Community News
Book Club: Is Your Child’s Brain Starving?

By Michael R. Lyon MD and Christine Laurell, PhD

Michael Lyon went from overweight academic underachiever to graduating as the top male student in his high school a year later, thanks to a total change of diet and lifestyle. He ultimately became a medical doctor involved in research on nutrition. This book is an inspiring guide to better brain function through diet and lifestyle changes. The minor downfall is the promotion of supplements he has helped to develop, but it is still a valuable book for parents and has a good recipe section.

IQ and Nutrition

What if you could increase your child’s IQ with nutrition? Inhabitants of a tiny island off the coast of Japan have the highest IQ scores in the world and produce seven times as many geniuses as any other place in the world. Seniors living there don’t seem to struggle with cognitive decline either. The secret: DHA, an essential fatty acid found in fish, krill, squid and some algae. The brain is made mostly of fat, 60% of which is DHA. DHA is found in mother’s milk and has long been recognized as aiding IQ scores in children. Almost everyone nowadays is deficient in DHA. This may be one of the reasons for the increased rates of ADHD, learning disabilities and autism as well as increasing rates of Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related cognitive problems.

What Yoga Means to Me

Over a year ago, my wife, Donna asked me what I would like for Christmas. I replied a yoga mat. So that beautiful day arrived and there it was sitting under the tree. I didn’t really know why I had asked for such a gift but what unfolded over the next year was truly amazing. At first, I was reluctant to use the mat. I tried a little self-practice at home, used a book I had laying around for years, and quickly became disenchanted with the whole process. Then it happened while on a summer holiday at Nelson B.C an opportunity presented itself. I almost walked away from that opportunity that would change my life. I listened to my heart and took my first yoga class, a restorative practice. It was magic, so peaceful, no evasive and taught in a none judgemental manner. Only do what your body allows you to do at this moment. Wow, I was hooked. I came back home and immediately asked a good friend, an excellent yoga teacher, to hook me up at where she teaches.

So I was introduced to Breathing Room Yoga out of Inspire You Studio. What I found there was a treasure of gifted instructors, a warm and caring studio and an absolute feeling of community. I have taken all of the different styles of yoga that are offered at the studio. Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Yin, Kundalini, Restorative. I have enjoyed them all the instruction is always informative and personalized to meet my needs. I started on this journey for betterment in my physical state. I had been walking all winter and lost over thirty pounds, within two months of yoga practice, five times a week, I lost a further seventeen pounds. My body has become leaner, and I actually have definition in areas such as my core and legs. Further to this, I have found the most important part of yoga practice that makes it all worthwhile. There is a spiritual connection between yourself and your maker. This awakening is centuries old, and it simply lies there waiting for you on your mat. I have embraced this energy and combined with the physical benefits found peace and contentment in my life. All this through the gift of a yoga mat from my love. I would end this with a thank you to all the instructors, for without your dedication hard work and care my reality, the trueness of one’s self would have stayed dormant without your kind awakening of my inner self. Lastly, I would encourage all to come to practice, experience your breath, the movement of one’s body and what you are really capable of. I will leave you with this your yoga practice is like a flower it blooms when it is ready, but it is always growing. Namaste you beauties.

Murray Smith, Yoga for life. Inspire You Studio
www.inspireyoustudio.com

Sun Safety

There has been a lot of discussions involving sun safety and the dangers of over exposure. Many improvements in the tanning industry have been made thanks to technology that has led to better safety and increased positive effects of salon tanning. My 27 years’ experience in the tanning industry has seen these changes, and I’ve done a lot of research into skin exposure to both the sun’s rays and salon rays. It is important to remember all things in moderation. Studies have shown that salon tanning has many beneficial effects for such conditions as arthritis, PMS, psoriasis, and eczema, as well as seasonal affective disorder. A careful, cautious approach gradually builds a superior protection against full spectrum (UVA and UVB) burning rays. Moderate exposure to the sun is essential to the maintenance of good physical and psychological health. Our many years of experience and expertise can help you reap the positive benefits of the sun year-round.

Tracey Delmage, Catch-A-Tan
www.catchatan.ca

Stress, Relaxation and the Brain

We’re all aware of the negative effects of chronic and high levels of stress, but it’s not always easy to just turn it off. Keeping a positive attitude, exercising and eating right, and taking time for rest, relaxation and reflection can go a long way in reducing our overall stress levels and keeping us happy and healthy. Sometimes, however, life doesn’t cooperate by giving us the time and opportunity to focus on self-care and decompress when we need to. Luckily technologies like neurofeedback can help train the brain to be more flexible, adaptable and resilient overall; leading to a more effective modulation of the nervous system. With the help of neurofeedback coupled with a healthy lifestyle, we’re better able to quickly deactivate the automatic “fight or flight” response that becomes triggered in times of stress; returning to a place of regeneration and healing.

Dr. Chris Hammer, Psychologist, Valentus Clinics, www.valentusclinics.com

Organ Attunement

Each organ system carries its own brand of chi, which allows it to perform its unique physical and energetic functions. There is an inter-relationship between the organs, an energetic dance of motilities that orchestrate support for all the bodily biochemical functions, such as digestion, but also of overall tone for how we move and sit and stand as a positional moving body of expression. Every organ with the exception of the kidneys (which are suspended in a web of capillaries) are attached to bones via ligaments. By following the movement of bones and by tracking bones to organs, the fullness of buoyant support from within is remembered and so our overall postural tone is plumped up and vibrant. In this way posture is not a doing of muscular efforts but instead an inherent place to rest upon natural volumetric tone from within. Wow what a beautiful exchange of energies this can be.

Laurie Pryce, Biodynamic Body, www.biodynamicbody.ca

Posture and Its Long Term Effects

What happens when you stand up straight? Are you truly in a balanced posture or are there tilts and twists in your body? Many of us believe that we are in a good posture but often that’s not the case. Far too often we hear from clients that they are dealing with chronic muscle aches and pains in the upper back or neck. Whether you are working, working out or simply relaxing, your body is, unfortunately, breaking down due to the wear and tear of gravity’s forces on your body faster than you would like. Solutions exist to curb this progression, but we’ve got to do something about it at the structural level. We’ve got to investigate the structural position of your spine and how are you positioning yourself throughout the day. It makes a big difference and can be a fantastic remedy for increasing your daily quality of life.

Dr. Matthew Kittleson, UC Life Chiropractic Centre, www.uclife.ca

The Sun and Our Eyes

As we all know, the sun’s UV rays are quite damaging to the skin, and most of us are great about putting on sun block to protect ourselves, but what about our eyes? The sun can cause cataracts, macular degeneration and growths on the eye, some even cancerous. The growths on the eye are called pterygiums, and they can occur in people of all ages, who spend large amounts of time in the sun. Pterygiums grow into the cornea, causing loss of vision. Other diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration occur later in life, but they occur from damage over the years of not protecting the eyes. That is why wearing sun protection, which includes sunglasses and a hat, is important for all ages including babies. So do your eyes a favour and give them the protection they need!

Dr. Nicholas Catchuk, www.iris.ca

Are Your Finances Healthy?

When is the last time you considered your own financial health? There are many dimensions to financial health, including the amount of savings you have, how much you’re setting away for retirement, and how much of your income you are spending on fixed or non-discretionary expenses. Each person’s situation is different, for this reason, it is worthwhile spending some time in developing your own financial plan to ensure that you’re on track to reach both your short-term and long-term goals. People often fail to recognize the power of interest; For example, putting away $10.22 per month from the time you are 16 years old, with compounding interest, would result in $100,000 upon retirement. However, purchasing everyday items on credit and just paying the minimum balance each month may mean that you reach retirement carrying $100,000 in debt. Seeking out help from a debt specialist can vastly improve your financial health.

Colleen Craig, C.E. Craig & Associates, www.cecraig.com

Thinking About Your Pregnancy?

Want to talk without a political agenda? Many women find themselves unexpectedly pregnant and having to decide what happens next. It can be difficult to find a place to discuss your decision freely, without judgement or strong opinions. Abortion can be a huge relief and still be a stressful experience you want support around. Having an unexpected baby can also be very stressful, with a lot to consider. Either path can get us questioning our life plans, our relationship, hopes about career and financial stability, our ideas about motherhood, what family or friends will think, or a partner’s feelings. We can feel understandable self-doubt, mixed with shame, anger, regret, guilt, and sadness, plus a pressure to get on with life. It’s a lot to sort out. A Registered Clinical Counsellor can provide an emotionally safe, unbiased place to work out your feelings, whatever they may be.

Mary Munro MA.MC.RCC, www.marymunro.ca

Organically Grown Produce & Anti-Oxidants

Fruits and Vegetables produced WITHOUT synthetic pesticides and fertilizers have healthy immune systems. A plant’s natural defense mechanism includes the production of Anti-Oxidants. Recent studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between farming practices (Organic and Conventional) and the anti-oxidant content of the fruits and vegetables grown. Antioxidants are nutrients (vitamins and minerals) and enzymes (proteins) that can help to prevent and repair damage to your body’s tissue. Antioxidants do this by slowing or preventing the effect of free radicals, which start oxidation — a process that causes damage from oxygen that can lead to cell dysfunction. Include a diversity of vibrant coloured fruit and vegetable in your diet every day! Top Produce items for Anti-Oxidant content: Sweet Potatoes, Cherries, Tomatoes, Asparagus, Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Sprouts, and Microgreens. For best results consume them as close to Raw as possible.

Bryan Lawson PDC. Produce Geek, and Permaculturist, Urban Ground Market.