If you have trouble falling asleep, here is something that you may not know. The National Sleep Foundation suggests that having warm feet when going to bed sends a signal to your brain that it is bedtime. Sleep research indicates a correlation between falling asleep quickly and increased blood dilation in our extremities. Wearing socks to bed warms your skin and dilates your blood vessels. Having a restful night is essential for a good day so go to bed wearing a clean pair of socks. Today there are socks with built in technology that will not only keep your feet warm but may provide relief from restless leg syndrome.

March 12, 12:10-12:40 p.m., Lunch & Learn. Improve flexibility and reduce pain with gentle therapeutic yoga.
March 19, 12:10-12:40 p.m. Lunch & Learn. Reset Your Nervous System with Yoga Nida.
March 26, 12:10-12:40 p.m. Lunch & Learn. Reduce Low Back Pain & Sciatica with Massage.
Yoga 10 Studio, yoga10studio.com, 250-897-0069

Triggerpoints are described as hyperirritable spots found in muscle tissue or fascia. They have the following characteristics: a) pain at a particular point, b) a nodule in a taut band of a muscle, c) symptoms are produced by pressure.
Triggerpoints can be caused by pretty much everything, including heavy backpacks, too much sitting, nutrition choices, stress, any metabolic imbalances, psychological reasons, infections, impaired sleep, and direct trauma.
RMTs treat triggerpoints in various ways and the release is often immediate.

Humans have heart, soul, and spirit. So do plants. If we neglect or damage our environment, we damage ourselves. Plants have healing properties, whether used in Chinese medicine or standing alone in a garden setting or forest. Spirit is all-encompassing, as rocks, trees, water, plants, and humans are all the same energy and we share our conscious intelligence, contributing to our spiritual enlightenment. Loss of connection with nature can result in low spiritual energy, leading to disease, depression, and a sense of loss of who we are. It is of vital importance to strike a relationship with nature. Plants do communicate with us, they love to be touched and they want our attention. Observe their texture, smell, and taste, and listen for their sound. Spend time with them, talk to them, caress their leaves and bring them gifts. Individuals and communities can be healed by incorporating plants into their lives.

Q. My New Year’s resolution is to take better care of my health. What do I need to do to maintain my eye health?
A. Nothing magical. Protect your eyes from the sun and other sources of UV light. Don’t smoke. Keep yourself healthy with diet and exercise, and make sure your family doctor is in the loop. Get your eyes examined – there are plenty of ways to optimize your vision and make your eyes feel more comfortable. Detecting a hidden eye disease or other health problem is another benefit of the examination.

A bunion is a bump that forms on the side of the foot, by the big toe. Once thought to be caused by wearing pointed-toed shoes, bunions are now considered, in most cases, to be the result of fallen arches. Fallen arches cause a change in how the feet work and bunions are one of the possible symptoms. This means they can be prevented, if the foot arch is corrected early enough. It also means the bunion could return after surgery, if the cause of the bunion is not addressed. Custom orthotics are one component of an appropriate treatment plan for bunions.