Shamanic practices have always been a part of our human existence. Though they were once shunned, our world is now opening up to this ancient practice once again. Your local shaman dedicates their life to the well-being of the family, community, and all creations and does so through the ceremony, dance and healing methods passed down from their ancestors. The term “shaman” has recently been generalized throughout western society, and we now find it difficult to differentiate between western and eastern shamanic practices. However, regardless of the origin of the shaman, they all share a mutual respect and connection with nature. This commune with nature is the foundation of their spiritual practice, and it allows them to create internal and external harmony with all “creations” and “relations.”
Community News
Clean Eating Recipe: Strawberry Chia Jam
Chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids and protein. They will absorb several times their mass in liquid, creating a jelly-like substance in the process. Instead of cooking fruit down, relying on pectin, and adding sugar to help it set, all we need to do is mash up some fruit and stir in a few tablespoons of chia seeds! So easy! Ingredients: 2 cups chopped strawberries, 1-2 tbsp lemon juice, 1-2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp chia seeds. Cook the berries on medium heat until they start to break down. Mash the fruit with the back of a spoon or a potato masher, leaving it as smooth or as lumpy as you like. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tbsp of the honey and lemon juice. Stir in the chia seeds. Let stand until thickened. If you’d like a thicker consistency, stir in more chia seeds 1 tsp at a time. The jam will thicken further and become more set once completely chilled.
Mental Health Resources
Did you know that the Canadian Mental Health Association has information online regarding different mental health issues? As well, your local Canadian Mental Health Association branch can answer any questions you may have and provide services to the public. Workshops and courses are another great way to learn about these issues. The Canadian Mental Health Association along with other organizations in your community offer this service. Research what organizations are around you and call them to find out times, dates and whether courses are available for free at a cost. Visit your local library to take advantage of free resources or head to a bookstore or shop online to purchase.
5 Reasons to Eat Flaxseed
Flaxseeds are the richest sources of Plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in the world! 5 Benefits of consuming this super food are 1. High in Fibre – Fibre aids in digestion, prevents constipation and suppresses hunger. 2. Women’s Health – The lignans present in them help in battling high levels of estrogen and assist in balancing hormonal levels. 3. Healthy Hair & Skin – The ALA fats in flax seeds benefits the skin and hair by providing essential fats as well as b-vitamins which can help reduce dryness and flakiness. It can also improve symptoms of acne, rosacea, and eczema. 4. Lower Cholesterol – The soluble fiber content of flax seeds trap fat and cholesterol in the digestive system so that it unable to be absorbed. 5. Weight Loss – Since flax is full of healthy fats and fiber, it will help you feel satisfied longer so you will eat fewer calories overall which may lead to weight loss.
Book Club: Is Your Child’s Brain Starving?
By Michael R. Lyon MD and Christine Laurell, PhD
Michael Lyon went from overweight academic underachiever to graduating as the top male student in his high school a year later, thanks to a total change of diet and lifestyle. He ultimately became a medical doctor involved in research on nutrition. This book is an inspiring guide to better brain function through diet and lifestyle changes. The minor downfall is the promotion of supplements he has helped to develop, but it is still a valuable book for parents and has a good recipe section.
IQ and Nutrition
What if you could increase your child’s IQ with nutrition? Inhabitants of a tiny island off the coast of Japan have the highest IQ scores in the world and produce seven times as many geniuses as any other place in the world. Seniors living there don’t seem to struggle with cognitive decline either. The secret: DHA, an essential fatty acid found in fish, krill, squid and some algae. The brain is made mostly of fat, 60% of which is DHA. DHA is found in mother’s milk and has long been recognized as aiding IQ scores in children. Almost everyone nowadays is deficient in DHA. This may be one of the reasons for the increased rates of ADHD, learning disabilities and autism as well as increasing rates of Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related cognitive problems.
Fertility Facts
Fertility can be a sensitive issue, and is an often misunderstood one. Did you know that in women, fertility starts to decline at around 29 years of age and speeds up its decline around 35? In men this happens around 40 as sperm count and motility of the sperms starts its decline. Also, fertility challenges are 1/3 female, 1/3 male and 1/3 the couple? Studies show that a female with a male partner with an age gap of 5 years or greater takes longer to conceive. Workplace stress and environmental exposures are big factors in treating fertility and need to be assessed from both the female and male’s perspective. Your weight also plays a significant role. Most fertility clinics will not accept anyone into an IVF program if they have a BMI of under 19 or over 30. Reflexology is a proven effective method for correcting Fertility challenges and can effectively address both male and female fertility issues.
Gloria Laing – Registered Canadian Reflexology Therapist
Do You Scrape Your Tongue?
From an Ayurvedic perspective, tongue scraping should be performed on a daily basis. This ancient practice helps to stimulate the internal organs through energetic connections with the rest of the body, improve digestion by increasing your sense of taste, and cleanse the body by removing Ama and bacteria from your oral cavity. In addition, it increases clarity of the mind by reducing heaviness and Ama from the head. Ama refers to any accumulation of toxic residue in the mind-body. When your physical and emotional bodies are balanced, it allows you to expand your spiritual awakening as well. Tongue scraping should be done with a gold, silver, brass or stainless steel scrapers. Never use your toothbrush as this accumulates bacteria and you would be injecting bacteria instead of removing it.
Carole Tetreault, Calder Healing House, www.prairiewellnessretreat.com
Flower Essences for Your Pet
Animals reflect the emotions of people close to them and the environment in which they live. Emotions such as fear, anxiety, worry or depression can lead to disease as they deplete the physical body of its natural vitality. Negative energies have electrical patterns that can leave animals feeling anxious, out of balance, or ill. In contrast, the positive electrical patterns of Flower Essences help animals to improve their health and emotional well-being. They do this by replicating the positive electrical patterns of the Flower Essences in their own electrical systems. Flowers hold a specific electrical pattern indicating their evolutionary challenges of adaptation, natural selection, health, and radiant self-expression. Flower essences can be put in water, food, or sprayed to mist their fur or bedding. By using the appropriate essences to balance emotional attitudes, subtle changes occur that bring renewed energy forward.
Rositha Jeanson, Balance and Harmony, www.rositha.ca
Be Good to Yourself
July 24th is International Self-Care Day. The date symbolizes that the benefits of self-care are experienced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In other words, the benefits of self-care are life-long and do not just relate to a single day. International Self-Care related activities have been focused on community involvement programs, physical examination programs, public lectures, expert advice, sponsored public walks, occupational health, pharmacy manager training, research on self-care habits and behaviour, and the media. Learn your body– Speak to your doctor and engage in health screening to identify your physical and mental condition. It’s time for you to give yourself a little self-love!
Yvonne Harder, Eastman Safety Training Centre, www.eastmansafety.ca
What’s With Carpal Tunnel?
Carpal Tunnel happens when the median nerve in the wrist swells causing tingling, weakness, and numbness in your hand. This nerve runs alongside tendons and ligaments in your forearm into your hand through a small space in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. The swelling of this nerve occurs over time due to repetitive movements. Once diagnosed, depending on the severity, your Doctor may suggest surgery. In this surgery, the tunnel which this nerve passes through gets cut, allowing free movement of the median nerve. This surgery may or may not take care of the symptoms, but definitely does not address the cause. An alternative to surgery is massage therapy. An RMT can treat this as well, often allowing the individual to push back surgery or even eliminate the need for it at all! Next time you hear someone talking about this surgery, feel free to tell them to check in with their RMT and see what they can do for them!
Theadora Juenke, RMT, Rejuvenate Massage Therapy, www.facebook.com/Rejuvenate-Massage-Therapy
