Community News
Meet the Practitioner – Lone Odgers

Lone (pronounced Lo-na) Odgers is a Registered Acupuncturist, practicing Chinese medicine and Japanese-style acupuncture. She recently moved back to Nanaimo after 10 years in Edmonton and is restarting her family practice at Form Health Clinic Inc. She treats women, men and children of all ages and makes house calls. Her treatments include acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion and cupping. Lone treats chronic conditions related to lifestyle, stress, illness and injury, supports pregnant and postpartum women and works with men, women and children living with pain, cancer and auto-immune conditions. Lone customizes each treatment plan to meet individual client’s needs and provides a safe, nurturing and confidential environment for healing and recovery.

Pharmacist Makes House Calls

Do you or your loved ones struggle with managing your medications or have challenges visiting the pharmacy? The Pharmacy at Home program can help. This is a complimentary, 100% patient-focused pharmacy service conducted in the comfort of your own home. The pharmacist comes to you and provides medication management, free prescription pickup and delivery and support for health and wellness. Other benefits include: personalized customer service, convenience and 25% off over-the-counter/non-prescription medications, supplements and home health products.

Detoxing the Key to Health and Wealth

We have become a society of more is better, unfortunately there is often an accumulation of excess. Our screen time has grown over the years and excess weight strains our organs and body. To combat these excesses, we need to detox and declutter to improve health and wellbeing. Reduce or eliminate processed foods, wheat, sugar; increase hydration and consume more berries and greens. Replace screen time with fresh air, exercise or something creative. Pick one or two items and do them for a couple of weeks; notice the difference. Most people report feeling lighter and thinking clearer. These go a long way to making positive change.

Less Known Benefits of Exercise

Some of the less known benefits of exercise include: • Improved Muscle Tone and Bone Density – As we age, we tend to lose both muscle tone and bone density which can make us vulnerable to injuries. Hormones released when we exercise help our muscles absorb amino acids promoting muscle growth. • More Energy – the more we move, the more energy we will have. Feeling a bit sleepy? Go for a stroll. • Sleep Better – The energy we dispense during exercise leads to better, higher-quality sleep. Participating in 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each week could lead to a significant improvement in sleep quality.

Benefits of Regular Exercise

Participating in exercise is widely known to be beneficial to our health. Here are a couple less talked about benefits of exercise that may encourage all of us to get off the couch and dedicate ourselves to a regular workout routine: • Feel Happier – Exercise increases the production of endorphins that produce positive feelings. To feel happier, we just need to start moving! • Get More Brainpower – Exercise increases blood flow to the brain. This improves brain function and enhances memory. For information on Parks and Recreation programs to help you get moving, please visit our website.

A New Way to Look at Sleep Issues

There is a different way to dramatically improve your sleep. Introducing a body pillow into your sleep system can bring back a good night sleep. Many of us have been told that the mattress is the key to everything when it comes to sleeping well. We’re here to tell you that this is only one part of it. The three pillars to a good night sleep involve temperature, alignment and support. The biggest game changer of all of them is working on your alignment. A body pillow can stop your shoulders and hips from collapsing; your body has less pain and you get time to heal. Sweet dreams.

Benefits of Reflexology

Foot Reflexology is the application of specific finger pressure techniques on feet, combined with acupressure with focus on reflex points and their connection to our body’s organs. It is a wonderful, natural, health therapy and analysis tool. It improves circulation of blood, encourages lymphatic drainage, rejuvenates life energy, and eases pain within other body parts. The body is fostered to detox and heal itself.

Benefits of Shiatsu Massage

Shiatsu is a Japanese hands-on therapeutic massage working the meridians and pressure points throughout the body. This non-invasive therapy addresses a wide range of body ailments such as muscle tension, stress, chronic pain and digestive issues. Shiatsu uses a firm steady pressure to release tension allowing the practitioner to probe deeper, stimulating circulation of vital nutrients. The practitioner is trained to recognize patterns of disharmony providing valuable insight and body awareness for the client.

Better Health with Nordic Walking Poles

Walkers of all ages have discovered that with proper training, Urban poling, or Nordic walking, is a healthy activity suited for improving quality of life. Proven benefits include increased balance & stability, increase in mobility and improved strength. A 2011 study on Nordic walking with Parkinson’s clients found pain, balance and health related quality of life were improved. If you would like to try Urban poling but not sure of where to start, attend our workshop on May 23 at Lakeside Gardens Retirement Community.

Mindfulness; Focus on the Present

Mindfulness is a buzz word these days and many counsellors are teaching it. So, what is it really? In a nutshell, mindfulness is the art of focussing in on the present moment. When you focus on the present moment, you cannot also be worrying about the future or obsessing about the past. The present moment is all we really have, and it is a gateway into a richer and more authentic experience of life. Studies show that it increases happiness and decreases stress. It starts with the breath, paying attention, accepting and being compassionate towards yourself.

Prevent Shoulder Injuries

Summertime is when many of us pick up an iron and head out on the golf course, or grab a paddle to hit the water in our kayaks or canoes. Unfortunately, these plans sometimes can get sidelined by shoulder injuries. There are some simple things you can do to prevent these from happening. Making sure you warm up your shoulder, back, and neck muscles before you head out is one of them. To learn more, come join us for our next Health Night on May 28! Reserve your seat today.