Several studies have shown social isolation can negatively affect your health. This National Institute on Aging primer notes that loneliness can lead to high blood pressure, depression, and put you at greater risk of illness. That could mean more doctor’s visits and higher health care costs. And what if you or your loved one takes a fall with no one around? Beyond the physical pain, the financial implications could be high. And then there’s the emotional toll of social isolation, which can be even more devastating. These are all things to consider when deciding whether you or your loved one spend the next chapter of life at home or in a senior living community.
Community News
Words to Live By
“If not now, when?” – Hillel
Words to Live By
“Every ceiling, when reached, becomes a floor, upon which one walks as a matter of course and prescriptive right.” Aldous Huxley
Acceptance & Adaptability
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo
“So do I” said Gandalf “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” ~ J.R.R Tolkein
While our global community is being challenged in a way we have not seen in our lifetimes, we are dawning to the realization that life, as we have known it, is changing and that no one knows what the future will bring. While the future has never been predictable, the current global situation is demanding we realize this. As such many of us are experiencing intensified and wide ranging, ping-ponging emotions such as fear, anxiety, depression, grief, rage, sorrow, overwhelm along with moments of stillness, calmness, tenderness, compassion, and perhaps even, at times, boredom. Somewhere amongst these perfectly normal thoughts and emotions you may also have an inkling that this time is also presenting an opportunity to transform your life in a deep and meaningful way…and that it’s finally time to tune into that longing, which has until now, been pushed away with a million distractions.
The Yoga tradition supports our transformation by teaching us how to live in the moment, how to stop fighting with circumstance and how to become adaptable and present. The many and varied practices of Yoga not only support us through difficult times, but also offer a practical way to infuse our lives with greater ease, clarity, purpose and presence. Numerous practices of Yoga teach us to hone our inner life as well as our relationships with others and with the world at large. Such practices teach us how to cling less, resist less, sit with (&/or) question our fears in order to be less reactive and to not buy into our ego-driven thoughts. Practices also develop in us the ability to live with greater joy, gratitude, compassion and acceptance. While it’s easy to respond to this and say to yourself, “well, of course,” for many of us the reality is that it’s easier said than done, so the question arises, How? The answer; With Practice and support of a teacher/mentor &/or group of like-minds/hearts.
While you may be familiar with Yoga asanas (movements and postures that help you to ground in the body, deepen the breath and begin to focus the mind,) you may be less familiar with practices that specifically address inner struggle and teach us how to create centered presence.
These may include interrelational practices that help to address our motivations and patterns in everyday situations, as well as contemplations and conscious attention practices. The focus of practice may include creating healthy habits/ routines, addressing one’s relationships with oneself and with others, and ultimately, understanding one’s True Nature, Awareness itself.
In one-on-one (1:1) mentorship we (you and I) work together for a period of time to focus on various aspects of your life that you wish to transform. Your particular objective(s,) needs and circumstances inform the course of each session.
For those simply in need of finding some ease and grounding in these times, I have some free videos on my website and an online version of my Deep Self Care program in the works.
At this period of time I am offering Pay What You Can options for my 1:1 services and group programs, for those in need.
If this is your moment to embrace transformation contact me at [email protected]
For more information on 1:1 Mentorship (online,) the upcoming Deep Self Care online group program, as well as some FREE practices visit www.YogaAndHealing.ca
We are Here for You
The BC Responsible and Problem Gambling Program continues to provide free services to citizens of British Columbia through this period. We are working to provide virtual options (telephone and videoconferencing) for the delivery of our services, including counselling and outreach support. For more information, please contact the Gambling Support Line at 1.888.795.6111 or email [email protected]. If you need to renew your VSE agreement, please contact BCLC’s Customer Support Centre at 1-866-815-0222. A BCLC Investigator will set new ‘temporary’ agreement renewal and contact you when venues are set to open to obtain your documentation.
Make Your Home Safer
Things you can do to make your home safer and reduce the risk of falling:
Remove tripping hazards like clutter, small throw rugs • Keep items you use the most easily accessible • Improve lighting to ensure you can see your path when walking, especially at night • Install grab bars in the bathroom and ensure your home has handrails on all staircases • Wear non-slip shoes both inside and outside of the house • Get a Home Safety Assessment if you are at risk of falling; an Occupational Therapist can help to advise you on making your home safer.
Should you Bring Mom or Dad Home?
If you have a parent who is in hospital, lives in a retirement home or in a long-term care facility, you may be asking yourself, “would Mom or Dad be safer staying at home with me temporarily?” Families across the country are struggling with this dilemma. Given the challenges of preventing disease transmission, some experts are recommending that seniors who can stay elsewhere should do so. If you want to bring a senior parent home temporarily but you’re worried about how you’ll provide the level of care they need, consider home health care services.
Class IV Laser for your Injuries
A therapeutic dose of light applied to injured tissue leads to a cellular response that reduces pain and inflammation and speeds up the healing process! The primary target is the cytochrome c complex which is found in the cell mitochondria. Cytochrome c is a vital component of the electron transport chain & as laser light is absorbed, cytochrome c is stimulated, leading to increased production of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)/energy within the cell. Nitric Oxide is also produced which improves microcirculation in the damaged tissue, delivers oxygen, vital sugars, proteins, & salts while removing wastes. WHERE THERE IS BLOOD FLOW & ENERGY THERE IS HEALING.
Covid19 in British Columbia
B.C. has made incredible progress in the face of the CoVid-19 pandemic. We have done so well that we are at a point where people will begin to question if they have to continue with the isolation and separation measures. The short answer is yes. The more we stick to those guidelines now, the sooner we will return to a semblance of the social setting we had before. You are the best protector for yourself and your family. Please keep safe, maintain high levels of hygiene and physical distancing. Remember that a kind word and a wave go a long way and can be done from a safe distance.
Product Review: WELLNESS TINCTURE
ACTIVE RELEAF aims to encourage active wellness through the use of nature’s most powerful ingredients. Offering a collection of plant-based wellness products, ACTIVE RELEAF’s WELLNESS TINCTURE is their strongest remedy. Used as a natural plant-based alternative for people experiencing anxiety, insomnia, pain, inflammation and other ailments. The WELLNESS TINCTURE is formulated with a high concentration of broad spectrum cannabinoid-rich hemp plant extract, paired with coconut MCT oil to help deliver cannabinoids and increase bioavailability. Taken sublingually (under the tongue) or mixed into your favourite beverage. With three different concentration options (400mg, 1000mg & 2000mg) and measured droppers, dosing is accurate and flexible for your needs.
Eliminate Pain & Regenerate Joints
To eliminate the pain of any form of musculo-skeletal injury and to regenerate any joint, especially with osteo-arthritic elements; acupuncture and Prolozone injection therapy are my treatment protocols. Each component of Prolozone therapy has a specific biological purpose. Procaine acts to re-establish cellular membrane potentials. Anti-inflammatory agents decrease edema and swelling. The inclusion of vitamins and minerals provides necessary substrates of oxygen utilization that in damaged tissues are often deficient. And finally, oxygen utilization is directly stimulated by ozone. In many cases Prolozone actually corrects the pathology of the disorder, there is a 75% chance for the chronic pain sufferer to becoming permanently pain free.
