Coastal Moves: How Gentle Movement Beats Inflammation

By: Dr. Alfredo Petrone, DC

At Coastal Life Wellness, our mission is to keep people moving and healthy so they can enjoy the beautiful coastal life. Late summer is a perfect time to check in with your body. Long days outdoors, travel, and summer activities are winding down. Soon, routines will shift toward cooler weather, busier schedules, and the holiday season. This change of pace can add new stress on your body, making it even more important to focus on habits that keep inflammation under control.

What Inflammation Actually Is

Inflammation is your body’s natural response to stress, injury, or infection. It helps in the short term, but when it lingers, it can lead to stiffness, pain, and fatigue. If you have been active this summer doing things like running on sand, paddle boarding, hiking trails, or simply spending more time on your feet, you may already feel some of the wear and tear. Carrying that into the holiday season without recovery can set you up for nagging pain and less energy when you need it most.

Coastal Life and Seasonal Strain

Living an active coastal lifestyle is great for health, but it does come with added strain. Repetitive movements from paddling, long walks, or beach runs challenge your joints. Although we want to challenge our joints, we also need to take care of them. Posture stress builds when you go back to longer hours at a desk or in the car after summer adventures. Add the pressures of fall routines, kids’ activities, and holiday planning, and the combination can fuel inflammation if you don’t create balance with recovery and smart movement.

Movement That Helps

The transition from summer to fall is a great time to reset your movement habits. Gentle, consistent activity is one of the best ways to manage inflammation. Walk daily at a comfortable pace to keep circulation strong. Stretch your shoulders, hips, and calves often (to be clear, I mean several times a day) to counter stiffness from sitting. Practice simple balance exercises, like standing barefoot on grass or sand, to strengthen stabilizing muscles. Take a few minutes each day for slow, deep breathing to calm your nervous system. These small steps help your body adapt to changing routines and prepare for the demands of the holiday season.

Recovery and Posture Tips

As schedules get busier, recovery often slips. But even short practices help your body reset. Check your posture throughout the day by standing tall, rolling your shoulders back - putting your shoulder blades in your back pockets, and breathing deeply. Take brief breaks every half hour if you are at a desk. Notice tightness in your jaw, shoulders, or low back and relax those areas before tension builds. Chiropractic care can also be part of this support system. Adjustments and hands-on care maintain mobility, improve posture, and help your nervous system function at its best. It’s about keeping your body ready for movement, not just treating symptoms after they appear.

Lifestyle Habits That Reduce Inflammation

Lifestyle choices become even more important as routines shift. Eat more anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, salmon, walnuts, and berries while cutting back on processed snacks and sugars that often creep in during busier months. Keep water close by to stay hydrated, especially after summer heat, we need to stay hydrated year round. Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep to give your body the recovery time it needs. Stress tends to rise in the lead up to the holidays, so find ways to pause like stepping outside, breathing intentionally, or taking time away from screens.

Bringing It All Together

The end of summer is a chance to prepare your body for the months ahead. By focusing on movement, posture, and daily habits now, you can manage inflammation, stay active, and avoid feeling worn down as fall routines and holiday demands pick up. At Coastal Life Wellness, we help people balance activity and recovery so they can keep moving with less pain and more freedom. If stiffness, joint pain, or recurring tension are already slowing you down, this is the perfect time to reset. A posture check or movement tune-up could make the difference in how you feel heading into the season. See you in the clinic soon!

Dr. Alfredo is a health enthusiast who’s goal is to help people and families live healthier, happier lives. My philosophy on health is simple - our body’s have the amazing ability and potential to self-adapt, self-regulate and THRIVE in this world.

Keywords: coastal life wellness, movement, inflammation, posture, chiropractic care, joint health, healthy living Vancouver, fall wellness, holiday health