Getting your daily dose of exercise is vital to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but it is sometimes difficult to motivate yourself to even start. You might have an achy knee holding you back, or maybe you are just feeling tired and not up to dragging through another workout. Essential oils are an amazing exercise helper! Some oils, such as Peppermint, Lemongrass or Lemon can put a “pep in your step” with their refreshing and invigorating aromas. You can put a drop on your neck, feet, or just inhale for a little boost to get you going. Peppermint, Marjoram, Black Pepper, Clove, Cypress, and blends like Deep Relief, and Aromasiez can be applied to muscles and joints before or after exercise to help ease discomfort. Rubbing RC, Raven, Peppermint or Eucalyptus Globulus on your chest or throat will remind you to take full breaths during activity, and keep you motoring along!

Denise Mackinnon
Facebook.com/simplehealthideas

Spring is here! Out with the old and in with the new. This is so easy to do in your home and yard. However, it is not so common when it comes to your health and body. You take care of your yard with regular maintenance and have a daily shower for your physical body. The other aspects of your body are often left alone. There are many ways that you can do body cleansing for your well-being. Detox-massage will sluff off dead skin, stimulate circulation supporting the release of toxins from the lymphatic system and organs, while relaxing the mind and releasing stress. Changing your diet by avoiding sugars, carbs, chemicals, increasing hydration and introducing cleansing herbs support a deeper toxic release. This is similar to changing filters and fluids in your car. The benefit are increased energy, clearer thinking, weight loss, improved sleep and much more. Another simple way of cleansing for the mind and emotions is meditation, this is most beneficial when done on a regular basis.

Tammy Phye
lifestyleharmony.ca

Theatre BC will celebrate its 85th Anniversary and Canada 150 by holding festivals featuring all-Canadian plays. Nanaimo Theatre Group has chosen to perform Toronto, Mississippi by Joan MacLeod who is currently a faculty member at the University of Victoria. It was written and is set in 1987, and revolves around Jhanna, played by award winning Dana Mowbray.  Jhanna is a funny, passionate, and often exasperating 18 year old, who also happens to be mentally challenged.  She lives with her mom, Maddie, played by well-known local actor, Sherri McLean and their boarder, Bill, played by Dave Bigelow, a poet with a morose sense of humour.  Tensions rise and jealousies flare when Jhanna’s dad, King, played by Wes Lazaroff, an Elvis impersonator who abandoned the family ten years earlier, makes an unexpected reappearance. While often very funny, this is ultimately a deeply moving play about the power of family and love.

Nanaimo Theatre Group
nanaimotheatregroup.ca

The National Seniors Council of Canada recognizes that social isolation and loneliness are health risks in our aging population.  The Seniors Connect Centre in Nanaimo is a place for adults aged 55 years or older that promotes independence, personal enrichment and an enhanced quality of life through social engagement.  Programs and activities focusing on social inclusion, health and wellness are provided free of charge. The wheelchair accessible centre is located at 150B Wallace Street and has a wheelchair accessible bathroom.  The Seniors Connect Centre also offers outreach services, access to information and referrals to connect seniors with other programs and services in the community that may be of particular interest to those experiencing social isolation.

Seniors Connect Centre
NanaimoSeniorsConnect.ca