Community News
Let’s do More “Firsts” this Valentine’s Day

Let this be your “First” Valentine’s Day where you celebrate you! Buy yourself flowers or treat yourself to a fancy meal. Do whatever it is that brings you joy! Firsts and/or exciting experiences create a new neural pathway and releases dopamine in the brain. As these pathways develop, it creates a new map of how we think. Many rewards like chocolate increase the level of dopamine. This sounds like a win-win – chocolates and new things to try! While experiencing things for the first time can be fun, there are a few more things that you can do to increase dopamine. Even things like accomplishing a to-do list; listening to music you really like; eating certain foods. Exercise is another large one, along with being creative, and no surprise – meditation. Recording your achievements toward a goal, like drawing a big heart on your calendar, releases dopamine. Here is to more “Firsts” in your life this year!

Patty Parsons, www.parsonstherapy.com

The Power of Touch

Studies from the Touch Research Institute have looked at people of all ages with a variety of health conditions and complaints. The range of benefits is remarkable. Here are some highlights from a few of the many published studies. Migraine headaches: Massage therapy decreased the occurrence of headaches along with sleep disturbances and distress symptoms. Asthma: Children with mild to severe asthma who received regular massage were better able to exhale (a problem with asthma because the air passages constrict). In addition, the children suffered less stress and anxiety. Premenstrual symptoms: After massage therapy there was improved mood and a decrease in anxiety. Pain and symptoms of water retention were also reduced. Pregnancy: Women who had massage through pregnancy showed decreased levels of stress hormones and experienced less anxiety. There were fewer complications before and after birth including fewer premature births.

Chelsea Nault, RMT, Soulful Instinct Massage Therapy

Need Help Getting Physically Active?

Individuals who are physically active have a lower risk of obtaining various health conditions including cardiovascular disease, various types of cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Physical activity and exercise have been shown to improve mental health by having a positive impact on depression, anxiety, and stress. In Canada, Kinesiologists are heavily involved in facilitating and improving physical activity levels of individuals of varying goals and capabilities. Kinesiologists are experts in the field of human movement, exercise prescription, fitness training and conditioning. A Kinesiologist uses evidence-based research to develop exercise programs for individuals looking to increase their physical activity levels. Many fitness and wellness centers in the city employ Kinesiologists as personal trainers who can guide and provide you with the tools to become healthier and more physically active. With the new year ahead of us, let’s use this fresh start to get moving and become more active individuals!

Albert Amante, Certified Athletic Therapist, Innovative Therapy Solutions, www.innovativemedicalsupplies.com

Migraine, or Something Else?

Splenius Capitis Muscle Syndrome typically mimics the patterns of temporal tendinitis and migraine headache. Usually, the pain is described as being in the back of the head, with noticeable pressure behind the eye, sensitivity to light, pain radiating to the neck, shoulder, and arm at times, and/or nausea and vomiting when pain is intense. Splenius Capitis Muscle Syndrome is often caused by motor vehicular trauma, blunt trauma, falls, and in particular, postural situations where superior and inferior lateral oblique movements of the head on the neck occur. The most effective way to confirm the diagnosis of Splenius Capitis Muscle Syndrome is to put pressure on the back of the head by the hair line where the head and the neck attaches. If the area is painful, it’s best to get it looked at. At an early stage, massage may be helpful. Anti-inflammatory injections may be required in case of chronic inflammation and severe pain.

Perla Lopez RMT., www.nateramassage.com

The Connection Between Your Eyes and Your Ears

As we age, we’re more susceptible to hearing loss and vision changes. Both conditions can creep up on us, making preventive measures essential to sustaining the quality of life we’re used to. According to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), you’re at greater risk of social isolation and reduced community participation if you have a vision loss. The same goes for hearing loss. Having both a vision and hearing problem can affect your ability to lip-read, which is detrimental to communicating with co-workers, family, and friends. A decreased ability to socialize is linked to a greater risk of dementia. However, Statistics Canada reports that 90 percent of people with hearing loss can improve communication with a properly fit hearing aid, counseling, or environmental changes.

Lisa Reid Audiology, www.lisareid.ca

Take Care of Yourself!

Self-Care is something that most of us forget about. We are so busy with work, family activities and all the demands of the day-to-day that we forget to take time for ourselves. We usually remember self-care only when we are already burnt out or sick, and then we have no choice but to take time out for ourselves. If we could only somehow incorporate some “me” time in our weekly activities. Pencil in an appointment with yourself even if it is only for a half hour. Sign up for an exercise class or meditation class once a week to help with stress. Maybe a painting class or dance or crafting class could help you unwind for a bit and change the scenery for you. And if it resonates with you, then make a point of going on a regular basis to relieve stress and to feel the therapeutic effects the therapy can do for you. You Deserve it!

Rositha Jeanson, RCRT/teacher, Balance and Harmony, www.rositha.ca

Make Exercise Fun!

It’s a brand-new year and the gyms are busy with people starting their new year’s resolutions. There are different goals we can choose, ie – burn calories, increase strength, improve cardio, or simply be more active more often. There are different exercise approaches to attain these goals, but they must be right for you. You can tailor it for yourself to ensure you are getting what you want out of it, but are enjoying it as well. Cycling, swimming and even playing tennis are just 3 of the many ways you can attain your goals. You can burn between 475-550 calories for just 1 hour of moderate intensity of one of these activities. There are so many ways to meet your goals without simply lifting weights and running on a treadmill. By performing one of these you can get a workout, get a sweat, and of course, have a lot fun!

Heath Vermette, CAT(C), www.southsherbrook.com

Kundalini Yoga for Lungs and Circulation

You feel full of energy and in control when the lungs and circulation are in excellent shape. Sadhana means spiritual practice and there is no greater spiritual practice than breathing deeply into lungs that are healthy and consciously coordinated. From February 10th until March 22nd Yoga Public and Karma Yoga Winnipeg are teaming up to help you to transform your body and mind by becoming a master of your breath. For more information regarding this exciting new program, please contact us at 204-990-9642. “For breath is life, and if you breathe well you will live long on earth.”

Sanskrit Proverb. Jitendra, www.karmayogawinnipeg.com

Attending to Heart Issues

We often have a fatalistic view about heart disease, cancer or diabetes in families. We believe that we inherit and are programmed to die of these chronic conditions. From the day of our birth, life stresses and joys can take us from Valentine celebrated heart throbbing love to heartache; from wellness to heart disease or attacks. It does not have to go that way! Countering this negative view is the scientific information that has shown how these genetics are quite heavily influenced by the environment. Brainwave Optimization is an environment that can help balance your brain at the physical level, so heartache and heart disease can be addressed or have less of a grip on the pre-dispositions we fear. This neuro-technology opens possibilities for those healthy lifestyle choices that can turn things around in your environment. Having a strategy for restoring health is always a good thing!

Joanne Couture, RMFT, RSW, www.lalobatraumarelease.com

The Mindful Valentine

Valentine’s Day.. a day for celebrating love (and chocolate). I often refer to mindful eating as a way of practicing self-care around food. Taking care of yourself by making conscious decisions that leave you feeling better after eating. Not worse. How do you show love for yourself around food? Write yourself a letter and count the ways you love thee or could love thee. “I eat sitting down. I pay attention to my first few bites. I chew thoroughly before my next bite. I eat anything without guilt. I ask myself if I’m hungry before I eat. I listen to my body to see how hungry I am before my first bite. When I eat too much, I just learn from it and move on. I eat for fuel, nourishment, and pleasure. Every day is a day for showing yourself love around food. Celebrate how you nourish your body and spirit.

Lisa Kehler, Off Your Plate Nutrition, www.offyourplatenutrition.ca

Bowenwork: Balancing the Nervous System

What do muscles, organs, bones, and the systems of your body all have in common? They all work with the nervous system. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) controls 80% of bodily functions, and it deserves some attention! Many people are in a constant over-stimulated, unbalanced, state of fight or flight, called sympathetic dominance. In this state, the body doesn’t focus on resting and healing. This may be part of the reason why people seem to take much longer these days to get over their illnesses, and their pain seems to “last forever.” Parasympathetic dominance focuses on resting, digesting, relaxing and repairing. In this state, the body is able to heal itself, and reactivate a stalled recovery process. Bowenwork balances the ANS, shifting it from sympathetic to parasympathetic dominance with impressive results, even when other therapies haven’t been successful. Balance the nervous system with Bowenwork, and your body does the rest.

Bernadette Kozak-Certified Bowenwork Practitioner, www.WinnipegPainRelief.ca