Community News
Pet Health: Dog Tantrums

A tantrum is a behaviour that dogs use to either express themselves in an emotional outburst or a tool to get their own way. It is a way for dogs to tell us, “Hey we are not happy, pay attention”. However these outbursts can be incredibly frustrating and embarrassing for us when out in public. So as pet owners what can we do? We need to learn to understand our dogs’ body language and how they communicate with us. By providing an outlet to express their frustration, mentally and physically they will be too tired to even have a tantrum. Lots of mental and physical exercise is essential to keeping dogs healthy and happy. Being consciousness of the dog breed will also be helpful. For example Labradors are bred to use their mouth, so often their tantrums involve biting, nipping, and mouthing.

Shalin Hustad, Grassroots Canine
www.grassrootscanine.com

Shoulder Injury Prevention

The shoulder joint with coinciding scapulae and thoracic spine can get complicated with all the different muscles, tendons, and ligaments. When these areas don’t work together, or when one suffers from tissue restriction, you end up with poor shoulder function and the increased likelihood of pain and injury.

There are 3 principles to keeping your shoulder in full pain free mobility, to allow for optimal muscle performance:

  1. Full range of motion through the shoulder joint and thoracic spin.
  2. Scapular stability and motor control to maintain proper shoulder position.
  3. Strength and endurance of the rotator cuff to maintain joint integrity throughout a workout.

A foam roller and lacrosse ball go a long way in maintaining proper mobility. Keep in mind that if the thoracic spine or scapulae are inhibited, it won’t matter how much you stretch the shoulder, so don’t shun these areas.

Rachael Dupuis, Massage Athletica
www.massageathletica.com

Antioxidants

Mother Nature provides different antioxidants in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes. Antioxidants are crucial to your overall health. When free radicals attack the body’s system, they injure the cell, damaging the DNA, creating the seed for disease. With repeated free radical attacks, this damage can lead to a host of chronic diseases. Each type of antioxidant works either to prevent the chain reaction or stop it after it’s started. We have clear science about antioxidants; our bodies need a natural antioxidant defense network. Betalains were discovered as a class of antioxidants found most prevalently in red beets. A daily dose of red beet juice or a Betalain supplement has been clinically demonstrated to reverse the effects of free radical damage. Researchers are suggesting that beets may be useful in healing therapy for a variety of diseases. Try this simple solution to stop free radical damage in its tracks.

Donna Ladan, Evolv Health
www.donnaladan.myevolv.com

Financial Fitness

Our body is an amazing tool which we have the ability to mold and shape with the right attitude and perseverance. When we train hard, our body recovers and gives us the ability to train even harder. This is how we are able to reinvest the fitness dividend. When you make any type of gains in exercise, push yourself to make even more fitness gains. Similar to exercise you have two choices when investing. You can cash out your gains or you can re-invest them. Cashing out investments might give you the immediate gratification of being able to buy something extra. However if you reinvest your returns it allows your portfolio to grow even faster.

Jesse Reitberger, National Bank Financial
[email protected]

A Testimonial to Happiness

“I am very grateful for Maureen Becker and Source Within. When I met Maureen, I had severe health problems, and was not happy nor at peace. I can without a doubt credit Source Within’s teachings for helping me to fully heal my health issues. As a direct result of implementing these teachings, my life has been steadily improving. I am now happy, content, and peaceful most of the time. I enjoy being alone more, and I have much more easy and fluid interactions with people, even if someone occasionally brings negativity. I have fun all day long at work (a job Maureen helped me manifest) and I love where I live. All of these things I was able to create in my life by applying Maureen and Guides’ guidance. I often find myself whistling, humming or singing for “no” reason. Source Within is, by leaps and bounds, the best teacher I have encountered.” – (Sean Grimes, Winnipeg).

www.sourcewithin.com

Feeling Stressed?

70% of doctor visits are said to be stress related. Disturbances in your mental well-being can have a serious impact on your health. When you are under stress your body releases a hormone called cortisol at very high amounts. The long-term effects of high cortisol levels can be quite disruptive. High levels not only make you feel fatigued, they are also implicated in weight gain, poor immune response and a greater risk of developing chronic illness. While it is not easy to avoid stress, nature has provided us with nutrients that can decrease cortisol levels and balance other hormones. One of the best medicinal plants

that can help achieve this is Rhodiola Rosea. The brand name, Rhoziva™, is becoming a favourite of many naturopathic and medical doctors who are noticing its benefits. If this sounds like something you could benefit from, visit Nutrition Plus to receive your free trial pack.

Nutrition Plus
www.nutritionplus.com

Train for Your Sport

Depending on the sport/activity of your choice, the demands of that sport should influence on how you train. Factors that should be considered in training programs are the energy systems being used. For example, anaerobic/alactic exercise includes short powerful bursts of activity typically lasting 30 seconds or less. Activity at higher intensity levels performed greater than 30-45 seconds start to stress the anaerobic system which often produces lactic acid as a bi-product. This is known as “the burn” in the legs. Other factors to be considered are the work/rest ratios and movement patterns performed in your activity. This may influence your exercise program to include parallel stance (squats), split stance (lunges), or single leg stance (step ups) based on what activities you love to do. Remember, move well so you can move often.

Jason Moniz, South Sherbrook Therapy
www.southsherbrook.com

Block Therapy

Word is spreading! People all over the world are finding their way to Block Therapy and they love it. The best part is that the benefits are so varied. It doesn’t matter what your issue is, by using Block Therapy, it improves oxygen and blood flow and overall tissue health. We as a population need to take control of our health; we can’t expect the system to help us when we aren’t consciously aware of our own body. But it also isn’t our fault. We have been told to sit up straight but the force pulling us down is overpowering. Gravity is relentless and the resultant compression is what causes suffering. The solution is to de-compress; this is what Block Therapy does. This will open the gates for health and healing and create the space necessary for a fulfilling and creative life. Don’t wait any longer to feel great. Do Block Therapy!

Deanna Hanson, Fluid Isometrics
www.fluidIsometrics.com

Extension is the Key

As we hunch over our computers and phones, or lean forward to cook and wash dishes, ever think we pretty much do everything ‘in front’. Evolution has prepared us for some side reaches and some combination twisting movements, but hardly ever do we reach or work behind our bodies. Now that the majority of the population may sit for greater than 4 hours per day, we develop this forward head look that’s not only unattractive but possibly damaging to our health. Extension is the key. Working to strengthen those muscles on the back of our spine, legs, neck and arms that support these ‘forward activities’. Biomechanically, most of these muscles stabilize, and even decelerate the movement to maintain safety. Exercise to build stability; work the ‘back’ muscles twice as much as the ‘front’ muscles, ie; seated rows versus chest press. Exercise for function.

Concourse Physiotherapy
www.yourphysio.com

One Simple Change

Most of us strive to live a healthier lifestyle. Finding the right place to start is a challenge. Eating right, exercising regularly, and still making time for family, friends and our own needs can seem like overwhelming goals. Instead of attempting to conquer our health all at once, what if you started by setting more manageable goals? Making small changes today can lead to great health benefits down the road. Physical activity: Get More Exercise. Most people look at exercise to burn energy and lose weight. Think of exercise as a way to gain energy and stimulate your body and mind. With many demands fighting for your attention, it is a challenge to find time for a trip to the gym. Start with simple activities you can incorporate into your daily routine. One simple change can make a big difference in how you look and feel.

Sandy Lefley, Juice Plus+
www.slefley.canada.juiceplus.com

A Better Sleep

Reflexology is a natural healing art based on the principal there are reflexes in the feet, hands, and ears that correspond with every organ, gland, and system in the body. Through application of pressure on the reflexes, Reflexology improves circulation, relieves tension, and helps promote the natural function of related areas of the body. This process may assist you in achieving better sleep by relieving tension and encouraging the body to return to a state of homeostasis. Reflexology helps the body enter a state of relaxation, stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system and supporting the body’s self-healing ability. When you work to support your body, your body will work to support you!

Nichole Guthrie
www.nicholeguthrie.com