“I don’t know who I am anymore, where I fit in, I just feel lost. I used to love my job, now I just feel detached. I can’t shut out thinking about my job after hours. Boundaries have become blurred, I’m having trouble sleeping, and I don’t feel safe anymore. Things I thought I dealt with in my own childhood are coming back. I am having a hard time watching the news or movies…I am an emotional wreck.” By becoming aware of the changes in her feelings and recognizing the signs of stress, and with help, Mary was able to engage in emotional self-care (counselling and balancing life), identify cognitive changes by paying attention to her thinking and knowing she is not alone, engage in healthy behaviours (boundaries and taking time off), and find ways to stay spiritually connected.

Patty Parsons, RSW, CCC, ParsonsTherapy.com

You cannot do a meditation. In meditation, the “I” is dissolved back into its almighty source. Love. The truth is that the “I” is never separate from love, but the mind is often too busy for the realization of this highest order. In Tantra, there are seven main energy centres in the body called chakras. Traditional eastern technologies such as asana (yoga postures) and mantra (sacred sound repetition) help to distribute the energy evenly between these seven sacred centres and their associated nerves. This relaxes, settles the mind, and reveals to you the silent ecstasy of who you truly are. Easternstyle yoga classes are fully available in Winnipeg, and could very well be the gateway into the transformational experience of healing that the cells in your body have been longing for.

Karma Yoga, KarmaYogaWinnipeg.com

In a small village, the ritual bath was on top of a steep hill. In the winter, ice and snow made it slippery. People took a longer route around the mountain, rather than try to climb it. An elder, however, would walk straight up. The people thought this quite incredible. One day, some doubters decided to discredit the elder. They were more athletic. If he could do it, they could. So, they followed him as he climbed easily. But after climbing halfway, they fell and were badly injured. One doubter asked the elder, “What is your secret? How do you do it?” The elder replied, “When you walk with Source, you don’t fall.” There are times we are on a slippery slope. The Source within is guiding and supporting. You have this power within you. Rev.

Anne Ahokangas, Centre for Spiritual Living Winnipeg, cslwinnipeg.org

Hair loss isn’t really a condition itself, but rather a symptom of a condition. Stress and anxiety can manifest in so many different ways. Stress can cause many conditions that lead to hair loss. These include Alopecia Areata – the sudden loss of large clumps of hair in areas around your scalp; Telogen Effluvium – a condition where more hairs than normal prepare to fall out; and Trichotillomania – a habitual condition caused by emotional stress and anxiety, where the person pulls out hairs without realizing it. Temporary hair loss can also be the result of physical stress caused by abrupt weight loss, high fever, nutritional deficiencies, surgery, and illnesses such as thyroid disease and anemia. Other common causes of temporary hair loss are related to fluctuations in hormones caused by pregnancy, menopause, and use of oral contraceptives. See your doctor if you notice any significant hair loss.

Evelyn’s Wigs, Evelynswigs.com

Our posture during a variety of activities of daily living can contribute to neck and upper back pain. Whether we are at a computer desk, driving, or sitting in front of the television, our posture can deteriorate if we aren’t trying to help it. Being aware of your posture can also help prevent pain from happening in the first place. Certain muscles will weaken while being strained, and others will tighten up as they stay in a shortened position. The right combination of exercises and stretches can help promote proper posture, and ultimately decrease pain and injury. Stretches to help loosen your pectorals and sternocleidomastoid muscles are extremely beneficial. These help keep the chest open, and head up. You should then try a row exercise to help strengthen the rhomboids, and reinforce the shoulders to stay back, and for the back to stay upright.

Heath Vermette, CAT(C), Southsherbrook.com