Community News
Love Connection

In today’s fast-paced society finding love can be a difficult task. Technology often replaces human to human contact, and actual socialization has decreased. Many people have resorted to the Internet in attempts to find love. Virtual dating can be a very daunting task with terribly mixed results. There are wonderful, quality, single people, of all ages in Manitoba who are at a loss as to where find love. A Matchmaker is often the answer. Matchmaking is an age-old profession that historically has brought love into peoples’ lives for centuries. An experienced Matchmaker hand picks and presents individuals who have been screened and are suited to their clients often resulting in long lasting love. Placing your heart in the hands of a good Matchmaker should lead to an amazing love connection with someone who is right for you.

Lianne Tregobov, Camelot Introductions, camelotintroductions.com

Vipassana Meditation

Research has shown that meditation can expand the brain, and help people avert stress and disease. One way to achieve this is through Vipassana meditation, a technique that emphasizes mindfulness, with the goal of seeing things as they “really are.” An ancient meditative technique from India, Vipassana was taken up by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) just over 2,500 years ago. Vipassana meditation is the practice of freedom. It is an honest and direct practice: the moment-to-moment investigation of the mind-body process through calm, open, and precise awareness. Learning to observe our experience from a place of spacious stillness enables us to relate to life with a balance of wisdom and compassion. This experience fosters clarity and penetrating insight into the nature of who we are, as well as increased peace in our daily lives.

Brett Scott, Disability Tax Credit, DisabilityTaxCreditWinnipeg.com

Something to Sleep On

Daydreaming about better health? Getting 7-9 hours of uninterrupted, deep sleep can help make those dreams come true. Some researchers claim that the health benefits of sleeping are equivalent to those of eating. When daylight fades, our bodies release melatonin, a natural sleep aid/hormone with powerful antioxidant properties that works to: 1) Reduce inflammation; 2) Foster mental and emotional resilience; 3) Boost immune system function; 4) Improve performance and memory; 5) Protect your heart; 6) Prevent cancer. Having trouble sleeping? Here are a few tips to help you nod off: 1) Darken your room. Melatonin release only happens in low light/dark conditions. Blue light from mobile devices, TV’s, etc. inhibits this process. 2) Avoid eating/drinking 2-3 hours before bedtime. 3) Keep a consistent sleep/wake schedule. 4) Engage in moderate to rigorous exercise. If you rarely feel well rested talk to your healthcare provider about natural and medicinal support.

Sean Miller, CMHA MB & WPG, mbwpg.cmha.ca

A Daughter’s Recommendation

Care At Home Pharmacy can help seniors remain in the comfort of their home by having quality care come to them. My parents have greatly benefitted from “visiting pharmacist” Yolanda Yeung’s involvement. She initially developed a medical profile for each of them and made recommendations to their doctor regarding medication changes. She visits my parents’ home weekly to monitor their progress and well-being, and provides their prescriptions and any other pharmaceutical needs, as recommended by their doctor. I am my parents’ primary caregiver but do not live in the city, so Yolanda and I communicate by email. She also regularly communicates with the doctor and nursing service involved with my parents’ care. It is a great comfort to me to know the Care At Home Pharmacy team provides a personalized and reputable service to seniors like my parents and is so willing to partner with other services in this type of care at home model. – Happy Daughter.

Care At Home Pharmacy, CareAtHomePharmacy.ca

Clean Eating: Lemon Tahini Dressing

This delicious dressing can be used for salad greens or as a sauce over rice, steamed vegetables, and baked potatoes.

2/3 cup plain almond or rice milk

5 tbsp lemon juice

1 clove garlic

½ tsp salt

½ cup tahini

1/8 tsp toasted sesame oil

Place all the ingredients in a blender and puree for 1 minute at high speed. Herbal D-TOX Cookbook for Cleansing by Dr. Terry Willard, CI.H.,Ph.D. AvivaHealth.com/WildRose

Book Club: Herbal D-Tox Cook Book for Cleansing by Dr. Terry Willard, PH.D.

Out with the old and in with the new. Detoxification is one of the central concepts of natural healing because it is impossible to build healthy new tissue without eliminating old cells and their by-products. This D-Tox program is designed for both meat eaters and vegetarians. The recipes in this book are designed to stimulate your own creativity and to show you that a delicious Meal Plan can accompany a detoxification diet.

Nathan Zassman, Aviva Natural Health Solutions, AvivaHealth.com/WildRose

Sitting is the New Smoking

You might have heard the phrase, “Sitting is the new smoking.” While it doesn’t quite have the same meaning, people say it to emphasize the harmful effects of sitting in a sedentary job all day. A sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of developing several serious illnesses like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Stuck in your cubicle? Stand up every 30-40 minutes. Take a 1-minute stroll around the office. Stretch your arms, legs, and back. It will promote blood flow and alleviate pressure on the lower back, which adds up over time and eventually leads to chronic back pain. And if you begin feeling symptoms (stiffness, soreness, pain), it’s a warning sign. Get an adjustment from your chiropractor regularly to help correct the problem and ease the pain, as well as for preventative maintenance. Early intervention and consistency of care are the two keys to a successful outcome and a happy life free of back pain.

Dr. Asim Ashique, CentralChiro.ca

Getting Through Cancer

Studies on MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programs) have shown their efficacy in decreasing symptoms of stress, improving mood, sleep, and quality of life among cancer survivors and their partners. Learning meditation or mindfulness is sometimes not easy, however, and requires a lot of personal effort and practice. In this era, when we are accustomed to a quick fix, not many have the capacity or staying power to see lasting results especially when seriously ill or without the social support of a group. Brainwave Optimization is a technology that works to calm the brain down and helps with focus, so meditation and mindfulness are learned much easier. With its proven relaxation benefits, Brainwave Optimization can support the strength and courage needed to cope with the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment.

Joanne Couture, RMFT, RSW, LaLobaTraumaRelease.com

Craving or Clue?

How many rice cakes does it take to satisfy a chocolate craving? About 10 followed by a gigantic chocolate bar. What if cravings are clues that you have a need that’s not being met? That instead of chocolate what you really need is rest, pain relief or someone to talk to? A craving that doesn’t come from hunger can’t be satisfied with food. How to know if you’re hungry for a Mars Bar or a nap? 1. Become aware of a sudden and intense craving. 2. Be curious. What’s going on right now? How am I feeling? Am I actually hungry? How hungry am I? What is my real need here? It may very well be a Mars Bar, but you don’t really know until you ask yourself. If it is, savour it without guilt and congratulate yourself on the mindful decision for real self-care.

Lisa Kehler, OffYourPlateNutrition.ca

Roll Out The Pain

Foam-rolling helps to prepare your muscles for the stresses of physical activity. It is used as a warm-up tool, as well as for recovery. The pressure of bodyweight on the foam roller creates an increase in blood flow. This improved circulation allows all the necessary elements to travel to the area and help the muscle. It helps decrease muscle stiffness and helps break down adhesions and scar tissues that inhibit proper muscle function. It isn’t the most comfortable feeling while using it, but that is expected. You can roll the same muscle from a few different angles to ensure you touch each possible affected area, or you can remain stationary and just apply pressure on the muscle. You will want to spend at least twenty seconds on any one area, while sore or tight muscles will benefit from a few minutes of attention. This can all be safely performed before and following exercise.

Heath Vermette, CAT(C), SouthSherbrook.com

Natural Product Spotlight: Skincerity® by NuCerity

Skincerity is the world’s only breathable facial masque clinically proven to improve the health of your skin. It’s the Breathable Barrier® technology, which seals in your own natural moisture to deeply hydrate your skin that makes the difference. Engineered by biomedical experts and validated by numerous research studies supported by the National Institutes of Health, Skincerity has been shown to be substantially more effective than over-the-counter creams in delivering a higher nutrient content into the skin. Simply roll on before you go to bed, and Skincerity takes care of the rest. While you sleep, your skin remains protected while Skincerity works to restore its natural balance. Vitamin E is delivered to your skin to protect from early stages of UV damage, as well as grape seed oil to repair damaged tissues due to the effects of the sun and wounds. Upon removal, Skincerity exfoliates dead cells from the skin’s surface.

NuCerity, NucerityRocks.com