Community News
Thai Foot Massage/Reflexology

Thai Foot Massage/Reflexology

Thai Foot Massage/Reflexology is a treatment for lower legs and feet that originated in Thailand about 2000 years ago. This therapy utilizes stretching, massage, thumb-walking, and the use of a wooden stick to stimulate reflex points. Thai foot massage restores balance to the body/mind through reflexes of the feet and lower legs that are linked to the body’s 72,000 energy meridians (sen). Reported benefits include: improved circulation in legs, lymphatic drainage, removal of toxins, elevated functioning of the immune system, and reduced stiffness. Additional outcomes are: improved flexibility, relief from stress, and improved sleep. Thai foot massage doesn’t cure illnesses, but it promotes good health. Thai Foot Massage is intended to stimulate reflex points of the feet, the internal organs, and encourage free flow of energy throughout the body. If you would like to balance and harmonize the flow of energy throughout your body and stimulate the internal organs, then Thai Foot Massage/Reflexology is for you!

Rositha Jeanson, www.rositha.ca

Drink to Your Health

Known as the “Immortal Health Elixir” by the Chinese and originating in the Far East around 2,000 years ago, kombucha is a beverage with tremendous health benefits. With more literature being published regarding its effectiveness in weight management, immune system enhancement as well as its role in improving digestion, and boosting energy, the fondness of this ancient drink is growing. It’s also beneficial for protecting hair and teeth and battling certain types of cancer.   Exactly what is kombucha? Simply put, kombucha is a living drink. It’s made by fermenting tea, sugar, and the kombucha culture otherwise known as a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). After being fermented, kombucha becomes carbonated and contains vinegar, b-vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, and a high concentration of acid (acetic, gluconic and lactic), which are linked with positive effects.   Some outcomes are improved digestion, weight loss, increased energy, cleansing and detoxification, immune support, reduced joint pain, and cancer prevention.

10 Ways to Cultivate Self-Acceptance

Be intentional. Articulate your goal of self-acceptance and dedicate yourself to it each day. Celebrate your strengths. Name one of your strengths each day. Create a support system. Surround yourself with people who accept and believe in you. Forgive yourself. Accept past mistakes, learn from them, and move on. Shush your inner critic. Be gentle to yourself and treat yourself the way you would a loved one. Grieve the loss of unrealized dreams. Acknowledge the loss and then move forward. Perform acts of kindness. Giving to others enriches your life. Be kind to yourself. It is not selfish to love yourself. You are worthy of self-compassion. Understand that acceptance is not resignation. Letting go of the things you cannot control allows you to grow. Speak to your highest self. Visualize your best self in times of stress. Tap into the wisdom that lies within you.

Canadian Mental Health Association Manitoba, www.winnipeg.cmha.ca

Community Event

As part of Manitoba Addictions Awareness Week, St. Raphael Wellness Centre is hosting the “SEX AND ADDICTIONS Conference” on November 15-17th at the Norwood Hotel.

The conference begins on November 15th from 7-9 pm with a public forum, entitled, “ Porn Crisis? The Porn Dilemma in Today’s Culture.” Discovering that someone close to you is secretly watching porn is usually met with a range of emotions and most of us do not feel prepared to navigate a conversation about it. This community presentation will describe six principles of sexual health that can be a foundation for talking with someone about their use of pornography.

This will be followed by a day and a half discussion on sex/drug-linked behaviour.  Family members, counsellors, therapists, mental health professionals and others who want to help individuals talk about and address issues of sexual health and substance addiction will want to attend.

www.straphaelcentre.ca

 http://straphaelcentre.ca/srwc-conference-2016-2/

 

10 Ways to Cultivate Self-Acceptance

Be intentional. Articulate your goal of self-acceptance and dedicate yourself to it each day. Celebrate your strengths. Name one of your strengths each day. Create a support system. Surround yourself with people who accept and believe in you. Forgive yourself. Accept past mistakes, learn from them, and move on. Shush your inner critic. Be gentle to yourself and treat yourself the way you would a loved one. Grieve the loss of unrealized dreams. Acknowledge the loss and then move forward. Perform acts of kindness. Giving to others enriches your life. Be kind to yourself. It is not selfish to love yourself. You are worthy of self-compassion. Understand that acceptance is not resignation. Letting go of the things you cannot control allows you to grow. Speak to your highest self. Visualize your best self in times of stress. Tap into the wisdom that lies within you.

Canadian Mental Health Association Manitoba, www.winnipeg.cmha.ca

Book Club: Chakra Wisdom Oracle Toolkit

A 52-Week Journey of Self-Discovery with the Lost Fables Paperback by Tori Hartman. Let this book guide you in opening up your intuition, removing blockages from your life, improving your relationships, and realizing your highest potential. Have you ever wondered about chakras? You may wonder how to open your chakra channels or just understand what they are. Maybe you just wish to make your life more colorful and become something more. Become a successful, interesting person, a witty talker, a person who knows more and is determined to continue developing. This book is for you.

70 is the New 50

Working into retirement, postponing having kids, living longer – the lifecycle of Canadians is changing. This has implications on personal finances and retirement savings. New research suggests that old age now starts at 74, with middle age lasting at least nine years longer than current estimates. What we think of as old has changed over time and it will need to continue changing in the future as people live longer, healthier lives. Two hundred years ago, a 60-year-old was a very old person. Someone who is 60 years old today could be argued as middle aged. In terms of health, longevity, and view of life, “baby boomers” in their sixties and seventies will be more like their parents and grandparents were at 50. This means people can work longer if they so desire. For many people, 70 is the new 50 and signifies the quiet revolution that has taken place in longevity.

Brett Scott, www.disabilitytaxcreditwinnipeg.com

Clean Eating: Sweet Potato Brownies

1 cup mashed sweet potato, ½ cup smooth nut butter of choice, 2 tbsp maple syrup, ¼ cup cocoa powder, handful of carob chips (optional). Preheat oven to 350 and grease a small cake/ loaf pan. On the stove, melt nut butter with maple syrup. In a large bowl add the mashed sweet potato, melted nut butter and maple syrup, and cocoa powder and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour mixture into greased pan and bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before slicing and refrigerating. These brownies are best when cooled completely. Store in fridge or freezer and ENJOY!

Music–More Than Performing Arts

MUSIC is the most accessible and most researched medium of art, healing, and wellness. There has been a principal emphasis on the soothing capacity of music and its ability to offset overly technological approaches to care. I n particular, music therapy has been shown to decrease anxiety, increase healthy well-being, and over all calmness. The pleasure shared by participants in the healing process through a music therapy program, whether the music is played or heard, can help to restore emotional balance as well. There is also evidence of the effectiveness of auditory stimulation along with a strong indication that such stimulation abolishes pain. Music can be a powerful strategy for achieving control over pain. Music engagement encourages positivity, well-being, awareness, and over all happiness.
Cassandra Milcharek, www.steinbachartscouncil.ca

Practicing a Balanced Life

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that has recently been integrated within our western culture. It is an inner spiritual practice that aims to strengthen and balance the body and mind. Another one of these ancient practices that has been newly introduced to western society is Aryuveda, an alternative form of medicine. It teaches that when all is balanced, an individual is healthy. Its key focuses are balance, prevention, and selfcare practice to treat a variety of issues. These components are easily paralleled to and satisfied with the practice of yoga. Aligning the body, concentrating the mind, and working for a healthier self fall directly under the umbrella of Aryuveda. Just as yoga is a practice for all, Aryuveda can be practiced by anyone as well, to achieve good health and longevity. It creates a foundation for self-realization, and self -healing.
Celine Sartoris, www.shineyourlight.ca

Benefits of a Well-Fitting Partial Denture

When a person needs a partial denture, it is crucial to have one that fits properly. Metal partial frames are the preferred choice because they are strong and thin. They are more comfortable and enable clearer speech. A good fitting partial will balance your bite to help you chew better and have a healthier jaw joint (TMJ) plus provide support for lips and cheeks. If a partial is not fitting tight around the natural teeth, it will cause damage to the roots of the teeth. Think of it this way, if you take a fence post and rock it back and forth you will eventually loosen it and it will come out easily. The same applies to natural teeth. The chewing motions can rock a partial denture creating stress on the root and causing damage. On average, partial dentures should be replaced every 7 years to preserve the health of the remaining natural teeth.
Timo Gerzen, granddentureclinic.com