Be Well Magazine: Muskoka Edition [SPRING + SUMMER 2016] by Be Well Magazine

M US KO K A E D ITI O N

S PR I N G + S U M M E R 201 6

TAKING YOUR FIRST STEPS TO WELLNESS Letting go of bad habits pg 26

FOODS THAT CAN KEEP YOU HYDRATED Recipe on pg 18

Handcrafted Soap & Skincare Products MADE IN MUSKOKA

54 Main St. E, Huntsville, ON • 705-224-SOAP soapstones.ca • info@soapstones.ca

CONTENTS BE WELL MAGAZINE: MUSKOKA EDITION • SPRING + SUMMER 2016 • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

F E AT U R E S

O U R COVE R

7 TOUCHPOINT

m uS KO K A e D iTi O n

It’s one thing to maintain physicial health, but you also have a soul to look after. BY LAURA HEMING

takInG your FIrst steps to WeLLness Letting go of bad habits pg 26

Foods that can keep you hydrated Recipe on pg 18

10 HEARTBEAT

Making connections with our surroundings and our community is a worthwhile endeavour. BY DARLA STIPANOVICH

Photo: Emily Blackman Recipe on pg 18

L E T T E R F RO M T H E E D I TO R

CO M M U N I T Y CO R N E R Local community events that are fun, family-friendly and free

Muskoka artist Terry Gill opens up about depression and the healing power of painting. BY TERESA FISICO

F R E S H F I N DS New and interesting local must-haves

26 PERSONAL PRACTICE

VI E W F I N D E R Muskoka as captured by you

14 EAT WELL

S pr i n g • S u m m e r 201 6

Staying hydrated doesn’t always mean being a slave to your water bottle. Choosing the right foods can help, too. BY CHEF SETH VERZYDEN

20 SHOWCASE

Sticking to a plan requires clarity and the willingness to accept and strive for change. BY SANDRA O’BRIEN

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR • NICOLE VERZYDEN

FIRST STEPS TO WELLNESS

ere we are! This is the first of what we hope will be many Be Well Magazine issues for Muskoka and beyond. Our vision is to become a source and resource for wellness in smaller communities across Canada. The content is contributed by local health and wellness professionals and supported by creating partnerships with like-minded professionals and businesses to create wellness opportunities for residents of all ages and visitors to the area. My career has encompassed wellness for the last 17 years and I find it a very interesting concept. On the surface it seems pretty straight forward, but when you dig into it, it is extremely subjective and without limitations. So then, what is wellness? The official definition from Merriam-Webster is “the quality or state of being healthy”. It is the most non-specific definition and really, it explains nothing. I used to despise the term; I think it was because I didn’t understand it. After years of reflection, I have come to my own understanding of what wellness is, and here is my best attempt at explaining it.

all of the aspects of our life. Being active in those aspects that we have control over and choosing to accept those we do not. Wellness is about embracing the positive and releasing the negative. It takes time and it takes making time to achieve it in your own life. It requires energy and it is ongoing. What will contribute to your own personal wellness can be much different compared to your neighbour. Keeping this full spectrum definition in mind, Be Well Magazine hopes to bring light to information, wellness professionals, businesses, community services, activities and events that will encourage you to either take the first steps or continue working towards your own wellness in some way.

People who know me well have been asking how I have time for a magazine on top of running my business, Spa Addiction and raising my family. The truth is, I don’t have time, but somehow time is made to make it happen, because it’s creating this Everything you do and think about on a daily magazine that contributes to my own wellness. For basis contributes to your overall wellness, or lack me, this isn’t work. It’s part of my own personal of wellness. Your first thoughts upon waking, the wellness growth and expansion and for that, you food you eat, your workplace, your family and co- have to make the time. workers, your activities or exercise, your pay cheque and just life in general – all of it contributes to how you are going to feel on any given day. We are in Nicole Verzyden control of some of these things, and some we are Editor-in-Chief not. Some are positives and some are negatives. So to me, wellness is how we consciously approach 4 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

GET CONNECTED SPRING + SUMMER 2016 • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NICOLE VERZYDEN CREATIVE DIRECTOR TERESA FISICO CONTRIBUTORS

Laura Heming, Chef Seth Verzyden, Sandra O’Brien, Darla Stipanovich

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

Emily Blackman (pg 1, 15-18; www.emilyblackman. ca). Smkybear (“Fresh Veggies”, pg 3, 36; www.flickr. com/photos/smkybear/2488987695). thecsman (“The Sunrise in Machu Picchu”, pg 8; www.flickr.com/ ´ photos/thecsman/2327330969). Mislav Marohnic (“Curious”, pg 26; www.flickr.com/photos/mislavmarohnic/5630090707). Global Panorama (“Yoga”, pg 3; www.flickr.com/people/121483302@N02). Terry Gill (“Spirit Moon”, “Colours Spring Melt”, “If A Tree Falls in the Forest”, pg 21-23; impressionsofnature. blogspot.com).

Be Well Magazine promotes an inclusive, community-directed approach to health and wellness for all. Never miss an issue or event!

Visit us online and join the conversation bewellmagazine.ca bewellmagazine bewellmag BeWellMag

PUBLISHING

Spa Addiction www.spaaddictionbiz.com info@spaaddictionbiz.com

25 Knotty Pine Trail HUNTSVILLE, ON P1H 1S7 editor@bewellmagazine.ca 705-380-4446 Be Well Magazine publishes twice per year and is available for free thanks to contributions from our community partners. Magazines can be found at businesses and information stands across Muskoka. The articles in Be Well Magazine are meant to inform, encourage and motivate our readers, and in no way does Be Well Magazine claim to replace the advice of a physician or certified wellness coach.

Permission is required to reproduce content found in this issue.

BECOME A COMMUNITY PARTNER! Advertising with Be Well Magazine is more than just a good investment — you’re contributing to a movement. Grow exposure for your business and be part of building an exciting community geared towards health, wellness and fulfillment. Contact us today to learn more about our competitive packages and rates. SPRING

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Pleiadian Initiation and Eight Bands of Healing with Sergio MagaÑa July 7-8, 2016

Reconnect each of the Pleidian stars to corresponding centres in your body. Nourish and empower your auric field, reclaim your power and mission on the Earth. Master very powerful breathing exercises for alignment of your light body and energy centres. Receive the spiritual wisdom of the Pleiades and heal your shadow (the unconscious). Learn the Eight Bands of Healing and how to use them - a new way of creating and moving your reality to bring about miraculous healing.

Cost:

$295 for 2-day workshop, if registered before May 6, 2016 ~ $325 thereafter $595 for 4-day workshop

, Conscious Dying Lucid Dreaming with Charlie Morley & Sergio MagaÑa July 9-10, 2016

This ground-breaking new workshop will explore the concept of conscious dying and lucid living within the traditions of the Toltec-Mexhica and Tibetan Buddhism. In this workshop Sergio will explore: The different types of death in the Toltec Tradition. Sowing the intention for your death while you’re still alive. How to repair the energetic body and navigate the tunnel of life and death. In this workshop Charlie will explore: The 49 day after death bardo journey. The 6 realms of samsaric existence and their psychological correlates. How to use the lucid dream and OBE as preparation for a conscious death. So let’s go deeply into the mystery, remove the stigma of discussing death and learn how to live lucidity and die consciously! Are you ready?

Hidden Valley Resort, Huntsville, ONTARIO ~ July 7-10, 2016 Contact: Laura Heming ~ 705-788-9465 ~ email: freedomhealthcoach@gmail.com ~ www.lauraheming.com Elinor Renny ~ 519-379-5752 ~ email: elinorfrenny@gmail.com ~ www.theheartspeaks.ca

Dr. Jennifer Simpson ND & Dr. Brandy Strelec ND

Our clinic offers the best and most comprehensive Naturopathic therapies in Muskoka, including thorough testing for food sensitivities, hormonal imbalances, and the best individualized medicine.

New patients are always welcome. 165 Main St. W Huntsville, ON P1H 1X8 www.corehealthmuskoka.com • 705.789.8998

TOUCHPOINT • LAURA HEMING

SOUL’S JOURNEY T H E QU E ST FO R S PI R IT UAL BAL AN CE BY LAURA HEMING

nlightenment is a word one frequently hears these days, but what does it actually mean to seek enlightenment? There are literally thousands of books written on the subject and I have many of them, as anyone who has been to my home can attest. However, wanting something, or reading about the something, or seeking the something that apparently will bring us great peace and bliss is not enough. Reaching for an enlightened state is the seeking of the completion of our soul’s journey through eons of time and multiplicity of cycles of rebirth and death. The process towards enlightenment is very much like creating beautiful food: we actually have to take action to make it real. Like any good food recipe, one can read the instructions, salivate over the beautiful glossy pictures and imagine in great detail what that would taste, smell and feel like if only one actually had it here — to reach out and hold in one’s happy little hands. To bring it into reality one must make a plan and take action. Our journey is carried forward with the wonder and expectation of the possibilities of what one is creating. This excitement motivates us as we begin step by step to unlock the mysteries of our soul. Over my lifetime, I have been a seeker of the parts and bits that move me towards the understanding of my own grand creation — myself. Like many of

you, I have had moments when I have known that incredible state of simultaneously experiencing peace and bliss together. I believe it is at these moments when we have an opportunity to feel the truth of our being, when we are both loved and we are able to give the best of ourselves, that we experience enlightenment. One such moment that stands out for me happened on November 8, 2008 while standing on the plateau of Machu Picchu in Peru. It was the completion of a 30-year-old quest to get there. One of the beautiful parts of traveling and studying with the ancestral people of many lands is that they have retained their connection to the heart and soul of the land and the sacred places they hold dear. Under the guidance my Q’ero teachers, I made my ascent up the mountain, ready to open my heart and soul to be filled with Divine Light. In surrendering myself fully to the experience I was gifted with a glimpse of Heaven. On that day in an ancient Inca ceremony I received the blessings of golden light that filled all of me. For that span of time, in that experience of being light-filled, I knew what it was to have an enlightened experience. My desire to grow myself to be able to have more light-filled experiences has led me through a most incredible journey across South America, to Hawaii to the Midwest States, to Central America and up SPRING

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TOUCHPOINT • LAURA HEMING

to our own Manitoulin Island. While I am still on my own journey, I do feel that I have knowledge to share to help guide others on their way. Here are a couple of parts and bits that I feel are most important. One of the first things I learned on my journey is that all healing begins first with the self before it

All healing begins first with the self before it can be brought out to life and others. can be brought out to life and others. In the process of our self-growth and development, gaining an understanding of the unique unconscious wounded story that each one of us carries is essential. 8 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

Wherever I have gone this truth rises up: one must understand and release the energetic density of their wounded story or darkness, and in doing so, they can be filled with energetic lightness or love. There really are only two main guiding energies in our world: either we are in Love and Light or we are in Fear and Lack. When we couple this with freewill, the process of a soul’s maturation is often a rocky journey, as we do not know what we are choosing to be, what to believe or what to do until we know what we are not choosing. This is the school of hard knocks of life, often leaving one battered and bruised in mind, body or soul. How do we survive the challenges and pain that life throws at us? There are many ways of not only surviving but rising above one’s wounded story. For me, the practice of Reiki — the transmission of

None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself as an afterthought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean. Say the truth that you are carrying in your heart like a hidden treasure. Be silly. Be kind. Be weird. There is no time for anything else. Richard Greer, Road to Peace

Universal Life Force Healing Energies — has been as essential to surviving as is drawing breath. Reiki gave me tools to help heal myself in mind, body and soul. Taking my Level 1 in 1996 was one of the first times I truly understood the power of a daily practice that is designed to help just me. I learned that my needs or desires are just as important as someone else’s, that filling my own well allowed me to have more to give. Moving through the process of becoming a Reiki Master Teacher has allowed me to pass this gift on to many people. It is one of the great joys of my life to know that once a person has been attuned, they can access this divine help in a blink for themselves and for others. For the past five years I have studied intensely with Toltec Master Sergio Magana. Twice each year I have attended his 4-day workshops and twice I have journeyed to Mexico for 10-day initiations. I have had the privilege of walking this path of immense beauty — a path dedicated to understanding the conscious creation of one’s life and death. The power of this path is the process in which one strives Sunrise at Machu Picchu. Photo: thecsman to become a master of one’s own self in all states, bringing the unconscious to conscious and living with full intent and self-responsibility. The Toltec Masters spend some 60 days per year preparing for a conscious death. In this deep work, nothing is left to forgive within or without of self. The goal is to die as a being filled with light and love, and to pass forward in a state in which all relationships between one’s self, life and others are cleaned and cleared. In this way, one’s heart and soul is free to choose the next step in our soul’s evolution. We leave this earthly cycle enlightened.

Laura Heming is a Reiki Master, a certified Health Coach in Integrative Nutrition, and has been a member of the OCCAPP since 2000. Integrating indigenous teachings from across the Americas, Laura offers many workshops designed to support individuals through their personal and spiritual growth and development. For more information, visit www.lauraheming.com.

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HEART BEAT • DARLA STIPANOVICH

IT TAKES A VILLAGE BY DARLA STIPANOVICH

here is a point on the road into my town where I pause early in the morning on the way to the pool. No matter the season, that particular crest on that road allows one to see all of what we affectionately call “Downtown” in my town. I love seeing it at dawn, the quiet of it, the cliché of it really, a small, sleepy town complete with church steeple and Town Hall clock. I’ve even crested that hill and been greeted by a deer and two fawns who looked entirely put out at my invading what they clearly consider their turf. And each time, I experience a sense of such gratitude that I have for this community.

10 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

Dawn breaking over Huntsville, ON. Photo: Andrew Fisico

Sometimes I think of Bedford Falls from the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. Sometimes I think of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. Both are stories that impart the same feeling for me, one of peace, deep familiarity, and — since I’m always on my way to the pool when I crest that hill — wellness. However, community and wellness are not geographic entities. You can most definitely have a community without wellness. But I wonder if you can have true wellness without a community? For my husband and I, this community will probably be the one from which we are carried out feet first. We have lived all over North America and we have chosen our Muskoka home with care. We certainly researched and read, pondered and wandered through the area to find what suited us best. Still, we could not have imagined the depth of health and wellness that awaited us here. But finding wellness in a town is not a passive act. One must set one’s cap to the task. One must step outside of the door and seek it out. I’m often perplexed when people say to me that there’s nothing to do in our town. There is so much to do it is hard to decide which activity, organization, event or committee to choose. And once chosen, the building of your own wellness community unfolds. Involving oneself in the life around you is what it is all about and it is available in a small town like ours or an enormous city like the one down the road. Through this recurring article, I hope to meet and introduce you to people and the groups they belong to that provide them with connection, common ground, purpose and plan, companionship and shared laughter, and how that becomes the gift of wellbeing. And I will start with my husband and I! We own a business in our town, one that is happily appreciated, supported and enjoyed not only by

our local population, but by the many visitors we see each year. It was started at a time when most people with sense would be retiring, but we knew that we had much more to give. More importantly, we knew that our wellbeing, both physically and mentally, would benefit enormously by all the various levels of work, involvement, thinking, planning, organizing and executing that goes into opening a sustainable small business. Owning a business here has linked us strongly to the community and it has kept us vital and strong in our minds. Certainly, the physical demands of running a business has kept us physically sharp for the most part. What I have realised over the last 14 years of owning a business is that, like a beautiful spider web in the summer sun, this business has connected us to many other wellness-based providers and businesses that have enormously supported our physical health. We’ve been on many committees dealing with a host of diverse issues all to benefit our area and the environment. We’ve become great friends with yoga instructors, gym owners, trainers, chefs, caregivers, teachers, musicians, nurses, therapists and alternative healers. All of this has come through stepping out through our comfortable confines of our front door and into the community to help in anyway we can. Without question, all of it has come back around to help me and my husband take profoundly better care of ourselves than if we had not. It is the act of community involvement that is the first commitment one must make in achieving the community wellness paradigm. Get involved. Show up. Pitch in. Ask questions. Open your heart to what others bring to the table. Set judgement aside. Take a risk. Make that commitment to your community in any of a thousand available ways. And every now and then, on the crest of your own particular hill, look down at your town and feel grateful that it is there to help you begin to take care of yourself.

Darla is: an entrepreneur, a business owner, a dog owner, a Momma, a Nanna, a Wife, a closet writer, an out-of-the-closet dreamer, a constant smiler (for no obvious reasons) and a happy Muskoka chick. SPRING

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COMMUNITY CORNER

FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS THAT ARE FREE TO ENJOY IN AND AROUND MUSKOKA

G R AVE N H U R ST & AR E A

B R ACE B R I DG E & AR E A

N E E D L ECR AF T CLU B Gravenhurst Library • 180 Sharpe St. W 1st Wednesday of the month • 6:00 PM

B R ACE B R I DG E FAR M E R S’ M AR K E T Memorial Park, Bracebridge • 180 Manitoba St. Each Saturday starting May 21 • 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM

If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, quilting, needle point and more, this club is for you. Join us for a chance to met other crafters in the community.

Stock up on fresh local produce to celebrate the start of Cottage season! The market runs through the summer until Thanksgiving weekend.

M U S KO K A I N -WAT E R BOAT AN D COT TAG E S H OW Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst July 22-24, 2016 • muskokashows.com

SAN TAF E ST – S U M M E R E D ITI O N Downtown Bracebridge July 9, 2016 • 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM • santafest.ca

Fun for the whole family! Great food, live entertainment, prizes, giveaways and 100+ boat and cottage exhibits.

A “Christmas in July” event celebrating Bracebridge as Santa’s summer home! Bucket rides, build-yourown birdhouse in Santa’s Workshop, gingerbread house decorating contest, Santa Clause parade and much more.

DOC KS I D E F E ST IVAL O F T H E ART S Muskoka Wharf – Special Events Field, Gravenhurst August 19-21, 2016 • 10:00 AM This annual event runs the third weekend in August and showcases over 100 juried artisans and craftspeople from across Canada.

12 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

Have a free, family-friendly event you’d like us to promote in our FALL + WINTER issue? Email us! editor@bewellmagazine.ca

M AY– AU G UST 201 6

H U N TSVI L L E , L AKE O F BAYS & AR E A B E WE L L M AGA ZI N E – WAL K WIT H US Various locations, Huntsville Every other Wednesday • 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM bewellmagazine.ca

28T H AN N UAL BAYSVI L L E WAL K ABO U T F E STIVAL Downtown Baysville July 23, 2016 • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Join Nicole and Teresa from Be Well Magazine for a 30-minuite walk every other Wednesday throughout the summer (May 4, 18; June 1, 15, 29; July 13, 27; August 10, 24). Locations will vary depending on the weather. Check our website or Facebook page for details.

Come enjoy over 100 arts, crafts and antiques vendors. Start your day with the Lions pancake breakfast. Face painting, entertainment and activity tables for the kids. Brought to you by the Baysville Community Group.

FI R ST NAT I O N S , M É TI S & I N U IT CE L E B R ATI O N River Mill Park, Huntsville • 10 Kings St. June 22, 2016 • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Join in the celebration and sharing of First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures.

APPL E PI CKI N G F E STIVAL Orchard Park, Huntsville • 3 E ast Airport Rd. August 25, 2016 • 10:00 AM Did you know that Huntsville has a public orchard? Orchard Park is located at the end of the Hunter’s Bay Trail, along the shore of Lake Vernon. Join us with your family and friends. Bring a basket! Be Well Magazine will also be sponsoring events during the summer throughout Muskoka. Stay tuned to our website for details! SPRING

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EAT WELL • CHEF SETH VERZYDEN

BEYOND THE GLASS H OW E ATI N G T H E R I G H T FOO DS GO E S A LO N G WAY I N KE E PI N G YO U HYD R AT E D BY CHEF SETH VERZYDEN

s a chef and weight loss coach, the biggest question I get when it comes to successful weight loss is one of the easiest to answer. And my answer is almost always a question back to my client: how much water do you consume in a day? Generally, it’s not nearly enough. I’m here to give you the realistic and most accurate answer. Trust me, if you eat your fruits and veggies, than you’re already on the right track.

in much higher amounts compared to water, or treated as a substitution for water. Be very cautious about the sugar content of juice, soda and sports drinks. While all of these fluids will provide SOME level of hydration, water is the still the best source.

Thirst is a mechanism that is triggered to prevent dehydration, and there are markers that everyone can recognize: dry mouth, fatigue, thirst, headache, dizziness or light headedness, constipation, The importance of water is greatly underestimated, decreased urine output, dark coloured urine and yet increasing our water intake is one of the easiest dry skin or lips. If you are experiencing any of ways to start taking better care of our bodies. these symptoms on a regular basis, chances are We are made of about 60% water. The action of you are not drinking or consuming enough water. digestion — from oral consumption to excretion— requires water be at every step of the process. The recommended intake of water for men and Bodily fluids are involved in digestion, absorption, women is different. On average, men need about blood circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of 3 L (13 cups) per day, and women need 2.2 L (9 of nutrients and maintenance of body temperature. cups) per day. These amounts are just the minimum Lacking the proper intake of fluids will result and they don’t include beverages like coffee, tea, in the disruption of regular body functions. juice or soda. If you find that you’re the kind of person that drinks 3 cups of coffee per day, then So, what counts as a fluid? Obviously, water is you need to offset the diuretic effects of coffee the most important fluid we drink, but milk (a by drinking twice as much water (6 cups) in order to moderately processed food), juice (also processed), replace the fluids your body needs. So, while you decaf coffee/tea (a diuretic), soda/sports drinks may achieve the recommended intake of water, (highly processed) are increasingly being consumed your necessary intake of water based on other 14 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

Photo: Emily Blackman

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Photos: Emily Blackman

EAT WELL • CHEF SETH VERZYDEN

Choosing foods with high water content contributes to your overall daily water intake.

fluids you consume, like coffee, should be higher. Now it’s time for the Chef in me to come out. My first form of water consumption (other than downing straight H2O) is to turn to fruits and vegetables. The key to knowing how much water is contained in a piece of fruit or vegetable is to know that the water content is relative to the amount of water a farmer would need to grow the plant in the first place. It’s one of the reasons why veggies like water-holding dark leafy greens are very good for our health. Salads offer a fantastic option for water intake, but they also provide a lot more of what our body needs. This meal form can be loaded with fibre, vitamins and minerals when the right ingredients are used. These macro and micronutrients are essential for proper balance in your body — especially your gut. To properly digest and process these nutrients, adequate water consumption needs to be a major focus in any diet. It helps in the transportation of food into your small intestine, which is where the majority of macro and micronutrients are absorbed. Fibre helps slow down your bowel 16 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

Consuming more water every day can be easily integrated into your daily routine • Eat more fruits and veggies • Choose beverages you enjoy, but avoid diuretics (like coffee) as much as possible • Add lemon to your glass of water for flavour, but avoid powdered flavour enhancers • Always make sure you have a bottle of water on your person, in your car or at work • Sip throughout the day • Always have water with meals and snacks • Have a glass of water when you first wake up and make it part of your morning routine

movements, which helps to prolong the absorption process and get the most out of the good food you are putting in your body. All of this increases your overall health and helps in achieving weight loss. Yup — increasing water intake and eating water-holding vegetables can do all of that for you. It’s also a good idea to learn a few recipes that help increase your water intake in a nutritious and delicious way. One of my favourite waterpacked recipes is my watermelon salad. With basic ingredients like green onion, balsamic marinated firm tofu, micro-greened pea shoots or chives, cracked black pepper and quality sea salt (and

watermelon, of course), this dish is delicious, refreshing and extremely simple to prepare. Watermelon is about 92% water, hence its name. This amazing fruit contains vitamins A, B6 and C, and also contains large amounts of lycopene, which acts as an antioxidant. Watermelon is one of many fruits and veggies that contain this micronutrient. FUN FACT: Lycopene produces the red colourization in not just watermelon, but also in tomatoes, red grapefruit and guava. My rule of thumb is: the redder, the better. So, when you reach for something red and juicy, you’re making a great choice.

CHEF SETH’S WATERMELON SALAD This refreshing salad uses simple ingredients and is packed with water as well as taste. Recipe on pg 18.

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EAT WELL • CHEF SETH VERZYDEN

CHEF SETH’S WATERMELON SALAD INGREDIENTS 6

cups diced watermelon

1/2 cup chopped chives 1

cup diced firm sprouted organic tofu

1/2 cup thin sliced red onion 1

cup balsamic vinegar reduction (see Assembly) Handful of chives or micro-greened pea shoots for garnish (optional) Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

ASS E M B LY 1. Place diced tofu in a container and pour 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar overtop. Allow to marinate for at least 2 hours before draining. 2. On the stove top on low heat, reduce 1 L of balsamic vinegar to about 1 cup (balsamic vinegar reduction). Keep this reduction aside. 3. Toss all solid ingredients together, then drizzle balsamic reduction overtop as a garnish. 4. Add sea salt and cracked black pepper over salad to finish.

Chef Seth Verzyden is the owner/operator of Seed To Green (seedtogreen.com) and is actively involved in promoting the ideals of healthy living throughout Muskoka. 18 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

Photo: Emily Blackman

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Active and Healthy Lifestyles

FOR EVERY AGE AND STAGE huntsville.ca

TOH-Be Well-Spring 2016-FINAL.indd 1

• Organic, heirloom, non-GMO sprouting & micro-green seeds • Growing supplies • Garden kelper — 100% organic & sustainable fertilizer

15/03/2016 10:57:41 AM

• Culinary coaching • Sprouting & micro-greening workshops

S E T H V E RZ Y D E N

cer t ified r ed s ea l chef h ea lt h y ea t ing & w eigh t lo s s co a ch

che fse t h@ se e d to gr e e n . c o m www. se e d to gr e e n . c o m 705• 380• 197 8

SHOWCASE • TERESA FISICO

IMPRESSIONS OF NATURE M US KO K A ARTI ST T E R RY G I L L O N T H E H E ALI N G POWE R O F PAI N TI N G BY TERESA FISICO

f you’ve been to Soul Sista’s Restaurant in Huntsville lately, you may have noticed artwork for sale hanging over the benched seating. You may have also noticed a few empty spots where paintings once hung, as those dining at the local favourite (known for delicious organic homemade fare) become so enamoured with a Terry Gill original that they have to take it home. And it’s not difficult to see what is so appealing about Terry’s work — colourful, mysterious, yet familiar to anyone who’s spent time exploring Ontario’s vast and variable landscapes. But Terry’s motivation goes beyond the trees, lakes and rocks of the Canadian Shield. In fact, it wasn’t until Terry reached his fifties that he began exploring the possibilities that paint, a brush and canvas could bring: a new way of life, a dedication to community, and inner peace. Twenty-five years ago, life became turbulent for Terry: “I was bombarded with things at the time. I was emotionally overwhelmed. There’s a point in depression where it doesn’t become a part of life, it becomes a serious ailment.

20 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

Getting into art, I could escape all that and it put me into the environment, put me into the wild and put me into a whole other world.” A NAT U R AL CO N N EC TI O N Terry’s love for the outdoors and his appreciation for the environment started at a young age, growing up in the farming community of Tillsonburg, Ontario and later attending Lakehead University, graduating in Forestry. Terry signed up for his first Northern Ontario interior canoe trip in 1979, which inevitably led to a job as a guide with the tour company for the next 13 summers. Knowing that participants were leaving with a greater sense and appreciation for nature was fulfilling and addictive, as were the feelings he experienced being immersed in the wild. Throughout the years, summer after summer, exploring the best of Ontario by canoe, one can imagine the scenes that would get etched into one’s memory. Terry recalls: “You’re just passing kilometer after kilometer of beautiful scenes and colours, and the sun striking rocks and coming through the

Artist Terry Gill at his home studio.

trees and storms — just awesome things.” When Terry turned to painting later in life, what started off as a coping mechanism ultimately became a way to express his deep connection with nature and his appreciation and concern for the environment. He refers to his style of art as impressions of nature, describing that his intent is not to literally translate his memory onto the canvas. Rather, his goal is to interpret his feelings and memories and moods through the brush. One of Terry’s favourite sayings channels Henry Ward Beecher’s famous quote, as he paraphrases: “Painting should feel like dipping a brush into your soul.” A driving force behind his work is his concern for how rapidly the environment appears to be changing. In a sense, Terry’s paintings are his way to preserve the Ontario he remembers, before the big imbalances spurred by industrial growth

Spirit Moon by Terry Gill

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SHOWCASE • TERESA FISICO

and the sprawl of development begin to leave their damaging marks on its landscapes. “We have no idea what we are going to be faced with… just so many things that are going to change. The canoe trips were a way to introduce people to nature, but I’m very concerned about what’s going to happen. I think that’s a basis of my paintings.” B R E AKI N G T H E RU L E S Emily Carr and Tom Thomson are two artists that Terry cites as inspirations, both celebrated for their unique style and their haunting representations of Canada’s wilderness. While he calls his technique unconventional, most who appreciate his work recognize the talent, vision and intention that is poured into each piece. He describes his approach as freeing, letting the brush and the paint take him where it wants to go, and he often goes against traditional painting conventions that hold him back, such as using white paint: “You’re not supposed to. I broke that rule right away.”

it and say, ‘That’s really nice.’ But you’ll never look at it again, because there’s nothing hidden in it.” A fundamental feature of his art was actually hidden to himself for a time, until fellow local artist Jeff Miller made the apt observation that most of Terry’s works are painted from the perspective of a canoe. “Just about every one of them have a water line,” says Terry. “That’s the way we see Canada.” Just as he is rebellious in his painting, perhaps it’s fitting that one of his all-time favourite musicians is Bruce Cockburn. Inspired by the lyrics of the song If a Tree Falls, Terry was driven to paint, and the result has become a tribute to the man. Bruce Cockburn’s music and lyrics embody the ideals that Terry also strives to convey through his art: the healing and protection of the environment and the welfare of future generations. It’s a painting that he would love to be able to give to the legendary rock star and activist.

But breaking the rules and finding one’s own So, a call to our readers: does anyone know way is a philosophy Terry celebrates and lives by, how to get in touch with Mr. Cockburn? Can having made the switch from forester to artisan. It we break a few rules and make this happen? resonates through each of his paintings, knowing that everyone who views them will take away a different experience with each viewing. It’s one of the things he loves about painting in the impressionist style. “People will do a beautiful picture of a loon or a white birch, and you’ll look at

“Painting should feel like dipping a brush into your soul.”

Colours Spring Melt by Terry Gill

22 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

“Break every damn rule. Breaking rules is what it’s all about as far as I’m concerned.” ~ Terry Gill

I M PR E SS I O N S O N T H E COM M U N IT Y Having found his calling as an artist, Terry Gill regularly hosts workshops and seminars, sharing his passion for art and encouraging others to try their hand at it. He’s hoping not only to prove that everybody can express themselves through painting, but to pass on the lessons he’s learned in finding light through the dark. The seminars are a way for him to help others express their feelings in a constructive way, and share to the joy that it brings in his own life. He recalls true joy hosting workshops for children and adults with special needs: “That itself is reward itself to paint… they are so happy…I get such a kick out of it. They are fantastic. They have no preconceived ideas. I saw them do pictures, paintings that were beautiful… faces, all kinds of things would show up…and then they’d paint right over it!” Terry is currently working to make future seminars available through the Huntsville Arts Society. And, if Terry could have his way, he’d ensure that the arts remained alive and well in the public school curriculum. But beyond that, he firmly believes that there are human arts that we have lost in favour of technology, activities such as crafts and skills that naturally involve bringing people together that he would love to see restored. “I’ve often told ministers that on Sundays, instead of preaching the sermon, have a family come in and teach canning, teach gardening, alternative energy, canoeing, camping…Imagine on a Sunday in August everyone canning? What a hoot!”

If a Tree Falls in the Forest by Terry Gill in tribute to the lyrics of Bruce Cockburn.

To learn more about Terry’s journey and inspiration, check out Kyle McDougall’s beautiful film The Ebb & The Flow on Vimeo. Terry can also be found online at impressionsofnature.blogspot.com.

Teresa Fisico is a freelance copywriter with a passion for telling meaningful stories. She serves as Creative Director for Be Well Magazine.

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PERSONAL PRACTICE • SANDRA O’BRIEN

CHANGE & THE NEED FOR CLARITY A B EG I N N E R ’ S G U I D E TO R E ALIZI N G YO U R GOAL S BY SANDRA O’BRIEN

n order to improve, you will need to change. Improving one’s self requires letting go of what no longer serves you. Desiring a transformation in your health, your body, your mindset, your relationships — anything really — will require clarity and change on your part. Improvement demands that you drop patterns of behaviour and lines of thought, and replace them with a new framework. For many, change is a frightening and challenging road. The definition of change is to make or become different. When areas of one’s life are no longer working, it’s time to step into unfamiliar and perhaps uncomfortable territory to take the needed actions to create a newer, stronger, more authentic version of yourself. Where to begin? In what areas of your life do you wish to create change? As a personal trainer with 12 years of experience, I will tell you that most people are very clear on what they don’t want, and not so much on what they do want. People often say “I don’t want to feel fat” vs. “I intend to create a flat stomach,” or “I don’t want to feel stressed throughout my day” vs. “I intend to feel peaceful with each breath,” or “I don’t want a

26 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

relationship which leaves me feeling unfulfilled” vs. “I intend to create a relationship where I feel connected and adored.” You get the idea. GAI N I N G C L AR IT Y To assist with finding clarity on what you desire, try this simple exercise. I invite you to get a piece of paper and draw a line down the centre. I encourage you to do this on actual white paper with a blue pen versus on your laptop or other electronic device. There is much more power in taking pen to paper and allowing it to rewire your brain’s impulses. Typing your desires on an iPad does not carry the same magnitude. On the top left-hand side of your paper, write “What I do not want.” On the top right-hand side, write “What I want.” Fill out the left side first. If you are clear on what you want to change in your life, focus on that. If unclear, stay general and list everything in your life that you are currently not content with. For the sake of this example, I will focus on physical changes to the body. Read this intention statement out loud to yourself for five minutes a day, perhaps as the first thing in

Create a chart with two columns representing what you don’t want and what you do want. Then, fill out the left side first. Continue down the list until you have exhausted all the items you do not want to experience.

WHAT I DO NOT WANT

WHAT I WANT

I DON’T WANT TO FEEL FAT I DON’T WANT A MUFFIN TOP I DON’T WANT TO FEEL EXHAUSTED ALL THE TIME I DON’T WANT TO LOOK OLD

When done, write the opposite of each under “What I want.”

WHAT I DO NOT WANT

WHAT I WANT

I DON’T WANT TO FEEL FAT

I WANT TO FEEL LEAN AND STRONG

I DON’T WANT A MUFFIN TOP

I WANT TO HAVE FLAT ABS

I DON’T WANT TO FEEL EXHAUSTED ALL THE TIME

I WANT TO FEEL RESTED

I DON’T WANT TO LOOK OLD

I WANT TO LOOK AND FEEL VIBRANT

Once you have finished, you can begin to internalize your wants as intentions. To do so, rewrite the right-hand statements in paragraph form so it looks something like this:

“I intend to feel lean and strong. I intend to have flat abs — I feel vibrant and alive. I am grateful for how my clothing looks and feels on my strong, beautiful body. I love the freedom I feel when my body is able to move smoothly and with ease. The Universe brings me this or something even better. It is so. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

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PERSONAL PRACTICE • SANDRA O’BRIEN

the morning upon waking or before you go to bed at night. The time of day is not so important. What is important is how you feel when reading it. As you read it, create pictures in your mind to support what you are reading. After reciting for 5 minutes, sit comfortably and close your eyes. In your mind’s eye, see yourself having your ideal body. See yourself walking down the street in an article of clothing you look outstanding in. See yourself interacting with others and getting compliments on how fit and fabulous you look. Envision yourself taking part in your favourite activity, feeling strong, beautiful and alive. Create in your mind whatever visions work for you and allow you to experience your ideal outcome. The most important thing is to feel it. Make it as real as possible, as if it has already happened. Give thanks and gratitude for your health and improved sense of well-being. Spend two to five minutes envisioning your ideal outcome daily. After a few days, you will be amazed at how much easier it will be to make choices which support your ideal body. F RO M CL AR I T Y TO AC TI O N Now that you are clear on what it is you want, it’s time to take action steps to bring you closer to your ideal goal or outcome. Committing to small steps weekly is a recipe for success for most people. Pick one thing you are going to do to support your goal. You may wish to start with drinking more

Photo: Mislav Marohni

water this week, or eliminating processed foods. If creating more peace in your world is important to you, you may want to walk away from drama-filled conversations or beginning a regular meditation practice. Add on new action steps weekly until these new habits become a new way of being. I have discovered that my desires and ideals often change as I evolve. With each period of growth, life is viewed from a different perch. Remembering to cut yourself some slack as you travel into new ground will make the journey more enjoyable. Care less what others think. Do what fills your heart with joy.

Honour yourself in everything you do.

Sandra has been in the fitness industry over 15 years. She is passionate about creating space for others to see the beauty and strength within themselves. She values fun, simplicity and being authentic. She is the mother of three, a nature lover, an adventure seeker and is comfortable with living life on the edge through trust.

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Design ed

Mus k o k a.

Mad e

i n

Can ad a.

• P o t e nt & Aro m a t i c N a t u r a l Fo r m u l a t i o n s • • No Che m i ca l P re s e r v a t i v e s • • No Co lo u r a n t s o r Fr a gr a n ce • • P a r a b e n & S LS Fre e • • G l u t e n Fre e • • Made i n C a n a da •

For a full list of our Stockists, please visit www.faceaddiction.ca Soapstones Soap & Skincare Huntsville, ON soapstones.ca

iwa spa Blue Mountain Blue Mountain, ON iwaspa.com

Madison Beauty Studio Toronto, ON madisonbeautystudio.com

Spa Luxe Iroquois Falls, ON spaluxedayspa.com

Pri-vate Spa Winnipeg, MB pri-vate.com

A Way Of Life Spa & Esthetic Victoria, BC awayoflife.ca

Lemongrass Spa Rockwood, ON lemongrassspa.ca

Trillium Resort & Spa Port Sydney, ON trilliumspa.ca

Natural Balance Day Spa Barrie, ON naturalbalance-dayspa.com

Sabe Day Spa Port Elgin, ON sabedayspa.com

Buck + Doe Skin Studio Kenora, ON

Spa Naturel Bracebridge, ON ahnaturel.ca

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FRESH FINDS MUST-TRY ITEMS FROM BUSINESSES BASED IN MUSKOKA N U T R ITI O N O N T H E GO

TOTEM JUICE CO. 36 Main St. E • Huntsville • 705-380-4354 totemjuice.com Totem Juice Co. is Muskoka’s original family-owned and operated raw, organic cold-pressed juice company. Their uniquely sustainable “local juice farm” model results in the fastest seed-to-bottle time and elite freshness. Drop by their organic Juice Pub patio to enjoy one of their delicious veg+fruit juices, nutmilks, wheatgrass or other immuneboosting shots. BONFIRE: Carrot, green apple, orange bell pepper, ginger root & turmeric root From $10.84

SOM E AD D I C TI O N S AR E H E ALT HY FACE ADDICTION faceaddiction.ca

Inspired by old world apothecary culture and custom blending botanicals, Face Addiction® is an all-natural skincare line providing the results you would expect from a professional spa line. Their newest creation is a blend of fine textured precious oils and actively aromatic essential oils — an ideal solution for anyone searching for smooth, oxygenated and enlivened skin. It is a simple yet decadent formula that can be used on the face, neck, décolleté and bust. FACE ADDICTION ENLIVEN OIL: $65.00

H E R E , FI S HY FI S HY

MUSKOKA LURE CO. 705-380-LURE (5873) thelureco.com

The iBobber is a game changer. Up your game with this wireless, castable fishfinder that is loaded with features, like an LED night beacon, weather sync and strike alarm, to name a few: $129.99 30 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

From left to right: STONES Pre-shave Balm: $15.00 STONES Shaving Butter: $16.00 STONES Aftershave Balm: $18.00

A NAT U R AL S KI N CAR E L I N E E XC LUS IVE LY FO R M E N

SOAPSTONES SOAP & SKIN CARE INC. 54 Main St. E • Huntsville • 705-224-SOAP (7627) soapstones.ca

Soapstones has been crafting natural soaps, lotions and cleansers in Huntsville for over 14 years. Always made in small batches, these soaps are hand crafted in-store and feature a number of specialty collections, including the STONES Men’s Line.

I S YO U R LI P G LOSS E D I B L E ?

AH! NATUREL 16-B Manitoba St. • Bracebridge • 705-645-0000 ahnaturel.ca Made of natural oils, plant waxes and shea butter, our gloss will not only protect your lips, it will heal them too. No sticky silicone here! Pure Anada liquid glosses are highly pigmented, and a small amount goes a long way. You’ll love their creamy consistency. Many of the shades coordinate with a matching lipstick. This makes it great for layering gloss on top of lipstick for long lasting wear and high shine. It is said the average woman consumes over 5 pounds of lip gloss in their lifetime — make sure yours is edible. PURE ANADA Lip Gloss: $12.00

E AT YO U R M I CRO - G R E E N S

SEED-TO-GREEN WITH CHEF SETH 705-380-1987 seedtogreen.com

Mizuna is extremely easy to microgreen, has a mild flavour and is packed with protien and vitamens. MIZUNA SEEDS FOR SPROUTS & MICRO-GREENING: $17.50

Be Well Magazine firmly believes in supporting home-grown entrepreneurial spirit as a means of strengthening our community. Help us showcase the talents, products and services that Muskoka has to offer. To have a spotlight in our Fresh Finds feature in upcoming issues, get in touch with us! See pg 3 for contact info. SPRING

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VIEWFINDER MUSKOKA AS SEEN AND EXPERIENCED BY YOU

Photo by: Carly Bright Location: Dwight, ON “We were visiting the area on the May long weekend in 2015, and we caught this scene during an early morning walk down to Cooper Lake.”

Photo by: Andrew Fisico Location: Bracebridge, ON “We were walking by the falls and the lighting was spectacular on this day. The sun was setting and colours were awesome.”

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Photo by: Bobby Hoult Location: Gravenhurst, ON “Most of us are not looking forward to dandelions invading our lawns in the spring, but I wanted to capture how beautiful they can be.”

S H OW US H OW YO U S E E M US KO K A How do you find wellness in Muskoka? What sort of activities or events motivate you to get involved with your community? Whether you are just visiting or you are lucky to call Muskoka home, we want to see how our readers and community partners take advantage of the beautiful surroundings and amazing events Muskoka has to offer. To share your photos with us, simply tag @bewellmag in Instagram with the hashtag #viewfinder and we’ll be in touch!

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Empowering residents and visitors alike to achieve fulfillment within themselves and their community • Focusing on wellness beyond physical health • • Featuring expertise from around our community • • Showcasing local talent, businesses and services • • Encouraging community involvement •

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