The ‘back to school’ health list: clean and check teeth, get an eye appointment, chiropractic adjustment, new shoes, clothes, and book a massage. Why massage? It improves adolescent posture, often affected by computer time and backpacks, aids in sports injury prevention and repair, and can even help reduce anxiety and improve concentration. For younger ones, it can help with sleep! It can also help with body awareness for teens, and promote a healthy lifestyle going into adulthood. Check your health benefits for massage coverage; they often extend to your children, too!

Janet Spafford has lived in Red Deer with her family for over 20 years. She has expertise in assistance with mental health counselling, program coordination and facilitation, career and employment services, and education. In 2016, she received her Master of Counselling from Gonzaga University. As a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counsellor and Psychotherapy Association, Janet has found her true north purpose. Janet shares, “The most rewarding part is supporting clients as they shift perspectives of themselves, their surroundings, relationships and expectations by applying new skills and strengths to realign with their own authenticity.”

Did you know that there are two 9-hole disc golf courses in Red Deer? They’re in Victoria Park (Allan Street) and Kentwood (Kent Street and Kendrew Drive). All players have their own disc (from local sports store) or frisbee. Each player throws their disc into the baskets using as few throws as possible. Great fun for families, friends, or special events. Visit CADGA.ca to join a league. Scorecards for each course can be printed off at reddeerpcn.com. Portable disc golf sets can be borrowed from RDRPCN for events.

Big Bend Market supports local farm families and locally made food products, and believes that we are what we eat. We specialize in hormone and antibiotic-free meat and have a variety of gluten-free products. Supplying Alberta with natural, local, healthy produce since October 2007, Big Bend Market South, located in Southpointe Common, is your full fine meats and fresh cuts deli. We also carry ready to go homemade meals: chicken pot pies, cabbage rolls, perogies, tourtiere, meatballs, and stuffed potatoes. Local organic milk, fresh farm eggs, fresh local vegetables, and a variety of locally produced products. We truly are your year-round farmer’s market!

Preschool and school-aged camps at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre and Historic Fort Normandeau guarantee lots of warm weather fun! Outdoor adventures, mystery solving, a trip through time: something for every young explorer! Register up to three days before camp: $72 preschool/$150 school-aged, per child. Early drop off/late pick up available. Call 403-346-2010, ext. 111 or visit WaskasooPark.ca for more information or to register.

How often do you look at a photo of yourself and immediately start picking out all the things “wrong” with you? The body positivity movement teaches us to appreciate the uniqueness of every body. It doesn’t mean that we always love every single thing about ourselves, but the goal is to shift the focus away from our outside appearance and instead celebrate our body’s abilities, regardless of size or physical traits. Once we learn to have self-compassion, we can also appreciate others for their differences and come to the realize that diversity is what makes the world a beautiful and interesting place.

Q: My siblings and I are concerned about where my elderly father should live. How do we work through our different opinions? A: Well-meaning relatives may disagree with one another or with the aging person about where they should live and the level of care they require. Lawyers work with the family and excellent resources within the community to help ensure that the legal needs of vulnerable people and those who care about them are met. This work can also include discussions about financial circumstances, concerns, and estate planning.

Skin protection – blah, blah, blah! Why should you care? Well, we all know about the risks of cancers, wrinkles, pre-mature aging of the skin, etc. Make sure that your sunblock matches the activity, age group, and best way to apply for you. Additionally, as we spend more time out of doors, we tend to do other things that we need to be aware of regarding our protection. Applying chemicals, servicing equipment, painting or staining projects, among other tasks, also require you to pay attention to how you need to address skin protection. So read those labels, folks; you are irreplaceable!

Smart, funny, pretty, thin, tall, strong, rich…it seems we can never be enough of these qualities. We are our own worst enemies; the feeling of “not enough” is keeping us stuck and feeling heavy. The good news? You CAN change this belief by choosing a different mindset. The fastest and most effective tool you can use is gratitude. And it’s FREE! Lack and abundance cannot coexist in the same space. When you begin to shift your energy toward what you already have, you instantly become abundant. Start and end your day with five things you’re grateful for and watch your life get lighter!

Are concerns about how you look or that you’ll be expected to do advanced poses keeping you from attending a yoga class? Yoga is a great experience for every body size and type, at any age. A few simple stretches of the hands, feet, legs, arms, torso, and neck done regularly can help you regain and maintain flexibility. Seek out experienced and empathetic instructors, who specialize in providing a relaxed and supportive environment where these stretches are complemented with safe, accessible balancing postures. With this support, a path to greater physical comfort and security becomes available and you experience only joy when fear and pain are gone!

Sports injury? Osteoarthritis? Tendonitis? Or perhaps plantar fasciitis, carpel tunnel syndrome, or quilters/texters thumb? You’re in luck! Horizon Joint Rejuvenation Centre, located in Sylvan Lake, AB, is a specialized medical clinic helping patients who suffer from chronic joint and orthopedic pain. They offer a variety of new and exciting options to help you live the full life you deserve, including platelet rich plasma (PRP), prolotherapy, perineurial, and stem cell consultations. With today’s advances, we can now use the body’s own regenerative and restorative components and focus them on rejuvenating an injured area.