Community News
YOUR BRANDON COMMUNITY EVENTS!

September 22
7:00- 8:30 pm
12 Week Program
Are you feeling stuck, unmotivated or asking yourself “What’s next in my life?”
Women at Pause with Brenda Hewklo
204-727-2764
www.womenatpause.com

Manage Yourself, Not Your Time

We don’t manage our time; we manage ourselves. It’s a simple shift in perspective but it’s one that is essential to achieving one’s goals. So, rather than focusing outwardly at the clock and worrying about the scarcity of time, start looking inward. To become more productive and efficient consider focusing on three areas. The first is the clarity of your values and purpose. Being truly honest about what is essential will strengthen your commitment and help you eliminate habits, not in alignment. The second is your ability to assertively communicate your needs. A big part of this is becoming comfortable with saying no. The last is your fear of judgment or failure. Listen carefully to them, acknowledge them, and then start considering all of the actions you may take to avoid those fears. That’s where the real work lies.

Why is my Pelvic Floor so Important?

Your pelvic floor supports your bladder, bowel, and uterus, and gives you control over when you empty your bladder and bowel. Having a weak pelvic floor makes it harder for you to squeeze the muscles and sphincters at the bottom of your bladder to prevent urine from escaping. You may accidentally leak when you cough, sneeze or exercise (stress incontinence). It also means that your bowel, bladder and womb are not well supported, causing you to feel a heavy dragging sensation and pushing against the vaginal walls (prolapse). You may find sex less satisfying, and feel less sensitivity. You’ll need to keep your pelvic floor strong for the rest of your life, as hormonal changes after menopause can make pelvic floor problems more likely. Doing just a few pelvic floor exercises every day will help to treat bladder weakness or prolapse symptoms, and will help to prevent problems later on.

 

Salon Tanning for Wellness

Salon tanning is a safe and effective means to replace or enhance using the suns natural rays to aid in treatment of a variety of medical conditions. both sunlight and salon tanning emit UVB light rays which in turn stimulate the skin to produce vitamin D which is essential for the processing of calcium in our diet. This keeps our bones strong and is essential for preventing osteoporosis. exposure to these rays is also a common treatment for those suffering from the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema. people who have summer relief from these conditions benefit greatly from salon rays in the winter. consult your physician about using tanning as part of a treatment program for your skin disorder. Tracy Delmage,

Knit for Life!

Knitting is a great natural strategy to deal with anxiety, depression, and pain. The simplicity of rhythmic stitching can be very centering, and combines with eye movements, color, and texture to stimulate and focus the mind. Knitting can be picked up and stopped quickly, allowing it to provide precious calm in a whirlwind day. Relaxation activities with repetition have been shown to reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and heart rate, and ease stress-caused illnesses and complications. Socially, the chance to get together with other knitters, sharing a bit of food and friendship and comparing notes can go a long way to remove isolation and loneliness. So often the knitting group can provide an invaluable haven and supportive community that looks after its own. Finally, knitting creates a comfortable (and wearable) beauty which can be kept or given to those who need. Not a bad side effect of this wonderful therapy!

 

Should I Wait To Get Hearing Aids?

It may be tempting to hold on, but here are three good reasons not to 1. Your brain will thank you for it. The sooner you start using hearing aids, the better chance you will give your brain to adapt and re-learn sounds you may not have been hearing for a while. 2. Life’s better when you hear better. Research from the National Council on Aging shows that when people begin to use hearing aids, they experience improvements in their lives, including their mental health, sense of independence, social life and, yes, even their sex lives. 3. Hearing loss is linked to dementia. Seniors with untreated hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those who retain their hearing, according to a recent study by Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute on Aging. Precise reasons aren’t yet known, but auditory deprivation may be an underlying cause.

Fall in Love with Your Life Again

A commonality amongst women at midlife is a lack of passion or life purpose. It’s at this time of life that we are biologically programmed to look for something else. That something else is usually found deep inside of us. Midlife is not a decline nor is it a crisis of women. It is simply a time for transition. Biologically at the pre–menopausal and menopausal stage of life women are programmed to withdraw from the outside world for a period of time, to pause from everyone, in order to do important work on oneself. A career that was once fulfilling may no longer be, a marriage can be changing, the home feels empty as children leave. Some women go through their transition alone. Others with a trusted friend or a book. While others enroll in groups designed just for this purpose, where wisdom of others is shared, and gifts are uncovered.

Clean Eating – Turkey and Sweet Potato Curry

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp finely chopped ginger;
2 Tbsp finely chopped garlic;
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes;
2 Tbsp curry powder;
2 tsp garam masala;
1 cup plain greek yogurt;
1 lb cooked turkey breast, chopped;
1 Tbsp cooking oil;
1 yellow onion, chopped;
2 tomatoes, chopped;
1 lb sweet potatoes, chopped;
1 cup chickpeas;
1 Tbsp brown sugar.

Directions: Put ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, curry powder, garam masala and yogurt into medium bowl and stir to combine. Set aside. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent. Reduce heat; slowly add curry sauce being careful not to boil. Stir in turkey, tomato, sweet potato, chickpeas and sugar; cook until heated through. Serve with basmati rice or toasted pita bread. Delish!

Book Club – Always Hungry?

Conquer Cravings, Retrain Your Fat Cells, And Lose Weight Permanently by Dr. David Ludwig. Renowned endocrinologist, Dr. David Ludwig, explains why traditional diets don’t work and presents a new plan to help you lose weight without hunger. “Always Hungry?” turns dieting on its head with a three-phase program that ignores calories and targets fat cells directly. The recipes and meal plan include delicious high-fat foods (like nuts and nut butter, full-fat dairy, avocados, and dark chocolate), healthy proteins, and natural carbohydrates. The result? Fat cells release their excess calories, and you lose weight and inches without battling cravings and constant hunger. This is dieting without deprivation. This helpful book reveals a liberating new way to tame hunger and lose weight for good. Available at your local bookstore.

Exercise for Mental Health

After a long day of work, or chasing children, or just trying to fit life into your schedule, the last thing you might think about is being active. However, staying active is part of a healthy lifestyle, and it has the added benefit of helping us feel happy. When we are active, our brain releases a chemical called serotonin. This chemical helps us feel happier. Feeling down? Start with a low-intensity activity such as walking. Bring the dog or your family along to share the experience. Other great activities include biking, doing yard work, swimming, and throwing a ball around. Still having a hard time fitting in being active? Try to add a little bit of activity to your work routine, especially if you have an office job. Stand at your desk instead of sitting. Take time during the day to stretch. Remember, small changes over time can make a big difference!

The Link Between Depression & Hearing Loss

We can agree that mental health and hearing health are both important, yet it wasn’t until the results of recent studies were released that a strong correlation between the two was confirmed. Depression in particular has been linked to hearing loss and unfortunately both conditions, being “invisible” conditions, often go unacknowledged, unrecognized or untreated. Along with depression, clients with untreated hearing loss are known to experience anxiety, paranoia, relationship problems, low self-esteem, stress and other negative emotions. Those with hearing loss can find communication difficult. Difficulty communicating can lead to stress, fatigue, and social isolation. And social isolation leads to depression, especially in older adults. But it wasn’t until recently that researchers were able to show that is was more of a problem than previously thought. If you are experiencing age-related hearing loss, don’t delay talking with a hearing aid practitioner, as well as a trusted mental health professional.