Community News
Heat or Ice?

There has been recent controversy whether the use of ice or heat is more beneficial following an injury. This is because researchers are questioning why we are counteracting thousands of years of evolution and the body’s natural healing process of inflammation. What we do know from the research is that applying ice to an injured area can help reduce pain, heat and redness, but does it negatively affect healing? We aren’t sure yet. In my opinion, applying heat to an injury within the first 48 hours while there is inflammation would simply increase the amount of heat and redness, and perhaps even increase pain.

So let’s keep an eye on the upcoming research, but for now, stick with what has been working pretty good so far: first 48 hours after an injury with inflammation present, use ice for 10-15 minutes several times a day to help control the pain. Day three and onward, go for heat. But as always, when in doubt go with what feels good.

Kristi Hunter, Prairie Trail Physiotherapy

prairietrailphysio.ca

Start the New Year

Why not start your new year off in a way that sets the pace for a balanced life full of joy and sustainable energy? Taking the time to recharge and nourish your self is essential in creating and maintaining an inner balance.

Embodying your Sacred Self: A Day of Energetic Transformation on January 31st is all about quieting down the chattered mind and reconnecting with the parts of ourselves that sometimes gets forgotten and needs attention. Using mindfulness meditations, movement and healing sounds of the singing bowls a sacred space is created to invite people to go deeper into the well within and come out more replenished and relaxed!

A Journey Through the Chakra System on March 19 & 20th connects us to the wisdom of our bodies and our minds using an ancient system to discover how our emotional issues are connected and stored inside.

D’Arcy Bruning-Haid

souls-journey.com

Ask Your Life Coach

Glass Half-Empty asks: “How do I keep negative thoughts from going through my mind?”“

Coach Gina responds: “Our thoughts are the most fascinating things in our brains. When we hear words or read the written word, we are compelled to pay attention and this causes us to think. We then want to respond to the thoughts in our minds. Responding to these thoughts allow us to make a choice about them. We have the “ability” to “respond” to the thought process in our minds. To answer your question, it is our “responsibility” to choose our thoughts and allow them to be good, and thus have a good result in our lives or allow them to be toxic, and have a toxic consequence in our lives. Our thoughts are powerful. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Gina Debrincat, Abound Wellness Coaching

ginadebrincat.com 

Ask Your Vet

Susan from St. Vital asks: “Why does my dog drag his butt across the floor”?

Veterinarian Dr. Zheng answers: “There are several reasons why your dog may be “scooting” as it is commonly known:

  1. Anal Sac Issues; sometimes these sacs become abscessed, blocked, or inflamed and ways to remedy can include; expressing the sacs, giving antibiotics to treat an infection, increasing dietary fiber, lancing or flushing the sacs.
  2. Worms; Tapeworms are another, though less common, reason dogs may start scooting, Tapeworms are easy to treat with a dose of oral or injectable medication from your veterinarian.
  3. Rectal Prolapse; a rectal prolapse can happen to your dog after severe diarrhea or from straining with constipation. Treatment for rectal prolapse varies.

If your dog is scooting or persistently licking at the anal area, or in any way appears to be uncomfortable, you should talk to your vet. Treatment is often quick and easy and can make your dog and you a lot happier!”

Animal Hospital of Manitoba

animalhospofmb.com

Giving Back: Mary Jane’s Cooking School

Mary Jane’s Cooking School, a not-for profit organization and registered charity was founded over 20 years ago, by a group of women concerned about the loss of basic life skills, and an over reliance on commercial foods. Recognizing food as the foundation to physical and mental health, the organization was created to reinforce the values of nutritional home-cooking and to re-educate people in the slow and simple art of cooking whole foods.

The origins of the school began with volunteer drop-in cooking classes in the inner city. A pioneer in the field of whole food education, Mary Jane’s Cooking School is a resource for non-corporate nutrition information and offers a wide range of classes. Some examples are: Cooking for diabetes, Vegetarian/Vegan Cooking, Bread Making and Soup Making. Environmental information is interwoven in the classes.

Volunteer services for technical support and help in preparing for classes and cleanup would be appreciated.

maryjanescookingschool.org

Book Club: Super Brain

By Deepak Chopra, MD & Rudy Tanzi, MD.

Learn the Super Brain dietary supplement – Ayurvedic Brain Support. Unleashing the Explosive Power of your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-being. A manual for relating to the brain in a revolutionary new way, Super Brain shows you how to use your brain as a gateway for achieving health, happiness, and spiritual growth.

Super Brain explains by combining cutting-edge research and spiritual insights, demolishing the five most widespread myths about the brain that limit your potential, and then showing you methods to:

  • Use your brain instead of letting it use you
  • Create the ideal lifestyle for a healthy brain
  • Reduce the risks of aging
  • Promote happiness and well-being through the mind-body connection
  • Access the enlightened brain, the gateway to freedom and bliss
  • Overcome the most common challenges, such as memory loss, depression, anxiety, and obesity

The brain is not just the greatest gift that Nature has given us. It’s the gateway to an unlimited future that you can begin to live today.

deepakchopra.com

Early Winter Masala

A masala is any combination of spices blended and ground together.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons cumin seeds
2 tablespoons caraway seeds
1 teaspoon yellow mustard seed
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

Roast the cumin, caraway and yellow mustard seed to a small pan and roast till the mustard seeds start to pop. Turn the heat off then add the spice powders to the blend. Put the blend into your mortar and pestle or spice grinder and grind the mixture. *Does not have to be ground into a fine powder.

Use on steamed vegetables, in stir fries, any soup or stew, in rice for added flavours or on popcorn! So yummy! Enjoy!

Kalee Mund is an Ayurvedic Counsellor, who teaches Ayurvedic Cooking Classes and other Ayurvedic Workshops.

kalee.mund@gmail.com

kaleemund.com

Ever Wanted To Be a Hero?

My dad is 65 years old and on peritoneal dialysis. He was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease in his mid 50’s, a genetic disease that attacks both kidneys until kidney failure. When you reach kidney failure, dialysis can only buy you so much time before your only option is to find a kidney donor. Unfortunately his chance of getting a deceased donor kidney is so low that a living donor is our only hope. No one in our family is capable of donating, either because we have been diagnosed with the disease ourselves or our health leaves us incapable of donating. We are now looking for a volunteer living kidney donor outside of our family. My dad needs a hero now so that he can be around to watch his five grandsons grow up.

For more information please visit our website at:  www.ralphskidneyquest.com

Health Spotlight: Yoga Hikes

Yoga Hikes connect you to health, nature and community. They take place year-round in different locations throughout Winnipeg and surrounding areas, such as The Forks, Kildonan Park, Silver Springs Park in Birds Hill and more.You will be guided on a hike through city streets and parks and practice yoga at scenic stops along the way.

These 1 hour (3 km) outdoor yoga classes are suitable for all levels.
No yoga mats needed – just dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.

Your teacher will share interesting facts about Winnipeg and surrounding areas while leading you through yoga poses. Practice Eagle before a big Manitoba sky!

Visit us for our weekly schedule, for locations, and to sign up for Yoga Hikes!

Poor Posture Got You Down?

Do you sit at a desk all day and a couch all night?

Our sedentary lifestyle contributes to poor posture, and in turn causes back aches and other ailments, but you can work on it with a few easy tips. During the day try to walk and sit tall and keep chin tucked. If seated for more than 20 minutes, stand and roll shoulders 5-10 times.

There are also corrective exercises you can try at home. Using a door jam, stand tall with shoul­ders down and back. Place forearms on the door jam, elbows should be bent close to 90 degrees, and upper arm should be slightly lower than shoulder height. Step through the door or into the corner with one leg maintaining a tall posture. You should feel a stretch across your chest and front of the shoulders.