Community News
Smartphones and Health

Smartphones are incredibly powerful devices. Increasingly we rely on them to run our life. One of the latest trends is toward mobile health or mhealth. Many applications have been designed to help you live healthier and manage your chronic illnesses. Here are some our favorites: Misfit wearables is a great low price entry to fitness trackers starting at $25. Askthedoctor.com will get your health questions answered in a jiffy, and glooko.com has an amazing platform for people dealing with diabetes. One of the biggest issues faced by patients today surrounds management of medications. 55% of Canadians above 45-65 are on at least one prescription medication. Using a smartphone to manage and track your meds has been proven to improve adherence, keeping patients healthy. If you are on multiple medications this may be the best and quickest thing you can do for your health today.

www.poprx.ca

Control your Anxiety

Anxiety is considered a negative mood disturbance that results from failure to predict, control, and obtain desired goals and is associated with dysfunctional cognition, behavior, and physiologic over-activity. Anxiety further impairs health by motivating increased use of tobacco and alcohol and predisposes the individual to chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease. A new meta-analysis published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found the Transcendental Meditation technique has a large effect on reducing trait anxiety for people with high anxiety. Trait anxiety is a measure of how anxious a person usually is, as opposed to state anxiety, which refers to how anxious we are at the moment. Studies on high stress groups, such as veterans suffering from PTSD and prison inmates, showed dramatic reductions in anxiety from TM practice, whereas studies of groups with only moderately elevated anxiety levels, such as normal adults and college students, showed more modest changes.

Lilian Lontra – Certified Teacher, Transcendental Meditation
llontra@tm.org

Book Club: Healing and Transformation

Healing and Transformation through Transcendental Meditation (TM) by Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal. Learn the basics about this ancient technique, and for seasoned meditators, broaden your knowledge and deepen your understanding. Rosenthal’s central point emphasis on TM changes the brain, and can help a vast array of different people to live longer and better lives, and achieve lifelong success.

www.normanrosenthal.com

Clean Eating: Thai Carrot Coconut Soup

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups water
1 ½ cups carrots cut into 1” pieces
1 green onion
5 tbsp. shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 tsp. turmeric
½ tsp. sea salt
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 date
2 tbsp. fresh lemongrass (finely chop the heart of 2 stalks)
1 tbsp. freshly chopped ginger
1 avocado –half to blend and half cut into ½” – ¾” pieces for topping
2 tbsp. fresh cilantro (to mince for topping)

Directions:

Blend all ingredients, except avocado and cilantro, until smooth.
Add half avocado and blend.
Pour into bowls.
Sprinkle top with avocado pieces and minced cilantro.

From Uncooking with RawRose by Rose Vasile
www.rawrose.com

Compassionate Beauty Care

There are many thoughts that go through a person’s mind once a cancer diagnosis is received. What does the future look like and how will my life be changed. What common activities that I do now, will be affected by treatment and subsequent side-effects?

One thing that does not need to change is pampering yourself.  You may think that a trip to the spa is not something you want to experience while being in treatment. Not only is there the possibility of increased infection because your immune system is low, there is the discussion that you will need to have with the esthetician, that may make you uncomfortable.

Perhaps, going to a place that provides safe and hygienic manicures and pedicures is something you would consider. Where the treatments are non-invasive, no cutting of cuticles, no razors used on feet, just simply therapeutic services that are focused on the individual going through any cancer. Having a facial with no extractions, just comforting and customized for your skin. Using all natural products that contain no carcinogens or any toxins. Products with ingredients listings you can pronounce and recognize. The best part – not having to explain what you are going through because we know.

The Unexpected Gift
www.theunexpectedgift.ca 

Reduce Your Stress

If stress has you anxious, tense and worried, consider trying meditation. Spending even a few minutes in meditation can restore your calm and inner peace. Anyone can practice meditation. It’s simple, effortless, natural, and it doesn’t require any special equipment. You can practice meditation wherever you are. Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. It produces a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, we go beyond the sphere of thoughts and experience pure consciousness, our own reservoir of inner piece, creativity and energy, enlivening our whole physiology. It can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. These benefits don’t end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and may even improve certain medical conditions.

Lilian Lontra, Transcendental Meditation
llontra@tm.org

The Kinesio Benefit

Do you ever wonder why some pro athletes are wearing colourful tape on their shoulders, knees and elbows? This tape is called kinesiology tape. Kinesio tape is very thin and light weight mostly made of cotton and elastic properties, the tape mimics skin and can be stretched to different tensions. It can be used anywhere on the body and is applied to provide support that helps you stay active while recovering from injuries. It works by affecting the way your muscles fire either by relaxing them, or helping them fire stronger. Physiotherapists commonly use kinesio tape for muscular injuries, postural correction and to help decrease swelling. The tape in some situations can be a great alternative to bulky braces and can be easy to apply once the technique is shown. If you’re suffering from pain and think this tape may help, ask your physiotherapist at your next treatment!

Kristy Maksymyk, Prairie Trail Physiotherapy
www.prairietrailphysio.ca

Aromatic Wellness Treatment

Aromatic Wellness Treatment provides numerous benefits for your overall health and well-being. During the “Aromatic Wellness Treatment” various essential oils are used on the back, hands and feet to target stress, help boost the immune system, reduce inflammation in the body and balance the body’s nervous system. The hot stones are used with massage strokes on the back to help aid the absorption of the essential oils and also to relax and soothe the body. This treatment is ideal for those who experience a lack of energy, constant pain and inflammation in the body, have a weakened immune system and anyone needing a boost to stay healthy. The combination of essential oils used, the hot basalt stones and soothing music will give you a complete hour relaxation and comfort.

Sue Mazur, Aromatic Earth Aromatherapy
www.aromaticearth.ca

Animal Massage

Did you know that by massaging your animal friend, you are healing her/him? As with the majority of therapeutic touch practices, animal massage has many benefits. Massage helps to ease stress and anxiety; whether your animal is newly adopted or has recently been introduced to new circumstances. Massage improves circulation in older animals who are no longer able to walk well, or are anemic and malnourished. By massaging your animal, you are reducing muscle soreness and joint stiffness that may have resulted from arthritis or aging. Did you know that there is an entire practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine that focuses on massaging just the ear? There are many pressure points in the ear and long the animal’s body that can trigger a physical healing process. Perhaps the most important and enjoyable benefit of massaging your animal is the physical, emotional and spiritual connection that you will share from the experience!

Jill Saifer, Soulstice Spirit Healing
www.soulsticespirithealing.wordpress.com

 

Are you ready for change?

With the fall comes inevitable change…change of seasons, weather and schedules. Wondering what else you might be interesting in changing in your life? There are 5 core stages to creating change and making it happen and stick. What stage are you on?

The first stage is recognizing what it is you want to change. Naming the pattern, behavior or identifying the issue to focus on. Let’s say I want to decrease my anxiety. The second stage is about creating a plan of action to make the change you want possible. That would mean identifying when my anxiety comes up, what the triggers are and creating a plan to meditate and learn mindfulness. The third stage is figuring out whom to enlist, what type of structure is required to best support your success. I chose to exercise daily, learn deep breathing and release exercises known to help anxiety and empower myself to learn to work through the deep feelings under the anxiety instead of numbing out. The fourth stage is making the necessary changes step by step throughout your day. Taking time to tune into myself and learning how to slow down seems to help when I feel overwhelmed. The fifth stage is assessing what is working and not working within your plan and begin integrating it in your life. I changed the time I exercised and added in some yoga, stretching and began shifting my thoughts and core beliefs to a more loving and compassionate way of being with myself. Now it’s your turn…

D’Arcy Bruning-Haid, M.A. Counselling
www.souls-journey.com

What’s blocking you?

Did you know your natural state is one of health? Why then, does it seem that so many of us struggle with so many health problems? The problem isn’t you, its interference! Have you tried to drive across Winnipeg lately? You don’t get very far before you are slowed down or stopped by an orange sign or pylon. Your progress halted, frustration/irritation blazing! Then the repairs are completed, the signs are removed and traffic sails along, JOY! You have 70 trillion cells that know exactly what they are supposed to be doing every second you are alive, but something is in the way. The roadblocks holding your health back can come in many forms; stress, nerve interference, nutrition, exercise, and toxicity. When you identify the interference and remove the roadblocks, you will be rewarded with a body that begins to function normally. Remember though, health is a journey, not a destination, when you feel like you’re there – keep going!

Dr. David Newsham, Academy Chiropractic
www.academyhealthsite.com