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 an honest and direct practice: the moment-to-moment investigation of the mind-body process through calm, open, and precise awareness. This experience fosters clarity and penetrating insight into the nature of who we are, as well as increased peace in our daily lives.
Community News
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Waking up with numbness and tingling in your hands and fingers? You may have carpal tunnel syndrome – a condition that occurs when the median nerve is compressed or pinched as it travels through the carpal tunnel of the wrist. This is caused by swelling of the tendons running adjacent to the nerve, often caused by repetitive hand use. Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome may involve activity changes – particularly with the hands, nighttime splinting to reduce pressure off the nerve, or surgical intervention. Talk to your doctor or healthcare practitioner to see what’s right for you!
Blue Light & Your Health
In today’s world, thanks to the high presence of screens in our lives, we are exposed to an increased level of blue light. Harmful blue light can affect your sleep, behavior and overall eye health. 1 in 4 Children spend 3 or more hours per day using digital devices and about 30% of adults spend more than 9 hours a day exposed to blue light. Protect yourself and your loved ones by: 1) Reducing your screen brightness and limit time spent with digital devices. 2) Following the 20/20 rule; Every 20 minutes look at something 20ft away for 20 seconds, and 3) Wear blue light filter lenses.
Words to Live By
“The mind is like a parachute – it works only when it is open.”
-Unknown
Clean Eating: Age-Defying Antioxidant Smoothie
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh strawberries and mango. 1 kiwi fruit. 1 handful baby spinach, lightly steamed.
1 cup of almond milk. 1/4 of an avocado. 1 Tbsp. almond butter. 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup. Add spinach, kiwi fruit, 1/2 cup of almond milk, 1/4 avocado, and 1 Tbsp. maple syrup to blender. Process and pour into a glass. Rinse blender and then add chopped strawberries & mango, 1/2 cup of almond milk, almond butter, and 1 Tbsp. maple syrup to blender. Process and pour into second half of glass to make a delicious bi-coloured smoothie. Enerex.ca
The Little Miracle Enzyme!
Proven to be a safe and effective natural alternative to NSAIDs (drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen), Serrapeptase breaks down long protein chains into amino acids that the body needs. It helps to reduce pain and swelling associated with osteoarthritis, joint pain, carpel tunnel syndrome, and post-operative swelling. It even thins out mucous which in turn eases chronic sinusitis. Serrapeptase should be a delayed release or enteric-coated capsule taken on an empty stomach. This allows the Serrapeptase to pass through the stomach to the small intestine, where the enzyme is then released.
Spring Into Love
Spring is a season of clichés — birds singing, bees buzzing and people falling madly in love. The love sickness can be blamed on one very real thing. Dopamine! Dopamine is a naturally occurring chemical your brain uses to make you want things. There are other systems involved in love, but when it comes to new love, dopamine is the main culprit. The newness of spring provides an ideal context for starting a new relationship. The changing weather and sunshine energize us — especially after hibernating all winter. We’ve survived winter and now it’s time to start your search for love with the help of an experienced matchmaker.
Take a Load Off
Maintaining workplace mental health is vitally important. Stats show that most people spend the majority of their waking hours at work. Using break times is one effective way to improve overall mental health and boost productivity! Oftentimes, busy schedules and looming deadlines prevent us from taking breaks when we need them most. A short time away, doing something we enjoy, helps to reduce stress and emotional exhaustion, while providing a fresh focus and the necessary energy to accomplish tasks. Stretching, walking, listening to music, and reading or watching something funny are all ways to help lighten the load.
Avoid Slips and Falls
As the weather gets nicer, we become more active outdoors, going for runs or long walks. Here are a few tricks to decrease your chance of injury when you’re out and about.
When taking a step, instead of having the foot far in front of your body, try taking a smaller step so the foot stays closer to your body. This keeps your body perpendicular to the ground and allows for a more stable base. Practice balance exercises, and strengthen your hips and core, to keep your body strong and able to react to changes in your centre of gravity.
Should You Stop Driving?
As we age, driving may become more difficult or stressful due to health issues, vision problems, or slower reaction times. So, how can we tell when it might be time to stop driving? If you answer yes to some of the following questions, consider having a conversation with your doctor or looking into getting a driving assessment done. Ask yourself: Have I had some accidents, even minor ones? Do I get lost even on roads I know well? Do I have trouble staying in my lane? Do other drivers often honk at me? Do things seem to appear out of nowhere?
Learning-Related Vision Disorders
While 20/20 vision is a great start, our vision is also related to how well our eyes work together with our brain to process visual information. Many children who suffer with vision problems can go undiagnosed since learning-related vision disorders may not be revealed through a regular eye exam. Lack of eye movement control, focusing difficulties, poor visual memory, and much more can make learning seem overwhelming. Without fundamental visual skills, children may have more difficulty with reading, writing, and comprehension at school. A developmental optometrist diagnoses and provides treatment options for learning-related vision disorders.
