Community News
Ask The Expert

Q: With back-to-school time happening, I was thinking of getting my kids eyes examined to see if they’re okay. Or is there adequate screenings at school?

A: I believe screenings are a very noble effort, and I am very grateful to these useful programs for catching some children’s eye problems that would likely have gone undetected for too long. However, I’d still recommend young children come in for a thorough exam of visual function and ocular health, ideally before preschool, to ensure treatable problems are detected as soon as possible.

Dr. Alex Kennedy, MosaicVisionCare.com

Have You Tried Therapeutic Yoga?

While any type of yoga can bring health benefits, therapeutic yoga involves employing a variety of yoga practices to try to improve a health condition or ease a natural process, such as pregnancy or menopause. A well-rounded class will use all of the following practices:

• Breathing Exercises (Pranayama): Involves a series of breathing exercises ranging from energizing to balancing breaths.

• Physical Postures (Asana): Focuses on yoga poses that address problem areas. For example, the “Legs Up the Wall” pose is used to treat things like anxiety and insomnia. In this pose, the person lays on his or her back with legs positioned up against the wall.

• Meditation: Relaxation and mindfulness are the focus of meditation when it is combined with yoga poses.

• Guided Imagery: Is used to calm the body and mind by providing a guided visualization intended to bring inner peace.

Katie White RMT, CYT, HTP, Courtenay Massage Therapy, CourtenayMassageTherapy.com

Reverse Aging, Eliminate Illness

Did you know that we can reverse our aging process by 10 years or more? We can defend our brains and bodies against mental decline and aging. A groundbreaking discovery at Princeton University has led to anti-aging and enhanced wellness, enhancing brain health and our quality of life. Coupled with powerful plant enzymes, proteolytic probiotics, life-enhancing whole food supplements, and a healthy lifestyle, we can prevent and eliminate many illnesses. Many have eliminated and improved illnesses such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, deathbed cancer, MS, ALS, lupus, diabetes, etc. Coupled with a healthy lifestyle, we can increase our brain performance and stay in ideal health way into our ‘golden’ years! Health is NOT a matter of CHANCE; it’s just a matter of CHOICE! Reclaim your health today! Visit our educational health site to learn about brain health research and enhanced wellness and request our indepth educational health package and educational newsletters.

Louis Hoolaeff, HR HC ACS, Leading Edge Health, ProvenHealth.info

Music and Neuroscience

Do we need to hear from experts that listening to music, tapping our feet in rhythm to music, or humming a familiar tune is good for us? My own curiosity about how music gets us moving, smiling, or recalling things we haven’t thought of in years led me to Music Therapy and research: McGill Unversity’s Dr. Daniel Levitin has found that as a result of exposure to music, levels of immunoglobinA, an antibody linked to immunity, increases; In another study he found significant evidence of music’s anti-anxiety properties. Montreal Neurological Institute’s Dr. Zatorre has found that a brain structure called the striatum is stimulated by music to release dopamine which increases feelings of pleasure. Music therapists are continually training to integrate and apply research findings into practice in order to better serve people of every age, from babies to Alzheimer’s patients.

Nejama Ferstman BA, MTA, Certified Music Therapist @ ShiriMusicTherapy, ShiriMySong.ca

Believe to Achieve

BELIEVING is the most important part of the mental game of any sport or leisure activity. If you want to change your experience, change your beliefs – at the subconscious level. Learn to hit the ball, SEE THE BALL, be AWARE of the game set around you and play with confidence. BELIEVE in your ability and watch your game improve daily! Hypnotherapies for sports and leisure activity treats anxieties and blocks at the subconscious level, improving your underlying beliefs in your abilities. Remember how good you felt when you first hit a ball cleanly, made a wonderful putt, sank a shot, made a fabulous pass to a teammate, returned an impossible serve, got your first strikeout or made it to the podium? Hypnosis works with your subconscious beliefs to eliminate anxieties, release old blocks, and bring those wonderful feelings of being in the moment – IN THE ZONE – and put you back on the path of enjoyment and fulfilment within your sport!

Pete Flagg, Hypnotherapy Consultant, Victoria Hypnotherapy for Sports Performance Improvement, Relax2playwell.ca

Who Do You Want to Be?

Shame tells us a story about ourselves. We all have a private understanding of who we are, and sometimes the sum total can feel good enough. But sometimes the secret story is deeply embarrassing – we feel deeply wrong or screwed up. We may doubt or blame ourselves, act out, or feel deeply responsible. Shame can make it hard to handle overbearing people or make the changes we need. Our friends may not know how to reassure us. Counselling can be a safe place to uncover these feelings, find new ways to appreciate yourself, and rediscover confidence.

Mary Munro, MaryMunro.ca

Review Digital Contracts/Cyber Security

After summer, it’s typical for us to consider new tech devices for back-to-school or work requirements. As a result, it’s an opportune time to review all the subscriptions, apps, and user terms you’ve agreed to during the past year. Just as it is wise to review the status of any service fees and monthly debits once a year, it’s good to review renewable download agreements. Should you have younger tech users, it’s important to remind them about employing an antivirus program and practicing personal security habits to protect their privacy, especially when using social media.

Abakhan and Associates Inc., Abakhan.com

Flighty/Impulsive or Cool/Collected

It has been shown many times that those high-functioning adults with focus problems, such as severe problems with organization, trouble following non-verbal cues, slow reading, or even clumsiness, had those issues when they were young. This is a prefrontal cortex issue that has people often being seen as irresponsible, flighty, impulsive, and indifferent. Whatever the age, Brainwave Optimization is a non-invasive technology that develops the innate potential of the human brain, helping a person to change their life – quickly, simply, effectively. One family writes, “We plan to continue using this brain training technology to enhance the concentration and focus of each one of us.”

Joanne Couture, RMFT, RSW, LaLobaTraumaRelease.com

Health Product Review: Opus Healthy Water Systems

Opus Healthy Water Systems produce crystal clear great tasting water. For pennies a litre, Opus systems remove harmful contaminants, pathogens, chlorine, fluoride, chloramines, heavy metals, odors and more, while retaining naturally occurring minerals. Reverse osmosis systems remove healthful minerals, creating acidic, corrosive water that can be harmful to your health and your home. Reverse Osmosis water leaches nickel from stainless steel which can trigger allergic reactions and contribute to joint pain. Opus systems produce pH-balanced or alkaline water and feature a minimum of .5 micron microfiltration, with options down to .001 micron nanofiltration. Available bioceramic infusers can add molecular hydrogen and boost alkalinity, transforming ordinary tap water into a powerful antioxidant. Designed for municipally treated water sources and drilled wells, Opus filtration solutions include point-of-use systems with an installed faucet for the kitchen, countertop units, and point-of-entry systems that filter all the water in your home, cottage, or business.

Aviva Natural Health Solutions, AvivaHealth.com

BACK to Class

The beginning of the school year is quickly approaching and it’s time to start preparing a number of things for the upcoming return. Let’s talk about backpacks. Proper backpack wear is extremely important to prevent issues such as muscle strains and poor posture, especially in children and teenagers who are growing and developing. The Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) outlines many important tips for backpack wear. The backpack should rest comfortably on the shoulders with both padded straps on, and the bottom should sit in the curve of the lower back (about 2 inches above the waist). The weight of the bag with contents should not be more than 1015% of total body weight. There may be a problem if you notice red marks on the shoulders, tingling in the arms, or pain. If you have any other questions, your physiotherapist would be happy to answer them. Have a safe school year!

Physio First, PhysioFirstClinic.ca

Back to School!

Here are some tips to help you and your child stress less:

• Ease back into a healthy bedtime routine. Routines are key for children, especially when it comes to sleep. An hour of quiet time with no electronics is a great way to help them relax.

• Lay clothing out and pack lunches the night before. This allows more time for you and your child to prepare for the day.

• Help your child set goals, rather than focus on good grades alone.

• Teach your child breathing or relaxation techniques to help them when they are stressed or overwhelmed.

Wendy Omilanow, Access BARS