STEVE SISGOLD: With all of the energy we are putting into the health care debate it's time we redefine who our 'Primary Health Care Provider' really is. The World Health Organization recently rated America 37th in health outcomes, on a par with Serbia. Our costs are more than twice as high per capita as those in other developed nations.

America's favourite doc Andrew Weil says,"We have been manipulated by profiteers and mismanaged to the hilt by government overseers, healthcare and it only promises to get worse. Dr. Russell Jaffe, an international authority on cellular physiology points out," 92 % of illnesses are lifestyle related while 8% are genetic, yet our Govt. agencies spend 90-98% on genetic research and inventing new machines and 2-10% on lifestyle research."

So, the important question to ask at the personal level is this: "How do I best take care of my self, my loved ones and if an employer, my staff?"

A cornerstone of good health - body awareness - is essential and easy to learn. I've seen individuals and entire organizations improve their well-being, productivity, and motivation by getting more in tune with the body

Living in your head, disconnected from your body, can be costly to individuals and companies. Low body awareness contributes to the three main reasons we don't show up to work - illness, lack of motivation and injuries.

Here are some preventive measures that will keep you out of the doctor's office:

1. Body Awareness - Take notice of your own rhythm or pace throughout your day. For instance, notice if you are rushing, gulping, slumping over your computer, straining while carrying packages or gritting your teeth while talking with your boss?

2. Stress Management Techniques - Learn how to calm down your nervous system when anxiety sets in. There are many techniques available to keep your blood pressure from rising and your circulation flowing so you can feel energized, vs. exhausted and vulnerable to illness.

3. Body Scans - Do spot checks of your whole body looking for any tension, sensations, and emotions or other warning signals from your body. Take deep breaths, let go and adjust and adjust your body accordingly.

4. Exercise - Moving your body regularly is always a great way to control your own health care. The cost benefits of an employee fitness program were measured in a widely quoted Canadian study of more than 1,000 life assurance workers. Canada Life Assurance Co. calculated an overall saving of $250,000, or 1 per cent of payroll, based on a rate of 28 per cent participation in a fitness program.