February 23. Coldest Night of the Year! Fundraiser Walk. The Comox Valley Transition Society and Dawn to Dawn are teaming up for our second annual Coldest Night of the Year Walk to end homelessness. This family event will take place in downtown Courtenay. For event details or to volunteer, walk by yourself, join a team or start a team at CNOY.org/location/comoxvalley

Research shows that on a conventional and scientific level that we can communicate with trees. To communicate with a tree, using your hands, connect with its energy field. With your heart ask permission to spend time with it. Place your hands on the tree, smell, feel and touch it’s leaves. Stand and hug or sit with your back against it’s trunk. Sit quiet and connect with the spirit within you. Ask a question and breathe in your answer. Thank the tree before leaving. This takes practise but overtime your communication will intensify.

There are athletes and non-athletic types alike who consume kombucha regularly, not only for improved digestion and energy, but because they find it supports their mobility and speeds their exercise recovery. Many lab studies have confirmed that properly brewed kombucha contains several specific constituents that can directly improve joint health. Among these important substances, we find glucuronic acid, which is a detoxification agent otherwise only found in a healthy liver. Additionally, kombucha contains tissue-rebuilding enzymes such as chondroitin sulphate, heparin, hyaluronan, mucoitin sulphate, and the more well-known glucosamine, which is a primary building block of tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.

Thinking about some resolutions for the New Year? Quitting smoking may be the most important change you can make to improve your health. There are numerous immediate benefits to quitting smoking including reducing your blood pressure and heart rate, improving your sense of taste and smell, and improving your circulation, making it easier to exercise. With every year that you are smoke free, your risk of stroke and lung cancer decreases. After 15 years, your risk of a heart attack is the same as someone who has never smoked. (source: www.quitnow.ca). Talk to your healthcare professional today about quitting. It’s never too late!

Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are seen as neurological conditions that affect attention, self-control and executive functioning (what helps us get things done).

The symptoms below can be seen in very young children and can last well into adulthood and you may not have all of them depending on whether you are predominantly ADD, ADHD or a combination of both.  Please remember this is not a complete list. It only serves to give you an idea of how ADD/ADHD expresses itself.  A proper diagnosis from a medical professional is key in moving forward.  If you suspect you or your child has ADD or ADHD, make sure you get this as many of the ‘symptoms’ can often be indicative of something else.

ADD

• Typically running late or losing track of time
• Often misplacing keys, glasses, books, etc
• Feeling overwhelmed by to-do lists
• Difficulty focusing in conversations and on tasks
• Forgetting dates and tasks

ADHD

• Inability to finish tasks, projects
• Emotional outbursts
• Constant fidgeting
• Extremely talkative
• Impulsive spending, decisions

Once you are sure, there is a lot you can do to manage these conditions.  ADD/ADHD expresses itself differently with each and every person so the treatment plan is different as well but typically may include medication, exercise, nutrition, cognitive brain therapy (brain exercises) and mindfulness & meditation.  That’s where Qigong comes in!

Qigong is a moving meditation which is much easier for those with ADHD and a restless body and the visualizations and sounds help to keep bright, creative minds engaged.  At the same time, it is a very grounding practice giving deep relaxation to the overactive brain.  The moving and transforming of your body’s energy (qi) promotes better focus, calmness and peace of mind as well as helping to balance all internal organs, including the brain!

Most conventional skincare products contain irritants like alcohols, sulphates and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. These chemicals strip the skin of its natural oils, dissolve beneficial bacteria, and irritate the skin, leaving it sensitive, reddened and inflamed. By stripping the natural oils in your skin, your sebaceous glands either start to overcompensate, producing excess oils which results in an oily complexion, or become overly dehydrated, leading to dryness, sensitivity, and premature wrinkling. Oil cleansing is a gentle alternative to using conventional cleansers. Plant-based oils gently bind to and remove dirty oils and makeup from the surface of the skin, replacing them with nourishing oils. Great for all skin types!

Rather than bore you with New Year’s resolutions, here’s some food for thought for your finances in 2019: Never mind the negative news and the loses in stock markets – THIS IS NORMAL. Maybe not comfortable, but normal. Stay invested and don’t fear stocks. Growth doesn’t come without some pain and nothing worth having comes easy. Take advantage of drops in the market with monthly contributions and buy in at lower prices. Great news for investors, the new TFSA contribution limit for 2019 has gone up to $6,000! Here’s to your happiness, health, and wealth for the new year and beyond!