Comfort, Care and Confidence for Women with Dr. Liza Egbogah by Startup Women Podcast

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Dr.Liza Egbogah is a fascia and posture expert and Founder of The Fix, Toronto’s boutique clinic. Dr. Liza has a Doctor of Chiropractic, graduating with Summa Cum Laude and clinic honors from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College with a diploma in manual osteopathic practice and also holds a Pharmacology degree with distinction from the University of Alberta. She is a manual therapy expert, myofascial release provider, media contributor, certified personal trainer, and a member of Harvard’s postgraduate association. She is a highly trained and respected expert in her field. 

Dr.Liza is a Black Canadian leader and was named one of the most influential people of African descent in business and entrepreneurship for 2019 and one of 150 Extraordinary Canadians by the Transformation institute in 2018.

Along with her extensive experience consulting with senior executives, celebrities, professional athletes and political leaders on health matters, injury treatment + prevention and stress reduction strategies, she also is the founder and designer of her own chiropractor-approved shoe line, dr. Liza shoes, and ergonomic bag collection, Dr. Liza bags. 

“You have to spend the time to become an expert in your field. Your expertise needs to be felt in your product, and nobody can question it because it is solid”

On this week’s Startup Women Podcast, sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada and Scotiabank, Dr.Liza shares the importance of being an expert in your field, hurdles in entrepreneurship as a Black woman, and trailblazing through the health, wellness and fashion industry. 

TIFF Red Carpet Fix

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Since 2015 - the[fix] has been holding a pop-up during the Toronto International Film Festival to help get the stars ready for the red carpet. With the current pandemic preventing an active pop-up we decided to offer you the star experience at the[fix] with our red carpet fix package that includes a 45 minute face fix, 15 minute foot fix and a swag bag. We are are even rolling out the red carpet for the occasion from Sep 9th - 18th.

The Face Fix, is a non-surgical transformative treatment that will leave you glowing, tension free and ready to glide down the red carpet. Using facial tools, myofascial release and massage techniques, this procedure helps to reduce a furrowed brow, release face tension, alleviate headaches and visibly reverse the signs of stress and ageing, all of which have only been exacerbated by the uncertainty of the last 18 months. 

Pandemic-induced stress has led to more things like facial and jaw tension, headaches and even aches from having to speak louder because of wearing a mask. And your feet could probably use some help too as you’re getting back into shoes. So not only will this face + foot fix combo have you red carpet ready - it will leave you feeling great too.

At our annual TIFF pop-up celebs leave with a covetable swag bag - and you will too!

Fascinating Fascia | Myofascial Release, Trauma and Chronic pain

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Approximately a year after starting my own clinical practice in 2008 – I had a patient who changed the way I looked at chronic pain and facia forever.

 

She was in her early 40s and spoke very softly and timidly. Her shoulders were curled forward and she resisted making eye contact. She had come to see me for chronic lower back pain after trying physiotherapy, acupuncture and massage therapy for years with no relief. She attributed her lower back pain to her job in administration where she spent most of the day sitting at a computer.

 

Whenever someone comes in with low back pain the first area I check is the psoas muscle and its related fascia. While the psoas is primarily involved in flexion of the hip - it also attaches directly to the lumbar spine (lower back).  As I began to work on the fascia around the psoas she burst into tears and became distressed.  I immediately stopped the treatment and asked her what she was feeling. She said that as I was releasing her psoas - she had flashbacks to being sexually abused as a child. She hadn’t mentioned it when I asked about trauma earlier on in the visit and said that she never talks about it and was surprised at how overcome she was during the treatment. We discussed what happened and I recommended that in addition to the myofascial release treatment she also see a therapist to discuss what was being released as we worked through the fascia and psoas muscle.

 

 

Prior to this patient – I had never learned about the connection between fascia and trauma despite countless myofascial release and osteopathy courses, a degree in pharmacology and a doctorate in chiropractic. It was at that point that I became fascinated with fascia and its link to trauma.

 

And over the years I found that every patient who came in with chronic pain had some form of trauma. And the trauma varied - car accidents, disconnected caregivers, abusive relationships, assault, wars, bullying, toxic workplaces, death of a loved ones, divorces and more

 

 

And often as we worked through the fascia and talked about the emotions and memories being released into the conscious mind – slowly but surely patients got better. When we experience trauma - our mind can only deal with some of it in the moment and these rest gets stored. Some in the subconscious mind and as we know some now – also in the fascia. This can lead to digestive issues, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune issues and chronic pain.

 

When we store trauma in our body its primarily in our fascia and this ‘holding’ of tension not only leads to pain but also prevents healing. Imagine walking around in a suit of armour – the weight of it – the effort it takes to move through the world. Perhaps by releasing some of the trauma and tension from the fascia we can help to remove the armour. I find that in practice the fascial work I do helps to at least loosen the armour up so that my patients are more open to facilitate their own healing. Sometimes you need someone to at least unscrew the armour so that you can then take it off yourself and that is the basis of myofascial release for chronic pain.

 

For example – I’ve had patients who have tried yoga before to help with their chronic pain but quit early on because they couldn’t get into many postures or find their flow. However after a couple of myofascial release visits they were able to get into a new yoga routine and stick with it – finding their balance and peace in the postures.

 

If you have experienced trauma – and this can be anything from micro-aggressions, a disconnected upbringing to an accident that lead to injury – you will benefit from myofascial release.

 

Additionally - an area that is often overlooked is the fascia in our face and how the emotions expressed at the time of trauma may be stored in the fascia. This is likely the reason why stress and trauma seem to accelerate aging – especially in our faces. This is why patients will often comment that they feel like they are floating or that their entire bodies feel amazing after my face fix treatment.  By releasing the fascia in the face as well as the rest of the body – significant gains can be made in both physical and mental wellbeing.

Breakfast Television | Face exercises to relieve tension and reverse the signs of advanced aging

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Great exercises to relieve tension in your face and reverse some of the signs of accelerated aging caused by wearing face masks.


1. Lion Pose

Sit and place your hands on your thighs. Drop your jaw and open your mouth wide. Stick your tongue out downwards, towards the chin, forcefully. While breathing through the mouth, make a sound from down your throat that replicates the roar of a lion. Repeat the exercise a couple of times.

Benefits: Lion pose stimulates and tones all of your facial muscles. It is one of the most comprehensive poses for the face when it comes to toning.

2. Chin Tuck

 In a seated position, place your hands on your knees, lift your shoulders up and bend your head forward. Breathe deeply. Press your chin firmly against your chest and in between your collar bones. Hold your breath as long as possible. Release and repeat.

Benefits: The chin tuck shapes your face and tones your facial and jaw line muscles. It is said to be helpful for people with double chins as the exercise compresses the area.

 

3. Fish Face

Suck your cheeks and lips inwards and try to replicate a fish face. Holding that face, attempt to smile. You will feel a burn in your cheeks and jaw. Relax and repeat the exercise.

 Benefits: Fish face tones and stretches your cheek muscles. It makes your cheeks look more lifted and can help diminish the appearance of laugh lines.

 

4. Air Gargle 

Fill your mouth with air.  Close your mouth so that your lips are tight together and transfer the air in your mouth from one cheek to the other similar to gargling your mouth with mouthwash. Continue the procedure for a few minutes, relax and repeat a couple of times.

Benefits: The air gargle technique tones your cheeks and helps to create a youthful fullness in the cheeks. It is also helpful in combatting double chins.

 

5. Chin Lift

Sit or stand comfortably. Now, tilt your head upwards towards the ceiling with your eyes following at the same. Tighten your lips and protrude them forward as if trying to kiss the ceiling. Hold on to that for a couple of seconds and release. Repeat the same a few times.

Benefits: The chin lift will also tighten up a double chin and stretches your jaw, throat, and neck. This can also help give you a more defined jaw line.

 

6. Lip Pull

 Sit or stand comfortably, keeping your head facing forward and straight. Lift your lower lip as much as you can by pushing your lower jaw out. You must feel a stretch in your chin muscles and jaw line while doing so. Remain in that posture for a few seconds, relax and repeat.

 Benefits: The lip pull tones your facial muscles and gives you the appearance of higher cheekbones and a defined jawline, creating a great natural lift for a sagging jaw line.

 

7. Jaw Release

Seated.  Move your jaw as if you are eating with your mouth closed. Breathe well while doing this. After that, open your mouth as wide as possible with your tongue placed on your lower teeth. Hold it for a few seconds and repeat it a couple of times.

Benefits: The jaw release stretches the muscles around your lips, jaws and cheeks. With the release of tension in those areas you will find that your face looks more youthful, rested and relaxed. Don’t be surprised if people ask if you have just returned from vacation after doing this pose.

 

8. Temple grab

 Place your thumbs at your temples while your fingers the top of the head. Slowly bring your thumbs up towards your fingers as if you are grabbing your temples. You should feel like the skin surrounding your eye is pulled back. Hold this for 20-30 seconds. 

Benefits: This fascial stretch is great for releasing tension around the eyes and improving the appearance of crows feet.

 

9. Ear lift 

 Clasp the top rim of your ears between your fingers and them and lift slightly upwards. Use small rotational movements to massage the area. Pull each ear out gently, massaging in circular motions as you do so. 

Benefits: The ear lift stimulates blood flow to the facial muscles and skin. This move is also extremely relaxing and as you are massaging your ears you should feel tension being released from your entire body.

Learn about my signature natural face lift treatment here

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Easy exercises to alleviate and prevent foot pain

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Dr. Liza Egbogah joined Breakfast Television to share 5 exercises that help with foot pain. Tight hips and weak glutes can lead to over-pronation which can in turn cause foot pain. These exercises help to open your hips, strengthen your feet and stretch tight areas that contribute to foot pain. They also help improve balance which is key in preventing foot injury.

It also helps to wear supportive shoes indoors especially if you are used to wearing orthotics or suffer from over-pronation. I actually designed slippers to help with my own overpronation that caused foot and knee pain while I was at home barefoot at the start of the pandemic.

If you would like to support our charitable initiative mentioned in the video - you can purchase the t-shirt here

The Social | Make your own essential oil blends

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Make your own essential oil blends that can help you relax, energize you, ease aches and pains and even make you happier. One of these blends is our signature aromatherapy blend at the[fix]. Enjoy!

MINI GIFT GUIDE

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With the holidays just around the corner here are 3 items that will make the ultimate gift.

the[fix] relax balm $30 | give the gift of relaxation and bring the[fix] home.

Arch support socks $35 | these unisex socks are not only stylish - they are supportive and also provide some beneficial compression.

dr. Liza slipper $150 | shearling lined, orthotic insole and 3cm of shock absorbing EVA make this the perfect gift to give or get.

The November Issue of FASHION Magazine

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Dr. Liza Egbogah - FASHION
DR. LIZA EGBOGAH - FASHION

As a kid I was a mathlete [competed in math 🤓], member of the environmental club, aspiring doctor and all around super nerd - the dream of every Nigerian parent. But when my homework was done and I had completed extra credit assignments  to my hearts content I would spend hours flipping through fashion magazines. I was in awe of the fashion and those who graced the pages. I always thought my parents were the most stylish people I’ve seen yet as I looked through those magazines I saw no one like them. So I accepted that fashionable Nigerian academics had no place in fashion magazines. Yet I’ve always been a dreamer and thought how amazing it would be to one day be in a fashion magazine rocking my hand made batik and scrunchies. While being a doctor seemed easily attainable -  my magazine goals seemed nothing short of a pipe dream.

Fast forward decades later and here I am in all my Nigerian glory in a fashion magazine minus the scrunchies. I know my dad would immediately get this spread framed in an over the top heavy gold frame - so that’s exactly what I’m going to do ❤️

If you are a subscriber or picked up a copy - simply snap a photo of you [doesn't have to be your face] and the feature. Post on social media and tag @drLizashoes or email the photo to hi@drLizashoes.com with the subject line 'FASHION' and you’ll receive a code to get 60% off your order at drLizashoes.com

Dangerous Bags: Could your purse be harmful to your heath?

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Body and Posture Expert Dr. Liza Egbogah joins CTV Morning Live with details on how your large bag could be contributing to a range of health problems. The wrong bag can lead to neck, shoulder and back pain. What type of bag you carry is just as important if not more important than how heavy your bag is. What the video above.

The wrong bag can be a big pain - literally!

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My postural assessment starts as soon as I come out to the waiting room. And most of the time I observe patients carrying bags that are likely part of the reason they are in to see me. An ergonomic bag is so important - and even better when it’s actually stylish. Watch to learn what can happen if you’re carrying the wrong bag, tips to picking out the right bag and some easy exercises you can do to alleviate bag induced neck, shoulder and upper back pain.

Exercises and an abdominal massage to help ease constipation and bloating

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With more time spent sitting and working from home - you may have noticed that your have been feeling a little bit constipated and/or bloated. This can be due to a change in routine, diet, stress and surprisingly the compression of your abdominal area from too much time sitting.

And not only can constipation and bloating feel uncomfortable, it can contribute to back pain and affect the appearance of your skin.

I shared some easy exercises and an abdominal massage routine that you can do to help. Click to watch!

Please note that this was filmed with Skype and so the movements are a mirror image. The video is captioned for your convenience.