Showing posts with label Pronex Cervical Traction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pronex Cervical Traction. Show all posts

9/09/2008

Home Neck Traction: The secret to ending your neck pain fast and effectively

There are so many treatments for neck pain: medication, chiropractic, physical therapy, and traction. When people think of traction, they think of an awkward over the door contraption that looks very painful. Well, not so at all- because today we are going to go over how to do comfortable neck traction at home. There are many traction units available online today- At our office we utilize the Pronex Pneumatic Cervical traction unit and have had the best results for neck pain relief. Here are the simple steps

  1. Your Pronex Traction unit will come with a: Carrying Bag, Pronex Pneumatic Traction Device, A head strap and a gray wedge for adding flexion during traction***Take out the pronex from its bag. Remove the headstrap from the traction device. Make sure you have removed your earings and necklaces before starting. If you have long hair pull it back.
  2. Lie on a flat surface, a carpeted area is nice. If you want more cushion, put a yoga matt under you. Bring your knees up with feet flat on the floor. This is the ideal position for neck traction because it keeps pressure off of your lower back.
  3. Notice the position of Mary's head and neck- Pull the sides of the pronex traction unit out gently so that your neck and head are in a comfortable position. Apply the forehead strap to your forehead- tightening it comfortable on the other side with the velcro strapPut one hand behind your neck and roll back onto the pronex. Pull the sides of the pronex out gently so that your neck and head are in a comfortable position.
  4. Apply the forehead strap to your forehead- tightening comfortable on the other side with the velcro strap
  5. The pronex traction device uses a simple pneumatic bulb to inflate the bellows. Turn the valve clockwise to increase traction (this closes the airway) and turn counter clockwise to decrease traction (this releases the airway). Make sure you close the chrome valve on the bulb before starting traction- so turn the valve clockwise.
  6. Before beginning traction by closing the airway by turning the valve clockwise-
  7. Begin inflating the unit until you feel a gentle stretch in your cervical spine. This cervical stretch will relax the cervical paraspinals muscles and suboccipitals
  8. Close your eyes while doing traction so that you can be completely relaxed
  9. The pronex traction unit allows for relaxation of the cervical paraspinals muscles and suboccipitals
    After relaxing, Continue inflating the pronex so that you can increase the traction. Stay in this position until you feel relaxed. *Relaxation during traction is very important for a successful treatment.
  10. Continue with traction for about 10 minutes
  11. After finished turn the chrome valve counter clockwise to release the airway. Remove the velcro headstrap slowly.
  12. Using one hand to support the head and neck, roll out of the unit on one side, gently sit up slowly
  13. ***Use the gray wedge if neccessary to put some flexion into your neck while doing traction. This is for angle therapy- place the gray wedge under the head peice only.

      Indications for neck traction:
      • Head, Neck and shoulder Pain
      • Herniated disc and bulging disc in the neck
      • degeneration of the cervical discs in the neck
      • Post cervical fusion surgery
      • Migraine headaches



    So as you can see, neck traction at home can be simple, pain free not time consuming, and most importantly giving you pain relief! Simply spending 10-15 minutes a day, can ease the pain in your neck. As with all medical products consult with your Dr about your specific traction protocol.

    Click here For more information about the Home Pronex Cervical Unit
    Purchase the Pronex Online **** Use discount coupon arc100 for 10% off of your purchase !
    Visit us on the Web at Arc4life.com

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    7/13/2008

    End Your Neck Pain and Improve your Health with True Neck Traction

    First, to completely understand neck tractioning you must be aware that there are two types of neck traction. One that simply stretches your neck out and two, one that stretches your neck but also helps restore the proper neck curvature at the same time. The latter is what I call "true" neck traction.

    It is the second type, true neck traction, we will want to focus on and use. Why you may ask? Simply stretching the neck can be helpful because you relieve nerve pressure temporarily. However, when stretching is completed gravity takes over - and neck and nerve pressure returns and often times your pain returns.

    Neck traction that works to restore the natural curve of the spine ( your body's optimal alignment ) keeps pressure off the nerves continually allowing one to be pain free and function 100%.

    You see, health is defined as 100% function of your nervous system. It is this system-your brain, spinal cord and all the nerves that gives us the ability to work, eat, sleep, play; everything ! When we put unwanted pressure or stress on any of the nerves it will inhibit our ability to function and therefore our health.

    Pain or some other symptom like headaches, tingling in the arms or hands, muscle weakness or soreness are simply warning signs saying that something is wrong.

    Studies have shown we should have 40-60 degrees neck spine curvature for our spinal cord and neck nerves to function best. By just stretching our neck vertically we may take some pressure off some nerves but we aren't going to help re align the neck to that optimum curve or alignment.

    By doing neck traction where we add in the elements of putting the curvature in the neck while stretching it we can restore neck alignment therefore improving our overall health and keeping us pain free.

    Arc4life's Pronex Cervical Traction unit for neck pain relief
    True neck traction can be acheived with traction units such as the Posture Pump 1000 or the Pronex Pneumatic Cervical Traction Unit.


    Visit us on the web at Arc4life.com

    7/08/2008

    True Neck Traction - The Right Kind Of Neck Traction For Long Term Pain Relief

    Many people get traction at a therapist’s office or do home traction. One kind of traction is where the neck basically only gets stretched. The other is where you get stretched but also it helps restore the neck curvature.

    In the neck there should be a 40-60 degree C curvature. This is the best position for the neck spine because it leaves the spinal cord relaxed and all of the nerves can travel out of the back of the spine with no pressure or interference.

    True neck traction is traction where the goal is to restore the cervical curvature because this can be a long term fix for nerve pressure and neck problems like pain and muscle tension.

    Traction where the head is simply stretched is a short term fix. Often the most common type is “overhead traction” or “over the door traction”.Over the Door Neck Traction This is where some sort of harness is strapped onto your neck or head and there is a weight on the other end of the harness (usually over a door) creating the pull. Sometimes it’s done with small weights, or a water bag. This is similar to having someone gently pull upward on your head. It gives temporary relief.

    By using true neck traction you can get relief that will last much longer. It has been said that any loss of the normal neck curvature is classified as a misalignment or subluxation of the spine. Any misalignment or subluxation puts pressure on nerves. Even a tiny misalignment can take away that nerve or those nerves’ ability to send the brains message to that particular part of the body.

    This is why neck traction is often used by only people in pain and discomfort a lot of the time, but also used by people who show no symptoms of neck pain or soreness and the like.

    A simple lateral x-ray of someone’s neck can show us what their neck curvature looks like.lateral neck x-ray
    Otherwise looking at one’s posture from the side can tell us a lot. The middle of the ear should approximately line up with the middle of the shoulder. A vertical line should be able to be drawn between these two points.

    If it doesn’t line up then it’s another case of the dreaded “forward head posture”. If that head is protruded out forward there is a great chance there’s loss of some of the adequate neck curvature and alignment.

    Neck Pain and Sitting at the computer
    One day of working on the computer or reading with your head down most likely won’t change your neck curvature but prolonged poor posture or a whiplash type injury can.

    Take the football quarterback example. The quarterback gets sacked, hit from behind as he was about to throw. His back arches back, his neck arches back, as he is hit at the torso level. Then his body is flung forward as the momentum and force of the tackler moves in that direction. His neck whips back, forward, and then back again as he hits the ground (“whiplash”). So the quarterback’s spine was completely contorted, but he gets up, brushes himself of, and his spine shifts back into place.

    The body is pretty amazing! A lot of the time it will shift right back into alignment. Sometimes, however, the spine doesn’t go back into place and we now have a misalignment. This can be of solely one vertebra (back bone) or most often, a group of the segments or vertebrae of the spine.

    With loss of the neck curve (cervical lordosis) it’s often a group of segments that are misaligned. Again, this can happen through some kind of trauma, like taking a hard tackle to getting rear ended in your car. And it doesn’t always take much force at all actually. The loss of neck curvature can also be due to poor postural habits over time. Things like working on a computer multiple hours a day without a break; or continuous reading with your head down; or long drives that are stressful, to give a few examples.

    This is why neck traction is so often used now. It’s the best way to restore the neck alignment to what it should be.Pronex Cervical Traction Unit Correcting the curvature takes pressure of the nerves, reduces the inflammation, and relaxes the muscles. Neck traction not only helps people that have had trauma to the neck and clearly have sever neck pain, but it also helps prevent unwanted neck problems from arising.

    Dr Matt Bellinger is a Chiropractor in Connecticut. He has written many articles on how to easily and naturaly relieve pain, and has helped hundred of patients in his clinic end their neck and back pain. He recommends specific pain relief and posture improving products at http://www.arc4life.com. Read more articles related to neck pain and cervical neck traction here. He recommends the Pronex Cervical Traction Unit for his patients home traction use. This neck traction device creates an even distraction in the anterior and posterior cervical discs while supporting the cervical curve. It is a lightweight, simple to use, pneumatic device that has revoultionized the at-home cervical traction unit.

    Source: Ezine Articles: http://ezinearticles.com/?True-Neck-Traction---The-Right-Kind-Of-Neck-Traction-For-Long-Term-Pain-Relief&id=758533

    2/19/2008

    Choosing the right neck pillow based on your symptoms

    Choosing the right neck pillow can be difficult because there are so many choices online, in the stores, and at your Doctors office. Which one is right for you? I would like to share a few emails that we have received in the past month about this very topic of choosing the right neck pillow:

    Email #1

    I was all set to order one of your pillows but now I am a little confused. I really do not have a medical problem. Please recommend one of your pillows for me. I wake up several times during the night uncomfortable with neck and shoulder pain. In the past I owned a contour memory foam pillow which I did not like. That pillow made my jaw ache. I am 5'3" tall, weigh 150lbs. Please recommend the right pillow for me. -Osi

    Answer: I would recommend the cervical traction neck pillow for Osi. Because she has tried a countour memory foam pillow in the past, the cervical traction neck pillow will be a good firmness but not as hard as the foam. cervical traction neck pillow
    This particular pillow is made of 100% polyester fiber and does not change based on temperature changes. She can sleep on her side or on her back. It would be advantageous to her to sleep on her back because then she can avoid contact with her jaw. Sleeping on her back can be also made more comfortable by putting pillows or a knee elevator under her knees, instantly taking the pressure off of her lower back.

    Email #2

    Hi there! I have a question - I was recently told I have a straight neck due to the loss of curvature. I'm trying the 'Therapeutica' one from my Dr.'s office but it isn't too comfortable for me, when on my side. That pillow comes in different sizes. Since proper height of the pillow is important, can you tell me how your pillow works if one size is for all? I've been trying for a very long time to find a pillow that is comfortable. Thank you.- Michelle

    Answer: In this case I would recommend the Cervical Traction Neck Pillow for Michelle. The reason is that she needs traction in her neck while she sleeps to put the proper cervical curve back in her neck. If Michelle is a petite-framed person that is of height less than 5.0 ft, I would recommend for her the linear gravity neck pillow Small. linear gravity neck pillow comes in 3 sizes This is an excellent support neck pillow- although it is not going to give as much traction in the neck like the cervical traction pillow, it will still give her good support under her neck in the c shape form, and the pillow will be proportionally sized for her. The Small Linear Gravity Neck Pillow is 20 inches x 13 inches in dimension. *** Incidentally, we have received many questions about the one size fits all for the cervical traction neck pillow. We have spoken to our manufacturing department and because of the design of the neck pillow, it cannot be made any smaller than what it is right now.

    Email #3

    I have had cervical disc replacement surgery. I have been looking at your net traction pillow. I also have had lower back surgery and have been looking at your lumbar chair pillows. If I were to order either of these and they do not work, can they be returned? Thank you for your interest, and your response.- Marble

    Answer: Yes, we have a 30 day return policy. Just contact us within 30 days and you can return any item. There is a 15% restocking fee and shipping is non refundable. Just email us at info@arc4life.com and let us know that you are returning the pillow back.

    Email #4

    I am interested in the Cervical Traction Neck Pillow. I'm trying to establish if it will be the right pillow for me. I have had neck and shoulder pain forever. I currently use a feather pillow and was told by my chiropractor to replace it. I am bascially a side sleeper and wonder if this pillow will help me and how hard it will be to adjust to using it. -Juhysleeping on your side with the cervical traction neck pillow
    Answer::
    Yes, you can sleep on your side and on your back with the cervical traction neck pillow.


    Email #5

    What would be the best sleeping pillow for somone with a problem in the 5th and 6th vertabrae that has been instructed to "get the curve" back into their neck? -Jatinder
    Answer: The Cervical Traction Neck Pillow will be a good choice for a pillow because is designed to give you traction in your neck while you sleep. Traction, over time has been found to improve the cervical curvature in the neck. It would also be a good idea to use the traction device during the day- that will dramatically improve the cervical curvature of your spine. Check out the Pronex Pneumatic Cervical Traction Unit.

    If you have a specific question about choosing the right neck pillow, contact us at Arc4life: Email us at Info@arc4life.com

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    12/09/2007

    The new wave in Cervical traction units

    The Pronex cervical traction unit is a neck traction unit specialized for neck pain treatment.Arc4life carries many neck traction units but the Pronex is considered the cadillac of traction units. The Pronex cervical traction unit requires no assembly, no weights, no cables, no water bags, no springs or levers and is restraint free. Pronex cervical traction unit is the only traction unit that creates an even distraction in the anterior and posterior cervical discs while supporting the cervical curve.
    pronex cervical traction unit
    Cost of Pronex Pneumatic Cervical Traction Unit: $520.00 ON Sale: $498.00
    Shipping: UPS Ground $21.99 (ships within 24 days) UPS Next Day $60.00
    Sizes available: Regular (14" to 16" neck), Large (17" to 18" neck), Wide (19" to 21" neck)
    Shipping Weight: 5.0 lbs
    Includes a : Carrying Case
    Indications: Hypomobility (not being able to move your spine in its full range of motion), Joint Changes, Degenerative Changes (arthritis), Joint Pain/ Symptomatic Facet Joint,Muscle Spasm and Guarding, Discogenic Pain, Postcompression Fracture, Nerve impingement (Subacute-Chronic Phase), Herniated disc, Ligament Encroachment, Osteophyte Encroachment, Spinal Nerve Root Swelling , Narrowing Foramen, Spondylolisthesis, Spondylolysis
    To order the Pronex Pneumatic Cervical Traction Unit: Click Here

    8/30/2007

    A Deeper Look at Cervical Neck Traction Systems

    What is the Difference between the Pronex Cervical traction Unit and the Posture Pump 1000?


    Pronex Cervical Traction Unit
    Summary
    The Pronex Pneumatic Cervical Traction unit is special because it cradles the reclining patient's head and neck on two soft foam cushions. One cushion supports the occiput (base of the head) and the other rests against the upper trapezius (upper shoulder area). An air-inflated bellows between them and provides more than 20 lbs of continuously adjustable traction. As the bellows expands, it lifts the head upward supporting the cervical curve and maintaining an even distraction (stretch) in the anterior (front) and posterior (back) cervical discs. Patients have total control over the amount of traction applied. Squeezing an inflator bulb increases the pressure, a release knob gently reduces it. There's no strain on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

    Type of traction:
    The Pronex Pneumatic Cervical tractin unit provides an even distraction in the anterior and posterior cervical discs

    Amount of Pounds of Pressure that can Be Applied:
    With the Pronex traction unit, An air-inflated bellows between them is capable of providing up to 35 lbs of continuously adjustable traction.
    Sizes Available:
    Regular, Large, X-Large
    What are the Pronex Sizes: :









    Regular14" to 16" neckRegular fits 65% of the general population and most women.
    Large17" to 18" neckLarge fits 33% of the general population and most men.
    Wide19" to 21" neckWide fits 2%. It is for patients with necks like football players.

    • Most women of typical height, weight and neck size, 14" - 16" will be comfortable in a Regular. When in doubt, order the Large size.
    • Most men of typical height, weight and neck size, 17" - 18", will be comfortable in a Large. When in doubt, order the Large size.
    • An individual, man or woman, having large shoulders and neck, or having a "bull" or short neck, usually a neck size greater than 18", will likely be most comfortable using a Wide Pronex.

    Do the devices allow for relaxation of the muscles around the temporomandibular joint and the posterior cervical region?
    Yes
    Indications for use:

    • Pain or stiffness when moving neck
    • Numbness in hand(s) or arm(s)
    • Tingling in hand(s) or arms(s)
    • Weakness in hand(s) or arms(s)
    • Pain or numbness in shoulders
    • Pain or numbness in chest
    • Pain between shoulders
    • Muscle spasms in neck or shoulders

    For More Information:
    Pronex Pneumatic Cervical Traction System
    Pronex Traction Unit- Neck Traction to stop neck pain

    Pronex Cervical Traction System, Click here for more information


    Cervical Traction Posture Pump 1000


    Summary
    The Posture Pump® Cervical Traction Posture Pump 1000 is a unique and simple looking device which can be inflated to extend and stretch the cervical spine. It can be localized low, mid or upper cervical spine. The Cervical Traction Posture Pump carefully lifts and separates the neck and back joints in a unique way. Traction, hanging devices, massage units, vibrators, special pillows and regular exercise cannot. Special expanding air cells angled into the spine activate the "bellows or sponge-like" function of the discs, producing a warm, relaxed feeling through the neck and back. Patented up and down motion reinforces the spine's natural "c" curve shape and promotes joint lubrication, joint nutrition, flexibility and the correct posture.
    Amount of Pounds of Pressure that can Be Applied:
    An air-inflated bellows between them is capable of providing up to 8 PSI
    Sizes Available:
    The Posture Pump Neck Traction Unit comes in only one Size
    Do the devices allow for relaxation of the muscles around the temporomandibular joint and the posterior cervical region?
    Yes
    Do the devices allow for relaxation of the muscles around the temporomandibular joint and the posterior cervical region?
    If you have TMJ weakness or pain, relocate the restraint into forward open slots and remove the chin restraints
    For More Information:
    Cervical Traction Posture Pump 1000

    Posture Pump 1000 Information, Click Here for more information

    Please consult with a medical professional prior to using any neck traction device

    4/07/2007

    April 2007 Newletter Arc4life

    ARC4LIFE – HEALTHY SLEEP HEALTHY LIFE
    In This Issue

    1. Article- 5 Tips for Better Sleep
    2. Inspirational Quote
    3. Inspirational Story
    4. Featured Product on Arc4life.com- Pronex Pneumatic Cervical Traction Unit with $15 dollar discount code attached


    Hello everyone! This is the 2nd edition of Arc4Life’s Healthy Sleep, the online newsletter to help you with neck or back pain, proper posture, and sleeping comfortably. Get health tips for how to reduce pain, sleep better, and maintain a healthy spine.


    1. Article - 5 Tips For Better Sleep
      Good, sound sleep means you wake up feeling well rested and refreshed. However, if your nights are filled with frustration and mornings with fatigue, and you’ve checked yourself for the usual culprits like downing 7pm espresso shots or using your bed as a home office, here are some less obvious insomnia-inducing habits that just may be the source. Since these things happen while you’re off in slumberland, they may not be the first to come to mind, but they can cause both sleep and health troubles.

      • Gerd
        Bedtime milk and cookies sounds like the perfect way to wind down before hitting the sack. But that soothing ritual might be costing you more than a few extra calories. When Oprah tells us she doesn’t dare touch food after 8pm, she’s doing it for weight loss reasons. But even if you’re not a dieting diva, eating late is never a good idea. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, if you’re eating a large meal before bedtime, the digestion process can get in the way of your good night’s sleep. Besides disrupting your REM time, you may also be contributing to a more serious condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This occurs when food is pushed back up into the esophagus via stomach acids, causing a burning sensation and sometimes choking and coughing.

        Remedy: Do not eat a large meal or snack within two to three hours of bedtime. If this is unavoidable, plan ahead and satisfy your appetite earlier in the evening so all you’ll need is a light snack before going to bed. If you do conk out after your gorge session, be sure to elevate your head with pillows.

      • Electrical Stimulation in the Bedroom
        Everyone likes a little bedroom stimulation now and again, but just be sure those sparks are coming from your partner or spouse, and not from a love affair with technological gadgetry. Are you unwittingly charging your room with electrical current? The average home is filled with electromagnetic interference, as it is generated from every electric appliance. According to theories in quantum physics, electrical charges fill our air and can disturb sleep. Whether you’re an avid tech junkie or just the average consumer, you likely have a TV, radio, CD player, portable phone and perhaps even a computer, printer, scanner and fax all within your compact sleep space. These pieces of electronic equipment - particularly the TV and computer screen - give off high levels of electromagnetic energy even long after they’re turned off. You’re literally jamming up your air with electronic waves.

      • Remedy: Turn off the electricity. Zero is the best number of electronic equipment to have in your bedroom; however, you can cover both your TV and computer screens with fabric before retiring and place a medium-to-large-size plant in your room for every piece of electrical equipment. Palms, peace lilies and spider plants are said to absorb the most electrical current. Digitally displayed alarm clocks emit a high amount of EMI, and should not be kept close to your head. Put them on the other side of your room or switch to a nondigital clock.

      • Are You a Stomach Sleeper?
        Get in touch with your inner child while you sleep. According to researchers, the best sleeping positions that put the least stress on your joints and organs are on your back or in the semifetal position, where you lay on one side with knees slightly bent, one arm outstretched above the head, the other resting comfortably on the opposing upper arm to cradle the head. Both give your spine and body proper alignment.
        However, if your preferred sleep position is on your stomach, you may be asking for trouble. You’ll spend many hundreds of hours smashing your delicate facial skin into a pillow, which helps produce wrinkles, sagging and puffiness, not to mention trauma to your neck, spine and lower back.
        Remedy:Change sleep positions. Sleep doctors suggest adhering two tennis balls to your stomach so whenever you try and switch to the old tummy routine, you’ll automatically reposition yourself.
      • Increased Blood Cortisol Levels
        The highly publicized study that linked lack of sleep with extra weight is accurate on one side of the equation. The study does not suggest getting more sleep will help you lose weight. It says if you’re not getting enough sleep, you’ll feel less equipped to handle stress and your intricate hormonal system will react, increasing stress hormones like cortisol. Higher blood cortisol negatively affects your sleep patterns in a round-robin effect. Numerous studies also show that increased cortisol levels both increase appetite - particularly for sugar and starchy carbohydrates - as well as promote stubborn belly fat. If that’s not enough to want to keep them in check, recent studies also indicate a direct correlation between elevated cortisol levels and high blood pressure, diabetes and a decreased resistance to infection.
        Remedy: Put in plenty of pillow time. Get yourself to bed at a reasonable hour so that you’re not dreading the sound of the alarm clock come morning. Figure out how many hours of sleep your body operates best with, and once you start getting that magic number, your hormones will readjust and both your sleep and weight will normalize.
      • Sleep Apnea, RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) and PLMD
        People tend to think that sleep problems are a part of life, and don’t often think to discuss them with their doctor. But there are certain medical conditions that could be interfering with your sleep, and, since they happen during sleep, they will most often escape your notice.
        Snoring isn’t always just a nuisance. It could be a sign of a larger problem. According to the Sleep Research Society, sleep apnea occurs when airflow to the lungs is briefly blocked, most often in the throat, in repeated episodes of gasping, sometimes up to 50 times an hour. Snorting and gasping are the telltale signs. Obesity; the use of nicotine, alcohol or sedatives; hypothyroidism; sleeping on one’s back; and excessive airway tissue are key factors. Sleep apnea can be dangerous to your health, so if you suspect your snoring may be sleep apnea, contact a doctor.

        Restless legs syndrome (RLS) sends odd, uncomfortable sensations deep within the leg muscles and knees, creating forceful urges to move, particularly at night. Sufferers may jerk themselves awake with leg spasms or kicking movements, preventing a restful night’s sleep. Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) centers in the lower limbs and consists of spasms that can occur up to hundreds of times a night. The telltale signs of PLMD are crumpled bedcovers at the foot of the bed, along with kicking and jerking during sleep and unknowingly awakening many times during the night.

        Remedy: If you suspect you might have any of the above sleep disorders, discuss them with your doctor as soon as possible. He or she can recommend a treatment to help get you back on the track to well-restedness.

    2. Inspirational Quote

      “Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of, a blessing money can't buy.”- Izaak Walton

    3. Inspirational Story
      This month’s inspirational story is actually the story of Christopher Gardner. Many may not know who he is. He is the subject of the movie “The Pursuit of Happiness” starring Will Smith”. If you have not watched I definitely recommend this title.

      Christopher Gardner is the owner and CEO of Christopher Gardner International Holdings with offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Surmounting acute obstacles on his road to success, Gardner is an avid motivational speaker, addressing the keys to self-empowerment, beating odds, and breaking cycles. Gardner is also a passionate philanthropist committed to many charitable organizations.

      The amazing story of Gardner’s life was published as an autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, (Amistad/Harper Collins) on May 23, 2006, and became a New York Times and Washington Post #1 bestseller. Gardner is also the inspiration for the movie The Pursuit of Happyness released by Columbia Pictures on December 15, 2006. The movie was #1 at the box office its opening weekend. Will Smith stars as Gardner and received Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award nominations for his performance. Gardner is an associate producer on the movie.

      Always hard working and tenacious, a series of circumstances in the early 1980’s left Gardner homeless in San Francisco and the sole guardian of his toddler son. Unwilling to give up Chris Jr. or his dream of financial independence, Gardner started at the bottom. Without connections or a college degree, he earned a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds training program. Often spending his nights in a church shelter or the bathroom at a Bay Area Rapid Transit station in Oakland, Gardner was the sole trainee offered a job at Dean Witter Reynolds in 1981. He spent 1983-1987 at Bear Stearns & Co., where he became a top earner, and then in 1987, he founded the brokerage firm Gardner Rich & Co. in Chicago.

      Born February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gardner never knew his father. He lived with his mother, Bettye Jean Gardner, whom he adored, and, when necessary, in foster homes. Despite a life of hardship and emotional scarring, his mother provided him with strong “spiritual genetics” and taught him some of the greatest lessons of his life, which he follows to this day. Bettye Jean convinced him that in spite of where he came from, he could attain whatever goals he set for himself by saying, “If you want to, one day you could make a million dollars.” Gardner believed this to be fact, and knew he would have to find a career he could be passionate about, and one that would allow him to “be world-class at something.”

      Straight out of high school, Gardner enlisted in the Navy, just like his uncles, his role models, had done. After the military, Gardner went to San Francisco and took a job as a medical supply salesman. Then he reached a turning point in his life. In a parking lot, he met a man driving a red Ferrari. "He was looking for a parking space. I said, 'You can have mine, but I gotta ask you two questions.' The two questions were: What do you do? And how do you do that? Turns out this guy was a stockbroker and he was making $80,000 a month."

      That pivotal encounter gave Gardner a clear career goal and he began knocking on doors, applying for training programs at brokerages even though it meant he would have to live on next to nothing while he learned. When he was finally accepted into a program, he left his job in medical sales. But his plans collapsed when the man who offered him the training slot was fired, and Gardner had no job to go back to. Then he was put in jail for $1,200 in parking violations he couldn't pay. Chris Jr.’s mother left and Gardner, despite his circumstances, fought to keep his son because, as he says, "I made up my mind as a young kid that when I had children they were going to know who their father is, and that he isn’t going anywhere."

      Finally managing to enter the training program at Dean Witter Reynolds, Gardner’s meager stipend as a trainee meant he, like so many working poor in America, had a job but couldn't make ends meet. Chris’s co-workers never knew he spent his evenings trying to arrange day care, find food and a safe place for him and his son to sleep. After spending nights in a locked bathroom at an Oakland subway station, Gardner persuaded Rev. Cecil Williams, founder of a new shelter program for homeless women at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, to let him and Chris Jr. stay at the shelter.

      Gardner passed his licensing exam in 1981on the first try. He arrived early, stayed late and worked the phones day after day to lure new clients. He and Chris Jr. got an apartment, and in 1983 he joined Bear, Stearns & Company. After becoming a top producer, first in San Francisco and later in New York, Gardner left in 1987 to establish Gardner Rich & Company, Inc., an institutional brokerage firm specializing in the execution of debt, equity and derivative products transactions for some of the nations largest institutions, public pension plans and unions. The company has expanded into Christopher Gardner International Holdings and now has a business project underway in South Africa.

      Gardner reaches out to many programs serving the homeless, donating time, assistance, and funds. Foremost among these are the Glide United Methodist Church in San Francisco and The Cara Program in Chicago. At Glide, Gardner assists with fundraising, donates clothes and shoes, and speaks at services and events. He is also involved in a plan to revitalize and provide new housing in the neighborhood around Glide. At Cara, which assists the homeless and at-risk populations in Chicago with comprehensive job training and placement, Gardner speaks at counseling sessions, assists with permanent job placement, and also donates clothing and shoes.

      Gardner serves as a board member of the National Fatherhood Initiative, whose mission is to improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, and committed fathers. Gardner was the recipient of the group’s Father of the Year Award in 2002.

      Gardner is particularly committed to educational organizations. He serves on the board of the National Education Foundation and sponsors two annual awards: the National Education Association’s National Educational Support Personnel Award and the American Federation of Teachers’ Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel (PSRP) Award. He is also involved with the Chicago Teachers’ Union, sponsoring activities and outings for Chicago public school kids.

      In addition to the father of the Year Award, Gardner has also been honored by the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women (LACAAW) with the 25th Annual Humanitarian Award, and by the Continental Africa Chamber of Commerce with the 2006 Friends of Africa Award.

      Chris Gardner’s remarkable story of struggle, faith, entrepreneurialism, and fatherly devotion has catapulted him beyond the notoriety he has found on Wall Street. He has been featured on the “Evening News with Dan Rather,” “20/20,” “Oprah,” “Today Show,” “The View,” “Entertainment Tonight,” CNN, CNBC, Fox News Channel as well as being the subject of profiles in numerous newspapers and magazines including People, USA Today, Associated Press, New York Times, Fortune, Jet, Reader’s Digest, Trader Monthly, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Post and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He is also a highly sought-after speaker.

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    That's all for this month's newsletter
    Sleep Tight!
    Dr. Matt
    Arc4life.com
    Email us at Arc4life.com

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