Community News
Reflexology – More Than a Foot Rub!

Reflexology is a natural therapy that reduces pain, stress & tension in the body and improves circulation (cardiovascular & lymphatic) and elimination. There are reflexes in the feet which are connected to every part, organ and gland through a subtle energy that flows through channels in the body. When there is discomfort like stress, trauma, injury or illness, blockages develop in these channels and the flow of energy becomes disrupted. By applying pressure to these reflexes, signals are sent via the nervous system that release these blockages, relax the body and balance the natural functioning elsewhere in the body. It is a total ‘reboot and rebalance’!

Time to Try Something New?

While it may feel more natural these days to cling to what we know, perhaps now is the time to ‘lean in’ to the surrounding uncertainty and discover a new activity we may enjoy. Take this as an opportunity to try a new bicycle route, take part in an online fitness class, explore new trails on foot, or attend a virtual dance lesson. Changing up your fitness routine might be the best way to stay mindful and healthy as we continue to deal with our ever-changing external environment. Enjoy the exploration!

Clean Eating Recipe: Nut free Energy Bites

Ingredients: 1 cup oats. 1/3 cup flax meal. 1/2 cup sunflower seed butter. 1/4 cup maple syrup. 1/8 cup sunflower seeds. 1/8 cup mini chocolate chips. Directions: 1. Place oats and flax meal in a medium sized bowl. Stir to combine. 2. Add seed butter and maple syrup and stir to combine. 3. Stir in sunflower seeds and chocolate chips. 4. Using a small cookie scoop or table spoon, roll mixture into balls. 5. Transfer to a small storage container and keep in the refrigerator.

Book Club: Hack Your Anxiety

How to Make Anxiety Work for You in Life, Love, and All That You Do. What if anxiety is not a monster to be tamed, but a resource to be tapped? In this revolutionary book, Dr. Alicia Clark recognizes anxiety as the unsung hero in the path to success and happiness. It can become the motivating force that will lead to a better you, and The Anxiety Advantage aims to restore anxiety to its rightful place as a positive resource. Reclaim your anxiety as a powerful energy source, and bring yourself peace, growth and success.

Words to Live By

“Every ceiling, when reached, becomes a floor, upon which one walks as a matter of course and prescriptive right.” Aldous Huxley

Acceptance & Adaptability

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo
“So do I” said Gandalf “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” ~ J.R.R Tolkein

While our global community is being challenged in a way we have not seen in our lifetimes, we are dawning to the realization that life, as we have known it, is changing and that no one knows what the future will bring. While the future has never been predictable, the current global situation is demanding we realize this. As such many of us are experiencing intensified and wide ranging, ping-ponging emotions such as fear, anxiety, depression, grief, rage, sorrow, overwhelm along with moments of stillness, calmness, tenderness, compassion, and perhaps even, at times, boredom. Somewhere amongst these perfectly normal thoughts and emotions you may also have an inkling that this time is also presenting an opportunity to transform your life in a deep and meaningful way…and that it’s finally time to tune into that longing, which has until now, been pushed away with a million distractions.

The Yoga tradition supports our transformation by teaching us how to live in the moment, how to stop fighting with circumstance and how to become adaptable and present. The many and varied practices of Yoga not only support us through difficult times, but also offer a practical way to infuse our lives with greater ease, clarity, purpose and presence. Numerous practices of Yoga teach us to hone our inner life as well as our relationships with others and with the world at large. Such practices teach us how to cling less, resist less, sit with (&/or) question our fears in order to be less reactive and to not buy into our ego-driven thoughts. Practices also develop in us the ability to live with greater joy, gratitude, compassion and acceptance. While it’s easy to respond to this and say to yourself, “well, of course,” for many of us the reality is that it’s easier said than done, so the question arises, How? The answer; With Practice and support of a teacher/mentor &/or group of like-minds/hearts.

While you may be familiar with Yoga asanas (movements and postures that help you to ground in the body, deepen the breath and begin to focus the mind,) you may be less familiar with practices that specifically address inner struggle and teach us how to create centered presence.
These may include interrelational practices that help to address our motivations and patterns in everyday situations, as well as contemplations and conscious attention practices. The focus of practice may include creating healthy habits/ routines, addressing one’s relationships with oneself and with others, and ultimately, understanding one’s True Nature, Awareness itself.

In one-on-one (1:1) mentorship we (you and I) work together for a period of time to focus on various aspects of your life that you wish to transform. Your particular objective(s,) needs and circumstances inform the course of each session.

For those simply in need of finding some ease and grounding in these times, I have some free videos on my website and an online version of my Deep Self Care program in the works.

At this period of time I am offering Pay What You Can options for my 1:1 services and group programs, for those in need.

If this is your moment to embrace transformation contact me at [email protected]
For more information on 1:1 Mentorship (online,) the upcoming Deep Self Care online group program, as well as some FREE practices visit www.YogaAndHealing.ca

Addressing Perfectionistic Behaviours

Perfectionism, or striving to achieve excessively high standards of excellence, can contribute to higher levels of motivation, goal-achievement, and performance. But it can also contribute to self-judgment, comparison, and other self-defeating behaviours, as well as more anxiety and stress. Questions to ask yourself related to perfectionism include: 1) Is this goal something that brings me joy and satisfaction? 2) What is the underlying motivation for my goal? If it’s not that it will bring you personal joy and satisfaction, reconsider the goal. If it is, think of ways you can break this goal up into smaller, more manageable tasks.

Product Review: Colflex® by Innotech™

ColFlex® Super Oregano Oil Spray is a great-tasting 4-in-1 oral spray containing essential oils of oregano, thyme, and spearmint oil in an extra virgin olive oil base, sweetened with stevia and fortified with vitamin D3. Spray orally to help relieve coughs, sore throat, travelling challenges, that “under the weather feeling” and for general oral hygiene and fresher breath. Lab tests show that ColFlex inhibited the growth of bacteria such as S. aureus and S. pneumonia after 27 minutes and inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. typhi after 9 minutes. Colflex® is proudly made right here in Winnipeg.

Seniors Resource Finder

Need Help linking and referring older adults 55+ to community supports, programs and services? Contact your local coordinator to see what is available to you throughout this time of social distancing. Supports include emergency response information kits, daily phone calls, errands, groceries and other options. Call or email: 204-478-6169, [email protected]

Smoking and Wearing Dentures?

We know that smoking can have a variety of negative effects on our health, but do you know how smoking can affect denture wearers or those with dental implants specifically? If you have dental implants and are also a smoker, your risk of dental implant failure increases. Smoking can also put you at greater risk for infection when having dental implants fitted. Healing time after any type of dental surgery is increased in smokers, since nicotine constricts your arteries and reduces blood flow to your gums. Finally, smoking can accelerate the bone loss that normally comes with losing your teeth.