Community News
Chemical Free Bug Spray…great for all kinds of bugs…including HEAD LICE!

Fall is here and school is back in session and you might be wondering how to lessen the impact of using harsh chemicals in your insect arsenal. As soon as school is back so are the head lice. Yuck!!   Did you know that there are natural plant based oils that can also do a great job of deterring bugs!. You may have heard about citronella for mosquitos, but did you know there are several additional essential oils that can also be an effective bug repellant? Clove, Rosemary, tea tree, eucalyptus, cedarwood, lavender, geranium and peppermint essential oils are also effective against an array of bugs.

Make your own Bugs-Be-Gone blend:

Create a blend using equal parts Tea Tree, Lemongrass, Citronella, Clove, Rosemary and Lavender essential oils in a dropper bottle or a bottle with an orifice reducer. Every morning massage one drop on the bottom of your feet. You can use it “neat” which is undiluted or you can dilute it with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or grape seed oil. For children under 4 years of age it is best to dilute with a carrier oil.

For added benefits rub a little along your hairline. The essential oils will be absorbed into your body and will act as a pheromone that will repel the bugs. You can find more recipes like this one in Jen O’Sullivan’s book: French Aromatherapy: Essential Oil Recipes and Usage Guide.

Don’t want to make your own blend?

I like using a blend called Purification by Young Living. This blend contains tea tree, citronella, rosemary, lemongrass, myrtle, and lavandin. All are repellants for both mosquitos and lice. Dilute with a carrier oil before application (grapeseed, almond oil, fractionated coconut oil are all good choices, most of which can be found in the cooking section at the grocery store).

Essential oils are powerful and should be treated with respect. While they are all natural, they can be harmful if not used appropriately.

As with starting any new regimen with essential oils, watch for any potential sensitivity. If a reaction occurs discontinue use until you can determine the source.

For more information on my favorite essential oils, you can visit www.CanadianMoms.ca or email me at [email protected]

Ginseng for Weight Loss

Ginseng does many things to help human health, but many people do not realize that ginseng is good for weight loss. It gives an energy boost and can help fight fatigue. Because of this, it allows for you to be more active. One of the big things that it does in the weight loss battle is by regulating blood sugar. It does this by reducing the amount of carbohydrate that is converted into fat. Also, it is important to point out that ginseng alone will not help lose weight if you engage in poor dietary choices. It is vital that a well-balanced diet is followed and that you are active. Otherwise, like the old English proverb says, “Don’t dig your grave with your own knife and fork.” One of the active ingredients in SlimROAST weight loss coffee from Valentus – The Healthiest Coffee on the Planet!

Harness the POWER of Probiotics

You take a daily multivitamin but are you also taking a daily probiotic? You should be! Probiotics help to increase immunity, improve digestion, ease constipation or diarrhea, combat yeast, and improve overall health. There are two main probiotic strains that we are familiar with, Lactobacillus for the small intestine and Bifidobacteria for the colon. When shopping for a probiotic, a good rule of thumb is to look for a multiple strain formula with lots of L’s for the “little” intestine and B’s for the “big” intestine. Ultimate Flora Critical Care 50 Billion probiotic contains therapeutic levels of both Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium, making it an ideal choice. It uses a unique water-based enteric coating that delivers probiotics through the harsh environment of the stomach and into the intestinal tract where they can be utilized. Ultimate Flora Critical Care is the top selling probiotic in Canada because it works. Yogurt is not enough!

Salon Tanning for Wellness

Salon tanning is a safe and effective means to replace or enhance using the suns natural rays to aid in treatment of a variety of medical conditions. both sunlight and salon tanning emit UVB light rays which in turn stimulate the skin to produce vitamin D which is essential for the processing of calcium in our diet. This keeps our bones strong and is essential for preventing osteoporosis. exposure to these rays is also a common treatment for those suffering from the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema. people who have summer relief from these conditions benefit greatly from salon rays in the winter. consult your physician about using tanning as part of a treatment program for your skin disorder. Tracy Delmage,

Knit for Life!

Knitting is a great natural strategy to deal with anxiety, depression, and pain. The simplicity of rhythmic stitching can be very centering, and combines with eye movements, color, and texture to stimulate and focus the mind. Knitting can be picked up and stopped quickly, allowing it to provide precious calm in a whirlwind day. Relaxation activities with repetition have been shown to reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and heart rate, and ease stress-caused illnesses and complications. Socially, the chance to get together with other knitters, sharing a bit of food and friendship and comparing notes can go a long way to remove isolation and loneliness. So often the knitting group can provide an invaluable haven and supportive community that looks after its own. Finally, knitting creates a comfortable (and wearable) beauty which can be kept or given to those who need. Not a bad side effect of this wonderful therapy!

 

Should I Wait To Get Hearing Aids?

It may be tempting to hold on, but here are three good reasons not to 1. Your brain will thank you for it. The sooner you start using hearing aids, the better chance you will give your brain to adapt and re-learn sounds you may not have been hearing for a while. 2. Life’s better when you hear better. Research from the National Council on Aging shows that when people begin to use hearing aids, they experience improvements in their lives, including their mental health, sense of independence, social life and, yes, even their sex lives. 3. Hearing loss is linked to dementia. Seniors with untreated hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those who retain their hearing, according to a recent study by Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute on Aging. Precise reasons aren’t yet known, but auditory deprivation may be an underlying cause.

Fall in Love with Your Life Again

A commonality amongst women at midlife is a lack of passion or life purpose. It’s at this time of life that we are biologically programmed to look for something else. That something else is usually found deep inside of us. Midlife is not a decline nor is it a crisis of women. It is simply a time for transition. Biologically at the pre–menopausal and menopausal stage of life women are programmed to withdraw from the outside world for a period of time, to pause from everyone, in order to do important work on oneself. A career that was once fulfilling may no longer be, a marriage can be changing, the home feels empty as children leave. Some women go through their transition alone. Others with a trusted friend or a book. While others enroll in groups designed just for this purpose, where wisdom of others is shared, and gifts are uncovered.

Personal Training – A Fast Growing Industry!

Personal Training is a relatively new profession, and because of its rapid growth, it can be difficult to find the best course of action to become qualified to train individuals. Canfitpro (Canadian Fitness Professionals) provides the answer with the Personal Training Specialist course and exam. You will learn the skills needed to teach a client without special health concerns. A Canfitpro certified PTS is qualified to evaluate, design and monitor individual and small group training programs in a health club, home, and workplace setting. This course provides comprehensive program content and a wide range of practical skills that will ensure success to those who hold the designation. Canfitpro has collaborated with Human Kinetics Publishing Inc. to create a multimedia learning experience for personal trainers!

NEW…to The Steinbach Arts Council with Instructor Eddie Miller!

What Is Your Power Animal?

Power animals are those who will aid and guide you through different phases of your life. Finding your power animal is attainable through many means, whether it be by meditation with this specific purpose, being aware of which animals appear in your dreams, or being conscious of your surroundings while taking a walk through nature. If you decide you want to search for your animal it is important to remember this one rule, you do not choose the animal, the animal chooses you. Once you are able to find yours, it is important to educate yourself on how it relates to you. Embodying and imagining your animal will connect you to its wisdom and guidance so that its power can be used to your advantage. You will have more than one power animal, each coincides with the different journeys and phases you will experience during your lifetime.

Fall for Yoga!

September is like a brand new year when it comes to our schedule and routines. The busy energy of summer is softening and mellowing as we move into shorter days and cooler weather. It’s time to fall back into a more regular rhythm, to embrace a slowing down, to find our breath, and to ask ourselves what we will continue and what we would like to change. Where are we at in our bodies? How is our stress level? Is this the season we finally make some time for ourselves? Fall is an excellent time to come back to or take up yoga as part of your wellness routine. Whether you are an absolute beginner, looking for a new way to move your body, or want to address chronic neck and shoulder tension, there’s a yoga class to fit your schedule and your lifestyle. It’s time to fall for yoga!

What is Reflexology Lymph Drainage?

Your Lymphatic System, or drainage system, consists of vessels, cells, tissues, and organs. The lymphatic vessels transport fluids and plasma proteins, passing through lymph nodes, which clean and filter the lymph fluid that is then emptied into the blood circulation at the subclavian veins. The lymphatic system protects the body by making sure the lymph nodes filter out harmful material before returning the fluid to the blood. If your lymph vessels get damaged, water retention or edema occurs in the area normally drained by them. There are hundreds of lymph nodes in the body found in clusters in your neck, armpit, groin, and behind the knee. The Reflexology Lymph Drainage technique can provide relief from symptoms of secondary lymphoedema and can help alleviate the swelling, pain, and stiffness associated with this condition.