Shovelling snow improperly can lead to muscle and joint injuries. Before shovelling, perform a short warm-up. Use an ergonomic shovel (with a curved handle) that is the proper length for you. Bend your knees and hips, not your back, and keep abdominal and gluteal muscles engaged. Take several small steps to relocate the snow instead of twisting. Move small loads and push, rather than lift. Go slowly with snow blowers so they are easier to handle and can process the snow. Take breaks as needed and if you experience any prolonged shortness of breath or chest pains, seek medical attention.
Melissa Wishart, M.P.T., Physio First Clinic, PhysioFirstClinic.ca
Community News
70 is the new 50
Working into retirement, postponing having kids, living longer – the lifecycle of Canadians is changing. This has implications on personal finances and retirement savings. New research suggests that old age now starts at 74, with middle age lasting at least nine years longer than current estimates. What we think of as old has changed over time and it will need to continue changing in the future as people live longer, healthier lives. Two hundred years ago, a 60-year-old was a very old person. Someone who is 60 years old today could be argued as middle aged. In terms of health, longevity, and view of life, “baby boomers” in their sixties and seventies will be more like their parents and grandparents were at 50. This means people can work longer if they so desire. For many people, 70 is the new 50 and signifies the quiet revolution that has taken place in longevity. DisabilityTaxCreditWinnipeg.cm
3-Ingredient Almond Butter Cookies
These flour-less almond butter cookies are SO good, and made with only 3 ingredients (1 cup almond butter, 6 Tbsp raw sugar, and 1 large egg)! Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray two nonstick baking sheets lightly with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, mix the almond butter, sugar, and egg until well combined. Spoon 1 level tablespoon of the mixture about 1 inch apart onto baking sheets. Flatten the mounds with the tines of a fork, making a crosshatch pattern on the cookies. Bake until golden around the edges, about 10 minutes.
SkinnyTaste.com
Pilates—How it Works
These exercises are usually done in a specific order at various levels of difficulty. The moves may look simple, but take a lot of precision and control. You can do Pilates on a mat in class, at home, or individually with an instructor. Pilates targets core areas and legs, with a focus on stabilizing and strengthening your abdominals and back. It generates flexibility and strength using your own body weight, but it is not a cardio workout.
Marita Dowsett, B.P.T. Physio4U, Physio4U.net
Time for Change
Access Bars – A simple body process that is changing the world. There are two things that will change anything in your life; choice, and Access Bars. The Access Bars are the very core and foundation of Access Consciousness. It can be the starting point of a great adventure, and it can be something you add to your life that will assist you in creating a greater ease with everything. Access Bars has assisted thousands of people to change many aspects of their body and their life including sleep, health and weight, money, love making and relationships, anxiety, stress, and so much more. During a Bars session, a practitioner lightly touches 32 points on your head over the course of an hour to an hour and a half. Touching the bars allows for the electromagnetic charge that holds thoughts, feelings, and emotions in place to dissipate, allowing you to perceive your life, body, and relationships with more clarity and ease. Wendy Omilanow
Product Review: Venus Freeze
Are you tired of sagging skin, excess fat, and cellulite that won’t seem to fade with even the most expensive creams? Venus Freeze is exclusive to Rejuvenate Zone and is revolutionary in the beauty industry. Venus Freeze is a non-surgical and non-invasive body contouring and skin tightening treatment for the face, neck and body. The blood flow in the treated area is improved, enhancing texture and skin tone. Get rid of fat and cellulite, lose inches, and tone your WHOLE face & body. Venus Freeze is supported by plastic surgeons across the world as a safe, pain-free alternative to liposuction. RejuvenateZone.ca
How Often Should I Get a Facial?
The skin is like a factory or conveyor belt, delivering new skin cells to the surface every 21-30 days, which is the full lifecycle of skin cell growth and exfoliation. A facial helps that process along. The treatment will keep your skin clean, clear, and toned. Having one every four weeks helps you maintain that beautiful glow all month long by cleansing your skin and freeing it of toxins, which stimulates the exfoliation process. This deep exfoliation is necessary for skin to appear more toned and youthful-looking. It also allows the products to penetrate into the skin.
Chris Laidlaw, DMK Skincare, DMKskincare.ca
A Puppy for Christmas!
A new pet can be a wonderful holiday gift, but it can also be a challenging surprise. There’s no denying the comfort and joy of a puppy in the house, but a new pet means a whole lot of responsibility that one should always consider beforehand. Also, remember that these little ones have just left their ‘mommy’, so try to keep the Christmas excitement on the quieter side, with lots of time for extra cuddles with puppy! It is important to be prepared for the financial and personal commitments of raising a puppy to become a happy and healthy member of your family, and the rewards are endless!
Happy Paws Pet Food, HappyPaws.ca
Happy Paws Pet Food, www.happypaws.ca
The Best Intention
December is simply a difficult month! Balancing negative stresses and positive happiness may seem impossible. One way to help yourself get through it is to pay special attention to your INTENTIONS; the thoughts you have before you act on them. During the first week of December, say aloud as often as you can, “I intend to experience some joy and laughter each day of this month”, and then VISUALIZE yourself laughing and feeling happy. You have increased the chances of this being YOUR REALITY by up to 75% more. Season’s Greetings!
Barbara Gilmore; bgilmorecounselling.com
Give the Gift of Experience
A good question to ask yourself as you look around your place and see all the ‘stuff’ everywhere is, how much of it really gives you pleasure or adds meaning to your life? A recent survey of millennials advises that about 70% were willing to forgo gift giving in lieu of time spent with family and friends. Maybe this year, giving gifts of our time or experiences – making dinner with clean-up, walking in the woods, running errands, making a batch of cookies, or taking down the Christmas tree and recycling it – would be remembered and treasured more so than presents.
Doris Minervini, Abakhan & Associates Inc., Abakhan.com
Dentures for Comfort
Uncomfortable dentures are a thing of the past. Their lightweight, comfortable counterparts are practically invisible, and completely eliminate the unsightly metal clasps. In fact, flexible partial dentures are fabricated without the use of a metal frame – made instead from a strong, durable plastic that snaps securely and comfortably into place around existing natural teeth and gums. The plastic used is so strong that the partial made from it can be very thin, eliminating that heavy, bulky feeling that makes wearing partials so unpleasant. Flexible partial dentures are a quality, premium product that offer the benefits of superior esthetics, comfort, function, and bio-compatibility.
J. Lane Janke, DD, FCAD, James Bay Denturists, JBSdenturists.com
