Wellnessnews, Author at Wellnessnews

Dreaded Headaches

With the fast pace of modern lifestyle, an increasing number of people suffer from headaches. There are several types of headaches: migraine, tension, cluster, and menstrual headaches. Some headaches are felt on top of the head, on the temples, or over the sinus cavities. Others radiate from the neck to the eyes, on the forehead, and the whole head. There are numerous causes for headaches to develop. The cause of a headache isn’t necessarily in the head. Problems in other parts of the body also contribute to headaches. They may be caused by an ear, sinus, or throat infection. In addition, headaches occur from whiplash, stress, tension, and hormones. Improper posture, weak digestion, and TMJ dysfunction also induce headaches. It’s necessary to identify what’s causing the headache in order to help relieve the pain. Since the causes and symptoms of headaches are so different, headaches need to be assessed and treated according to the individual’s condition.

Dr. Brigitte Tetrault Dr.TCM, RAc. Certified Advanced Practitioner NST, www.courtenayhealing.ca

Alternative Healing – A Proactive Mindset

Along my own journey of multidimensional healing and transformation, the greatest asset I have cultivated is a proactive mindset. Let’s face it; we live in a time where “instant fixes” are all around us. It’s easy to be conditioned into coasting along with mediocre or faltering health, finances, relationships, etc. It even seems normal and acceptable to run into problems and then complain about what “they” were unable to do for us! If this sounds a bit like you, refrain from useless blame and apathy. If you hear a pessimistic voice inside saying, “It’s a little late in the game for me to (fill in the blank),” my suggestion to you is to look for the hidden blessings and untapped treasures in any situation. It’s easier to get to work once we realize that a long row to hoe simply means a bigger harvest!

Nelson Meggitt, www.optimumwellnessfactor.ca

Avoid Financial Stress This Christmas

The upcoming holiday season may promote excessive spending. The best way to cope with a materialistic time of year is not to fall prey to pressure from the retail world. At the end of the day, as long as there is Christmas, there will be gift-giving. How much money should you plan to set aside for this season? Many financial planners recommend spending no more than 1.5% of your annual income on holiday spending. For example, if your annual household income is $50,000 you should spend $750 or less on holiday gifts, travel, and entertainment. After you set a budget, aim to pay cash for your purchases, buy local, find sales, and avoid applying for department store credit cards that can put you further into debt. Remember what’s most important. The holidays are a time for making memories and spending time with family. Give yourself a break and remember the true meaning of the holidays!

Derek Chase, CPA, CA, CIRP, chasesekulich.com

Fall Is a Great Time to Retreat

Fall’s a season of relaxation and change, the leaves turn red and the rhythm of nature slows down. It’s a time of preparation for winter. As humans, the rhythm of our bodies coincides with the one of nature, following its grooves throughout the year. Like a bear in its den, we must prepare ourselves for upcoming changes. A proven way to emerge your body into its natural flow is nourishing it according to seasons. Applying techniques such as yoga and meditation eases the mind and soul during this transition. An easy way to begin this life giving process is to take part in a retreat hosted by your local holistic practitioner. The practitioner will teach you methods to nurture your mind, body, and soul so that you are attuned to and flowing alongside nature. Fall’s a sloped season of transition for all living beings. Allow your soul to be nourished at a retreat near you.

Celine Sartoris, www.shineyourlight.ca

The Gift of Time

“The best things in life, aren’t things.” With Christmas approaching and thoughts of what gifts to buy it’s an opportunity to be mindful about what sort of ‘things’ we really value these days. Most of us have enough stuff but are lacking in time and energy. That makes gifts of time a wonderful, caring gift that we can be happy to give. Time away from the daily demands of work and family, time for experiences that promote self-care, health, and wellness. Whether it’s a weekly class or a one-time workshop, time for yoga is time for self and time for caring for our body and our mind. How do you give this? It’s easy! Most studios sell gift cards that can then be used towards services and/ or products. Available in any denomination, your gift becomes just the right ‘thing’ because the receiver gets to choose how they use it!

Susan Turner, www.YogaConnections.ca

Beware of Crash Diets!

A tabloid reads, “Grapefruit diet’s key to losing 20 lbs. quick!” Sure, eat only grapefruit and your body weight will likely drop. The decrease you see on your scale compromises lean muscle, smooth muscle, water, bone, and body fat. The muscle you lose is one of the best tools you have for burning body fat. When you get sick of the grapefruit and return to normal eating, your body weight will likely rebound higher because your energy requirements have lowered by decreased muscle mass. Crash diets don’t work. Beware of “lose weight quick” scams. The best way to decrease your body fat is with a combination of exercise and a balanced diet. Incorporate lean protein in your diet to maintain your muscle mass while decreasing body fat. Body composition is comprised of 75% from what you eat and 25% from your exercise regimen. You cannot out exercise a bad diet.

Todd Dennis, www.northstrongfitness.com

Thai Foot Massage/Reflexology

Thai Foot Massage/Reflexology is a treatment for lower legs and feet that originated in Thailand about 2000 years ago. This therapy utilizes stretching, massage, thumb-walking, and the use of a wooden stick to stimulate reflex points. Thai foot massage restores balance to the body/mind through reflexes of the feet and lower legs that are linked to the body’s 72,000 energy meridians (sen). Reported benefits include: improved circulation in legs, lymphatic drainage, removal of toxins, elevated functioning of the immune system, and reduced stiffness. Additional outcomes are: improved flexibility, relief from stress, and improved sleep. Thai foot massage doesn’t cure illnesses, but it promotes good health. Thai Foot Massage is intended to stimulate reflex points of the feet, the internal organs, and encourage free flow of energy throughout the body. If you would like to balance and harmonize the flow of energy throughout your body and stimulate the internal organs, then Thai Foot Massage/Reflexology is for you!

Rositha Jeanson, www.rositha.ca

What’s Your Third Option?

Making choices can be stressful. We weigh the pros and cons of both options and analyze them from all angles, waiting for clarity to emerge. Only, sometimes, it doesn’t. The only thing that emerges is a gnawing feeling of frustration from our inability to choose. This frustration is our sign that neither choice is the right one. They either don’t completely align with our values, or they make us feel like we are settling or taking an unnecessary risk. Unfortunately, we become so emotionally invested in our initial process that we fail to realize we always have a third option. This third option requires a fresh perspective, so take a step back, and get in touch with your core values to determine which one has been keeping you from moving forward. Your choice will soon become clear.

Brent Tocher, chooseauthenticity.ca

Knitting for Prevention of Alzheimer’s

A recent study at the Mayo Clinic found that learning to knit or crochet later in life as a cognitive exercise can reduce or delay the symptoms of Alzheimer’s by 30-50%. Learning new techniques together with hand-eye coordination builds neural networks that are very important in the prevention of Alzheimer’s. For those recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, learning to knit and crochet can be very helpful because of the repetitive motion so that the individual can remember how to create the stitches as the cognitive memory begins to fail. Learning to knit or crochet with a parent that has symptoms of this disease can also provide a way to communicate and connect as symptoms worsen. Keeping the hands busy while knitting or crocheting can help calm those experiencing Alzheimer’s and also give them a sense of purpose as they create projects.

Connie Harvey, www.theknit2scrap2store.com

Leave Your Stress Behind

Stress has a profound effect on the body and its ability to heal and function at an optimal level. When an individual experiences ongoing stress, it can overload the energetic circuits of the body, causing them to fail or be severely compromised. This is just like plugging in too many appliances into an outlet and tripping a circuit breaker in your home. The blown fuse must be reset. Often times the body cannot reset these blown circuits on its own, so the body then must continue to function in a less than ideal state. This ultimately leads to degeneration, illness, and pain in the body. This is a sign that your body is simply falling behind in the healing process. Stress-related illnesses include, but are not limited to: high blood pressure and heart rate, digestive disorders, hormone and endocrine imbalances, fatigue, infertility issues, and all manner of immune system disorders.

Robin Chant, www.robinchant.com

Acupuncture for Lungs

There are several theories about why acupuncture may help treat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD. Acupuncture is based on the principle of oriental medicine that believes in a holistic approach towards the treatment of all health problems. Acupuncture helps clear the body’s energy or qi and allows for its natural flow to helps prevent illnesses and disease. Experts believe that acupuncture improves the homeostasis or stability in the body. As a result of the acupuncture treatment, patients experience better circulation as the flow of blood and oxygen to the lungs is encouraged. What acupuncture also does is relax the muscles around the back and the chest. This helps open up the lungs and airways and reduces shortness of breath and other breathing difficulties. Doctors believe that the benefits of acupuncture are consistent with what is being attempted by other conventional treatments for COPD such as breathing exercises and relaxation techniques.

Dr. Li Lin, www.brandon-acupuncture.com