Small changes when you’re working to better your overall health and wellbeing can really add up! This year, consider some simple habit shifts like these: If you find yourself reaching for junk foods frequently, make healthy snacks like fruit and nuts available at all times to curb your cravings. Practice simple deep breathing exercises throughout the day. Count to five as you breathe in, hold your breath while you count to five again, and slowly breathe out while counting to five once more. Take a break from sitting throughout the day by taking brisk walks inside or outdoors!
Community News
Challenge Brings Change
A new year brings new goals, which require us to challenge ourselves and move away from what’s easy. Without challenge, we cannot change! Seeking different types of therapeutic help and forms of exercise is a great way to do this, and it’s perfectly fine (and normal!) to experience some discomfort in our bodies. Discomfort means we are challenging our bodies to change neurologically and physiologically! Listening to your body is key and learning the difference between temporary discomfort and longer lasting aggravation comes with practice. Book a discovery appointment today to combine movement exploration with hands on massage!
Ask The Expert
Q: I’m 68 years old and my health insurance only covers glasses every two years. Why does my optometrist keep asking me to come in every year?
A: BC’s Medical Services Plan usually partially covers yearly optometric examinations for those over 65, regardless of your own personal health insurance plan. This is because it is well known that age increases the risk of eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration, which are checked during eye examinations. Having a yearly eye exam as a senior doesn’t mean you need to get new glasses every year; the exams are recommended for the health of your eyes.
Investing Into Retirement
There are many misconceptions about the ‘right’ way to invest into retirement. Everyone has different ideas, needs and investing temperament. You may become very conservative when employment income ends, but you may not. Investing for growth (at least to some degree) is crucially important for most of us, as we will need growth to provide income and not erode purchasing power as we age. Many of us will also have 20-30 years (or more) dependent upon our own investments to meet our lifestyle needs. Seek out a Certified Financial Planner for an analysis and review of your accounts to see if your portfolio is optimal for your situation.
Heal Your Chakras
Essential oils have long been used to aid in the body’s wellbeing. Chakras (a Sanskrit word meaning “wheel of energy”) play a big role in keeping you balanced and healthy. It is possible to use essential oils to help in the healing of chakras, and to release accumulated emotional and physical disease from them. For example, Green Valley Aromatherapy’s Heart blend goes together with the fourth chakra. This chakra governs blood circulation, the immune system, skin, hands, and the heart. It is associated with understanding, forgiveness, healing, sharing, sincerity, and unconditional love. With the use of this blend, it may be possible to heighten all these wonderful traits and create balance within your body.
Words to Live By
“We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” –Eleanor Roosevelt
Words to Live By
“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent van Gogh
Loneliness May Lead to Bad Health
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.
Eliminating the Winter Blues
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a seasonal depression affecting 18% of Canadians, but there’s a lot you can do to get back to your healthy self again. Start by taking Truehope EMP, a micronutrient supplement that goes well beyond supporting your mental and physical wellbeing. Scientifically backed by 34 medical journal publications and researched at 14 universities worldwide. For even greater results, combine EMP with healthy fats, regular exercise, social time with your friends and a balanced diet. Empower yourself with this holistic approach and say goodbye to winter blues!
Gambling Support and Treatment Services
Many people opt for extra support when enrolling in the Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (VSE) Program. You can have a friend or family member, a GameSense Advisor, or your counsellor join you. Remember, you can access free support and treatment services any time before, during or after your VSE term through the BC Responsible & Problem Gambling Program. If you wish to renew your exclusion, you can do so in person at any gaming facility in BC, via email at [email protected] or by mailing a letter to: BC Lottery Corporation Manager, Casino Security and Surveillance 74 W. Seymour Street Kamloops, BC V2C 1E2
Ask The Expert
Q: How bad is it for your eyes to open them under water?
A: In short, prolonged exposure to water can be irritating or dangerous in many ways. Contact lenses can be easily lost. Chlorine from pools can inflame the ocular surfaces. Freshwater itself can cause edema in the eye just from the lack of salinity. Water from hot tubs, outdoor freshwater and sea water can carry all sorts of infectious microorganisms. The human eye doesn’t focus well under water, so the vision is blurry. Try to use swim goggles or masks when you know you’ll be needing to see underwater.
