Sound healing involves using sound vibrations to relax your mind and body, through the use of sacred instruments like tuning forks, gongs, or singing bowls, music, or simply the voice. These vibrations can help to promote energy flow, circulation, and rejuvenation, as well as activate de-stress responses in the body. This may lead to improved mood and sleep, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and lower stress levels. It may also provide some relief from depression, anxiety, autism, dementia, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other conditions. You may find that different types of sound healing can produce different results.
Exercise Helps Depression, Anxiety & Stress
During these times we must take care of our emotional health. Strength training provides similar improvements in depression as anti-depressant medications. Currently, it is not known if this is because people feel better when they are stronger or if strength training produces a helpful biochemical change to the brain. It is most likely a combination of the two. Strength training helps to ease stress and anxiety by reducing stress, it helps sharpen brain-power and increasing self-esteem. Lifting your mood can help relieve depression, boost your energy level helping you cope better with whatever comes your way in the run of a day.
Community Spotlight: Willow Medical Aesthetics
Willow Medical Aesthetics is a medical clinic specializing in women’s wellness and needs. Aging, combined with lifestyle and stress factors, brings unwanted visible effects, but with some help it is possible to retain a youthful appearance. The team at Willow Medical Aesthetics is committed to providing clinical treatments with excellent aftercare. Using only quality products and established procedures, with expert skincare and supplements, they can advise on your skin and feminine needs. Complimentary consultations allow clients to learn how the clinic’s Medical Aesthetics, Laser, and Spa treatments, can help them look and feel their best at any age.
Healthy New Year
If you find yourself considering a new year resolution but worry about follow-through, might I suggest exploring something you already love from a new angle? Anyone considered a professional in their field will say that it takes constant practice for refinement. Like to walk? Let’s look at how well your body moves throughout your gait. Find more ease, fluidity, speed and strength in your walk! Like to dance? Let’s break things down to the basics and make sure your different joints are moving well and in good coordination so that when you dance, you have the most grace and expression available to you! Any activity can benefit from refinement.
Staying Healthy in Winter with Diet
Winter is characterized by coldness, darkness, and dormancy, and we must adapt to it by using
more energy to stay warm and maintain homeostasis. Our mood tends to be more subdued
due to a decrease in sunlight, causing a drop in serotonin transmitters. Winter is an ideal time
to use food for nourishment and supplementation. Eat foods with a warm nature such as beef,
lamb, potatoes, yams, squash, ginger, cinnamon, apples, and pears. Eat more and rest more
which will preserve your energy for more fun in the summer and reduce the chances of getting sick or feeling depressed
DECEMBER LOCAL WELLNESS BOX PRIZE PACKAGE
Over $500.00 worth of prizes including; $210.00 Therapeutic Yoga-Based Movement Gift Card – BodyWell Remedial Exercise & Registered Massage Therapy www.getbodywell.com
$115.00 Initial evaluation and treatment Gift Card – Red Sage Wellness – Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine www.redsagewellness.com
2 Tickets to the Vancouver Island Symphony – Mozart’s Serenade March 19, 2022 in Nanaimo www.vancouverislandsymphony.com
Voxxlife Socks from Great Socks for All – www.greatsocksforall.voxxlife.com
Cactus Club – Gift Card www.cactusclubcafe.com/location/victoria
Holidays with Dementia
Many older adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia enjoy and want to be included in holiday festivities. However, the added activities could cause increased agitation and confusion, unpredictable behavior, or mood swings. To create a stress-free, happy holiday season, try to scale things back and modify activities so they’ll feel calm and safe. Focus on a few of the most meaningful traditions. Ask which activities they value most. That could mean trimming the Christmas tree, lighting the menorah, singing songs, or baking special holiday treats. Even if your older adult might not remember these holiday activities later, the warm feelings they’ll have is a different kind of memory their body will carry for a while.
Honour Yourself During the Holidays
The holidays can be a time of loving reunions, catch-ups, heartfelt connections, and joy, or they can be filled with obligations, expectations, and old patterns with emerging drama. When we can empower ourselves to know we have a choice as to where to best put our energies, what to let go of and forgive, and where to take a stand and set boundaries, we honour ourselves. Despite the illusion of social media, the “perfect family” does not exist where all things look “wonderful and together” all the time. Instead, the holidays offer us the perfect opportunity to stay true and nurture ourselves in the midst of giving and receiving.
Gift Ideas for Seniors
Seniors can sometimes be hard to buy gifts for, but there are some simple and thoughtful gifts that any older adult would be happy to receive. Experience gifts are a great way to show you care! This could include a special day out, a class you take together, a bucket list experience, or a special meal. If your loved one enjoys corresponding, stationery sets can be great, or you can go digital with online subscriptions to magazines or gift cards to purchase books or music online. Comforting gifts like non-skid slippers, scented soaps, or scrapbooks are also good ideas!
Ask The Expert
Q: I don’t see very well out of my lazy eye. Is there any way I can make it better? I’m 39 years old and my eyes are otherwise healthy.
A: That is likely difficult. A “lazy” eye means it didn’t develop functional vision by early childhood, and this can happen for a variety of reasons. At this point in your life, corrective lenses or vision therapy could give you some modest help, depending on how lazy the eye is. Children ought to have an eye examination at an early age for this very reason as it is more easily treatable at that time.
Overcoming Challenges & Gaining Confidence
Many women avoid gym programs for their exercise routines because they are self-conscious. It’s normal to feel this way, especially at the start of a weight loss program. So first, give yourself a break. Then, give yourself a kick. The hardest part is showing up, so think about what might help you do that. Here are some tips: Mid-morning and mid-afternoon are likely to be less crowded than lunchtime or before or after work. Bring a friend! It’s easier to try something new when you have support. Also find comfort in knowing that many of the women you see in the gym are embarking on the same journey as you.


