With the arrival of summer comes camping, hiking and all things outdoor related! Even if we aren’t into camping or hiking, most of us do spend more time outside in the sun. Protecting ourselves from the sun involves more than just applying sunscreen. Avoiding the sun around the hours of solar noon reduces our exposure to harmful UV rays. Wearing a light, long-sleeved shirt and a hat to cover our faces will also help reduce our exposure and decrease our risk of burning. Make sure to stay well hydrated with water and have a great summer!

Remember being a kid and summer seemed to last forever? Nanaimo Parks and Recreation has activities that will make you FEEL like a kid again. *Water Parks – Departure Bay, Deverill, Harewood and Mansfield Parks until September. *Playground Program – Monday to Friday at various locations throughout the city. *Find the Golden Bucket Contest – Get the clue from Facebook or website every Wednesday until July 25. Find the bucket, answer a question and you could win some great prizes! *Westwood Lake – lifeguards on duty daily June 24th until September 3rd. For details, visit www.nanaimo.ca.

There are things you can do for proper sleep hygiene: Avoid long naps; consider going for a short walk instead. Maintain a regular sleep routine; go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Keep your bedroom quiet and comfy; lower body temperature generally equals better sleep. No electronic devices in bed; blue light emitted from these devices interferes with sleep. Invest in a body pillow to avoid waking up with body pain. If you sleep on your side, an organic body pillow will make hip and shoulder pain a thing of the past.

Chinese Medicine is one of the oldest recorded medical systems. Diagnosis comes through detailed questioning of an individual’s history and symptoms, feeling their pulses, observing their tongue and complexion, and palpating their abdomen. Treatment is based on this individualized diagnosis. Acupuncture treatment regulates and balances the flow of Qi, blood and fluids within the network of energetic pathways, called meridians, that connect the surface of the body to the organs and circulatory systems. In health, this flow is abundant and smooth, and we experience wellbeing and health in our body, mind, emotions and spirit.

There are a variety of discreet hearing aid styles. The Lyric device is the only hearing aid that is 100% invisible. It is placed into the ear canal by a trained hearing care professional, provides 24 hour hearing, and is replaced a few times a year. There is also the invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) custom hearing aid styles that offer minimal visibility. The receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) is the most common style and is worn behind the ear with a small clear tubing that lays flush with the cheek. This style is very discrete from the front and the behind-the-ear component is easily hidden with a person’s hair. Contact your local Hearing Care Professional for more information on different hearing aid styles to fit every lifestyle and budget.

Recreation experiences enrich our lives. Here are a few free or low cost activities.
• The Lions Club of Nanaimo’s free “Everyone Welcome Swim” Sundays from 2-3:30 pm until June 24. • Coast Capital Savings’ free swim on June 29, 7-8 pm, at Beban Park and a free skate on June 22, 4:15-5:45 pm, at Nanaimo Ice Centre. • $3 Swim admission Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30 pm until June 27 at Beban Pool. Starting July 2, $3 Swim Admission daily at 9-10pm at Nanaimo Aquatic Centre and 4-5 pm, Monday to Friday.• Visit one of Nanaimo’s parks. These are always free!