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Community News
Health Benefits of Knitting
Did you know that knitting has mental health benefits? Knitting involves the movement of the hands and fingers. This active finger and wrist movement, dexterity and fine motor coordination can facilitate improvements in other functional skills. Recent studies show that knitting can help with: ▪Lowering blood pressure, ▪Reducing depression and anxiety, ▪Slowing onset of dementia, ▪Distracting from chronic pain, ▪Increasing sense of wellbeing, ▪Reducing loneliness and isolation. Knitting is one of many activities offered and encouraged at Sherwood House.
Sleep Influences Food Choices
When we are tired, drained and recovering from a poor night’s sleep, we are more likely to reach for foods that are quick, premade and packed with sodium and unhealthy fats. We are much more likely to give in to our cravings. Think of the last time you had an awful night’s sleep. If you’re like participants in a Cleveland Clinic study, you probably gravitated toward high-fat and simple carbohydrate-rich foods. Sleep influences our food choices during waking hours. Pay attention to the foods you crave and gravitate towards when you’re tired and what it’s like after a good night’s sleep.
Profile: AJ Pedal Wheelchair
Whether your mobility has been impacted by Parkinson’s, MS, a stroke, or knee or hip trouble, the AJ Pedal Wheelchair is designed to get you moving again. Like a bike, it’s powered by you – so you can reconnect with your body, rebuild muscle tone and improve your cardiovascular system. Designed to maneuver in tight spaces, the AJ rides easily into elevators, buildings and shopping centres. More robust than a wheelchair, the AJ allows you to pedal through parks, along sidewalks and even ride public transit. Each AJ is hand built in Victoria, BC, using durable materials for a safe and sturdy ride.
Stay Active to Maintain Health
Being physically active can help with injury prevention, maintain health and improve mobility. If we don’t use our muscles or move our joints, we can “rust” just like a piece of machinery that is left to sit idle. Being active does not necessarily mean lifting heavy weights or running a marathon. It can be as simple as performing gentle prescribed exercises, mobility drills, and active release stretches that can help us maintain mobility and prevent injury. Making small changes in our routine can have huge impacts on whole-body health, the healing process and general well-being. Contact us – we can help you get started.
Socks for Healthy Circulation
Today’s travel often involves long flights in cramped seats that can be very hard on your circulation. Wearing socks with mild compression will comfortably help increase circulation and reduce the risk of swelling. The compression steadily squeezes your legs, helping your veins and leg muscles move blood more efficiently. They offer a simple, safe and economical way to keep blood from stagnating. Others things that will help you during long flights include getting up and stretching every hour while flying, staying hydrated and flexing your ankles every 30 minutes.
Live Life to Its Fullest
A senior once said “The secret to having everything in life, is believing that you already have it.” There is something to that. Many seniors will tell you that the things that you thought mattered in your younger years were not really what mattered. It’s not the ‘things’ that matter. It’s the people, the experiences, the memories that you carry with you throughout your lifetime. Retirement communities are great places for retirees to continue to make new friends, have new experiences and make more wonderful memories. We should all strive every day to learn something new or meet someone new – it’s what keeps us young at heart!
Time to Nurture Ourselves
Oh, what a beautiful fall! As I watch the leaves drop I am reminded to slow down. Mother Earth is so wise. It is a time for nurturing ourselves as we ready for the winter months. Unfortunately, our busy lives have lost the rhythm of mother earth. We have become detached, distracted, and for many depressed and anxious by the chaos in our present world. We have forgotten what is true and what is provided for us all to embrace. Peace of mind, joy, and freedom from fear and pain is your birthright. Embrace the power within you, nurture your resilience, your immunity, and your connection to truth. Let’s talk. Let’s celebrate.
Tips to FIT Fitness into Your Life
We all know that maintaining an active lifestyle should be one of our top priorities. Only by taking care of ourselves do we stand a chance of being the kind of person we strive to be on the job, at home and in our communities. Here are two tips: 1) Strive for an earlier start to your day. 2) Join a fitness class or start personal training. A personal trainer or fitness class will give you some tools to start. Don’t waste another year of not being your very strongest self. We offer online and in-person coaching.
Meet the BC-Grown Aronia Berry
The Aronia berry is dark purple, about the size of a blueberry, with three times the anti-oxidants. Its outstanding nutritional and pharmacological properties are well documented. Aronia berries contain high levels of antioxidants which research has shown may help in reducing inflammation, free radical damage, and blood glucose in diabetics. Local BC Aronia berries are available frozen to make wonderful smoothies. You can also purchase delicious local Aronia berry juice, jams and bottles of vinegar. When dried, they are excellent in cereal, trail mix and salads. Aronia Berries Are Antioxidant Gold™
Sleep Changes & The Elderly
Seniors who wake up more often during the night and earlier in the morning, usually have a harder time falling asleep, and spend less time in deep, dreamless sleep. Some measures to help you sleep better include: 1) Eat a light bedtime snack. 2) Avoid caffeine for at least 3 or 4 hours before bed. 3) Avoid napping during the day. 4) Exercise regularly, but not within 3 hours of bedtime. 5) Practice relaxation techniques at bedtime. 6) Don’t watch TV or use devices while in bed. 7) Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
