Community News
What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that cause progressive damage to the optic nerve, leading to a loss of peripheral vision. These diseases are dangerous, as most people do not have symptoms until a significant portion of their side vision has been affected. If not treated, they can lead to tunnel vision and possibly blindness. While there is no way to reverse the damage, early detection and treatment are the best way to protect your eyes. A comprehensive eye exam will include tests to detect and monitor glaucoma.

Dr. Ashley Britton, LREyeCare.ca

Aerobic Activity for Health

Do you get the recommended amount of physical activity every week? Adults should be getting at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity. Examples of moderate aerobic exercises include walking, swimming, and household chores such as mowing the lawn. Running, tennis, jumping rope, heavy gardening, and hiking uphill are examples of exercises classified as vigorous. Did you know that exercising regularly comes with many benefits? It can help you lose or maintain your current weight; decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer; increase muscle and bone strength; and improve mental health, as well as overall mood. If you do not currently have an exercise routine and need help starting one, give Prairie Trail Physiotherapy a call. We can help tailor a program to your current abilities and help you discover exercises you enjoy doing.

Kristi Hunter MPT, BSc, PrairieTrailPhysio.ca

Acupuncture for Migraines

Migraines and headaches can be treated with acupuncture, reducing the severity and frequency of occurrences. Acupuncture is a minimally invasive treatment with virtually no side effects. Hair-fine needles are inserted at specific points to increase blood flow in the affected meridians, which will reduce the severity and frequency of migraines. Migraine prevention is also important. If you are experiencing an imbalance in the nervous system, from high stress, hormone imbalances (e.g., if it occurs during a women’s menstrual cycle), or hypertension, an approach of balancing your organs and nervous system, along with migraine-specific points, is taken. Prevention would consist of stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system (rest, relax digestive system) and reducing muscle tension and soreness. These points are primarily located in the forearms and lower legs. A complete assessment followed by a prescribed course of acupuncture may reduce the severity and frequency of migraines and headaches.

Naomi Johnson, HeklaAcupuncture.com

Healthy Digestion is Key!

Healthy digestion has a key role to play in our day-to-day lives. We often take good digestive health for granted until there is a problem, at which point it can often send daily life into chaos. Your digestion affects how well your immune system functions, whether it be chronic colds or an autoimmune condition. It plays a role in how much inflammation your body is dealing with on a daily basis, which is a factor in arthritis or allergies. The research also shows that the health of your digestive tract can affect mental health and wellness. If you have some chronic, longstanding health issues and have a history of digestive issues, you could benefit from exploring the possible link with a licensed naturopathic doctor. Consider booking an appointment to share your story and explore what is possible!

Dr. Cory Storm, TheNatureDoctors.ca

Find Calm in Chaos

A great teacher once told us that a meditation practice is like weaving a parachute. Eventually, you will need it, and you don’t want to have to learn to weave on your way down. We take comfort in thinking we have control over most aspects of our lives, and in many cases, we do. But when something out of our control happens, it can send us on a downward spiral. Meditation is like parachute weaving, and floating helps you meditate with ease. We get it. Meditation can be difficult. You might even think meditation is boring. But we like to think, if you can’t spend 90 minutes with yourself, who else is going to want to? This is the reason self-care is such an important pillar of wellness. Because the only thing we truly have control over is ourselves. If you can find the calm, you can control the chaos. Brad Dauk, Floatcalm.com

Brad Dauk, Floatcalm.com

Grab Bars for Safety                                                                                                 

Whether it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, entranceways, or near the stairs, safety grab bars are a benefit to any home or office. They provide safety in areas like the bathroom and around stairs, where a majority of slips and falls occur. Safety grab bars can also be used for assistance when getting in and out of bed, or up and down from a chair or sofa. As we age, moving around can become more difficult. Grab bars are a great way to provide security within your home or office, while maintaining and promoting independence. Safety is a concern for every home and business owner, and safety grab bars are an efficient first step towards a safer home and work environment. If you are considering placing safety bars, always do your research, as there are many makes and models to fit a range of specific needs.

Renew Mobility, RenewMobility.ca

Happy Pride, Winnipeg!

Many people wonder why Pride still happens around the world now that same-sex marriage is legal. Although same-sex marriage is legal in Canada, many places in the world are incarcerating and even sending people to death camps for their perceived sexual preference. This is unimaginable to Canadians. Pride is about celebrating our freedom and the love we share as humans, and trying to create a safe world for present and future generations. It’s a time to celebrate who we are and how far we’ve come in society, and the people who have taken those courageous steps to help us get to where we are today. Whether you are a member of the LGBTTQQIAAP community or not, we currently live in a country where we have the freedom, and for the most part the safety, to be ourselves. There is great PRIDE in that.

Heather Cameron, LiberatedConnections.com

Massage for Restoration

Huna Kane is a restorative body massage with a rocking action. “Pain is information” is the premise that applies to Huna Kane. Negative thoughts and emotional trauma, when repressed, cause body pain, burnout, and disease, which can be resolved and healed. The tight masses of constricted tissue are actually the body’s way of telling its owner what is emotionally out of balance so the person can make the necessary changes. Huna Kane incorporates all types of massage, many forms of polarity, and shiatsu to clear the auras and chakras. It is a passive way to release the body of old baggage. The massage relaxes painful spots in the body as the person breathes deeply. Love for self and others is reinforced, thereby releasing the fears that constrict life, detoxifying the body, activating the body’s immune system, and increasing the life force (mana) available.

Monique L. Dorge BHEc, BEd., mmlConsulting.ca

Changes Bring About Transformation

Sometimes life brings us changes we don’t see coming…illness, death, a job loss. It can change our lives in an instant. It shocks us by closing the door to the old familiar pathways and forces us to lighten and release old patterns and coping ways we’ve grown accustomed to that no longer work. These are the times that grow our soul and expand our patience levels to new heights. It invites us to release deep fear, grief, disappointment, and hurt that holds us stuck, and begins to free things up in our lives. It forces us to look at the old stories we tell ourselves about not being able to do it, deserve it, or receive it, and slowly welcomes in a new path that begins to transform and heal old wounds and bring new gifts and learnings we didn’t even know were possible!

D’Arcy Bruning-Haid, Souls-Journey.com

Focus on Bettering Health

Focus can play an important role in success or victory. This principle applies to all areas, including exams, businesses, and athletics. How can we improve focus? First, by improving the quality of sleep. Without sound sleep, you cannot focus enough. Getting less sleep to study longer does not mean you will get better grades. Secondly, by taking nutrients for better focus. About two years ago, the Jets were defeated by the Ducks by 4-0 in the playoff first round. I thought the Jets could have won at least a game with nutritional supplements. Californians tend to take more nutritional supplements than Winnipeggers do. It may just be a wild guess, but a scientifically feasible one. The change caused by a nutritional supplement is small, but the small change can make a big difference. It can be a game changer or a life changer.

Yong Han Lee, Re-Vitamins of Charleswood, Facebook.com/revitamins

Primal Health Coaching

A Primal Health Coach is a wellness expert who uses an integrated approach to educate, motivate, and guide clients towards maximum vitality using scientifically validated ancestral health principles. The aim of the Primal Health Coach is to help clients extract the most joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment from their lives by focusing on their values, needs, visions, and goals in an extremely personalized way. Aligning your diet and lifestyle closer to what nature intended allows your body and mind to heal to the best of its ability. Eat like your life depends on it, because it does!

Tom White, EndDiabetesManitoba.ca, becomeHEALTHY.ca