Community News
September is Childhood Obesity Month

Obesity rates among children and youth in Canada have nearly tripled in the last 30 years! Recent studies show that only 9% of Canadian kids ages 5 to 17 get the recommended 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Does your kid spend too much of their life lying around watching Netflix? Children and teenagers should participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. This can include walking to and from school, playing sports, or riding a bike. Parents should be setting a good example. Try to add physical activity to your daily routine and encourage your children to join you.

Alma Naranjo, Success Weight Loss, SuccessWeightLoss.ca

The Art of Healing

A integrated patient-centered clinic is the way of the future. A patient-centered clinic is a way of thinking and doing things that see patients as an equals, collaborating in planning and developing treatment strategies and options. Active listening and respecting patient’s values, while carefully communicating gives patients hope. Being heard and listened too are essentials for patients to build their trust and belief in their healing. We are passionate and have work hard at being knowledgeable about our medicine, techniques and, methods that we offer. However, our patient may not share our enthusiasm. In reality, patients only wants to know if we can help them confidently and effectively. Taking the time to listen to our patients, enables us to diagnosis and provide the services needed. With patient-centered care we ask what their expectations are; what are they expecting to get out of the consultation and treatments. The key is to listen closely for their answer.

Dr. Ross Ralph, Dr.TCM,R. Ac.,DOMP, CourtenayHealing.ca

Ask The Expert

Q: With back-to-school time happening, I was thinking of getting my kids eyes examined to see if they’re okay. Or is there adequate screenings at school?

A: I believe screenings are a very noble effort, and I am very grateful to these useful programs for catching some children’s eye problems that would likely have gone undetected for too long. However, I’d still recommend young children come in for a thorough exam of visual function and ocular health, ideally before preschool, to ensure treatable problems are detected as soon as possible.

Dr. Alex Kennedy, MosaicVisionCare.com

Have You Tried Therapeutic Yoga?

While any type of yoga can bring health benefits, therapeutic yoga involves employing a variety of yoga practices to try to improve a health condition or ease a natural process, such as pregnancy or menopause. A well-rounded class will use all of the following practices:

• Breathing Exercises (Pranayama): Involves a series of breathing exercises ranging from energizing to balancing breaths.

• Physical Postures (Asana): Focuses on yoga poses that address problem areas. For example, the “Legs Up the Wall” pose is used to treat things like anxiety and insomnia. In this pose, the person lays on his or her back with legs positioned up against the wall.

• Meditation: Relaxation and mindfulness are the focus of meditation when it is combined with yoga poses.

• Guided Imagery: Is used to calm the body and mind by providing a guided visualization intended to bring inner peace.

Katie White RMT, CYT, HTP, Courtenay Massage Therapy, CourtenayMassageTherapy.com

Reverse Aging, Eliminate Illness

Did you know that we can reverse our aging process by 10 years or more? We can defend our brains and bodies against mental decline and aging. A groundbreaking discovery at Princeton University has led to anti-aging and enhanced wellness, enhancing brain health and our quality of life. Coupled with powerful plant enzymes, proteolytic probiotics, life-enhancing whole food supplements, and a healthy lifestyle, we can prevent and eliminate many illnesses. Many have eliminated and improved illnesses such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, deathbed cancer, MS, ALS, lupus, diabetes, etc. Coupled with a healthy lifestyle, we can increase our brain performance and stay in ideal health way into our ‘golden’ years! Health is NOT a matter of CHANCE; it’s just a matter of CHOICE! Reclaim your health today! Visit our educational health site to learn about brain health research and enhanced wellness and request our indepth educational health package and educational newsletters.

Louis Hoolaeff, HR HC ACS, Leading Edge Health, ProvenHealth.info

Music and Neuroscience

Do we need to hear from experts that listening to music, tapping our feet in rhythm to music, or humming a familiar tune is good for us? My own curiosity about how music gets us moving, smiling, or recalling things we haven’t thought of in years led me to Music Therapy and research: McGill Unversity’s Dr. Daniel Levitin has found that as a result of exposure to music, levels of immunoglobinA, an antibody linked to immunity, increases; In another study he found significant evidence of music’s anti-anxiety properties. Montreal Neurological Institute’s Dr. Zatorre has found that a brain structure called the striatum is stimulated by music to release dopamine which increases feelings of pleasure. Music therapists are continually training to integrate and apply research findings into practice in order to better serve people of every age, from babies to Alzheimer’s patients.

Nejama Ferstman BA, MTA, Certified Music Therapist @ ShiriMusicTherapy, ShiriMySong.ca

Believe to Achieve

BELIEVING is the most important part of the mental game of any sport or leisure activity. If you want to change your experience, change your beliefs – at the subconscious level. Learn to hit the ball, SEE THE BALL, be AWARE of the game set around you and play with confidence. BELIEVE in your ability and watch your game improve daily! Hypnotherapies for sports and leisure activity treats anxieties and blocks at the subconscious level, improving your underlying beliefs in your abilities. Remember how good you felt when you first hit a ball cleanly, made a wonderful putt, sank a shot, made a fabulous pass to a teammate, returned an impossible serve, got your first strikeout or made it to the podium? Hypnosis works with your subconscious beliefs to eliminate anxieties, release old blocks, and bring those wonderful feelings of being in the moment – IN THE ZONE – and put you back on the path of enjoyment and fulfilment within your sport!

Pete Flagg, Hypnotherapy Consultant, Victoria Hypnotherapy for Sports Performance Improvement, Relax2playwell.ca

Who Do You Want to Be?

Shame tells us a story about ourselves. We all have a private understanding of who we are, and sometimes the sum total can feel good enough. But sometimes the secret story is deeply embarrassing – we feel deeply wrong or screwed up. We may doubt or blame ourselves, act out, or feel deeply responsible. Shame can make it hard to handle overbearing people or make the changes we need. Our friends may not know how to reassure us. Counselling can be a safe place to uncover these feelings, find new ways to appreciate yourself, and rediscover confidence.

Mary Munro, MaryMunro.ca

Review Digital Contracts/Cyber Security

After summer, it’s typical for us to consider new tech devices for back-to-school or work requirements. As a result, it’s an opportune time to review all the subscriptions, apps, and user terms you’ve agreed to during the past year. Just as it is wise to review the status of any service fees and monthly debits once a year, it’s good to review renewable download agreements. Should you have younger tech users, it’s important to remind them about employing an antivirus program and practicing personal security habits to protect their privacy, especially when using social media.

Abakhan and Associates Inc., Abakhan.com

Pet Food for Thought

Choosing the right food for your pet is important. With so many choices, it’s hard to know which way to go! Here are a few fundamental facts about which choice to make: For ALL cats, food should be grain-free. Cats lack the digestive enzyme that metabolizes grains, which is why feline obesity, diabetes, and kidney failure are so common. Cats require wet food in their diet. Kibble is highly processed and does not come close to providing the necessary moisture an animal needs to live healthfully. Without this moisture, cats are prone to dehydration, urinary infections, and eventually kidney failure. Your pets deserve the best quality of life; they’re family!

Serrapeptase, the Little Miracle Enzyme!

Serrapeptase is a proteolytic enzyme, which means it breaks down long protein chains into amino acids that the body needs. These enzymes bind to the alpha 2 macroglobulin in our plasma where it is shielded from the immune system while retaining its enzymatic activity. They are then free to roam through the blood stream seeking to break down hard protein (non-living tissue), fibrin surfaces, scar tissue, granuloma, and even thin out mucous to ease conditions such as chronic sinusitis. It’s been proven to be a safe and effective alternative to NSAIDs (NonSteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) and should be taken on an empty stomach. The capsule must be a special DRcap (Delayed Release capsule) or enteric coated capsule that allows the Serrapeptase to pass through the stomach to the small intestine where the enzyme is then released.

Enerex Botanicals Ltd., Enerex.ca