Community News
Summer Spending Tips

During the month of August, it’s easy to overspend on summertime activities. However, just because it’s summer break, you can’t take a break from your budget. According to a survey by Chartered Professional Accountants Canada, 56% of Canadians plan to spend more this summer compared to last – meaning now more than ever is a great time to re-evaluate your income and expenses and adjust your budget to reflect any additional summer expenses. If your August budget is tight on excess cash, take advantage of free activities and events in your community instead of relying on credit to fund expensive activities.

Get Your Mouth Checked!

An oral health exam is critical to the maintenance of your overall wellbeing. You should have your mouth checked at least once a year for prevention and treatment of any ailments. Even if you don’t have any live teeth, it’s important to make sure there are no signs of infections or early signs of cancer, growths, or cysts, and that your dentures are fitting you well. Leaving problems untreated usually leads to pain, periodontal disease, or tooth loss, and could make treatment more difficult, so it’s best to deal with problems early, or, if possible, prevent them.

Can Hearing Loss Cause Dementia?

Recent studies by Dr. Frank Lin at John Hopkins University found that participants with hearing loss were significantly more likely to develop dementia. Compared to participants with normal hearing, the risk of dementia doubled among those with mild hearing loss, tripled among those with moderate hearing loss and increased fivefold among those with severe hearing loss. This result is too serious to ignore, so if you or someone close to you suspects that a hearing loss may exist, a free hearing test will confirm what level of loss is present, so it can be addressed before it gets worse.

Reclaim Your Self-Confidence

Wouldn’t it be nice to feel truly confident, ready to meet life’s challenges? Honestly, many people do not feel this way about themselves and their place in the world! An event, a bad situation, or even a loss can undermine our security. It’s easy to get discouraged, but rebuilding your confidence is an act of bravery and resilience. Counselling can be a safe and neutral place to consider how best to reclaim yourself and your life.

Essential Oils for Relaxation

Essential oils are amazing for enhancing relaxation. Simply smelling oils such as lavender, grapefruit, frankincense, neroli, cedarwood, or blends such as “Stress Away,” “Aromaease,” or “Deep Relief” can be enough to calm your nerves. You can add them to Epsom salts for a lovely bath, diffuse them, add your favorite to a spray bottle (plus water) and spray your linens. Try placing a drop on a cotton ball or clothes peg and placing it in your car vent. These are just a few ways to feel the beneficial effects of these pleasant aromas.

Squeaky Clean Facial – Testimonial

People on Vancouver Island are discovering the benefits of a Squeaky Clean Ultrasonic Facial. One happy client wrote, “My skin feels amazing. I kept running my hands over my cheeks and jawline and am so shocked at how smooth my skin feels. Seriously. It is the most beneficial facial I’ve ever had. I still feel like my face is lighter, and almost feels “empty” in a good way. Like before my skin just felt bloated or something. I wish I had discovered this sooner!!” – Kerry . This gentle process is suitable for all skin types as an effective method of skin care.

The Odds of Winning the Lottery

Did you know that regardless of how many people purchase a lottery ticket for any given draw, the odds remain the same? Whether hundreds of thousands of players purchase tickets, or only 3 people purchase tickets, the odds of winning remains the same. If the jackpot grows to $40M or $50M, the odds of winning remain the same as if the jackpot sat at $100K. The odds of winning 6/49 is just less than one in 14 million; winning Lotto Max odds is one in 86 million. Betting on a win is very slim. The odds of losing remain 1:13,999,999 for 6/49.

Benefits of Shiatsu Massage

Shiatsu is a Japanese hands-on therapeutic massage working the meridians and pressure points throughout the body. This non-invasive therapy addresses a wide range of body ailments such as muscle tension, stress, chronic pain and digestive issues. Shiatsu uses a firm steady pressure to release tension allowing the practitioner to probe deeper, stimulating circulation of vital nutrients. The practitioner is trained to recognize patterns of disharmony providing valuable insight and body awareness for the client.

Wellnessnews Health Expo

The Wellnessnews is proud to present the largest Health Expo north of the Malahat. On September 22nd, join us at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo for a day of wellbeing. With over 100 exhibitors and several one hour health talks, it will be a day to explore various approaches to health, nutrition, fitness and overall wellbeing. The Expo is FREE. VIP tickets will be available in September where you get your Wellnessnews or from one of the exhibitors. While not required to attend, tickets redeemed raise funds for Nanaimo Community Kitchens. Check the Health Expo website for an updated exhibitor list and scheduled health talks. See you September 22nd.

Exercise in the Morning

Scheduling your workouts first thing in the morning likely means they will not get canceled or interrupted by other commitments which help establish a workout routine. Engaging in morning exercise will help you feel more awake and improve physical and mental energy. Morning workouts help improve your sleep – A study showed that people who exercised regularly in the morning reported that their sleep improved. Nanaimo Parks and Recreation offers a variety of morning fitness opportunities, including fitness classes, weight rooms, public swims and walking trails found throughout the City. For more information, please visit www.nanaimo.ca.

EveryBODY is better with Bowen!

Have you ever had an accident or been injured? Have you had surgery or just plain stress? Most of us can answer YES to these question. These traumas leave a footprint of disturbance or tension (fight or flight) in the body that need to be dealt with. Bowen Therapy is a gentle way to reset and unwind to the rest and repair state. Bowen therapy works on the soft connective tissue (fascia) of the body and consists of sequences of small moves, each at a specific site on the body. It is safe for all ages and conditions.