Over a year ago, my wife, Donna asked me what I would like for Christmas. I replied a yoga mat. So that beautiful day arrived and there it was sitting under the tree. I didn’t really know why I had asked for such a gift but what unfolded over the next year was truly amazing. At first, I was reluctant to use the mat. I tried a little self-practice at home, used a book I had laying around for years, and quickly became disenchanted with the whole process. Then it happened while on a summer holiday at Nelson B.C an opportunity presented itself. I almost walked away from that opportunity that would change my life. I listened to my heart and took my first yoga class, a restorative practice. It was magic, so peaceful, no evasive and taught in a none judgemental manner. Only do what your body allows you to do at this moment. Wow, I was hooked. I came back home and immediately asked a good friend, an excellent yoga teacher, to hook me up at where she teaches.

So I was introduced to Breathing Room Yoga out of Inspire You Studio. What I found there was a treasure of gifted instructors, a warm and caring studio and an absolute feeling of community. I have taken all of the different styles of yoga that are offered at the studio. Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Yin, Kundalini, Restorative. I have enjoyed them all the instruction is always informative and personalized to meet my needs. I started on this journey for betterment in my physical state. I had been walking all winter and lost over thirty pounds, within two months of yoga practice, five times a week, I lost a further seventeen pounds. My body has become leaner, and I actually have definition in areas such as my core and legs. Further to this, I have found the most important part of yoga practice that makes it all worthwhile. There is a spiritual connection between yourself and your maker. This awakening is centuries old, and it simply lies there waiting for you on your mat. I have embraced this energy and combined with the physical benefits found peace and contentment in my life. All this through the gift of a yoga mat from my love. I would end this with a thank you to all the instructors, for without your dedication hard work and care my reality, the trueness of one’s self would have stayed dormant without your kind awakening of my inner self. Lastly, I would encourage all to come to practice, experience your breath, the movement of one’s body and what you are really capable of. I will leave you with this your yoga practice is like a flower it blooms when it is ready, but it is always growing. Namaste you beauties.

Murray Smith, Yoga for life. Inspire You Studio
www.inspireyoustudio.com

There has been a lot of discussions involving sun safety and the dangers of over exposure. Many improvements in the tanning industry have been made thanks to technology that has led to better safety and increased positive effects of salon tanning. My 27 years’ experience in the tanning industry has seen these changes, and I’ve done a lot of research into skin exposure to both the sun’s rays and salon rays. It is important to remember all things in moderation. Studies have shown that salon tanning has many beneficial effects for such conditions as arthritis, PMS, psoriasis, and eczema, as well as seasonal affective disorder. A careful, cautious approach gradually builds a superior protection against full spectrum (UVA and UVB) burning rays. Moderate exposure to the sun is essential to the maintenance of good physical and psychological health. Our many years of experience and expertise can help you reap the positive benefits of the sun year-round.

Tracey Delmage, Catch-A-Tan
www.catchatan.ca

Whether you exercise or not, it seems that adding Phaseolamin as a method of weight loss, does work. Phaseolamin is a partial-protein substance extracted from white kidney beans. This ingredient combines with an enzyme in the body called alpha-amylase – which is involved in the digestion of starch – and helps to temporarily block its activities. Alpha-amylase is secreted in saliva and is produced in the pancreas, and is responsible for breaking down starch into simple sugars, which can then be absorbed in the small intestine. Blocking this digestive enzyme prevents the digestion of carbohydrates, which means they are able to pass largely undigested through the gastrointestinal tract. The end result is a decrease in the number of calories absorbed, thereby helping to promote weight loss. One of the active ingredients in SlimROAST weight loss coffee from Valentus. The Healthiest Coffee on the Planet!

Frank McGwire, www.alwaysfrank@valentus.com

Professionals can help! If you have a mental health concern, deciding to take that first step toward reaching out to a professional can seem daunting and scary. However taking that first step can open the door to feeling better. Who do you go to if you have a mental health concern? Your doctor can be a great professional to turn to. They may even refer you to other professionals to ensure you get the care you need. There are many different types of professionals that can help us. For example, counsellors can help you work on relationship issues, past life events and many other topics. Financial planners can help you save money or reduce debt. Reaching out to a professional doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you, it means you’ve recognized a need for change and want someone to help you through it.

Canadian Mental Health Association, www.cmha.ca

If you are like most people, creating personal change can be overwhelming. There’s a good chance you find it overwhelming for one of three reasons: you don’t know where to start (awareness), you don’t know what you actually want to achieve (clarity), you don’t know how to get there (confidence). If this sounds familiar, you may want to consider a coach. A good personal coach will help you clarify your values, identify negative thought patterns and encourage you as you execute your plan. The key is to find the coach that is right for you. Consider their combination of qualifications, experience, and strategies. But also attempt to get a sense of their communication skills, sense of humour, and their desire to help. The right combination can make all the difference.

Brent Tocher, Authentic Coaching, www.chooseauthenticity.ca

Picking up a pair of knitting needles or a crochet hook and watching the rhythmic movement of your fingers manipulating the yarn encourages a relaxing of the mind, and can provide the knitter with the same level of relaxation obtained from yoga or meditation. Once the knitter is through the initial learning curve, their mind becomes focused on the hand movements and allows an escape from the stress and anxieties of the day. Knitting has been known to lower heart rate and blood pressure as well as reduce stress hormones. Knitting can be the preferred method of meditation because as you knit your way into relaxation, you will create a project that you can feel proud of. Knitting also allows the knitter to take their project wherever they go so that should they find themselves in a very stressful situation, they can pull out their needles and reach their place of Zen.

Connie Harvey, The Knit 2 Scrap 2 Store, www.knit2scrap2.ca

Ingredients:

1 cup Medjool Dates (pitted)
1 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut or rolled oats
1/4 cup raw cacao
¼ tsp cinnamon
pinch of sea salt
1/2 tbsp vanilla
1/2 tbsp maple syrup
1 – 2 tbsp almond milk

Directions:

1. Place dates in food processor and pulse until it forms a ball. Break up the date ball with a spatula and add almonds, raw cacao, coconut and salt.

2. Process for 3-4 minutes.

3. Add vanilla, almond milk and maple syrup.

4. Process until mixture forms a ball. Add more almond milk if the mixture is not forming.

5. Roll mixture into balls and dip in shredded coconut if desired.

6. Can be stored in an airtight container or frozen.

Stacie Rasmussen RNCP, Blossom Nutrition, www.winnipegnutritionist.com

It is the Vision of the Counselling Centre to provide hope, healing and encouragement for daily living through the provision of professional, affordable therapeutic counselling. This Vision is carried out, day to day, by our team of dedicated, compassionate and highly skilled counsellors who assist individuals, couples, families and groups with such issues as stress, conflict resolution, anger management, grief support, life transitions, marriage & family, depression and anxiety. Professional counselling can successfully improve an individual’s sense of well-being, increase harmony in relationships and improve their ability to cope at home, in their work environments and in the community. Working with a professional therapist will help you to discover what you are feeling, identify your options and help you learn to make positive life choices. Remember: “The problem is not problem; the problem is your attitude about the problem!”

Heather Karrouze, The Counselling Centre, www.counsellingcentre.ca

Did you know the body’s nervous system only has two modes of functioning? Either you are in a sympathetic mode which is the flight/fight mode. What most people do not realize that when one is in this mode – one is not resting, digesting nor healing. Having a huge “To Do” list creates people to be in this mode. Thus, your aches and pains are more prevalent, and you may eat more because you are not ingesting the nutrients from the food you are ingesting. One’s goal is to get the body and the mind into the Parasympathetic mode in which you are healing, digesting and the body is able to rest and recuperate from stressors more easily. Anything to get you out of your mind and into your awareness of your being and your body will quickly bring you into this mode. Try a yoga class, a Reiki treatment, meditation, or Access Bars session.

Robin Chant, Inspire You Studio, www.inspireyoustudio.com

It is great to be seeing an emphasis on information and education for pre and post-partum women. We all understand the significance of exercise to maintain weight and to have healthier easier deliveries. There are now many opportunities to join fitness or yoga classes. However, what do we know and understand about the function of the pelvic floor muscles? Remember, these are the muscles that support our organs and assist with labour and delivery. How is this vast and dynamic muscle affected after traumatic deliveries? What is the recovery time? When can the muscle accept the loads demanded of it with regular routines? Can you prepare yourself in advance? Are Kegel exercises just a simple exercise? Or is the muscle part of a very integrated and complex muscle movement pattern? These questions are important, and a physiotherapist knowledgeable and trained in pelvic floor health can guide you.

Marita Dowsett, B.P.T., Physio 4 U, www.physio4u.net

In looking for safe, natural ways to help reduce the effects of inflammation, one particular culinary spice is gaining much attention. Curcumin has a long tradition of anti-inflammatory use and a present and future as one of the most research-backed nutraceuticals on the market. Although curcumin, naturally occurring in turmeric root, has tremendous potential for overall health due to its anti-inflammatory properties, its poor absorbability has been a challenge. It’s estimated that as much as 75% of curcumin is directly excreted after ingestion. New research suggests that a patented complex of curcumin with phosphatidylcholine improved blood levels 29 times over standard turmeric extracts and even higher levels in the liver. More absorption means better anti-inflammatory effectiveness. Whether you’re suffering from the common inflammatory disease of osteoarthritis, or want help in preventing some of today’s other major health conditions, curcumin can be helpful in putting out the inflammatory fire.

Hedley’s Heath Hut, www.healthfirstnetwork.ca/hedleyshealthhut