In this episode of The Health Commute, we explain how your spine and posture directly affect your breathing — and how your breathing controls your stress levels. Many people try deep breathing or relaxation techniques without much success, often because their spine and rib cage don't move well enough to support proper breathing.

When the mid-back is stiff or posture collapses, breathing becomes shallow and keeps the nervous system in "fight-or-flight" mode. Improving spinal mobility allows the ribs and diaphragm to move properly, making calm, deep breathing feel effortless. Simple tools like posture exercises, breathing techniques, and regular chiropractic care can help restore better breathing and lower stress.

Big takeaway: Better alignment leads to better breathing — and better breathing leads to lower stress.

In this episode of The Health Commute, we explain why TMJ dysfunction—jaw pain, clicking, popping, clenching, headaches, and ear pressure—is almost never just a jaw problem. Most TMJ issues actually originate in the neck, posture, and the muscles that support the jaw.

You'll learn how forward head posture, long hours at a desk, stress, clenching, and tight neck muscles all change the way the jaw moves. When the head shifts forward, the muscles under the jaw tighten and pull the jaw backward into the joint, increasing pressure and irritation. Misalignment in the upper neck affects the nerves and muscles that control jaw movement, which explains why so many people with TMJ problems also struggle with neck tension and headaches.

We walk through how chiropractic care helps restore normal neck movement, reduce muscle tension, improve posture, and take pressure off the jaw so it can move smoothly again. Listeners will hear why adjustments, simple postural corrections, and targeted exercises can make a significant difference in jaw pain and overall function.

A must-listen for anyone dealing with TMJ pain, clenching, headaches, or tension related to stress and posture.

Hitting a weight loss plateau in your 40s or 50s — even when you're eating well and exercising — can be incredibly frustrating. In this episode, we break down what's really happening during perimenopause and why your usual strategies may stop working.

You'll learn how fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels affect metabolism, muscle mass, and fat storage — and why sleep, stress, and overtraining can make progress even harder. We explain what actually works during this stage: prioritizing protein, strength training to maintain muscle and bone, managing cortisol, and supporting your nervous system through chiropractic care.

If you've been feeling stuck, this episode will help you understand your changing physiology — and show you how to adapt, rebuild, and move forward feeling stronger and more balanced.