Massage therapy is undeniably effective at getting people tapped in to their parasympathetic nervous system, which is more commonly called ‘rest and digest’. Unfortunately, many spend most of their days in ‘fight or flight’! When the parasympathetic nervous system is in charge, blood pressure and heart rate lower, breathing is fuller, oxygen and blood make it deeper into the body, tissues repair themselves, organs do their jobs better, and overall, mental health is much more relaxed and content. It’s not hard to understand why being in ‘rest and digest’ is more conducive to recovery, management and being better prepared to handle what life throws at us!

Safety is one of the most important pieces in our overall health and well-being. When we think of being safe, we often think of avoiding physical dangers. However, our complex minds also filter information to promote our emotional and psychological safety. When our brain perceives a threat, it will signal feelings in our bodies to defend against it. Sometimes if we are not paying attention, we miss these signals, leaving us feeling unwell. To help overcome this, the next time you notice feeling scared, try observing the problem, while building awareness for how your body is responding.

Chronic anxiety is unpredictable and overpowering. Did you know that caffeine has been associated with anxiety? Caffeine increases alertness by blocking a brain chemical (adenosine) that makes you feel tired, and overuse can cause anxiety. The essential oils suggested to help with anxiety are Basil, Bergamot, Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender, Melissa, Marjoram, and Patchouli. Inhaling a couple of deep breaths of your chosen essential oil will help calm down that feeling of being overwhelmed. Better still is having a diffuser in your home, car or workplace. This will diffuse the essential oils into the air. Now all you have to do is breathe and relax.

Fall is my favourite time of year, I know many of you feel the same way. It’s a season both of reflection and of action, as the change of season often brings a change of activities. It’s also a time of ‘getting back to business’ for many and a good time to turn ones attention to financial planning matters. Given the state of global affairs, it would also be a good time to do a detailed review of your investments. This year has (until recently) seen spectacular returns across many asset classes, what comes next is never certain.

Does your child complain of achiness in their legs at night? Pain in the upper or lower legs or behind the knees can occur during periods of rapid growth in kids, usually between the ages of 3-5 or 8-12. Recent studies have found a high incidence of these ‘growing pains’ in children with flat feet. As your child’s body weight increases with the rapid growth, their foot arches may not be strong enough to maintain that extra weight. Correcting the arches with custom foot orthotics can help ease some of the muscle soreness. When combined with warm massage, increased fluid intake, stretching, and ensuring that stable, supportive footwear is worn throughout the day, you can greatly ease your child’s discomfort.

In Chinese Medicine, eating and living with the seasons is an important part of staying healthy. Autumn is a time to introduce heartier, denser food. Excellent choices include roasted root veggies, tubers and gourds. Think pumpkin, winter squash, yams and carrots — especially slow-cooked, roasted or in soups. In Chinese Medicine, it is widely believed that we are what we eat. And most dietary guidelines follow on from nature. If we ingest seasonal foods that are similar in nature to their external environment, we remain in harmony with the environmental, adapt better to changes in season, and stay healthy.

1 out of 3 women will develop cancer in their lifetime. One of the most important factors which can help prevent cancer is to lead a healthy lifestyle, one way to do that is to maintain a healthy body weight. Eat a balanced diet that is high in whole grains, fruit and vegetables and low in processed meat and salt. Strength training and cardio exercise help maintain a healthy body weight as well strengthen our immune system. We should aim for at least 30 minutes of activity 3 times a week. Make the right choices today to help prevent cancer tomorrow!

Do you know the difference between a Power of Attorney (POA) and an Enduring POA? The distinction is important. A POA ends if you become declared mentally incompetent as may happen from an illness or head injury in an accident. An enduring POA carries on and allows your appointed person the authority to manage your financial affairs if such a tragedy occurs. Like your will, a POA should be reviewed and updated every 5 years or right away if you’ve moved from another province. No matter your age, everyone should consider having an enduring POA in place.