Curling is a great way to pass time during a long Canadian winter. Warm up with some cardiovascular activities before your dynamic stretches to increase your body temperature. Proper equipment can help to avoid injury. A slider and gripper will help to prevent falls, which account for the majority of curling injuries. You may want to consider wearing a helmet if you are new to the sport. Off of the ice you should work on strengthening your core, buttocks, and shoulders, as well as stretching your hip flexors, hamstrings, quadriceps, and calf muscles. See you at the next Brier!
Community News
Instant, Proven, Tested
Every once in a while, sometimes in a generation, sometimes longer, there is an idea, a development, a leap of progress so fantastic, seemingly improbable, even impossible, that shatters all preconceived notions of what was possible, what was real. This is VoxxLife. VoxxLife has harnessed the power of Neuro-Science and Neuro-Activation and spent 6 years developing Voxx Human Performance Technology (HPT) that instantly improves the user’s strength, energy, stability, balance and range of motion. No matter our age or lifestyle, VoxxLife is changing the way we live, play, and enjoy our lives and is the future of wellness, sports and rehab.
Prepare for Cold and Flu Season
Cold & Flu Season is here! Viruses are spread by sneezing, coughing and direct personal contact. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting the flu shot. Flu viruses strike in late fall and winter and cause fever, coughing, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. Health Canada recommends all Canadians get the annual flu vaccine to protect themselves and other around them. Seniors, young children and people with chronic health conditions are at the greatest risk of developing serious complications from the flu. Reduce your risk by washing your hands thoroughly & regularly, wiping down surfaces, staying active and getting plenty of sleep. Protect yourself and those around you – Get the flu shot. To find out more, speak to your Pharmasave Pharmacist today.
Are You Iron Deficient?
Iron deficiency knows no boundaries – from women (it is estimated that up to 26% of reproductive aged women are iron deficient), to athletes, the elderly, and vegetarians – shortage of this mineral is widespread. Iron is an essential element for the body, and when it’s low, energy levels decrease. Other tell-tale symptoms include: weakness, pale skin, dark under-eye circles, brittle hair and nails, shortness of breath, and cold hands and feet. Think you may be deficient? Try a natural liquid iron supplement. It will help fight back against iron deficiency by promoting the formation of healthy red blood cells.
Aloe Vera for Your Immune System
Aloe Vera contains many things that can help to improve your health. Essential enzymes in Aloe Vera break down proteins that are converted into amino acids, which are used as fuel for cells in the body. Bradykinase in Aloe Vera stimulates the immune system and helps to kill infections. You will also find good levels of zinc in Aloe Vera, which is an essential micronutrient that helps regulate hormones and maintain immunity. While it is not a cure, Aloe Vera can reduce the occurrence of viral symptoms and complications and potentially slow the spread of infection.
Are You Always in ‘Fight or Flight’ Mode?
Massage therapy is undeniably effective at getting people tapped in to their parasympathetic nervous system, which is more commonly called ‘rest and digest’. Unfortunately, many spend most of their days in ‘fight or flight’! When the parasympathetic nervous system is in charge, blood pressure and heart rate lower, breathing is fuller, oxygen and blood make it deeper into the body, tissues repair themselves, organs do their jobs better, and overall, mental health is much more relaxed and content. It’s not hard to understand why being in ‘rest and digest’ is more conducive to recovery, management and being better prepared to handle what life throws at us!
Healing with Reflexology
There are reflex points on your feet that relate to specific organs and glands in the body. Through the application of pressure on these reflexes using specific hand and finger techniques, reflexology therapy can relieve tension, improve blood circulation and support the body’s efforts to function optimally. The benefits of reflexology include its ability to stimulate nerve function, increase energy, boost circulation, induce a deep state of relaxation and eliminate toxins from the body. Your feet will love the pampering and you may feel calm and a sense of well-being.
Wellness Tea of the Month
SAINT-V Tea. Sweet apple and soothing chamomile make SAINT V-Tea the perfect night-time blend. With cinnamon bits to add a hint of spice, this tea will bring nothing but sweet dream all night! The chamomile used in this custom blend are Egyptian Chamomile blossoms. This aromatic tea is antioxidant and caffeine-free and has properties that help with sleep and digestion. Apples are considered a miracle food, like the saying says, ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’. They contain antioxidants, flavonoids and fiber to help you feel better. The Cinnamon infusion gives a sweet-spicy flavor and also contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
Music and Brain Plasticity
Brain-imaging techniques have revealed the brain’s plasticity and have identified networks that music activates. The brain areas activated by music are not unique to music. These networks also process other functions. Musical and non-musical functions share systems. For example, motor control and executive control share circuits with music. Music can activate and drive complex patterns of interaction between the other two, so that a stroke patient and someone with Parkinson’s increases movement, and someone with traumatic brain injury increases cognitive functioning, such as problem solving or decision making.
Staying Social as a Senior
As we get older, health conditions, mobility limitations or a lack of energy can keep us from being as socially active as we once were. A diminishing social life might happen gradually as close friends experience the same conditions and family members grow busy. We may not even notice how long it has been since we last spent time with a friend! Isolation has many physical and emotional health risks. Especially if you live by yourself, staying socially active is critical to enjoying a healthy lifestyle. Volunteer at a local organization, join a senior living community or find a group that focuses on similar interests (e.g., knitting, water aerobics, cooking). Get back to living your best life!
Eye Care for Teens
Teens are still developing so it’s very important that they receive proper eye care to ensure the best possible vision heading into adulthood. Unfortunately, many don’t. The behavioural problems experienced by “troubled” teens may sometimes be due to undiagnosed vision issues that aren’t identified during the school years. Teens should have proper vision testing to catch potential issues such as astigmatism, convergence insufficiency, and poor tracking that may cause more problems as they get older. As well as making sure that they have a balanced diet and are getting exercise, encourage your teens to wear sunglasses with UV protection and to protect their eyes when playing sports or using tools and equipment.
