With the arrival of summer comes camping, hiking and all things outdoor related! Even if we aren’t into camping or hiking, most of us do spend more time outside in the sun. Protecting ourselves from the sun involves more than just applying sunscreen. Avoiding the sun around the hours of solar noon reduces our exposure to harmful UV rays. Wearing a light, long-sleeved shirt and a hat to cover our faces will also help reduce our exposure and decrease our risk of burning. Make sure to stay well hydrated with water and have a great summer!
Community News
Fun Summer Activities
Remember being a kid and summer seemed to last forever? Nanaimo Parks and Recreation has activities that will make you FEEL like a kid again. *Water Parks – Departure Bay, Deverill, Harewood and Mansfield Parks until September. *Playground Program – Monday to Friday at various locations throughout the city. *Find the Golden Bucket Contest – Get the clue from Facebook or website every Wednesday until July 25. Find the bucket, answer a question and you could win some great prizes! *Westwood Lake – lifeguards on duty daily June 24th until September 3rd. For details, visit www.nanaimo.ca.
Proper Sleep Hygiene
There are things you can do for proper sleep hygiene: Avoid long naps; consider going for a short walk instead. Maintain a regular sleep routine; go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Keep your bedroom quiet and comfy; lower body temperature generally equals better sleep. No electronic devices in bed; blue light emitted from these devices interferes with sleep. Invest in a body pillow to avoid waking up with body pain. If you sleep on your side, an organic body pillow will make hip and shoulder pain a thing of the past.
Maintaining Balance
How does maintaining a balanced life work in today’s fast-paced and increasingly stress-riddled world? From a gambling literacy perspective, it starts by being aware of risk factors and knowing when we are vulnerable. This includes when we are suffering from emotional and/or financial stress, having suffered the loss of a loved one, the end of a job or relationship, or even experiencing a big win at a younger age. Living a balanced life has its challenges with or without gambling, but is not impossible. Reach out to friends, family, our helpline and counselling team! That’s what we’re here for!
Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture
Chinese Medicine is one of the oldest recorded medical systems. Diagnosis comes through detailed questioning of an individual’s history and symptoms, feeling their pulses, observing their tongue and complexion, and palpating their abdomen. Treatment is based on this individualized diagnosis. Acupuncture treatment regulates and balances the flow of Qi, blood and fluids within the network of energetic pathways, called meridians, that connect the surface of the body to the organs and circulatory systems. In health, this flow is abundant and smooth, and we experience wellbeing and health in our body, mind, emotions and spirit.
Activities for the Whole Family
Bring the whole family to enjoy some summer activities. *Family Fun Nights – Thursday, June 28 at Departure Bay, July 26 at Mansfield Park, August 30 at Harewood Park. *Concerts in the Park – July and August. Wednesday evening concerts July 4th to August 29th, 6:00 -7:30 pm. Concerts in July are held at the Bowen Park Amphitheatre and August concerts are in Maffeo Sutton Park. On Tuesdays, enjoy lunch time concerts, 12:30-1:30 pm from July 3 to August 28. July concerts are in Maffeo Sutton and Bowen Park in August. For details, visit www.nanaimo.ca.
Benefits of Gratitude
Gratitude can help you feel better in so many ways. Science shows that gratitude helps you to feel happier, more peaceful and more serene. An ancient Jewish practice is to thank their God one hundred times a day. Try it and see how it changes the way you feel about yourself and your life. Make sure you feel the feeling of gratitude; psychiatrist David Hawkins understood the frequency of emotions; gratitude will help raise your emotional frequency. The higher frequency emotions include gratitude, love, peace and joy. Like playing an instrument, progress is made with dedicated, consistent practice.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Summer is baseball season; in Canada, that means cheering for the Blue Jays. Scientists have found that being a sports fan is good for your emotional, psychological and social health. Benefits range from social connection to measurable increases in muscle nerve activity. In August, the Toronto Blue Jays are playing the Seattle Mariners in Seattle, WA. Why not join a group of Vancouver Island fans to support our Canadian baseball team? Skip the hassle of ferry line-ups and border crossing by taking a tour to the August games in Seattle.
Discreet Hearing Aid Options
There are a variety of discreet hearing aid styles. The Lyric device is the only hearing aid that is 100% invisible. It is placed into the ear canal by a trained hearing care professional, provides 24 hour hearing, and is replaced a few times a year. There is also the invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) custom hearing aid styles that offer minimal visibility. The receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) is the most common style and is worn behind the ear with a small clear tubing that lays flush with the cheek. This style is very discrete from the front and the behind-the-ear component is easily hidden with a person’s hair. Contact your local Hearing Care Professional for more information on different hearing aid styles to fit every lifestyle and budget.
Community Profile – CSNN
Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (CSNN) has been educating Registered Holistic Nutritionists across Canada since 1994. Our Vancouver Island school in Nanaimo opened in 2012 followed by the Victoria school in 2017. The curriculum consists of 17 hard sciences and social sciences courses. Intakes are in March and September for the one year (day) program or two year (evening) program both resulting in the R.H.N. designation. CSNN offers a Holistic Culinary Certificate program in addition to the Natural Nutrition Program and a “The Fundamentals of Nutrition” course which consists of seven classes. Learn more at our Open House on June 9th in Nanaimo. 250.741.4805, v.i@csnn.ca
The “Golden Bucket Challenge”
Rediscover some of Nanaimo’s wonderful parks and playgrounds by participating in the “Golden Bucket Challenge”. Each Wednesday, you will find a different clue on the City of Nanaimo website or Facebook page. The posted clue will help you find a location where the golden bucket is hiding. Find the bucket, answer the question inside it and send your answer to parksandrecreation@nanaimo.ca. Correct answers will be eligible for some great prizes! For more information, please pick up a copy of our Activity Guide or visit our website
