Community News
Summer and Vitamin D

Summer weather has finally arrived, and many of us are enjoying the longer summer days, and spending more time outside. Did you know that even with the summer weather, you might not be getting adequate amounts of vitamin D? Sunscreen can block up to 90% of the vitamin D conversion on sun-exposed skin, and clothing will prevent adequate vitamin D production as well. Individuals with digestive problems and autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis often require higher levels of vitamin D than the average person does. Vitamin D plays an important role in bone and muscle health, healthy immune function, and good mental health. We live in a climate of extremes, and ensuring you have optimal levels of vitamin D throughout the year is an easy way to support good health. Arranging seasonal, periodic testing and evaluation by your naturopathic doctor will ensure your levels are optimal all year long!

Dr. Cory Storm, ND
TheNatureDoctors.ca

Foundation of Mental Health

Did you know that our ability to experience happiness and satisfaction in life is related directly to our self-esteem? We learn to love ourselves to the extent that we have been loved. How we love and accept ourselves affects our relationships and our ability to love others. Our beliefs and the extent to which we value ourselves is a product of our past experiences, and influences how we feel about ourselves today. Low self-esteem may contribute to depression, anxiety, and decreased productivity and social interaction. The good news is that you can learn to change your beliefs about yourself. As your self-esteem increases, so does your enthusiasm, creativity, energy, and happiness. Self-esteem is the foundation of mental health! Take that first step towards building a healthy foundation by attending a Self-Love & Acceptance Group.

Tracy Sparham, BSW, RSW
sheatreewellness.com

What are Cataracts?

Behind the iris is a lens, which helps your eye focus light. In the majority of the population, this lens is transparent. However, aging, certain diseases, trauma to the eye, medications, and environmental factors such as air pollution and UV light can cause this lens to discolour or develop opacities. These changes are called cataracts and they affect the ability of the eye to focus light, much like a fingerprint on glasses or dirt on a window. If the cataract matures, many people notice blurry vision that is not correctable with glasses. Other symptoms of cataracts are glare, halos, and changes to colour vision. Once the vision loss is affecting daily activities, cataract surgery may be considered.

Dr. Ashley Britton, Independent Optometrist
Linden Ridge Eye Care
LREyeCare.ca

Get More from Vacations

Do you find it takes you up to three days to get into “vacation mode”? Summertime is vacation time, and your time away is far too precious to spend it trying to “hurry up and relax”. Once you do wind down, do you often get sick? The go-go-go nature of our lives means that once your system has a chance to calm down, your immunity also goes down the tubes at the same time, leading to illness or exhaustion. Floating therapy before your vacation can help you get your mind and body back into balance so that you can actually be more present on your vacation. And isn’t that what vacations are really for?

Leah & Brad, FloatCalm.com

Meet an Intuitive Matchmaker

As a matchmaker with over 23 years of experience, I have facilitated thousands of matches that originated from a strong feeling. I am gifted with very keen intuition and have learned not to question it. Often, I meet a client and know exactly who their match is. I have told people by phone, prior to meeting them, that I suspect I know who their ideal match is. Sure enough, that hunch ends up being the start of a forever relationship. A year ago, a man walked into my office and I immediately knew who his match was. I contacted her and encouraged her to give him a call. She did, and it was one of the best choices she has made. I was just a guest at their wedding. Their connection is spectacular, their love is deep, and their respect for one another is tremendous.

Lianne Tregobov, Intuitive Matchmaker, CamelotIntroductions.com

Healthy Sleeping Habits

If you have increased muscle aches and pains through your lower back or neck in the morning, the way you are sleeping may be contributing to your pain. Sleeping on your back with a small pillow under your knees maintains the natural spinal curve and can relieve extra pressure through your lower back. Lying on your side with your knees slightly bent and with a pillow between your legs is also a good position to maintain a neutral spine. It is best to try to avoid stomach sleeping, as this causes increased pressure through your lower back and extra torque through your neck. Firm mattresses and pillows are supportive and allow your spine to stay neutral and prevent your head from bending side to side. Be sure to ask your physiotherapist for sleeping posture tips that will work for you at your next appointment!

Kristy Maksymyk BMR-PT, Prairie Trail Physiotherapy, PrairieTrailPhysio.ca

Removing Dental Amalgam

Dental amalgam has been around for decades and was the treatment of choice for teeth that had dental decay. It remains a good material, but today there are other options. When removing dental amalgam due to structural issues or recurrent decay, there are often questions about the mercury and how it is removed safely to minimize exposure to yourself and the environment. There are guidelines in place to help prevent the mercury from being washed down the drain and entering our environment through units in the dental office. As well, from a personal protection standpoint, dental dams, high volume suction, and water irrigation all prevent the ingestion of the components from dental amalgam when it is being removed.

Dr. Ken Hamin
ReflectionsDentalHealth.ca

Diet – a 4-Letter Word!

The human brain is an amazing and powerful tool. It has the capacity to heal, imagine, and reason. In fact, its main job is our survival. Given this fact, doesn’t it make sense that dieting, which is starving yourself a little, would go against the very nature of survival? Is it any wonder diets don’t work? Dieting also encourages us to eat the wrong foods and sometimes become addicted to them because our brain believes it is helping us. Our society has evolved, but a part of our brain hasn’t kept up. Add this to all of the unhealthy food choices we have available, and you can see a disaster in the making. The good news is the same brain will, with the right coaching, turn that around for you and make it all attainable. Connecting and coaching the subconscious mind is a natural alternative to pills, surgery, and diets.

Sherry Wilkinson
WinnipegHypnotherapy.com

What is Ganban-Yoku?

Ganban-yoku is a very popular form of thermal relaxation therapy in Japan. It uses rare stones found only in certain areas of the world. They release therapeutic warmth once they are heated, and help relax the body and mind. The stones are embedded in comfortable, smooth slab beds. They are heated gently by a hydronic water system. Many people compare the Ganban-yoku experience to relaxing on the beach on a warm day. What is unique about the treatment is the kind of sweat Ganban-yoku produces. Silky sweat is perspired during the session and does not have stickiness or smell, and we recommend not taking a shower after the treatment, and patting dry. This silky sweat acts as a natural lotion, leaving your skin smooth, radiant, and glowing.

PoccaPocaSpa.com

Surrender to the YES

Surrendering to the YES is not about giving up or giving in. It’s about letting go and understanding that, in this particular moment in time, there is nothing you can do but receive the experience, let go of all expectations, and ride the wave between what you’ve known and what is not yet shown. Sometimes in life, the best-laid plans don’t always work as they were supposed to. When we stop fighting, fixing, pushing, doing, or trying to make the pain or situation go away, we can begin to embrace the fear and feelings without getting too stuck or shut down. Oprah Winfrey shares, “Our deepest struggle can, if you are willing, produce your greatest strength.” When we can fully surrender to what is, releasing expectations of the way we had hoped it to be, we can welcome in all the YES’s to come!

D’Arcy Bruning-Haid
Souls-journey.com

Relaxation; What’s That?

How often do we hear this? “The only time I relax is with a drink in my hand. My brain does not know how to slow down.” Diagnosed with anxiety, a recent client found counselling and group work to be highly stressful. “I’m always scared of what others will say or think!” She was always so tired that she barely had energy to complete daily tasks; yet, when she went to bed, she couldn’t sleep. Brainwave Optimization helped her feel relaxed for the first time in her life. By attending to her brain frequencies, she wasn’t stuck in fight-flight anymore. She was able to keep her food down and digest better. Her sleep came more easily without meds. She was calmer around others and felt less intimidated by them. She could hardly believe she could get to that point without having to try and figure out what was “wrong” with her.

Joanne Couture, RMFT, RSW
LaLobaTraumaRelease.com