Community News
Amazing Yoga Benefits for Children

Just like adults, children live in a fast-paced world with many stressors and expectations. The practice of yoga helps to bring minds and bodies back into a place of harmony and balance. Children classes consist of more than just the physical yoga poses; they also incorporate yoga teachings and traditions in a safe and nurturing environment. Classes are taught in a non-competitive, playful, and vibrant way through games, storytelling, music, and guided visualization. Through yoga, children will physically develop skills such as flexibility, strength, body awareness, balance, and coordination. They will also grow mentally cultivating self-love and respect while learning self-calming and relaxation techniques through breath work, mindfulness, and meditation. All improving attention and behavioral regulation, enhancing self-confidence and social interaction. Through yoga, children become connected; mind and body strong.

Harmony Warrior Kids Yoga, harmonywarrior.com

Dimensions of Anxiety

Anxiety can have two faces; One helps us be cautious in an unsafe situation and the other that can be very crippling. Four personality traits can complicate and increase anxiety: Perfectionism, excessive need for approval, the tendency to ignore physical and psychological signs of stress and the excess need for control. These traits have likely developed in childhood through learned behaviour or developed out of a response to frequent criticisms, according to E.J. Bourne, Ph. D. in the Anxiety and Phobia Workbook. Anxiety can affect us mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. To enable us to grow and recover we have to reduce the physical reactions, eliminate avoidance behaviour and change the negative selftalk. This can be done by learning breathing techniques and expressing your feelings, re-connect on a spiritual level with meditation and by using assertive communication styles and healthy boundaries. Regular exercise and dietary changes can be extremely effective in reducing anxiety.

Patty Parsons, Counselling Therapist, ParsonsTherapy.com

Sunscreen 101

Spring is in the air! It’s time to start thinking about sunscreen if you haven’t already. When selecting one, go for the “broad spectrum” protection. Sunscreens with this label protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Make sure your sunscreen has a sun protection factor of 30 or higher. The SPF number is the level of protection the sunscreen provides against harmful rays. Higher SPF numbers do mean more protection, but the higher you go, the smaller the difference becomes. Generally, an SPF over 50 doesn’t give much more added protection, and a higher SPF does NOT mean people can stay in the sun longer. Secondly, take a look at the ingredients. Physical blockers (titanium dioxide, zinc oxide) provide the best protection and cause less skin irritation than chemical sunscreens.

Care at Home Pharmacy, CareAtHomePharmacy.ca

Where Is Love?

You’ve decided enough is enough. You have plenty going for yourself and you want to share your life with someone special but where on earth are you going to find them? Times have changed. We live in an electronic world but computers don’t have hearts and you don’t know if the person behind the screen is authentic. You have asked your friends and coworkers if they know anyone right for you and you have been insulted by who they have suggested! A matchmaker specializes in finding love for people who are looking for one special partner. An effective matchmaker meets with all potential clients in person and determines who the right person is for them. A criminal record check should be conducted on each client. When choosing a match-maker it is important that you work with a service that has been in business for quite some time and has many success stories.

Lianne Tregobov, Camelot Introductions, camelotintroductions.com

Don’t Sweat the Setbacks

So your New Year’s Resolution was to adopt a healthier diet. Now that the first few months of 2017 have come and gone is your initial enthusiasm is starting to wane? We all have limited resources – time, energy and money and changing your lifestyle can challenge these resources and your resolve. To stay on track, focus on keeping it simple. Plan your meals for the week ahead, shop accordingly and do as much advanced prep work as possible. Keep a collection of recipes that are tasty, healthy, quick and cheap. Make double batches and freeze extras for quick meals. If everyone is hungry, serve a salad or green smoothie while cooking the rest of the meal. That way you can fill up on healthy stuff while the hot stuff is cooking. Focus on the positives and don’t sweat the setbacks. Have patience, you can do this!

Darlene Porter, KnowThyselfAsSoul.org

How Magnesium Oil Helped

“I have had rheumatoid arthritis for close to 40 years. I’ve started using the Magnesium Oil a month ago, by rubbing it in, twice a day — right away I noticed a difference. I’ve been not totally pain-free, but there has been a tremendous improvement. The magnesium oil provides me super pain management and works to improve the flexibility of my joints. I have found that my sleep has improved by several hours a night, I am experiencing more energy, and I ‘m able to function much better.” Carmen Kulik. 7 Benefits of using Magnesium Oil: 1. Important for heart health. 2. Helps increase energy by regulating energy levels. 3. Calm nerves by producing ‘happy hormones’ 4. Relieves Muscle Aches and Pains. 5. Health with digestion by relieving constipation. 6. Regulates levels of calcium and potassium. 7. Prevents migraine Headaches.

DnA Wellness, DnAWellness.ca

Water Yourself to Grow Your Health

When it comes to healthy beverages, water has no equal. This tasteless, odorless thirst quencher is essential to your every physiological process and makes up approximately 45-80% of our body mass. Because we lose water as we age, it becomes increasingly important to stay hydrated, a task accomplished by both drinking and eating. Two-thirds of our body’s water volume is found within our cells, making them like mini water balloons. When adequately filled, they are effective in alleviating headaches, improving memory, flushing out toxins, regulating body temperature, hydrating skin, lubricating joints, and – importantly – reducing inflammation which is believed to be the root of nearly all illness and disease including mental illness. If you are looking for an evidence-based and cost-effective way to improve your physical and mental health, look no further: water is truly a life source.

Canadian Mental Health Association, www.mbwpg.cmha.ca

Clean Eating: Chocolate Avocado Pudding

Soft, creamy, sweet and chocolatey – this plant-based, gluten and dairy-free pudding will surely satisfy.

All you need is:

1 and a half ripe Avocados, peeled and pitted

1/3 cup of 100% pure cacao powder

1/3 cup pure maple syrup or honey

1/4 cup coconut milk

2 tsp vanilla essence

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Serve immediately, and enjoy!

Micro-Current Facial Rejuvenation

The Micro-Current Facial is one of the latest procedures in antiaging protocols and is a non-invasive and comfortable alternative to facial surgery, botox, thermage, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and other anti-aging approaches that may be damaging to the skin. The micro-current facial can take 5-10 years off your face, with absolutely no risk or side effects and with rapid and lasting results! Micro-current facial rejuvenation has made a name for itself in a relatively short time. It has gained its rapid popularity due to its hassle-free, comfortable and non-invasive nature as well as excellent positive results and affordability. So, how does it work? A tiny electrical current is administered through two wands and applied to the facial muscles.The client may be aware of a gentle tingle. Micro-current stimulation work on reflexes found within each muscle which control length and tone. As the muscles worked on regain tone, so does the skin. This is achieved without any harm to the skin!

Cheryl Fedeluk, Current Expressions, www.currentexpressions.ca

Link Between Depression and Hearing Loss

Research continues to prove a strong connection between hearing loss and depression. The two are referred to as invisible conditions, as you cannot see their effects at first glance. Because of this, their effects can often go unacknowledged, unrecognized, and untreated. Hearing loss affects one’s ability to communicate, which can cause stress, fatigue, social isolation, and, in turn, depression. Along with depression, clients with untreated hearing loss are known to experience anxiety, relationship problems, low self-esteem, stress, and other negative emotions. However, hearing aids have been found to help combat these issues. A study by the National Council on the Aging (NCOA) found that those with untreated hearing loss were more likely to report depression, anxiety, and paranoia, and they were less likely to participate in organized social activities compared to those who wear hearing aids. Source: www.audiology.org/publications-resources/document-library/ untreated-hearing-loss-linked-depression-social-isolation.

Lisa Reid Audiology, www.lisareid.ca

Diabetes and Reflexology

Diabetes is a condition where blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high because the body does not produce enough insulin. This condition can affect cholesterol levels, cause eye problems, kidney problems and nerve problems. Your feet must be taken care of as diabetes causes many changes. There can be neuropathy, which is damage to the nerves and affects sensation to the feet so that sometimes you cannot tell if the foot is injured. Some people carry their weight differently on their feet and calluses can form. Diabetes causes poor circulation which can contribute to damaged skin and can lead to ulcers and infections. Foot care is necessary with diabetes. Reflexology therapist will work on your endocrine system, circulatory system, immune/lymphatic system, urinary system, digestive system and musculoskeletal system. By working the feet, reflexology helps to balance the whole body and provides stress relief which also benefits your general health.

Rositha Jeanson, RCRT/Foot Reflexology Teacher, rositha.ca