The Comox Valley Lifeline Society, a non-profit organization, has been providing an easy-to-use personal emergency response system to the Cowichan Valley since 1988. The Society was established because the membership believed that people deserved the dignity to live on their own and have access to immediate help in an emergency situation. If you experience a fall or other emergency in your home, every second counts. Delays can jeopardize your recovery and your independence. Lifeline quickly connects you to a trained Response Associate, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at the push of a button. You are never alone and help is always there when you need it. Denise Metcalfe, ED, ComoxValleyLifeline.com

Yes, that is what people say after eliminating sugar from their daily diet. Rewards of reducing sugar consumption are improved sleep, better memory, higher and more stable energy levels, weight loss, better digestive function, and better overall well-being.
Did you know that some form of sugar is in almost every packaged food item? Even purchased soup broths have added sugar. Sugar is the master of disguise.
It can be challenging to remove sugar from your diet. To succeed, find a program that provides recipes focusing on nutrient-dense foods, along with guidelines and support to help you significantly change your taste and cravings for sugar. Removing sugar from your diet will change you!
Kimi Nakamura, Yoga 10 Studio, Yoga10Studio.com,
CourtenayMassageTherapy.com

There are so many benefits of drinking 4 oz of quality raw kombucha daily! The chief benefit is intake of probiotics. Adequate gut micro-flora is essential for effective digestion, including production of vitamin B12 and K2, for example, as well as for proper immune function and even brain health. Hundreds of poor health conditions can be reversed by boosting the gut micro-biome. If you consume coffee, bathe in chlorinated water, use oral contraception, consume antibiotic laden meat/dairy, were birthed by C-section, or take a topical or internal antibiotic, for instance, then you are most likely in need of regular probiotic supplementation.
Optimum Wellness Factor, www.zenmomentkombucha.ca

Today, there is a worldwide empowerment movement to educate humankind on the foods to stop eating, and on how to heal ourselves. CEO Manny Goldman of “The Sacred Plant” documentary series reveals the extraordinary healing power of cannabis. This plant has been used for healing for thousands of years, but recent decades of research and a change in attitude have exposed cannabis as a powerful ingredient in relieving symptoms of numerous diseases, and in some cases, eradicating disease altogether.
Gord Weber, Spirit Gardens, SpiritGardens.ca

Shoulder pain is very common and can be caused by injury, repetitive motion, poor posture or underlying health problems. The shoulder joint has more mobility than stability which makes it more susceptible to dysfunction and pain.
Conditions related to shoulder pain are frozen shoulder, rotator cuff disorders (strains, tears), bursitis, tendonitis, joint instability and acromioclavicular joint disorders. Most shoulder injuries are 40-50% pain persistent for many months after the initial injury.
Treatment with Regenerative Injection Therapy (RIT) also known as Prolotherapy, Plasma Rich Platelet and Prolozone will encourage new cell growth to damaged and weak tissue. It is also recommended that RIT be integrated with Osteopathic manual therapy and Neurofunctional acupuncture to re-establish proper neuromuscular control.
Shoulder pain is the third most common, complex musculoskeletal complaint therefore an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan need to be established. Dr. Ross Ralph, Dr. TCM, R.Ac., DOMP., Courtenay Healing Centre, CourtenayHealing.ca

A fundamental principle of yoga is that your body and mind are one and connected. Stress in one domain will affect the other and vice versa. Yoga can help you cope with stress and improve overall health and satisfaction with life. While all exercise is good for stress, yoga is different because it powerfully combines both physical fitness with an underlying philosophy of self-compassion and awareness. We actually release emotional energy effectively throughout our yoga practice, even if you’re not aware of it!
Wendy Anderson, RYT-200, Yoga 10 Studio, Yoga10Studio.com, CourtenayMassageTherapy.com

Inappropriate footwear can increase an elderly person’s chance of a fall. Many people purchase the wrong footwear because they want to help their aging parent by finding something that is easy to put on, and they think that softer is better. Not true. As we age, our motor and sensory skills decline. Our loss of proprioception skills (one’s ability to sense where our limbs are in space) makes us feel less sure of our footing and therefore less balanced. Loose-fitting, soft-soled footwear does not provide appropriate signals to the feet to inform them of where they are in relation to the ground. Properly fitting, sturdy shoes with non-skid soles provide more direct contact between the ground and the foot, sending sharper signals to the brain. Choosing lace-up or velcro closure shoes instead of slip-ons ensures the best stabilization of the foot within the shoe. B.D. Mitchell Prosthetics & Orthotics, MitchellPandO.com