Community News
Step Into New Insoles

If we lead active lifestyles with sports and jobs, foot pain can begin to present itself out of nowhere. We all have a unique foot shape and sometimes adding a new insole orthotic to our existing shoes can provide a more tailored fit for our feet. Some of us may have high arches, while others may have flat feet. An orthotic can provide more support and contact while distributing force, while we are on our feet for several hours a day. We have 3 arches in our feet that work together to create a solid dome-like structure that supports the force applied by our body weight. A weakness or drop in any one or combination of these arches can compromise the integrity of the dome, and elicit pain. Replacing the standard insoles that come with new shoes, can help support the arches and decrease the risk of pain developing.

Heath Vermette, CAT(C), southsherbrook.com

The Gift of Relaxation

With all the expectations that come with the holiday season, the best gift you can give yourself or others is that of relaxation. Unfortunately, stress (acute or chronic) may cause people’s brains to become “stuck” in an over- or under-aroused state. When a person is stuck, they often will find it much more difficult (or nearly impossible) to reach a deeply relaxed state. This is where Brainwave Optimization can help. As the brain is mirrored back to itself, it facilitates a state of deep relaxation in the brain so that it can unlock its inner resources for healing and self-optimization. Brainwave Optimization is a holistic, non-invasive process that restores the brain to its natural highfunctioning state. With its state-of-the-art neurotechnology and software, Brainwave Optimization balances the brain. Since the brain controls every cell, every organ, every tissue and the entire autonomic nervous system, this has a direct effect on the entire body.

Joanne Couture, RMFT, RSW, www.lalobatraumarelease.com

Know Your Ergonomics!

The equipment you use on a daily basis should adjust to you, not vice versa. Adjust the seat in your car. Make sure your hips are higher than your knees. Get your computer monitor off your desk. It needs to be placed higher because on the desk, it’s way too low. Get in the habit of standing, not reaching for the printer. You should also stand when you answer the telephone (otherwise know as that “5 lbs. file”). Standing desks are becoming popular. However if you stand at work all day, make sure to shift and move. It’s also important to get a box to put one foot up on. Repetitive strain injuries are mostly “habitual.” Equipment and tools are only as good as the user’s technique. Know your ergonomics at work, home, and play and enjoy a much healthier and happier life!

Chris Bisignano, www.yourphysio.com

Bowenwork for Back Pain

Bowenwork is a very gentle, holistic, hands-on form of bodywork that essentially resets the body to heal itself. Bowen Therapy can be extremely effective with issues related to lower back pain, even when other therapies were unsuccessful. The Bowenwork Practitioner never forcefully manipulates the body into correction. On the contrary, the body is gently signalled through the nervous system by the practitioner’s moves, and then left to heal itself, with minimal intervention. Bowenwork restores balance of the entire body through the nervous system. Once muscles become balanced, blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients are increased, and toxins are released. Additionally, bones move back to where they should be, and pinched nerves are set free. Often there is pain relief in multiple areas of the body, resulting in a profound sense of well-being. Don’t give up! Talk to a Certified Bowenwork Practitioner about starting your healing journey today.

Bernadette Kozak, Certified Bowenwork Practitioner, www.WinnipegPainRelief.ca

Think Outside the Hoop!

The beloved Hula Hoop is making a comeback! Though not the way you may remember it. In the past 10 years this iconic children’s toy has evolved into a full body workout that not only burns 100 calories in 10 minutes, but also improves balance, coordination, flexibility and mobility. The hoop is best described as Playful Fitness; a non-competitive journey of learning and self-improvement. This high-energy creative outlet can be enjoyed at home while watching TV, or at work on your lunch break; making it the perfect instrument to stay motivated with your fitness goals. The awesomeness of the hoop doesn’t stop there! Remarkably, the hoop has a magical way of elevating your mood and boosting self-confidence. It has even been known to help those struggling with anxiety and depression. Best of all hooping doesn’t feel like exercise, it is play. So pick up a hoop; you sure to fall in love!

Karrie Blackburn, www.kurrentmotionhoops.com

Ask the Expert: How Long Do Dentures Last?

Dentures can still be perfectly solid after ten or twenty years, but that does not answer the question: How long do they last? The mouth changes constantly. The bones get smaller with age. If you have natural teeth, then the distance between your nose and your chin stays constant. If you have dentures, this distance gets smaller as the bones supporting your dentures shrink. Your upper teeth become less visible when you smile because of this shrinkage. The lower half of your face gets shorter for the same reason. New dentures can compensate for these changes. Your smile will be fuller and more natural, and your face will look younger. Wait too long, and the changes will be much larger and harder to adapt to. So the real question is: How long before my face needs to be supported better by new dentures? The answer: Five to eight years.

Dr. George Cadigan, www.exclusivelydentures.ca

Re-Think Omega Fatty Acids!

Fat could be your biggest ally in health maintenance and cardiovascular disease prevention. But we need to think about the RIGHT fats. Omega fatty acids are crucial for helping to lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides. They are essential to maintaining our nervous system and act as an anti-inflammatory to fight diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Some forms of omega-3 can also reduce fat while improving lean body mass. But which omega fatty acids do we REALLY need?   The ones most North Americans need is omega-3 from FISH OIL, as the typical Western diet does not give enough of it. When you are looking for an omega-3 product from the pharmacy, keep in mind a few tips: 1. Look for omega-3s from fish oil instead of krill oil. This is because krill oil contains very little omega-3. 2. Look for ingredients of EPA/DHA as opposed to alpha-linolenic acid as EPA/DHA is the form of omega-3 that the body can use most efficiently.

Teresa Giesbrecht, www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Book Club: The Dirt Cure:

Growing Healthy Kids with Food Straight from Soil. In the tradition of Michael Pollan, Mark Hyman, and Andrew Weil, pioneering integrative pediatric neurologist Maya ShetreatKlein, MD, reveals the shocking contents of children’s food, how it’s seriously harming their bodies and brains, and what we can do about it. www.dirtcure.com

Natural Product Review: pureWash® Pro

pureWash® Pro is a breakthrough in home laundry purification. As it turns out, your laundry has been keeping a dirty little secret, (It’s really not that clean at all!). Detergent may leave clothes smelling clean, but it does not eliminate the mold and bacteria that builds up from sports activities, pets, and everyday living. pureWash® Pro cleans clothes with the disinfecting power of oxygen, not detergent. This same technology is used in Hospitals and Hotels. It’s clinically proven to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and mold, plus it’s both safe for the environment and for family members of all ages! If you have sensitive skin, you will not get skin irritations as you do from detergent. Detergent build-up promotes mold growth and does not kill bacteria. Independent, scientific studies have proven pureWash® Pro kills 99.9% of both with cold water. The power of naturally oxygenated water eliminates dirt, bacteria, and mold better than detergent!

Kevin Shale, Low Environmental Impact Technologies, Leit.ca

3 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immune System

It’s officially cold and flu season. Here are five simple things you can do to improve your body’s natural immunity: 1. Drink a TON of Water: Ensuring you are hydrated is an important part of keeping your immune system strong. Try to drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres of water each day to keep your body in tiptop shape and ready to fight cold and flu bugs. 2. Get a Good Night’s Sleep: The body regenerates and repairs itself while you sleep. Getting a proper night’s rest – between six and eight hours – is important for keeping your body’s natural defenses at optimum efficiency. 3. Take a Hot/Cold Shower: The next time you take a shower try alternating hot and cold water. Research shows the body’s immune system is stimulated when it tries to warm itself up in between the extreme temperature changes. White blood cell production is increased and endorphins are released that help you relax and relieve pain.

Brett Scott, www.disabilitytaxcredit.webs.com

Bowenwork: The Answer to TMJ/Jaw Pain

Have you ever come from a dentist appointment or cleaning and felt jaw pain that just won’t go away? Maybe you or someone you know has braces, dentures, clenches their teeth all day, or wears a night guard? Do you know that some people grind their teeth so intensely at night that they wake up with chronic migraines, headaches, or a sore jaw? Grinding teeth can also cause painful teeth, a tight face, and sore neck muscles. Bowenwork can help you STOP grinding your teeth at night, so you can get rid of that ‘attractive’ night guard. Many desperately search for a solution but have not found a natural, effective, and long-lasting option. Sound familiar? If this is you or someone you know, you should try Bowenwork to help with your TMJ/jaw pain. Bowen Therapy works, even if other therapies were unsuccessful. Don’t give up your search for natural pain relief!

Bernadette Kozak, Certified Bowenwork Practitioner, WinnipegPainRelief.ca