Community News
Can Exercise be Fun?

Are you getting enough fun with your exercise? Would you like to do a 4-hour walking tour in the Comox Valley where you can not only learn more about the Comox Valley, but also get some light exercise while doing so? We strive to create a fun way to learn and exercise at the same time, therefore working on your overall health and wellness. It is important to not only exercise your body, but to also exercise your mind. It is also important that you enjoy life, as life is an adventure. Exercise your body and your mind as you work on your overall health and wellness, all while enjoying life.

Jackie West
Scavenger-hunt-adventure-tours.ca

Itchy Skin –  Rosacea – Eczema

Your large intestine and skin are organs that interact with the environment. Part of the function of your skin is to excrete waste.  As a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner for over 21 years, I have observed that many skin conditions are caused by a toxic colon. My mother died of liver and colon cancer. After her death, I found a lot of anti-itch cream in her home. Her body had been trying to get the toxins out through the skin. A friend’s husband had rosacea but did not want to change his eating habits. After a total bowel obstruction and the removal of 40 cm of his colon, the rosacea disappeared. To avoid a toxic colon, people should have at least two eliminations daily. A fibre rich diet, drinking enough water and daily exercise helps with regular eliminations. Minerals, especially Magnesium, are very important. We have to pay attention to the signs our body is giving us.

Anna Christine Doehring, RHFP, RCP
Energy-All-Around.com

Greener Homes

Conventional cleaning products are filled with chemicals that can be very harsh on human (and animal) body systems. After using these products, their gases/synthetic fragrances and chemicals can remain in the air and on surfaces for long periods, leaving the air and surface quality inside our homes poor. Many of these chemicals are added to personal care products, which we then apply to our skin, allowing them to sit on and be absorbed into our bodies. Our bodies are amazing, and can adapt to and deal with many different toxins, but the short and long-term burden to our bodies is not yet fully understood. If we can reduce or eliminate the amount of exposure to some of these toxins, it is a great start to living a healthier life.

Denise Mackinnon, Young Living
Facebook.com/simplehealthideas

Stress Relief with Floatation Therapy

Stress relief is one of the major benefits of floating in a sensory relaxed environment in a super saturated bath of epsom salts that has been heated to body temperature. When the body and mind become negatively stressed, neurochemicals such as Cortisol, ACTH, and epinephrine are released and become toxic. High levels of these chemicals are directly linked to stress and stress related illnesses. Stress can manifest itself in the body in many different ways including heart disease, obesity, headaches, anxiety/depression, gastrointestinal issues and more. Studies show that floatation therapy, by reducing all sources of incoming stimuli, is able to lower the levels of these neurochemicals. Furthermore, while the body rids itself of the negative stress, positive neurochemicals such as endorphins are released, which is one of the body’s natural ways to relieve pain and stress. Float therapy is a simple, effective way to invest in your own health and happiness.

Paul Martin
HarbourCityFloat.com

Clean Eating: Veggie Burgers

Ingredients:

1 large red onion
1 large bell pepper
3 carrots
1 small head cauliflower
1 lg. stalk broccoli
1 C almonds, soaked 12-24 hours
1 C sunflower seeds, soaked 5-6 hours
1/4 C sesame seeds, soaked 5-6 hours
5 cloves garlic
2 T Braggs or to taste
1 t cumin
2 T dried Cilantro or 1-2 C fresh

Instructions:

Blend all of the above ingredients and seasonings in a champion juicer with solid plate, or a food processor. This blended food is your patty mixture. Form and put 1/2″ thick patties on a teflex sheet and place trays in dehydrator. Dehydrate at 105 degrees for 8-12 hours or until desired texture is obtained. Flip your burgers after 4 hours and remove teflex sheets, continue to dehydrate for 4-5 hours or until desired moisture is obtained.

VeganRawFoodRestaurant.com

Natural Nutrition

One of the most crucial problems of modern civilization is malnutrition. Whether we consider malnutrition due to poverty and shortage of food as encountered in third world countries, or witness dietary abuse problems common to the rest of the world, we find enormous suffering caused by the way we feed ourselves. We are dying of malnutrition. It takes courage to face the fact that through ignorance and lack of interest in the needs of our own bodies, we are slowly bringing ourselves to the point of extinction. Fortunately, there is hope. Our modern society is awakening to a new and vital interest in nutrition. This curiosity is not aimed at the traditional dietetic and scientific field. Rather, it involves an emerging sphere of nutrition that encompasses not only the characteristics of food, but also explores the quality of the food source and holism of the consumer. This new area is called “natural nutrition.”

Danielle Perrault, R.H.N., Founding Director, Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, see full article at csnn.ca

Many Benefits of Eating Local

On Vancouver Island and across Canada, small farms are disappearing. This is happening despite the fact that small scale agriculture have an important advantage over large scale farming operations. By producing a diverse variety of crops, small farms create a home for many beneficial organisms, preventing the stress affecting insects that are caused by monocropping. With biodiversity and a strong microbial soil culture, pests are not a problem making the use of pesticides unnecessary. Today, over 90% of the food consumed on Vancouver Island is imported. This is a far cry from the 1950s when 85% of the food consumed here was grown here. By supporting local small scale agriculture and buying local, consumers can help establish stronger food security and a local economy for our communities. Buying local will help ensure an organic, sustainable food supply for many years to come and reduces our carbon footprint.

Brian Prince, Farmer, Prince Acres CSA
PrinceAcresCSA.com

Gambling and Balance

Have you ever wondered if your gambling habits are in balance with other areas of your life? Problem gambling can harm a person’s relationships, employment status, education, and finances. It can also affect one’s physical and mental health. Here are some questions you can answer to do a self-assessment. Do you feel annoyed by criticisms of your gambling?  Do you feel guilty about your gambling?  Do you borrow money to gamble?  Do you gamble more than you intend to?  Do you often gamble until all your money is gone?  Do you lie or hide evidence about your gambling? Do you gamble to pay debt or solve financial difficulties?  Do you feel anxious, hopeless, depressed or suicidal about your gambling? If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, you may have a problem with gambling. You are not alone. Reach out for help. That’s what we’re here for!

Karen Hlady, Community Engagement & Prevention Service Provider, Gambling Awareness Program
BCResponsibleGambling.ca

Yoga is for Every Shape and Age

“I’m not flexible enough.” “I need more of a workout.” “Yoga is not for my body shape.” When it comes to reasons for not trying yoga, yoga studio owner Susan Pederson has heard them all. “The thing I hear most often is that people think they are the wrong body type for yoga.  This is based on pictures they’ve seen of young, skinny yogis doing backbends and standing on their heads. It’s intimidating.” The fact is, all body shapes at any age can benefit from yoga, whether it’s a chair yoga class for people who can’t get up and down from the floor; a class that focuses on breathing and stress relief, or a gentle class designed for beginners. Yoga studios will help people discover a yoga practice that feels right for them. “It’s just about showing up and trying your best. It’s that simple.”

Susan Pederson, Owner of Suga Yoga
SugaYogaParksville.com

Positive Travel Experience

Studies show that positive, well-managed vacations can make you happier, less stressed and that you will return to work re-energized with more meaning in your life. Using a travel agent is a great way to ensure a stress-free vacation. A travel agent will ensure that you have good flight connections, proper documentation, accommodations and arrive home in a timely fashion; relaxed and happy. “A local couple were on their dream trip cruising around South America.  On December 23rd, they left the ship and caught their flight to Nanaimo as planned. Their trip would have hit a serious roadblock had they not booked with a travel agent. Unbeknownst to them, their flight back from Chile had been cancelled two days earlier. Their travel agent was notified and she had them rebooked on another plane before their cruise ship docked. Had the couple not used a travel agent, they would not have made it home for Christmas that year.”

Lynn Alexander, CTW Oceanside Travel
www.Oceanside.Travel