Community News
Book Club: Whose Mind Is It Anyway?

Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life by Lisa Esile & Franco Esile. Most of us spend our lives trailing after our minds, allowing our brains to take us in directions that are safe and secure, controlled and conformed. Whose Mind Is It Anyway? will help you learn how to separate what you want from what your brain wants and how to do less when your mind is trying to trick you into doing more. In a colorful, funny, and nonthreatening way, it answers the difficult question of how we can take control of our self-defeating behaviors.

LisaEsile.com

Kundalini Yoga for Vitality

Through kundalini yoga, energy increases! With increased awareness, we make the right choices for ourselves on a consistent basis and less energy is used for worry and fear. This alone gives us much-needed vitality. You begin to feel revitalized, as the poses, breath work, and mantras bring prana (life energy) to your body, activating and balancing the glandular system. This impacts our brain chemistry, improving our moods, hormones, and reaction to stress. Through consistent practice, your body/mind retains a memory of what you have learned and you are able to access this neutral energy when needed. Your mind becomes calm and you feel focused and clear. Vitality and focus bring self-confidence, and the ability to see things in perspective and not get easily stressed. We may face the daily challenges in life and be joyful about whatever comes our way.

Wendy Anderson RYT, Yoga-10 Studio
CourtenayMassageTherapy.com

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Low energy and weakness; confusion; sleep, digestive, hearing, and memory problems; irritability and mood swings; dizziness or light-headedness; weak immune function; and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet can indicate a B12 deficiency. It’s one super vitamin that will boost energy and speed up metabolism. B12 is found in many foods and is easily taken orally. Since it is water-soluble, B12 acts quickly in the body and is considered safe for almost anyone. Oral B12 supplements should be dissolved under the tongue. The vast network of blood vessels under the tongue allows B12 to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream and bypass the stomach. Many B12 supplements are made with inexpensive cyanocobalamin, which must first be converted into its active counterpart methylcobalamin to be utilized. Those supplementing with B12 should use 100% methylcobalamin. Tree for Life’s Vitamin B12, which we distribute, meets the above recommendations.

Stephen Dalley
ComoxValleyHCG.com

The Cancer Journey

When patients with cancer are treated in an integrative approach with Chinese and conventional medicine, several factors are taken in account such as the patient’s conditional environment and lifestyle factors that played a role in the evolution of the cancer. The treatment interventions from the conventional medicine view are generally cytotoxic and carry predictable side effects, depending on the specific intervention. There are several treatment principles that Chinese medicine uses to interact with conventional medicine cancer treatments: Fu zheng Qu xie, to strengthen the constitution, improve the immune system, and eliminate pathogenic factors to allow the body to heal from within; Huo xue Qu Yu, which refers to the activation of blood circulation, which may prevents metastasis; Qing Re Jie Du, to describe the clearing of heat, and toxins; and Ruan Jian san Jie, which refers to the softening and dissolving of cancer masses.

Dr. Ross Ralph, Courtenay Healing Centre
CourtenayHealing.ca

Ringing in the Ears

Do you hear noise in your ears that other people can’t hear? Annoying sounds, like ringing, buzzing, whistling, whooshing, or hissing? If so, you are not alone. Over 3 million Canadians suffer from tinnitus – a condition characterized by sounds that originate from within, rather than from outside of, your ears. Tinnitus takes on many forms. The most common “garden-variety” type produces soft-to-loud ringing, humming or rushing water sounds. Tonal tinnitus causes a constant chiming sound, like a musical note played over and over again. Pulsatile tinnitus produces sound that pulsates in time with one’s heartbeat. Mixed tinnitus causes multiple noises to be heard simultaneously. Objective tinnitus is extremely rare, and produces noise heard not only by the affected individual, but by others as well!

Jeff Germain
Islandbeltone.com

Have CRA Debt?

Owing money to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is stressful. Manage it by following these guidelines: Request a payment plan – CRA will split what you owe into smaller, more manageable amounts. However, this balance will accrue interest until it’s paid off, and defaulting on your payment plan also means collections attempts from CRA. Consult a Licensed Insolvency Trustee – discuss a consumer proposal if a payment plan won’t work. With this option, you can settle your debts for less than you owe; the Trustee will negotiate a settlement with the CRA on your behalf, and you will then make affordable payments to the Trustee. A consumer proposal or bankruptcy will stop collection activity from CRA. Act quickly – never ignore a notice or call from CRA. They are willing to work with you, but only if you communicate with them first.

Derek L. Chase, CPA, CA, CIRP Licenced Insolvency Trustee
ChaseSekulich.com

Can Exercise be Fun?

Are you getting enough fun with your exercise? Would you like to do a 4-hour walking tour in the Comox Valley where you can not only learn more about the Comox Valley, but also get some light exercise while doing so? We strive to create a fun way to learn and exercise at the same time, therefore working on your overall health and wellness. It is important to not only exercise your body, but to also exercise your mind. It is also important that you enjoy life, as life is an adventure. Exercise your body and your mind as you work on your overall health and wellness, all while enjoying life.

Jackie West
Scavenger-hunt-adventure-tours.ca

Clean Eating: Veggie Burgers

Ingredients:

1 large red onion
1 large bell pepper
3 carrots
1 small head cauliflower
1 lg. stalk broccoli
1 C almonds, soaked 12-24 hours
1 C sunflower seeds, soaked 5-6 hours
1/4 C sesame seeds, soaked 5-6 hours
5 cloves garlic
2 T Braggs or to taste
1 t cumin
2 T dried Cilantro or 1-2 C fresh

Instructions:

Blend all of the above ingredients and seasonings in a champion juicer with solid plate, or a food processor. This blended food is your patty mixture. Form and put 1/2″ thick patties on a teflex sheet and place trays in dehydrator. Dehydrate at 105 degrees for 8-12 hours or until desired texture is obtained. Flip your burgers after 4 hours and remove teflex sheets, continue to dehydrate for 4-5 hours or until desired moisture is obtained.

VeganRawFoodRestaurant.com

Orthotics & Summer Footwear

More and more people rely on custom foot orthotics to treat biomechanical issues related to the feet, whether it be plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, arthritic knees or low back pain, just to name a few. Now that summer has finally arrived, the question most orthotic wearers ask is what to do when it’s sandal weather. When orthotics are needed to correct altered foot mechanics it is important to wear them during all weight bearing activities.Fortunately many shoe manufacturers recognize the increasing need for sandals that accommodate custom orthotics. These sandals have removable foot beds that can be taken out to make room for your orthotics. If you recently purchased sandals but your orthotics don’t fit into them properly, very often a simple low-cost adjustment will solve the problem. Sandals don’t provide the same support as a closed-in shoe but can allow pleasant relief from the heat even for orthotic wearers.

Bryan Mitchell, B.D.
MitchellPandO.com

The Ideal Protein Protocol

Data shows that 70% of Americans and 54% of Canadians are overweight or obese. These individuals are at increased risk for a host of health complications associated with excess weight, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and reproductive problems in women. The Ideal Protein Protocol is a four-phase, low carbohydrate, moderate protein, ketogenic weight management solution. Dr. Rothrock, Ideal Protein Chief Medical Officer, is passionate about the Ideal Protein Protocol. “This appointment affords me an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of millions affected by the epidemic,” he says. “It’s the science and education behind it that makes it different. It has been found that the Protocol is an effective intervention to help people manage their weight and potentially avoid serious health complications related to obesity.” Healthcare practitioners offer the Protocol to their patients to help them lose weight and, as a result, reverse metabolic syndrome. www.successweightloss.ca Success Weight Loss

Feeding Tips for Cats

Many of the most common feline diseases diagnosed these days are linked to how and what we feed our cats. In the wild, cats will eat multiple small meals throughout the day that are high in protein and fat, and low in carbohydrates. But that’s not all. These cats have to work to get their food. This is quite unlike a typical house cat’s diet and exercise regime. Many cats that eat dry food have access to it all day long, setting them up for obesity. Your indoor kitty is probably profoundly bored and unchallenged by its bottomless food bowl. A new study shows that making cats work for food helps to keep them mentally stimulated, as well as in good physical shape. Food puzzles can be purchased at pet supply stores, or try making one yourself! Cut a few holes in an empty bottle, place some kibble in it, and watch them get to work!

Happy Paws Pet Food, HappyPaws.ca