requesting we carry products so that they could purchase products directly from our clinic and not have to drive around the city collecting exercise equipment.

Our clinic has carried vitamins and supplements in the past, however earlier this year we added other products to compliment conditions we commonly treat. Next time you are in our clinic, you will see the lovely cabinet in our waiting area, filled with all sorts of products to assist you in reaching your ultimate health goals.

With the arrival of new products in our clinic, I had a new arrival in my family, in March my sister had a baby girl named Jia, I got promoted to being a "Masi" (a term in Punjabi describes my relation to the child; a Masi is usually your mother's sister). The seven pound bundle of joy was a highlight in our household, finally a baby after all these years! Like a true Punjabi household her arrival was celebrated with lots of celebration and free flowing Indian sweets called "mathai"

In June I went to Las Vegas to take the Graston Techniques (www.grastontechnique.com) seminar. The seminar was hands on and incredibly informative, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Vegas was amazing, who does not like Vegas!?! But as the saying goes "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" need I say more. Since then the Graston tools, which I affectionately call my "Chiropractic cutlery" has assisted me in treating various soft tissue problems for my patients and I am truly thankful I took the seminar.

Just last month, (even though it feels like 5 days ago) I went to Vancouver to take an Active Release Technique seminar (www.activerelease.com). The seminar was excellent as they all are, I always return to practice with a kick in my step ready to treat the world. I stayed in the heart of downtown Vancouver a few blocks away from Robson Street. I had the privilege of soaking up the wonderful array of sights, sounds and tastes that Vancouver has to offer. My time there was incredible, couldn't have been better. I finally had an opportunity to see the famed Stanley park which was breathtakingly beautiful or more appropriately to quote a classic line from my British cousin Manjit, "beautiful just like the ocean mate."

Usually in August Dr. Abelson and his family travel to some exotic land. Last year, they went to Brazil and Peru and in December the Abelson's were in India. Due to other commitments this year, he stayed close to home and visited the west coast instead. Therefore, I was busy holding up the KH fort for a portion of August. In the last few months, I have been working with Dr. Abelson with some of the publications that will be coming out from Kinetic Health and Rowen Tree Books. Keep watching this space, we will update you with more details as they unfold.

Since schools started again in September, I have also been visiting local high school's and speaking to Sports Medicine classes. I guess I was never really crazy about school growing up (its safe to admit that now that I am where I am), however one class truly inspired me to follow the path that I travel upon today, and that was Sports Medicine. Therefore, I go to local schools to share the story of my journey in hopes to inspire kids about the possible health care opportunities that await after high school.

On my own time, I have been running off and on, however I decided it was time to become more serious and set a goal for myself, therefore I aspire to run a 5/10K next year. In preparation for that, I have joined the local Running room and its great! I have always been a walker more than a runner, however I decided to push the envelope and break out of my walking shoes. Much to my surprise I am doing quite well! Before I joined up, my reservations got the best of me and I thought I would be trailing 5000 miles behind the rest of the group, however I actually keep up, sometimes near the front! An achievement I am truly proud of.

That pretty much brings me up to speed of where I have been over the last 10 months. However, rest assured I will update my blog regularly. I already have my next feature all lined up but I will save it for the next time...can't give too much away now.

Thank-you for reading this long winded post. For those individuals that visit my blog regularly, I apologize for not updating it. However, I have decided to use this as a platform on informing the Internet community and our patients on all the new things we are working on, simply because at Kinetic Health we are always up to something new and exciting! So this will be one of the official portals of informing you about the latest and greatest from our clinic.

As always if you have any comments or suggestions or you simply want to say hello, please email me at drtarveen@gmail.com

Until next time, I wish you the best in health and wellness!

Good News...

2007-01-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

Hello! I just want to start out by wishing all of my Bloggets or readers a very Happy New Year!! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that you have set goals to become healthier and stronger.

I am pleased to inform you that I am now accepting patients! For the last few months while the Canadian licensing requirements were being fulfilled I have acted as the Office Manager at Kinetic Health in Calgary. However, I am delighted to inform you that I will now be practicing with Dr. Brian Abelson at Kinetic Health.

For all of our patients that are reading this, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank-you from the bottom of my heart for all your encouragement and support over the last few months. I know that things have been a little hectic at the clinic with the transition of new staff, that we have recruited to replace me (in a nice way that is). I appreciate your patience throughout all the changes. I speak for Dr. Abelson, the staff and myself when I say we are all very excited and we look forward to taking care of your loved ones and yourself in the year to come and thereafter.

One of my goals is to try to update my blog on a regular basis. As creative as my mind can be sometimes I run out of ideas to write about. That is were my respected Bloggets come into play. I request that if you are a reader of my blog and there is a topic that you are interested in knowing more about please send me an email and I will do my best to inform you about that topic because I am sure there are others that would also be interested in knowing more about that particular topic.

Well I am very excited about starting my career as a Chiropractor in Alberta and hope to see you in the clinic soon enough if you are in the Calgary and surrounding area. Please visit our clinic website at www.drabelson.com for more information about our clinic and services we provide. If you would like to schedule an appointment please call 403.241.3772 today!

Wishing you the best in health and wellness,

Dr. Tarveen Ahluwalia, D.C.

Bhangra workouts...

2006-07-16T15:15:00.000-06:00

Having grown up dancing and listening to Bhangra music, it was only natural for me to take my music to the gym with me when I was working out. I am sure countless others have done the same. Today you can go to the gym and find an aerobics class based upon bhangra dance and music. With American artists like Britney Spears and Jay-Z to express interest in Bhangra, it is is becoming increasingly popular with Americans. It is just like any other aerobics class however it combines steps and dance moves taken from the traditional dance form from the state of Punjab which has been divided between northern India and Pakistan.

Here is a recent article published in the CNN about Sarina Jain, dubbed as the "Indian Jane Fonda", and how she is taking this celebratory dance form and combining it with the infectious drum based beats and creating a healthy workout for everyone to enjoy.

Bhangra dance workout is a sweaty fitness celebration

By Elizabeth LeSure
Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — Sarina Jain tells her students to pretend they’re dancing at her wedding. And as her class steps, claps, and sweats to the pulsating sounds of Indian drum-beats, she encourages them to "Celebrate! Celebrate! Celebrate!"

Jain isn’t getting married, and the T-shirts and workout pants worn to her class are nothing like wedding finery. But the moves she is teaching are usually seen in banquet halls and Bollywood films, not New York City gyms.

Jain is the creator of the "Masala Bhangra Workout," a fitness program that blends aerobics with Bhangra, a type of folk music and dance that developed in Punjab, a region now divided between northern India and Pakistan, and has morphed into a modern pop dance sensation.
"Its vigor and vitality just make you move," said Jain, a dark-haired, fit California native whose parents were born in India.

Jain — dubbed the "Indian Jane Fonda" by her students — teaches at several gyms in New York, adding Bhangra to an extensive list of dance-based fitness classes that draw upon genres as diverse as African dance, ballet, hip-hop, belly dancing, salsa, and mambo.
Experts say incorporating music and dance into exercise routines can make people enjoy their workouts more — and stick with them.

Music "helps people to feel more comfortable moving their bodies," said Mary Dedrick, associate director of clinical education in the University of Buffalo’s department of exercise and nutrition sciences.

"I always find that if you have good music, that is a huge motivating factor for people in enjoying a class," she said. Dance, including that done by warriors to prepare for battle, has been a way for people to stay physically fit for thousands of years, according to Janet Hamburg, a professor of dance at the University of Kansas.

In the 1980s, Jain’s fitness idol launched an American aerobics craze with "Jane Fonda’s Workout." Jain’s own series of workout videos and DVDs builds upon Fonda’s success. She recently released her fifth DVD, a Bhangra workout for children.
After years of teaching fitness classes and studying marketing and public relations, Jain took out a loan in 1999 to launch her own company, Masala Dance & Fitness, Inc., which she named for a Hindi word that means spicy.

Last year her program was certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, and she is developing a training manual for other instructors. Jain infuses her classes with elements of both Indian and American cultures, alternating shouts of "Balle Balle!" — a Punjabi expression of joy — with very American exclamations of "Sexy arms! Sexy arms!" The steady beats of Bhangra and shouts of encouragement from Jain keep the energy level up, even as students’ faces get pink.

Jain’s students — women and one man at a recent session at a Manhattan gym — pulse their arms and follow her footwork as she instructs the class using a headset microphone.
"Her enthusiasm is quite infectious," said Pradyot Dhulipala, a 26-year-old programmer and the only man in the class. Dhulipala said he mentioned Jain in his blog and got 30 to 40 additional hits that day.

Jain is not the only one trying to coax people to exercise through dance. Hamburg has developed a series of programs that set dance movements to specially composed music. Her Motivating Moves workouts have been used with people with Parkinson’s disease.

"What’s been demonstrated is that people stick with them longer," she said. "They actually look forward to doing them." That is certainly the case for 26-year-old Ameeka Ahmed, who said the Masala Bhangra Workout doesn’t feel like exercise. "I love it," she said. "I look forward to it every week."

Spinal Hygiene

2006-03-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

Next time you are sitting at your neighborhood Starbucks for a session of people watching, notice how others around you walk. When a person is standing or sitting, look to see if their head is looking straight ahead or tilted to the right or left. Look at the shoulders and see if one is higher than the other. When a person is standing, are their hips even? One clue to indicate this would be look at the bottom hem of their pants, do the bottom of the pants fall equally over their shoes? When a person walks does each arm swing in synchronization with the opposite leg? How do the feet point when they are standing and walking are they straight, in or out?
So what does all this mean anyway?

These are contributing factors to spinal hygiene or a lack there of. You’re probably scratching your head wondering what spinal hygiene is? In many respects it is like dental hygiene. Proper hygiene will allow the structural aspect the muscles and bones to work in cooperation with the neurological aspect which includes the brain and nerves of your body. This intern will allow you to be healthier and the cells and tissues of your body will function at the optimal levels.
Because we can’t see the spine with our plain vision often times we underestimate its health. In most cases, it takes years of trauma in order for there to be significant symptoms or pain. Many times people overlook the actual spine as the source of pain.

Watch this space to find out why the spine is important to your being....

Headaches and Chirorpractic

2005-11-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

It is believed that one in three people suffer from headaches at some point in their life. Headaches are also the fifth leading cause for people to visit physicians. Ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches meaning simple headaches such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches.

Muscle tension in the neck is the leading cause of most headaches. In today’s society there are increasing numbers of people that are inactive and sedentary therefore they spend more time in fixed postures and positions. As a result there is increased pain and discomfort in the head, neck and upper back. Studies indicate that Chiropractic care can effectively treat headaches.
Chiropractic treatment does not involve medications, it is non-invasive and does not restrict you in participating in any activates. A proper history and physical exam will indicate the nature of the problem. The treating doctor determines if the headache what structural components such as nerve, bones or muscles are involved. There can also be external triggers that contribute such as certain foods, increased stress, noises, lights, changes in blood sugar, insomnia, etc.
Manipulation or an adjustment is a quick thrust that corrects the position of one or more vertebral joints. This form of treatment is performed by Doctors of Chiropractic. When the spinal bones are out of place, they can affect the nerves, which often result in irritation and pain.

The American Chiropractic Association recommends the following:
1. If you spend a lot of time in one position, such as in front of a computer, typing, reading, or sewing, take a stretch break every half hour to hour of activity. Move your neck through various motions.
2. Low-impact exercise such as walking or aerobics may assist in decreasing pain of a headache. If you experience throbbing headaches stay away from intensive exercise.
3. Try not to clench your teeth. Your upper and lower teeth should not touch except when swallowing. Clenching leads to increased stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This complex consists of two joints that connect the jawbone to the skull. This can lead to tension headaches.
4. To prevent dehydration, drink a minimum of eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, especially in hot climates.
5. Avoid caffeine which includes coffee, tea, chocolate and soda these substances can increase the stimulation of a headache
6. Avoid foods with increased amounts of salt and sugar
7. Avoid alcoholic beverages as increased consumption leads to dehydration.

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?
1. Perform manipulation or adjustments to decrease the stress on your body and improve function of the spine.
Provide nutritional advice such as change the diet or add B complex vitamins.
2. Offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercises and relaxation techniques. This advice should help to relieve the recurring joint irritation and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back.

If your headache is symptomatic of a greater health problem please see your medical physician for further diagnosis and care.

New Kid on the Blog!

2005-10-20T12:41:00.000-06:00

Hello, Sat Sri Akal, Jambo and Namaste...

I would like to take this opportunity to personally welcome you to my very own blog!

I have just put up this blog. Please bear with me as I bring this all together. I welcome all those that read to contribute to my blog with comments, questions and postitive feedback.

My primary goal is to educate, promote and increase awareness about health and wellness.

I hope you enjoy Dr. T's Blog!

Wishing you the best in health and wellness,
Tarveen Ahluwalia