Community News
Vipassana Meditation

Research has shown that meditation can expand the brain, and help people avert stress and disease. One way to achieve this is through Vipassana meditation, a technique that emphasizes mindfulness, with the goal of seeing things as they “really are.” An ancient meditative technique from India, Vipassana was taken up by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) just over 2,500 years ago. Vipassana meditation is the practice of freedom. It is an honest and direct practice: the moment-to-moment investigation of the mind-body process through calm, open, and precise awareness. Learning to observe our experience from a place of spacious stillness enables us to relate to life with a balance of wisdom and compassion. This experience fosters clarity and penetrating insight into the nature of who we are, as well as increased peace in our daily lives.

Brett Scott, Disability Tax Credit, DisabilityTaxCreditWinnipeg.com

Something to Sleep On

Daydreaming about better health? Getting 7-9 hours of uninterrupted, deep sleep can help make those dreams come true. Some researchers claim that the health benefits of sleeping are equivalent to those of eating. When daylight fades, our bodies release melatonin, a natural sleep aid/hormone with powerful antioxidant properties that works to: 1) Reduce inflammation; 2) Foster mental and emotional resilience; 3) Boost immune system function; 4) Improve performance and memory; 5) Protect your heart; 6) Prevent cancer. Having trouble sleeping? Here are a few tips to help you nod off: 1) Darken your room. Melatonin release only happens in low light/dark conditions. Blue light from mobile devices, TV’s, etc. inhibits this process. 2) Avoid eating/drinking 2-3 hours before bedtime. 3) Keep a consistent sleep/wake schedule. 4) Engage in moderate to rigorous exercise. If you rarely feel well rested talk to your healthcare provider about natural and medicinal support.

Sean Miller, CMHA MB & WPG, mbwpg.cmha.ca

A Daughter’s Recommendation

Care At Home Pharmacy can help seniors remain in the comfort of their home by having quality care come to them. My parents have greatly benefitted from “visiting pharmacist” Yolanda Yeung’s involvement. She initially developed a medical profile for each of them and made recommendations to their doctor regarding medication changes. She visits my parents’ home weekly to monitor their progress and well-being, and provides their prescriptions and any other pharmaceutical needs, as recommended by their doctor. I am my parents’ primary caregiver but do not live in the city, so Yolanda and I communicate by email. She also regularly communicates with the doctor and nursing service involved with my parents’ care. It is a great comfort to me to know the Care At Home Pharmacy team provides a personalized and reputable service to seniors like my parents and is so willing to partner with other services in this type of care at home model. – Happy Daughter.

Care At Home Pharmacy, CareAtHomePharmacy.ca

Clean Eating: Lemon Tahini Dressing

This delicious dressing can be used for salad greens or as a sauce over rice, steamed vegetables, and baked potatoes.

2/3 cup plain almond or rice milk

5 tbsp lemon juice

1 clove garlic

½ tsp salt

½ cup tahini

1/8 tsp toasted sesame oil

Place all the ingredients in a blender and puree for 1 minute at high speed. Herbal D-TOX Cookbook for Cleansing by Dr. Terry Willard, CI.H.,Ph.D. AvivaHealth.com/WildRose

Book Club: Herbal D-Tox Cook Book for Cleansing by Dr. Terry Willard, PH.D.

Out with the old and in with the new. Detoxification is one of the central concepts of natural healing because it is impossible to build healthy new tissue without eliminating old cells and their by-products. This D-Tox program is designed for both meat eaters and vegetarians. The recipes in this book are designed to stimulate your own creativity and to show you that a delicious Meal Plan can accompany a detoxification diet.

Nathan Zassman, Aviva Natural Health Solutions, AvivaHealth.com/WildRose

Amazing Yoga Benefits for Children

Just like adults, children live in a fast-paced world with many stressors and expectations. The practice of yoga helps to bring minds and bodies back into a place of harmony and balance. Children classes consist of more than just the physical yoga poses; they also incorporate yoga teachings and traditions in a safe and nurturing environment. Classes are taught in a non-competitive, playful, and vibrant way through games, storytelling, music, and guided visualization. Through yoga, children will physically develop skills such as flexibility, strength, body awareness, balance, and coordination. They will also grow mentally cultivating self-love and respect while learning self-calming and relaxation techniques through breath work, mindfulness, and meditation. All improving attention and behavioral regulation, enhancing self-confidence and social interaction. Through yoga, children become connected; mind and body strong.

Harmony Warrior Kids Yoga, harmonywarrior.com

Freedom at Any Age

These days the mobility market is full of possibilities. Rather than being confined to the inside of your home or relying on friends and family to take you out, consider the freedom of a mobility scooter. Battery powered scooters have come a long way and are now more affordable than ever. They provide the freedom to get around, they conserve physical energy which can keep you out and about longer, and they also provide you access to places you may not have previously been able to go. Along with the freedom, mobility scooters offer an element of safety. They provide stability and safety both indoors and outdoors reducing the risk of falls and injury. If you are considering a mobility scooter, do some research and access free consultations before making a purchase. There are several different models and various solutions to meet the needs of yourself or a loved one.

Re-New Mobility, ReNewMobility.ca

How to Prevent Shin Splints

A common injury that some runners may develop in the spring is Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS also known as Shin Splints). This condition presents as sharp pain that occurs on the lower inside/medial aspect of the shin bone (tibia). It is important to take into consideration the volume of training or exercise you do during the spring season as you may have been more sedentary throughout the winter months. Following a training plan that involves slow progression will allow the body to adapt to stresses that running may impose. Performing a warm-up before exercise and a cool-down after will decrease the chances of muscle tightness and reduce the stress placed on the tibia. Additionally, exercises such as foam rolling and stretching the muscles of the lower body, particularly the calves, will help reduce your likelihood of injury. Let’s take advantage of the warmer months and spring into motion!

Jeremy LaHaie, InnovativeMedicalSupplies.com

Sunscreen 101

Spring is in the air! It’s time to start thinking about sunscreen if you haven’t already. When selecting one, go for the “broad spectrum” protection. Sunscreens with this label protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Make sure your sunscreen has a sun protection factor of 30 or higher. The SPF number is the level of protection the sunscreen provides against harmful rays. Higher SPF numbers do mean more protection, but the higher you go, the smaller the difference becomes. Generally, an SPF over 50 doesn’t give much more added protection, and a higher SPF does NOT mean people can stay in the sun longer. Secondly, take a look at the ingredients. Physical blockers (titanium dioxide, zinc oxide) provide the best protection and cause less skin irritation than chemical sunscreens.

Care at Home Pharmacy, CareAtHomePharmacy.ca

Where Is Love?

You’ve decided enough is enough. You have plenty going for yourself and you want to share your life with someone special but where on earth are you going to find them? Times have changed. We live in an electronic world but computers don’t have hearts and you don’t know if the person behind the screen is authentic. You have asked your friends and coworkers if they know anyone right for you and you have been insulted by who they have suggested! A matchmaker specializes in finding love for people who are looking for one special partner. An effective matchmaker meets with all potential clients in person and determines who the right person is for them. A criminal record check should be conducted on each client. When choosing a match-maker it is important that you work with a service that has been in business for quite some time and has many success stories.

Lianne Tregobov, Camelot Introductions, camelotintroductions.com

Don’t Sweat the Setbacks

So your New Year’s Resolution was to adopt a healthier diet. Now that the first few months of 2017 have come and gone is your initial enthusiasm is starting to wane? We all have limited resources – time, energy and money and changing your lifestyle can challenge these resources and your resolve. To stay on track, focus on keeping it simple. Plan your meals for the week ahead, shop accordingly and do as much advanced prep work as possible. Keep a collection of recipes that are tasty, healthy, quick and cheap. Make double batches and freeze extras for quick meals. If everyone is hungry, serve a salad or green smoothie while cooking the rest of the meal. That way you can fill up on healthy stuff while the hot stuff is cooking. Focus on the positives and don’t sweat the setbacks. Have patience, you can do this!

Darlene Porter, KnowThyselfAsSoul.org