Читать книгу The Healthy Mechanic - Tim Scapillato - Страница 16

Allow the seed of health to be completely in tune and express itself fully with no interference.

Nature needs no help, just no interference. Allow the energy of the seed of health to reach every part of the body by keeping the body’s energy and communication systems free from any interference.

Ben was up earlier than usual on Monday morning. He had a breakfast meeting with a group of investors to discuss Max’s latest invention—a prototype robot incorporating global positioning system and electro-magnetic technologies. The idea had come to Max a couple of years earlier when he had attended the launch of the Segway, a two-wheeled, self-balancing, electric personal transportation vehicle. While watching a rider on the Segway, Max had envisioned a robot that could glide above any surface through the use of powerful electro-magnets that would enable it to hover. Gyroscopes like those in the Segway would enable the robot to maintain perfect vertical balance. And GPS technology would enable the robot to maneuver through crowded environments with laser-like precision. In the past, Max had worked on a variety of different projects involving all three of these technologies. Seeing the Segway inspired him to envision a robot that took advantage of all of these technologies to produce a device that could conceivably be used as a transportation vehicle and function as a personal assistant for disabled people.

Max had been a pioneer in the use of positional navigation technology to monitor the exact location of runners throughout an entire run by embedding a GPS chip into the soles of running shoes. Using the technology that he had developed, it was possible to measure, within a fraction of an inch, the exact distance someone had run. Furthermore, it was possible to measure the distance of a race course to a degree of exactness never previously achieved. Perhaps the biggest advantage, though, was that coaches were able to monitor every aspect of every run undertaken by their athletes, all from the comfort of their own home, and with equipment no more complicated or expensive than that required to watch satellite television. Max’s invention had made all of this possible several years before the advent of the wrist-watch GPS units that were now popular in the running community.

In order to continue to develop and refine the prototype robot, Ben and Max needed a significant amount of financing. Max was the ‘idea guy’, but Ben’s skill was in finding interested parties and convincing them to part with their money to turn the theories into reality. Ben had met this particular group several times before, and was close to closing a deal. He needed to get to work early and prepare his final pitch.

As he started out the door, Julia stopped him. “Don’t forget your bus pass, Ben. You won’t get far without it.”

“No thanks, honey. I haven’t taken the bus for over a week. I’ve been walking all the way there and back.”

“Ben,” she said, sounding surprised. “That’s about thirty blocks. Each way. How long does it take? I mean, it’s good that you’re exercising. I’m glad.”

“It takes me about an hour each way. So far I feel great, and it’s nice not to have squeeze into a crowded bus. I actually arrive at work feeling more refreshed than if I had taken the bus. I told you I was serious about changing my lifestyle. This is only the first step.”

“Well, Ben, I have to say, I’m impressed. Does this have anything to do with your friend in Wakefield?”

“Partly, I guess. I mean, the day I walked out of Dr. Jordan’s office a couple of weeks ago, I had already decided that I needed to do something in a big way. It was just chance that I bumped into Parsnips, or that he found me, but the events that have unfolded since then seem to have reinforced my decision. Don’t worry; I’m still going for my follow-up examination later this week.”

“Just don’t overdo it, OK, Ben? I’m concerned about you. I’m glad you’re doing something positive, but don’t jump into it too quickly. We both know how you like to do everything at a hundred and ten percent effort.”

“What other way is there?” joked Ben. “Don’t worry. I’m getting good advice from both sides of the health care fence. I’ll decide which side to come down on soon, though.”

* * *

When Ben stopped in front of Max’s house on the way to Wakefield the following Saturday morning, he heard a slight squeak coming from his brakes. Since he stopped driving or taking the bus to work, he only drove his car on weekends, so hadn’t noticed this problem. Old Webster had made another correct call. Later during the drive on Highway 5, Ben applied the brakes just to test the result. As Daniel had predicted, the steering wheel shimmied in his hands. Remarkable, thought Ben. I wish I’d met a mechanic like him years ago. I could have saved a fortune in car repair bills.

“He was right again, wasn’t he, Ben?” asked Max. “About the brakes, I mean.”

“One hundred percent, Max. He’s the best mechanic I’ve ever met. I wish he’d let me pay him directly for his work, though, instead of giving it to some charity. It doesn’t seem right—I mean, he doesn’t even charge me for the parts.”

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Ben. How many times have you silently cursed when you received a bill for repairs to your car?”

“Every time, Max. Every single time.”

* * *

When they arrived at the Webster’s, Daniel and Vic were walking across the yard. The vice-principal talked while Daniel listened. At the edge of the driveway, they stopped and greeted Ben and Max.

“You made sure to arrive on time today, did you, Vic?” asked Max.

“No sense setting a bad example. I wouldn’t want to keep Dayton waitin’”.

“You might as well bring the car right in, Ben. Have you noticed the shimmy yet?” asked Daniel.

“Exactly as you predicted, Daniel. You’re good.”

As he got out of the car he noticed another new addition to the shop. A mobile hung from the ceiling, spinning lazily in the breeze through the open door. That’s unusual, he thought—it was the first mobile he’d ever seen that was made from arrowheads. Was that there last time, he wondered? There must be some significance to all these adornments, but he had no idea what it was. In the orderly, uncluttered world of the Websters, everything seemed to be strategically placed. It was unlikely that these tiles, crystals, mobiles and beads were simply added to the décor at random.

“Good morning, Ben.”

The voice surprised him. Elizabeth had characteristically glided into the room. He had no idea how long she had been there. She may have been standing there when he drove in.

“Would you like a glass of water with chlorophyll?” she offered.

“Never had that before. I’d love to try it. Thank you.” He looked out at Max, Vic and Daniel in the driveway.

“Ben, do you enjoy exercising?” she asked.

Ben was startled at the question. How did these people always seem to know what he was thinking, with whom he was talking, and what was going to go wrong with his car?

“I love it. I’m just walking right now, but I plan to do more once I reach a better level of conditioning. How did you know that, Elizabeth?” Ben asked.

“It’s written all over your face, Ben. I mean that literally. I can see the change in your face. You are getting more fresh air. More blood is flowing to your face and extremities. I can see the effects of increased circulation. You only look as good—or as bad—as you feel. If you feel healthy, it shows. I can see it in you, Ben. There’s an improvement in your health already. Keep it up.”

“Keeping the refreshments to yourselves?” asked Vic as he entered the garage. He still had a large presence, Ben observed. He could never enter a room unnoticed in the way that Elizabeth could.

“Vic,” said Daniel. “Once you have your drink, why don’t you briefly review what we discussed last week?”

“You did say there would be a test, Vic,” reminded Max. “I guess you didn’t think it would be you that would be taking it, huh? I hope you studied.”

“Very funny, Max. Luckily, I don’t have to study this stuff. I live it every day of my new life.”

“Well said, Vic,” Elizabeth added quietly.

Vic sat on the couch against the far wall. He looked up at the mobile for an instant, and then began.

“Well, we learned that the seed of health possesses an innate intelligence that controls the formation of your body and enables it to maintain itself in a constant state of good health. This process constitutes the miracle of life.”

Looking over at Max, he added, “And the Canadiens winning the cup constitutes the miracle on ice.”

“You lose marks for that one, Vic,” said Max.

“Now, what we didn’t get to, and I guess that is what we will discuss this week while Ben’s brakes are attended to, is how this inner wisdom is transmitted throughout the body to control the development in an orderly manner. How is the life-sustaining and healing energy contained in the seed of health delivered to the right place at the right time over the life span of the human being?”

“Very good summary, Vic,” said Daniel. “And those were good questions. We’ll try to find some answers to them before you leave here today. As well as some new brake pads, Ben.”

“Let me start by asking you a few questions: What is the difference between a person who has recently passed away and another person who is alive? They both have all their organs and body parts, but what sets them apart?

“That’s easy,’ said Max. “One plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs and one plays for the Montreal Canadiens. And I think it’s obvious which one is which.”

Vic looked at Max, then at Daniel, before letting out a chuckle. “I have to admit, Max, that was a good one. But you really shouldn’t put your own team down like that.”

“The record speaks for itself, Vic. The Leafs haven’t won the Cup since sixty-seven. Case closed.”

“Let me answer the question,” said Ben. “The person who is alive has life energy.”

“That’s exactly right Ben. And the word for today is energy. How our body uses this energy and how it is transferred to all the cells of the body are things we will explore together.”

“What is the most sophisticated and complex communications system ever devised?”

Max explained global navigational positioning technology and how it worked. “It uses a satellite in space to pinpoint a location on earth the size of a postage stamp. That’s pretty sophisticated. It uses the latest communications technology. I’m not aware of anything more high-tech than that, unless the U.S. military is working on something that we know nothing about.”

“Ben?” asked Daniel. “Any ideas?”

“Well, Max is the expert in this area. If he says this is the most sophisticated communications system, then I’m not going to argue with him. But I have a feeling you’re about to tell us about something even more fantastic than that.”

“You’re catching on real quick, Ben,” said Vic. “Too bad you weren’t that quick on the catwalk.”

“You’re right, Ben. There is a system that is even more incredible than anything devised by humans. In fact, it is located inside the human body, and it was put there by nature. The human body contains the most complex communications system in our world. This system consists of the brain, the spinal cord, and the spinal nerves with branches connecting to almost every part of the body. It controls the function of tissues and cells by sending electro-chemical impulses through the sophisticated network of nerve fibers.”

“Too bad you couldn’t replicate that, Max,” said Ben.

“We could make a fortune. We’d have investors banging down our doors.”

“Maybe if I knew more about how it worked, I could come up with something,” said Max.

“Well, Max, here it is in a nutshell,” explained Daniel. “Sensory nerve fibers send messages to the brain to let it know what is going on in the outside world and to adapt accordingly. This enables us to perceive sensations such as pain, cold, heat, and touch. Motor fibers send messages to the muscles to allow the body to move. Your autonomic nervous system controls over ninety percent of your body’s functions. You name it—your heart, your circulation, your breathing, your digestive system, and even your reproductive and endocrine functions depend upon a smoothly operating autonomic nervous system.”

“Think back to high school biology, Max,” said Vic. “This shouldn’t be entirely new to you. Do the words sympathetic and parasympathetic mean anything to you?”

“Well, I know you weren’t always sympathetic to Ben and me,” said Max.

“I think we’d better let Daniel explain it.”

“The autonomic nervous system is actually comprised of two systems,” explained Daniel. “The sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions. Your sympathetic nervous system responds to stimuli, especially stress and emotional upset, and revs into action with ‘fight or flight’ responses.”

“Now that’s a phrase that I do remember from high school,” said Max.

“When that happens,” said Daniel, “your blood pressure increases, your heart beats faster, and your digestion slows down. Now the parasympathetic nervous system controls functions that help your body to relax. When it kicks in, blood pressure decreases, your heart rate slows, and digestion can occur. Your body must be able to shift effortlessly from sympathetic to parasympathetic nervous system activity to ease the effects of stress, recover from injury and illness, and allow optimal function.”

“So I’m assuming that anything that interferes with these processes will affect our ability to respond to and recover from stress,” said Ben.

“Exactly,” said Elizabeth. “Like every system in the body. Left to their own devices they function smoothly, predictably and almost flawlessly.”

Max walked over and leaned against the workbench, pouring himself another glass of chlorophyll water. “I think I’m going to need more time to study this, boss, before I can apply it to anything we’re working on. This makes my robot prototype look simple.”

“Don’t be discouraged, Max,” said Elizabeth. What we’re talking about here is the essence of life. You couldn’t replicate that unless you were a god of some sort.”

“The god of trouble, he used to be,” said Vic.

“Vic,” replied Max. “Remember to raise your hand before you interrupt the teacher. She was explaining the ‘essence of life’. That sounds important. Let’s allow her to continue.”

Vic stood up and stretched. “Carry on, ma’am.”

“Quantum physics teaches us that when you break the body down to its smallest components, we are all simply energy. This energy gets circulated throughout the human body by the nervous system, the meridian system, the chakras, our aura and probably many other forms we don’t know about. It seems sensible to us to ensure that all of these systems are in tune and working at their peak potential. To do that, we seek help from other professionals who specialize in fields related to this body energy. We regularly visit a chiropractor for our spinal and nervous system health. We get regular massages. We’ve tried many different forms of non-traditional health practices over the years, like acupuncture, reflexology, cranio-sacral therapy and medical intuitives. We believe that the more our energies are tuned up and in balance, the better off we’ll be. Even homeopaths and naturopaths work with the energy of plants to bring about healing within the human body.”

Ben was fascinated by the strategic focus that the Websters applied to maintaining their health. Their longevity was certainly no accident. He hadn’t even heard of some of these specialists to whom they turned to ensure that all of their energy systems operated in synch. This seemed like a completely different kind of health care system.

“The two-way flow of energy between the brain and the body’s cells, tissues and organs, guided by the innate intelligence in the seed of health, is life itself,” explained Elizabeth. “These electrical impulses contain instructions to control our growth and development through the regulation of the body’s chemical balance. They direct the glands and organs to secrete hormones and chemicals, in the proper amounts at the proper time, to regulate metabolism and control all bodily functions. When this complex process is allowed to operate unimpeded by outside interference, the body functions as it was intended to, and optimum health is maintained.”

“Interference seems to be the operative word around here,” said Max. “It sounds like all we have to do is eliminate it, and we can reach nirvana.”

“We may not reach nirvana, Max, but we’d all be a lot better off with less interference. Imagine how much more flow there would be to a hockey game without all that clutching and grabbing in the neutral zone,” said Vic.

“That’s the only way the Leafs can bring other teams down to their level,” said Max. “It’s only in Toronto that falling leaves signify the beginning of spring.”

“Can we have less interference from the peanut gallery?” asked Ben as he squatted down beside the car. He watched as Daniel examined a worn brake disc from the left rear wheel.

“This is worn pretty badly, Ben. Too much longer and we would have been looking at a much bigger job. See the scoring here? That’s the first sign,” explained Daniel as he handed it to Ben. “You should have your brakes checked regularly. Remember preventive maintenance as opposed to disease treatment and damage control? This is a perfect example,” he said as he walked to the workbench to look for a replacement disc.

“I don’t think Elizabeth was finished,” said Vic as he reached for a plump nectarine.

“Thanks, Vic. I was discussing the importance of the regulation of the body’s chemical balance,” said Elizabeth. She walked over to the opposite wall and straightened the picture frame that was hanging at an angle. Ben couldn’t remember having seen that picture hanging there on his previous visits. An old man with a full head of thick white hair, lively blue eyes, and a mischievous grin watched over them from the confines of a weathered barn board frame. Ben couldn’t tell whether it was a painting or a photograph. The face was vaguely familiar.

“To understand and appreciate how important the timely release of these chemicals is to the proper functioning of the human body,” said Elizabeth as she turned and glided back across the room, “consider a simple scenario. Imagine that you are about to begin running to catch a bus. In an almost imperceptible instant, your brain sends an electrical impulse through the nerve fibers of the central nerve system to your adrenal glands. This impulse contains an instruction to secrete adrenaline, which causes your heart to beat faster and your blood vessels to dilate. This is done in order to accommodate the increased blood flow to the muscles, which enables you to run. This process happens so rapidly that it often appears as though the physical act of running causes our pulse to quicken. But it’s the reverse.”

“That’s like the chicken-and-egg debate,” exclaimed Max. “Which comes first—a quickened pulse or the act of running?”

“That’s something that you’ll never personally be able to answer, Max. You’ll have to research that one—ask someone who has actually run,” said Vic, glancing at Ben with a smirk on his face.

“I’m allergic to exercise, Vic. Don’t you remember how many times I told you that? Just the thought of it makes me tired,” said Max as he leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes.

“Well, Max, the process that Elizabeth just described happens instantly and automatically. You don’t need to think about it to make it happen,” explained Daniel, positioning the jack under the front bumper. As he raised the front wheels off the floor, he continued.

“Problems arise only when there is interference in the transmission of the electrical impulses. Quite often, this interference occurs along the spine, the key component of the central nerve system. Acting as the on-ramp and off-ramp for the millions of nerve fibers connecting the brain to the body’s tissues and organs, the spine consists of twenty-four moveable bones called vertebrae. But interference can occur anywhere in the body’s bio-energetic systems. The Chinese believe that the circulating life energy, which they refer to as chi, is inherent in all living things. In the Indian culture, the hidden power in humans is called a chakra. You may have heard someone speak about a person’s aura. These are all different ways to refer to the inherent energy flow in the human body. Anything that interferes with chi, or the chakra, or the energy force, will have a detrimental impact on health. Left uncorrected, it will almost certainly lead to a state of disease.”

Daniel moved a safety block into place under the front axle then started to remove the driver side wheel.

“Your body’s structural integrity can have profound effects on how you function. Looking at the spine again, the centers of the vertebrae contain channels that house the spinal cord. Thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves exit between each vertebra, like an intricate, but extremely delicate, freeway system. Occasionally one or more vertebrae may get out of balance, causing an interference with the flow of the nerve impulses. This is called a vertebral subluxation.”

“What did you call that, Daniel?” asked Ben, moving towards the car for a closer look at the front discs.

“It sounded like Latin,” said Max, opening his eyes and stretching his arms.

“I’m surprised you recognized it, Max,” said Vic. “It didn’t seem to make much of an impression on you in high school.”

“I was much better at pig Latin. It was my avourite-fay ubject-say.”

Daniel glanced at Max and shook his head, unable to contain a small smirk. He turned to Vic. “With each visit I’m gaining more and more of an appreciation of what a challenging career you had. You have my deepest respect.”

“Thank you, master,” replied Vic.

“Getting back to the matter at hand,” said Daniel as he examined the disc assembly. “As we explained, any interference with the flow of nerve system energy will cause tissues or organs to malfunction, or to function at less than full capacity. This can lead to an imbalance in the body chemistry which, over time, can lead to disease. Subluxations, just like any other disruption in the body’s bio-energetic systems, are not always associated with apparent symptoms. Like the development of a tooth cavity, only when the imbalance has been there for a long time and there is damage done, do you begin to experience a myriad of symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, digestive disturbances, a weakened immune system and many other problems.”

Daniel stood and turned to face the others. He looked at the disc in his hands. “You wouldn’t know that this was starting to wear until you heard it squeak or felt vibrations when you applied the brakes. By then, the damage is done. That’s why regular check-ups are so crucial. A good mechanic can see trouble spots developing before the symptoms are apparent.”

“I can feel an analogy coming on,” said Max, who by now was sprawled across the couch, looking relaxed and quite at home.

“Your life must have seemed so empty after Max graduated from your high school, Vic,” said Daniel.

“You have no idea,” replied Vic.

“I should perhaps clarify some concepts before I go any further,” said Daniel. “This will give you a better understanding of where we’re coming from.”

He turned and placed the disc on the workbench and then reached for a box in the overhead cupboard. As he searched through its contents, he continued.

“There are many things that have not been proven scientifically with the typical double-blind scenario, which is the standard for clinical trials in evidence-based medicine. But that doesn’t mean that these things are not relevant. If we were to wait for science to answer all of our questions, we would miss out on a lot of things.”

“What about the importance of placebos?” asked Max. “Isn’t blinding important in medical research?”

“That’s a good question, Max,” said Daniel. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that double-blind trials aren’t necessary or don’t produce valid findings. But think of all the scientists that were ridiculed and violently opposed throughout history when they presented new ideas. It really isn’t all that long ago, in the grand scheme of things, that people believed the world was flat. Take micro-organisms and atomic particles. Those have always existed, but it wasn’t until the invention of sophisticated equipment like the electron microscope that we could detect them.”

“So you’re saying that just because we can’t see, or prove, something doesn’t mean that it’s not true or that it doesn’t exist,” said Ben. “Are you also saying, then, that we must simply take some things on faith?”

“Essentially, yes. That is what we’re saying. Some people believe that there are no such things as miracles in life. They attribute inexplicable phenomena to unknown natural forces. But whether you believe in miracles or unknown forces is not really important. The bottom line is that you cannot deny the existence of things or concepts just because they can’t be seen or measured. Elizabeth and I have this unwritten rule when it comes to the human body. If it makes sense and has the potential to provide benefit without causing harm, then it is worth trying. We both have an open spirit and have tried many different health approaches, by our own application and with professionals. We believe that this has allowed us to live long and healthy lives without any medication or surgical interventions.”

Ben had no trouble taking that advice on faith. These people were living testaments to the lifestyle that they promoted. Their openness to new ideas and approaches, even at their age, was remarkable. Ben didn’t know a lot of people as old as the Websters, but those that were the same age, or close to it, were often very set in their ways and less than adventurous when it came to lifestyle changes.

“Maybe we should get back on track,” said Vic. “I think Daniel was talking about symptom-free dysfunction in bodily systems. I’m sure Max is just dying to know how an organ or gland can function at less than full capacity without any pain or discomfort.”

“Yes, Vic, that’s a burning question. Please let the master explain,” said Max.

“OK. As I was saying, or about to say, usually only about ten percent of nerve function is for sensory impulses, and many of the internal organs have very few sensory fibers connected to them. So it’s difficult to tell whether or not they are functioning optimally. Symptoms such as pain will eventually appear. But that often happens only after several years of operating at less than full capacity. By then, it’s difficult, and maybe too late, to correct the problem.”

An embarrassed Ben looked over at Max, fully reclined on the couch, and sound asleep. “I wonder what percentage capacity he’s functioning at right now.”

“Whatever it is,” said Vic, “he appears to be symptom-free.”

Elizabeth smiled. “You know, Ben, his ability to relax isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We try to create an atmosphere here that puts people at ease and helps them relax. I have to admit that I’ve never seen anyone quite that relaxed, but I’m certainly not offended. I take it as a compliment.”

“Don’t try to take too much credit, Elizabeth,” said Vic. “I’ve seen him do that in a classroom, and we didn’t design those rooms to promote relaxation.”

“How you cope with stress is such a significant factor in the development of disease and aging. If someone is able to relax and reduce stress, as Max appears able to do in just about any environment, the results can only be positive in the long run. Take note, Ben. Workaholics tend to be outlived by people like Max. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” said Elizabeth as she glided across the room and through the beaded curtain covering the doorway into the house.

Ben found it unsettling how much the Websters seemed to know about his personality, lifestyle and health. They had never asked any specific questions to elicit this information, yet he felt as though they knew him intimately. He watched Elizabeth disappear into the corridor attaching the house and the garage, and then turned to Daniel.

“What causes these imbalances or blockages in the body’s bio-energetic systems like the sublaxations you mentioned earlier, Daniel?”

“They’re called ‘sub-lux-ations’, Ben,” explained Daniel. He placed the disk on the floor in front of him and reached for his glass of chlorophyll water. “They’re so terribly important, and yet almost no one aside from chiropractors has ever heard the term. It is one example of interference or blockage in the energy system of the body. Acupuncturists will talk about blockages of chi in the meridians, while others will refer to a lack of flow in your energy vortexes, called chakras, or a disruption in your aura. There are a variety of causes, and these disruptions can occur at any time throughout our lives. The earliest occurrence is right at the moment of birth. Even a so-called ‘normal’ birth can be traumatic. The head is twisted, traction is applied to the neck during the exit from the birth canal—these things are very traumatic, Ben. A newborn infant can experience vertebral subluxations, for example, in the cervical spine from its very earliest moments of life. This causes interference with the flow of energy, even though the symptoms may not appear for several years.”

“And that’s not all,” said Elizabeth, who had quietly returned to the garage and picked up the conversation where Daniel left off. “Consider the frenzied, stressful pace of life that most people lead these days. There are endless demands on their time, patience, and abilities. This constant state of physical, mental, and emotional stress takes its toll on the body. High stress results in over-stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. As Daniel mentioned earlier, this can affect things like blood pressure, pulse and digestion. This can begin a negative spiral effect on the body. As neuromuscular tension develops throughout the body, high levels of the stress hormone cortisol pulse through the blood and tissues. This alone has many negative effects. With all of this going in the body, the immune system may not function as well as it otherwise would and you may not have enough energy to do all your regular activities as your nutrient and energy stores become depleted.”

Daniel emerged from the front driver side wheel well to finish the explanation. “After many centuries of research it has become very clear that the structural integrity of the body, and specifically the pelvis-spine-cranium complex, plays a crucial role in maintaining muscular balance throughout the body, enabling it to communicate with itself, balancing tissues, muscles and organs, and opening the channels to wellness and healing.”

As Daniel moved to the other end of the vehicle and descended into the rear wheel well to inspect the brake assembly, Ben slid Max’s feet off the couch to the floor and sat down next to him. He had learned a lot from the Websters in just a couple of visits. Thinking it over, he realized that there seemed to be one underlying theme to their message so far: interference with the free flow of energy throughout the body appears to be at the root of almost every ailment, illness or disease that strikes humans. Remove that interference and experience good health and a long life. He looked forward to learning more from the Websters about how this could be achieved.

“Energy blockages are called silent killers, right, Daniel?” asked Vic. His gaze was fixed on a prism hanging in front of the window next to the workbench. A dissected shaft of sunlight scattered coloured beams throughout the room.

“Exactly,” replied Daniel, reaching for a wrench on the workbench. “And many times with these energy blockages there are no associated symptoms for months, even years, but they are interfering nonetheless. The idea of keeping the energy system free from interference in order to achieve optimal health was recognized by many cultures many centuries ago and led to the establishment of various disciplines such as acupuncture and Ayurveda. The chiropractic profession started over a hundred years ago and has grown tremendously in popularity. Millions of people now visit chiropractors around the world every day.”

Ben looked at Max as he began to snore. He nudged his friend, who resumed his normal breathing pattern. “I’ve never been to a chiropractor, an acupuncturist or a massage therapist, Daniel. I do know people who have gone to these types of professionals to get treated for a variety of conditions, but I don’t know how effective they were. I guess I’ve never had a reason to see these practitioners yet.”

“Ben, do you remember our discussion when we first met? I mentioned the difference between preventive maintenance and damage control.” He walked over to the workbench and opened the overhead cupboard.

“When you visit your doctor, as you did a couple of weeks ago, that was for damage control. You have problems with noticeable symptoms. Your doctor will help you to relieve those symptoms, usually with prescription drugs. That’s controlling the damage, but it doesn’t address the problem that’s causing those symptoms. After visiting many different practitioners over the years, just like what you’ll find at many of the wellness clinics today, we discovered that stimulating your body in a certain way alerts its innate intelligence. Remember in our first session we said that the body, with its innate intelligence, is a self-healing, self-regulating organism that always strives to maintain balance and equilibrium. Well, that is exactly the role of these practitioners, essentially providing the body with a window of opportunity to comprehensively reorganize itself through the natural activation of various neural reflexes and important regulatory systems. The end result is to restore your body’s structural integrity, and decode and reset your nervous system, which results in a deep level of relaxation, well being, and rejuvenation. The key here is to get ongoing care for preventive maintenance. It’s true that they can also treat people with traumatic injuries, and a variety of health problems, but that’s only a small part of their role.”

“So are you saying that I should probably visit one of these wellness centres for a check-up, even if I’m not sick?” asked Ben.

“Well, let me ask you this,” said Daniel as he prepared to replace the worn disc with a new one. “How do you know when to get an oil change—when your engine seizes?”

“I get it changed every five thousand kilometres,” answered Ben.

“Well, why would you wait until you develop a health problem with symptoms before taking corrective action? Why not go for check-ups and treatments regularly? These practitioners are well qualified to detect and help correct any problems in the bio-energetic systems. It’s good for people of all ages, from newborns to centenarians. In fact, you have a greater chance of reaching 100 years of age if you keep your energy channels free of blockages. Since we have noticed the most positive changes when the structural balance of our pelvis and spine is maintained, I would suggest you start there, if you do decide to visit a wellness centre.”

“Do you get regular check-ups, Daniel?” Ben asked, realizing too late that the answer was obvious.

“Elizabeth and I have been getting regular treatments with non-traditional health practitioners for half a century now. For example, we get ongoing chiropractic adjustments twice a month and massages once a month. We’ve had help from acupuncturists, naturopaths and mental health coaches, to name just a few. Neither of us has ever been really sick. We lead a healthy lifestyle, which we are going to share with you over the next several months. But a key component of our lifestyle is getting help from practitioners who understand that good health is an ongoing process, an integration of the body-mind-emotional-spiritual complex as a whole, and that illnesses are symptoms of imbalance somewhere in the body.”

Max stirred on the couch, rolled over, and opened his eyes. He saw Vic staring at him.

“You slept through another class, Farley. Just like the good old days.”

Max sat up. “You have that effect on me, teach.”

Daniel finished replacing the wheel, lowered the jack, and then wiped his hands with a clean rag. He reached into his pocket, retrieved the key, and walked over to the wooden chest. He closed the lid, locked it, and returned the key to his pocket.

“Before you leave,” he said, turning around, “please join us for lunch in the backyard by the pond. Elizabeth has prepared nourishment for us.”

Daniel led them through the adjoining corridor and into the backyard. A table had been set under the pine tree where Ben and Max had first met Daniel. The food on the table was abundant and very colourful: green, red, orange, and yellow. Ben and Max had no idea what some of the dishes were.

“This looks fabulous, Elizabeth,” said Ben. “Can you please explain what you’ve created here? This is not how we’re used to eating.”

“You won’t find this kind of food in the vending machines, Max,” said Vic.

“I’d be happy to,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “You’re about to be introduced to a new way of eating. I made pumpkin soup, Caesar salad sprinkled with hempseeds and topped with my own special dressing, and a sprouted lentil salad. On the side table are pitchers of spring water and cranberry juice, and a pot of herbal tea.”

“These are not dishes that you would see on most lunch tables and I have a feeling this is a very important reason for your good health,” said Ben. “We really appreciate all the knowledge and nourishment you give to us so freely. Not to mention all the mechanical repair work,” he added, turning to Daniel.

“We believe in the integrated approach to life, Ben,” explained Daniel as he passed the plate to Max. “You have to nourish everything: body, mind, emotions and soul. Feed only one and ignore the others, and you won’t get good results. Just like your car. If I was to replace only one of the ball joints and not the other, you would still have problems.”

“Ball joints?” asked Ben, reaching for the pitcher of iced lemongrass tea.

“That’s right. I thought the brakes were the cause of the shimmy, and they were. But that’s not all. You’ve also got worn ball joints that should be replaced before any more damage is done. You are coming back next week, aren’t you? Same time, same place?”

He turned to Max. “You’re both welcome, at any time.”

“We’ll try not to keep you awake, Max,” said Vic. “We want to make sure you get rid of all that stress.”

Max looked puzzled. He turned to Vic, and then looked over at Ben. “Huh?”

“You had to be there, Max,” explained Ben. “And you weren’t.”