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!
Community News
Healthy Individuality
The concept of Healthy-Individuality is based on the fact that each person has unique food and lifestyle needs. One person’s food is another person’s poison. That is why, in the long run, fad diets tend to fail. Health practitioners working on the principle of Healthy-Individuality, will support you to make positive changes that are based on your unique needs, lifestyle, preferences and ancestral background. A personalized, holistic approach ensures that you will have great success!
A Romp Back in Time
Grease was first performed in 1971 in the original Kingston Mines nightclub in Chicago. Playwrights Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey created that original play as a raunchy, raw, aggressive, and vulgar show, intended to shake things up with its shock value.
The Broadway version was much less aggressive, becoming the musical we know and love. The language and action are toned down, but the underlying themes are there; love, friendship, peer pressure, rebellion, and class conflict all couched in rollicking 50’s rock, energetic dancing, fight stunts, biting one-liners, and comedic gags. Grease is a romp back in time that you won’t want to miss!
Know the Risk Factors
In today’s stress-riddled world, maintaining a balanced lifestyle is quite challenging, including staving off addictive behaviours like gambling. Be aware of the risk factors, including having experienced a big win early in our gambling history, and/or recent loss or change, and/or financial difficulties. Gambling behaviour is concerning when used as an escapist activity, anxiety-relief and/or distracting us from our families and health. You have more control over your life than you realize. In fact, recognizing a problem is powerful and is the first step in healing. Reach out for help!
Ease the Pain of Downsizing
Moving into a retirement home often involves downsizing and making tricky decisions. When assisting others it is important to realize the sentimental attachment individuals have to things. So, be patient and understanding. Remind the individuals that the memories are always there no matter what. When reviewing items, always ask what is of low to high importance and organize accordingly. Sometimes it helps with decisions if an alternate home can take the item where it can continue to be utilized or gives others the happiness that it brought the current owner. Other downsizing methods include advertising items for sale or having a yard sale.
You Can Keep Anxiety Under Control
In 2013, 3 million adult Canadians reported they had an anxiety disorder. Currently, 93% of them are taking or have taken prescription medication but only 20% have received psychological support to help manage the disorder. The good news is that you can reprogram your mind to stop triggering your natural alarm system in normal situations. Your mind can be programmed to help it deal with anxiety in a healthy way. You choose the program you want to keep in your mind the same way that you choose what software to upload into your computer.
Benefits of Regular Exercise
Physical activity does so much more for you than just burn calories. It reduces stress and improves your mood and mental clarity. Once your body adjusts to increased strength you will have more energy all day long. Exercise slows aging and you feel younger. It strengthens muscles, increases flexibility and makes you more coordinated. Physical activity has a positive effect on heart disease, joint pain, diabetes, the common cold, hypertension, strokes, and osteoporosis by increasing your overall health. What more could you want? Make it a priority in your life. You deserve it and you WON’T REGRET IT!
Meet the Practitioner – Lone Odgers
Lone (pronounced Lo-na) Odgers is a Registered Acupuncturist, practicing Chinese medicine and Japanese-style acupuncture. She recently moved back to Nanaimo after 10 years in Edmonton and is restarting her family practice at Form Health Clinic Inc. She treats women, men and children of all ages and makes house calls. Her treatments include acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion and cupping. Lone treats chronic conditions related to lifestyle, stress, illness and injury, supports pregnant and postpartum women and works with men, women and children living with pain, cancer and auto-immune conditions. Lone customizes each treatment plan to meet individual client’s needs and provides a safe, nurturing and confidential environment for healing and recovery.
Pharmacist Makes House Calls
Do you or your loved ones struggle with managing your medications or have challenges visiting the pharmacy? The Pharmacy at Home program can help. This is a complimentary, 100% patient-focused pharmacy service conducted in the comfort of your own home. The pharmacist comes to you and provides medication management, free prescription pickup and delivery and support for health and wellness. Other benefits include: personalized customer service, convenience and 25% off over-the-counter/non-prescription medications, supplements and home health products.
Detoxing the Key to Health and Wealth
We have become a society of more is better, unfortunately there is often an accumulation of excess. Our screen time has grown over the years and excess weight strains our organs and body. To combat these excesses, we need to detox and declutter to improve health and wellbeing. Reduce or eliminate processed foods, wheat, sugar; increase hydration and consume more berries and greens. Replace screen time with fresh air, exercise or something creative. Pick one or two items and do them for a couple of weeks; notice the difference. Most people report feeling lighter and thinking clearer. These go a long way to making positive change.
Less Known Benefits of Exercise
Some of the less known benefits of exercise include: • Improved Muscle Tone and Bone Density – As we age, we tend to lose both muscle tone and bone density which can make us vulnerable to injuries. Hormones released when we exercise help our muscles absorb amino acids promoting muscle growth. • More Energy – the more we move, the more energy we will have. Feeling a bit sleepy? Go for a stroll. • Sleep Better – The energy we dispense during exercise leads to better, higher-quality sleep. Participating in 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each week could lead to a significant improvement in sleep quality.
