The winter season is a wonderful time to spend more time with family and eat lots of great food! These are lovely activities, but it is also important to remember to keep balance between eating, relaxing, and being active. It can be easy to incorporate physical activity into the day while still spending time with loved ones. Here are some simple ideas to get you started: skating, tobogganing, taking a walk to see the festive lights, or going for a mall-walk to start your new fitness routine. So enjoy your time and balance it all out with some physical activity!
Community News
Product Review: Kyäni Sunrise™
Kyäni Sunrise™, is a blend of Superfoods, vitamins, and trace minerals. Taken in the morning, it provides a rich blend of antioxidants that help defend against free radical damage. Kyäni Sunrise™ contains juices and extracts from some of the world’s most potent antioxidant sources, including: Wild Alaskan Blueberries, Concord and White Grapes, Red Raspberries, Pomegranate, Cranberries, Aloe Vera, Maqui and Amla Berries, Gooseberries, Ginseng, Kale, Brocolli, Ashwaganda, Spinach, Mangosteen, Acai, Aronia and Wolfberries. Natural ingredients your body needs to support heart health, healthy blood sugar levels, mental health, and immune system… all in one little pouch!
Walking with Man’s Best Friend
Walking is vital to build a strong relationship with your canine companion. Try to aim for at least 30 to 60 minutes daily. Wear proper footwear, and use a traction aid when walking in the winter. When bending to pick up deposits, make sure to squat down instead of bending at your waist to prevent injury to your back. Use a “no pull” harness or halter, and ensure the leash is not too long so that your dog will not become distracted or entangled around you. Obedience training will help to teach your dog loose leash walking beside you. Happy walking!
Words to Live By
“You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes every day – unless you’re too busy; then you should sit and meditate for an hour.”
Zen Proverb
Book Club: Prime Time
Structured Energies for Peak Life Experiences. Prime Time is an enormously thought-provoking manifesto that amounts to an instruction manual for individuals wishing to have a more balanced and spiritually fulfilled existence. Manitoban, Suzanne Forcese offers a high-level explanation of the concept of living a Structured Life, and of doing so by way of very practical steps. Learn a new approach that dives deep into the amazing world of Structured Energy.
Grandma’s Home Remedy
Chicken Noodle Soup for Colds. This well-loved, homemade comfort food is perfect for any chilly day when your cold won’t go away. The carrots, celery, parsley, onions and chicken are loaded with nutrients to boost your family’s immune system and have you back on your feet in no time. A bowl of soup is packed with electrolytes that will hydrate you and your loved ones throughout the day. Delicious steam clears runny noses and sore throats and brings warm sensations to your skin. It’s no wonder this has been a family staple for generations.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Q: What did the pickle say to the sliced cucumber? A: Dill with it!
FUN FACT: Eating pickles increases good bacteria in your gut. A pickle can boost the probiotic content of any meal you eat. (find pickles without added sugar in the refrigerated section of your local health food store)
Clean Eating: Slow Cooker Steel-Cut Oats
Ingredients: 2 cups filtered water, 2 cups almond milk, 1 cup steel-cut oats, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon sea salt, 1 cup Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts. Directions: Stir together all ingredients except Hemp Hearts in a 4-6 quart slow cooker. Cover with lid and cook on low for 6 hours or overnight. Stir in Hemp Hearts until well combined just before ready to eat. Serve topped with milk, fruit, nuts and more Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts.
Mindfulness Retreat
The power of mindfulness meditation is well recognized. Indeed, it is the foundation to my personal wellness. But, first I needed to understand the science behind it. Once I did, I knew it was the tool I had been seeking.
Join me at Chalet Point Retreat Centre, where I lead classes in a variety of topics: understanding the concept of self, exploring the mind-body connection, the power of focused attention, and the psychology of motivation. Overlooking beautiful Lake Winnipeg, Chalet Point is just a one-hour drive from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Perfect for small groups, with half-day, full-day, and overnight options.
Self-Care for the Holidays
As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is fast approaching, it is important to be mindful of the precious little moments that we tend to take for granted. Grab a journal or a pad of paper and write down three things that you are grateful for every day. You can even make this a family project. Studies have shown that having gratitude can lower stress, anxiety, and depression. Some other tips that will keep us feeling our best:
• Drink more water
• Eat a clean diet
• Go to sleep earlier
• Volunteer at a local shelter or organization
• Practice mindful breathing
• Exercise daily
• Spend time with people who make you happy.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
Every human possesses this advanced physiological system that is already making cannabinoid-like structures that foster cellular balance throughout nearly every biological system in the body. Research seems to indicate that the ECS might function more properly and efficiently through the introduction of hemp-derived cannabinoids like CBD. The ECS is involved in regulating a variety of physiological and cognitive processes including fertility, appetite, pain sensation, mood, and memory. The endocannabinoid system acts as a bridge between the body and mind. By understanding this system, we begin to see a mechanism that explains how states of consciousness can promote health or disease.
