Spring IN THE VALLEY 2013
EXERCISE TO LIVE Part 2
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BEING SELF LOVE
Page 8
KAYAK PIONEER
Page 12
YOGA MYTH BUSTING
Page 16
ROOT ISSUES
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Table of Contents
Editor’s Note
Relief from hip pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 by Dr. Deidre Macdonald
Spring is here. Really? Where? Maybe by the time you read this the sun will be out, the birds will be singing and we will all be out walking, riding, hiking, kayaking and planting our spring and summer blooms. I sure hope so. It has been a long winter. The hovering fog was a little much. Right? I should not be complaining and I’m not really, I guess I’m whining a little bit and I suspect you have been too. Enough. No more. Get up off the couch. Get outside. We can take a little spring shower ... how does that old saying go, “Spring showers bring summer flowers.” See, we have the wonderful colourful blooms and aromas of spring and summer to look forward to. In the meantime, while we patiently wait for walking weather, we should most likely be taking stock. Taking time to read. Taking time to explore old friendships and maybe make some new ones. It is these connections that will help us keep human in our most trying of times. Pretty sure we are living through them right now. The world is shifting. Canada is shifting. The big question? WHAT are we shifting to? Will our world, country, province, city, neighbourhood be friendlier, kinder, gentler, more accepting? Only time will tell and we each have a choice in the outcome. Nicer weather brings great opportunities to be out and about enjoying all modes of transportation., your feet, bicycles, kayaks, canoes ... take your loved ones, even of the four legged variety and go out and do something, anything. Clear those winter blues out of your mind, clear out the clutter that has amassed over the long winter months and purge. Purging is good for the soul. Have a yard sale, have a neighbourhood yard sale, they are the most fun. And the best part, you are outside, and may even make a few bucks to spend at your favourite cafe. That is one thing we are immensely blessed with here in the valley ... a plethora of cafes and GOOD ones. We are fortunate to have seemingly endless choices of breathtaking locations for outdoor activities, take advantage of we can access for free, when others pay thousands of dollars to travel here to do in a week what we can do every day ... if we choose to. Sincerely, Mary Ruth Harris
Exercise to Live ~ Part Two. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 by Liz White Being Self Love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 by Fiona Black Funeral Preplanning & Prefunding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 by Canada Purple Shield Living with Tinnitus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 by Glynnis Tidball Kayak Pioneer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 by Norene Wells Spring has Sprung for our four-legged friends . . . . . . . . . 14 by Van Isle Vet Heather’s Holistic Hints ~ Muscle Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 by Heather Saunders Yoga Myth Busting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 by Jennifer Naples Root Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 by Danielle Lambrecht Diving for the Colours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 by Pacific Pro Dive
Front cover photograph provided by Paulette Greig, member of the CV Paddlers Club.
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FACSIMILE : 250.339.2210 EMAIL : alg1@telus.net EDITOR & GRAPHICS : Mary Ruth Harris Comox Valley Health & Recreation Guide is published 4 times a year. All rights are reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for, and does not endorse, the contents of any advertisement herein, and all representations or warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not the publisher. The publisher is not liable to any advertiser for any misprint(s) in or about the advertisement that is not the direct fault of the publisher. And, in such an event, the limit of the liability shall not exceed the amount of the publishers charges for such advertising. Articles published in Comox Valley Health & Recreation Guide are not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. YEARLY SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE ~ $10.00 postage paid
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Article submissions on Health & Recreation in the Comox Valley are required by May 1st, 2013 & Ad submissions are required by May 15 th, 2013. Submission Guidelines can be found on our web site. www.comoxhealthandrecguide.com
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Relief from Hip Pain by Dr. Deidre Macdonald, ND
Hip pain can be a real pain in the butt! Understanding the cause of your hip pain will help you determine the best treatment for you. There are non-surgical solutions to hip pain, even for degenerative osteoarthritis of the hip. Osteoarthritis is basically wear and tear in the ball and socket joint. The “ball” is the head of the femur (upper leg bone) and the socket is the acetabulum- a part of the pelvis. It is important to differentiate true hip pain from other types of pain in the hip region. True hip joint pain is usually felt towards the front, in the groin region. It may radiate down the front of the thigh. The most effective non-surgical therapy for hip arthritis is low level laser therapy. It is a painless technique proven to significantly reduce the signs and symptoms of arthritis. I have used laser light therapy for 5 years in my naturopathic practice and have had many patients with hip arthritis regain mobility and reduce pain dramatically. Greater Trochanteric Bursitis: Pain felt on the lateral part of the hip (side of the hip) is usually due to greater trochanteric bursitis. It is aggravated by walking, lying
down on the affected side, and crossing the leg of the affected side. It can be painful to press on the boney part of the side of the hip. This is the most common cause of hip pain that I see in clinical practice. I use state of the art laser light therapy to relieve this condition. In most cases, 8 to 10 forty minute treatments alleviates the problem and patients can regain mobility and enjoy a good night sleep again. There are other bursas in the hip area that can create acute pain, often in the front groin area. Laser therapy reduces inflammation and pain in any bursitis. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction: The Sacroiliac joints are located at the very bottom of the back. There is one on either side of the spine. The Sacroiliac joints help make up the rear part of the pelvic girdle and sit between the sacrum and the Ilia (hip bones). These joints provide subtle movement in the pelvic girdle when walking. They can become malaligned, too mobile or too fixed resulting in problems with surrounding structures such as ligaments and muscles. Therefore, sacroiliac joint problems can cause a wide range of symptoms throughout the lower back and buttocks, or even into the thigh or groin. Classic symptoms are: • Difficulty turning over in bed • Struggling to put on shoes and socks • Pain getting your legs in and out of the car • Stiffness in the lower back when getting up after sitting for long periods and when getting up from
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State Of The Art Laser Therapy bed in the morning • Aching on one side of your lower back when driving long distances • There may be tenderness on palpating the large ligaments which surround the joint and hold it together. There are many approaches to relieving sacroiliac joint problems, such as chiropractic adjustments and other manual techniques to re-align the joint. Laser therapy effectively targets the ligaments that are strained in the joint, quickly reducing pain. By strengthening the ligaments that provide the joint structure, laser therapy often creates more long term results than other therapies in my experience. Piriformis syndrome: The piriformis muscle runs across the buttock from the edge of the sacrum to the top of the femur, specifically at the greater trochanter. If this muscle is tight, it can aggravate both trochanteric bursitis and sacroiliac joint problems. It is also one possible cause of sciatic nerve pain that can run down the leg. The sciatic nerve runs through the belly of the piriformis muscle, so if the muscle is tight, the nerve can become irritated. Treatments can include stretches that target the muscle, massage for the area, and laser light therapy. Laser light therapy increases circulation to the muscle, triples the energy output of muscle cells (ATP), causes nutrients to flood the cells, increases collagen synthesis and ultimately speeds the healing process and results in rapid resolution of muscle and ligament problems. Referred pain from the nerves in the spine: Pain felt in the buttock is often referred from the low back. Degeneration of the spinal vertebrae can result in narrowed channels for the nerves that exit the spine (spinal stenosis). Nerves can become pinched and pain can be felt both in the spine and down the buttocks and legs (as in sciatica). Degenerated or protruding discs can also cause pressure on the nerves that affect the hip area. In my experience only about 5% of patients truly require surgery for such problems. Laser light therapy has been shown to significantly reduce pain from disc disease in over 90% of patients in a Canadian clinical trial. Spinal stenosis also responds well to this treatment that is used in physiotherapy clinics across Canada. I use a state of the art laser light therapy machine called Meditech Bioflex. It is unique in
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250-897-0235 www.getwellhere.com that it has large treatment pads that can efficiently cover larger areas of the hips and back. Back and hip joint treatments typically last 70 minutes. Approximately 2/3 of the treatment time is the application of the treatment pads, and 1/3 is the use of a high powered laser probe. So don’t suffer with hip and back pain. When I assess a patient with hip pain, a detailed physical examination and medical history are critical in determining what the root of the problem is. Then, with targeted, effective treatments, relief can often be had without drugs or surgery. Don’t wait until it’s too late! To book a free 15 minute consultation to see if laser therapy is right for you, or for more information about Dr. Deidre Macdonald’s naturopathic medical practice in downtown Courtenay, contact her office at 250.897.0235 or check out www.getwellhere.com. Most extended health plans accepted.
CV Health & Recreation Guide
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Exercise to Live ~ Part Two by Liz White, M.Sc
Previously, I discussed the preventative and restorative role that exercise can play in the treatment of chronic diseases in general. This issue I will focus on specific conditions; i.e., osteoporosis, depression, and cardiovascular disease. When updating my research, I noticed that most of the earlier research focused on aerobic activity. Recently, the benefits of resistance training have become more recognized. This is significant for Pilates professionals. While Pilates is commonly associated with building core strength, it is a gentle and effective form of resistance exercise because it utilizes body weight as resistance. Pilates equipment uses spring resistance rather than weight loading. It is hoped that researchers will continue to narrow their focus so that the benefits of Pilates will
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be clearly delineated within the scientific community. Osteoporosis occurs when there is a loss of bone mineral density resulting in bones that have low mass and break easily. It is the resulting fractures and fall-related injuries that cause health problems. Hip fractures are the most debilitating, although not the most common injury. Frequently, elderly adults who are hospitalized for a hip fracture lose their ability to live independently. Evidence shows physical activity increases and maintains bone mineral density. In particular, resistance and weight bearing exercises prevent the age-related decline in bone mass. Ideally, prevention of osteoporosis should begin in childhood so that a high peak bone mass is achieved and then maintained throughout life with a healthy, active lifestyle. Another preventative measure is to minimize the likelihood of falling as fractures do not occur among those who do not fall. Attention should be given to developing and maintaining balance and core strength through exercises that improve stability. There is a strong relationship between our physical and mental well-being. Anyone can become overwhelmed if they must adjust to a new stage of life and both inner and outer resources are taxed. This can lead to depression. Regular exercise increases the level of brain serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, sleep, appetite, and other functions. Exercise also increases the level of endorphins, those “mood lifting� hormones. Generally, exercise alleviates depression by increasing energy levels, improving sleep, providing social support if done with other people, and increasing a sense of control by giving people the opportunity to take an active role in their own wellbeing.
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Exercise does not have to be vigorous to be helpful for depression. A brisk walk may be sufficient. Two recent trials have found that 16 weeks of regular exercise is equally effective as antidepressant medication in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Cardiovascular disease affects people of all ages. Coronary arteries can become blocked from a variety of causes, causing a heart attack. A physically inactive lifestyle is associated with twice the risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). A recent statement from the Council on Clinical Cardiology states, “Habitual physical activity prevents the development of CAD and reduces symptoms in patients with established cardiovascular disease.” They go on to recommend individuals should engage in 30 minutes or more of moderately intense physical activity preferably every day of the week. Because aerobic exercise is a significant calorie burner, it is considered to be primarily important for weight control. However, resistance training assists the body in expending calories through an increase in lean body mass and basal metabolism. Therefore, resistance training is strongly recommended for cardiovascular disease prevention programs as well. So, eat well and keep active and watch for the final installment in my exercise trilogy! This article appears in its entirety on Liz White’s website at: www.energysourcepilates.weebly.com
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Being Self Love... by Fiona Black
When I began the journey of cultivating self love I didn’t think it would be easy, but I had no idea just how challenging it would be. The more honest and true to myself I became, the more my life began to unravel. All of the platforms I had built my world upon began to break away and I was left feeling alone and vulnerable. I knew that I was getting exactly what I asked for, but that made it no easier. As I deepened into my self-love practice, I realized that the external things I was doing to cultivate selflove, were not enough. A healthy diet, regular exercise and quiet time were all essential for my general wellbeing, but if I skipped doing these things I felt bad. Back to square one. Not loving myself. Criticizing and judging myself. The shift really happened when I started to examine the way I was being: the way I reacted to failure, the way I responded to feeling guilty about something I did or didn’t do. By increasing my awareness I developed more love, compassion and forgiveness. I started by embodying the traits I aspired to be
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during meditation. Consciously choosing to be love or be forgiveness and noticing how these emotions felt in my body. Whilst this was helpful, it was only when I started practicing in daily life that things began to change significantly. Being a mom and a homemaker became my spiritual practice. Multiple opportunities arose each day for me to practice a more loving way of being. When I found my blood boiling or my patience waning I stopped, took a deep breath and asked my self: “Who am I being right now?” If it was not an answer that felt good I then asked: “What qualities can I embody to help me connect with the love in this moment?” The act of stopping, breathing and questioning my behavior was enough to shift the energy of the situation. It may not have changed my 2 year old’s temper tantrum but it did change how I felt and responded. This broke the patterning of my unconscious reactions and began to forge new neural pathways to a healthier more conscious response. Self love is now my constant practice. It teaches me to be as truthful as I can in all situations. It encourages me to stay in a painful emotion, such as shame, and feel it through out my entire body. By doing so I know that I am serving my highest self by fully processing the emotion and letting it go. Self love helps me accept and learn to love all aspects of myself. It gives me permission to be where I am now, without needing to change. It guides me to be grateful for all I have instead of always wanting more. The further on my journey I travel, the quicker issues seem to rise and fall away. Life keeps on happening but there is less drama. When I am in ‘the drama’ it stays
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for less time each visit and I am able to step back and laugh at myself more. My external life is shifting and changing too. It may feel slow, but when I look back I realize just how far I have come. I am rebuilding my life from the inside out and the more I love myself, the more I trust in the process of life. The more I am grateful for each day, the greater my heart opens to receive more goodness. I see my inner beauty and light. To be of loving service to others I must cultivate selflove first. How are you being today? If you do not like your answer, simply choose another more loving way of being. It really can be that simple. Fiona is creator of the ‘cultivating self-love’ workshop series. She is also a mother, intuitive healer and founder of Flourish Bodytalk. For more information about self-love workshops or private bodytalk sessions please visit www. flourishbodytalk.com or contact Fiona Black at info@ flourishbodytalk.com or 250.650.0501.
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Opportunities to begin onlines classes will be available in September. Call or email to guarantee a place or to register for the autumn classes. Phyllis Chubb 250.757.9498 or phyllis@phyllischubb.com CV Health & Recreation Guide
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Funeral Preplanning is Wise... Article submitted by Canada Purple Shield/Assurant Life of Canada The last thing on your mind may be the first thing you need to think about. Organized people prepare for the future. In fact, most people will spend significant time planning an exotic trip or research the purchase of a car or a new house. Unfortunately, as a result of our reluctance to think or talk about death, many people will be ill-prepared when the inevitable occurs. When you prefund your funeral expenses, you will alleviate the stress and anxiety families often experience on the death of a loved one. The peace of mind you have given yourself and your family from preplanning and prefunding is priceless. 1. You relieve your loved ones of the added burden and responsibility of making financial decisions. One of the most difficult things is to make financial decisions for someone else. Prefunding your funeral expenses spares your family the financial decision making, which can make death an even more emotional time. Your prudent preplanning has given your loved ones a tremendous gift peace of mind. 2. Personalize your own funeral service; know your wishes will be fulfilled. The second most difficult thing to do is plan a funeral. What would Mom or Dad want? Should we do this or that? Personalization requires careful thought and preparation. Every person is unique; the
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choices you have in funeral services is unlimited. Removing this anxiety from your family’s emotional burden is another gift for which they will be forever grateful. If you have not taken this step, considering doing it soon. It is important to understand the choices you have. If you would like a referral to a local funeral establishment contact Dennis Richardson of Canada Purple Shield for a recommendation. 3. Recording vital information ensures the accuracy of official documents; request a free guide from Canada Purple Shield, “Wishes and Memories”, to record your personal information necessary for the issue of death certificates. You can use the “Wishes and Memories Guide” to add personal notes and memories to leave your family a legacy to cherish and to create a record of personal and financial information all in one place. 4. Determine who assumes responsibility for the funeral arrangements. If you have preplanned in addition to prefunding, the funeral director will assist in identifying who has the legal authority to authorize funeral services. Who may be responsible will depend on a number of factors, the first and foremost is whether you have a Will. Do not over look this important step. Complete your preplanning by having your legal affairs in order. Editor’s Note: Speaking sadly from personal experience, I encourage preplanning & prefunding. For those left in the wake of the unexpected, which is already immensely traumatic, it relieves great stress if all the appropriate documents are accounted for beginning with a will and your preplanned funeral wishes and organ donation.
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Lliving with Tinnitus by Glynnis Tidball, M.Sc. (Aud), Registered Audiologist Ringing, buzzing, crickets, high-tension wires, whooshing, even repeating melodies – these are all sounds that people use to describe tinnitus, the conscious perception of sound that originates in the head. It can be produced by the body’s structures such as blood flowing through a blood vessel, but most often what we’re hearing is the background activity or the PLEASE, CAREFULLY OVER THIS “hum” of the brain producedCHECK by spontaneous activity that occurs within the brain’s hearing pathways. Studies have shown that almost anyone will hear tinnitus if they are asked to listen for sound in a very quiet room. About 15% of people hear tinnitus frequently or even constantly. The tinnitus may come IN OURand 12TH YEAR! on gradually NOW or suddenly, can be associated with noise exposure, hearing loss, ear disease, stress, head or neck injury, as well as drugs such as quinine and high doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofin. Sometimes tinnitus is diagnosed YOUR APPROVAL REQUESTED as “idiopathic” meaning the IS cause is unknown. If you THANK YOU!! have persistent tinnitus, what should you do about it? First, discuss the tinnitus with your family doctor, Signature especially if tinnitus is a pulsating sound; if you hear Please sendifyour changes or approvalbytosudden it in one ear only; tinnitus is accompanied FAX 250.339.2210 CALL 250.339.0252 hearing loss, ear pain or or discharge, or loss of balance or dizziness; facial weakness or paralysis; orwish if you’re “I will stop by and see you personally if you having trouble coping. Your doctor may send you to an to discuss your advertisement.” ~ Allan Gear ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT, or otolaryngologist) to ensure that the tinnitus isn’t medically significant.
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Reassurance from your doctor that you are in good health may be all that you need to learn to live with tinnitus. Second, arrange to have your hearing tested either through your doctor or through a private hearing clinic. An audiologist can assess your hearing and tinnitus, and provide direction on how best manage the tinnitus, including exposure to safe noise levels. They may fit you with devices such as hearing aids with built-in sound generators and provide general counselling about tinnitus. More in-depth management approaches include Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Both therapies help to improve your reaction to and lessen your awareness of tinnitus. TRT is available through the St.Paul’s Hospital Tinnitus Clinic and Sound IdEARS Clinic, both in Vancouver. You can self-refer to either clinic, although the St. Paul’s Clinic requires that you have an ENT consultation and hearing test done prior to arranging an appointment. CBT is typically done with a CBT-trained psychologist. Self-help books such as the Tinnitus Treatment Toolbox and Living With Tinnitus and Hyperacusis, available through online book sellers, provide in-depth information and can be great supplements to your tinnitus management resources. If your tinnitus is related to noise exposure through work or military service, you may be eligible for coverage of devices and TRT if you have an approved tinnitus claim. Consult www.worksafebc.ca or www. veterans.gc.ca/eng for more information. Tinnitus is a common perception that most people seem to adapt to well. If, however, tinnitus is impacting your quality of life, seek the help that you need to live with it successfully.
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Kayak Pioneer... by Norene Wells “You can fit more dogs in a canoe,” emphatically stated Elizabeth, and that ended the discussion amongst members of the executive of the Comox Valley Paddlers Club. The Paddlers Club is comprised of both canoeists and kayakers, and their executive, having worked out the winter’s program, were musing over the relative merits of kayaks versus canoes. The fact is that the majority of club members own both canoes and kayaks. Many will have started on the water in canoes and hold those memories dear. A local canoeist and sailor, CV Health and Recreation Guide publisher, Allan Gear, in fact started Comox Valley Paddlers Club. In the interest of safety, but also for camaraderie, Allan Gear placed an ad in the paper looking for those interested in a paddling club. He started with half a dozen members; currently the Comox Valley Paddlers Club boasts 113 members. The group schedules short daytime paddles every week and coordinates longer full day paddles regularly, at times coordinating with the Nanaimo and Campbell River paddle clubs. The local Paddlers Club provides
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John Mooney & Osito photo by Paulette Greig
the opportunity for overnight trips, which are planned by experienced paddlers, and is a safe environment in which to pursue the sport whether you are a novice or a seasoned coastal explorer. Even one canoeing dog traveled with a club paddle trip in the Copeland Islands. A resurgence in interest in canoeing has been evidenced in the club this last summer on their regular Wednesday evening paddles however the popularity of kayaking is undeniable. These craft have proven to suit all types of paddlers whether they are looking for a recreational, super-stable boat for photography or site seeing or training or a refined, lightweight seakayak that is seaworthy in wind and waves for high performance touring expeditions. Kayaking is the mode of transport de rigueur for those wanting to have the ability to handle rougher seas and to enjoy the thrill and independence of paddling solo. Sixty years ago, John Mooney of Courtenay, became, most likely, the first kayaker in the Valley. Born in 1941 and raised in the Comox Valley, John began kayaking around the harbour as a young boy, about 1950. His
Uncle Jack Carthew, a locomotive engineer for Comox Logging, had a sheep farm on land adjoining what is now St. Joseph’s Hospital, and was also a carpenter. He built his nephew a plywood kayak from an 8-foot sheet of plywood, deck first, resulting in bow to stern 6-8 ft long. The kayak was sealed front and back and for approximately 4 years John sat cross-legged in his blue painted boat and paddled from his home below Emerald Shores Condos to downtown Comox and all over the harbour without a leak. He reminisces that one day when the fog rolled in unexpectedly, he determinedly kept paddling until he hit land and walked up the beach to find himself in Royston! John brings out a homemade faded blue plywood paddle and recounts ironically that someone years ago cut his kayak paddle in half to go canoeing! Although he has owned many boats from a mahogany-racing pram to canoes, motorboats and a sailboat, John has returned to his roots in sea kayaking and is an avid, experienced kayak enthusiast with his partner Paulette. Their faithful companion, Osito, regularly accompanies them for recreational paddles. Osito, a Mexican rescue dog has happily adapted to his new home at the ocean, and even wears a lifejacket without complaint when kayaking with his master. Comox Valley Paddlers Club is home to all types
of man-powered crafts and all stripes of paddlers although, as yet, no Stand Up Paddle board members. Perhaps that is the next wave! Kayakers at Comox Marina sited SUP paddler, Peter, paddling in from the Comox Bay with his dog Jack balanced confidently on the front of his board. Paddling dogs and their masters are always welcome to join the Comox Valley Paddlers Club! For more information on the educational, social program and paddling trips of the Comox Valley Paddlers club, please email comoxpaddlers@gmail. com or attend the next meeting on Thursday, April 4 at 7:00pm at the Lion’s Den at 1729 Comox Avenue.
The Griffin Pub LIVE MUSIC NAME THAT FRIDAY TUNE SATURDAY
DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS!! Mondays Pool & Poker Night ~ Everyone Welcome! Wacky Wednesdays ~ $3 Appy’s Menu & Piano Bar
Take the Griffin Shuttle to & from YOUR Home CALL 250.339.4466 1185 Kilmorley Road by the Base
546 Duncan Ave, Downtown Courtenay
CV Health & Recreation Guide
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Spring has sprung for our four legged friends... by Van Isle Veterinary Hospital
Spring has sprung! Soon our four legged friends will sit up, take a long exaggerated stretch and venture away from their warm winter perch. For decades, the phrase “spring is in the air”, has been associated with mischievous behavior and our pets seem to be just as susceptible to this epidemic as we are. Whether it’s wandering off for an independent walk, getting into moody tiffs at the dog park or feline turf wars over hunting grounds, accidents are just waiting to happen. Are you prepared? Do you know what to do if your pet gets injured or sick? Having a small stocked first aid kit for your pet both at home and on the road is essential. Things to include should be: Bandaging supplies such as gauze, telfa, medical tape, and vetrap (otherwise known as veterinarian’s duct tape!). A rectal thermometer, petroleum jelly, tweezers, eye wash, gloves, hydrogen peroxide (used to induce vomiting), antibacterial soap, iodine, antihistamine (Benadryl), muzzle, harness and a spare leash. It is also recommended to include a list of emergency phone numbers. These should include your veterinarian’s contact number, poison control and the phone number of a friend or “pet emergency buddy”. Your pet emergency buddy is someone you trust to
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make important decisions regarding your pet on your behalf or who can assist you during a traumatic incident. Some of the more common cases we see this time of year include feline abscesses, dog bites and skin infections. The change in season brings fleas, ticks and skin allergens which can wreak havoc on the skin. If you see your pet scratching more than usual or notices small scabs around your pets neck or tail, this is a good indicator your pet may have fleas. Some pets can develop hotspots or skin infections from flea allergies which can be quite painful. Cat abscesses can occur after your cat receives a bite from another cat. The open wound quickly seals over, trapping bacteria under the skin which develops into a painful, nasty infection. More often than not, owners are completely unaware their cat has been fighting. It isn’t until the abscess bursts open; leaving a gaping wound, that they become aware of their cat’s injury. Due to the pain and swelling associated with an abscess, owners usually suspect their cat is suffering from a broken leg when their cat starts hobbling on three legs. However in most cases, this is a good indicator of a brewing abscess. Common places for a cat bite abscess are the head, tail and legs. Dog bites can occur at anytime and even the most docile canine can end up in a situation resulting in biting or being bitten. With the warmer weather comes an influx of house bound dogs exploding into the parks. Personality clashes do happen. Dog bites come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and severities. Even a minor puncture wound should be addressed as this is considered a contaminated site and an underlining infection can fester and cause serious damage. Many dog fights also involve shaking. Shaking can cause severe trauma to your pet and it is always recommended to see your veterinarian in these instances. Damage occurs when the skin is torn away from the muscle causing pockets of air under the skin (subcutaneous emphysema). Left untreated, this can cause serious infection and even sloughing of the necrotic skin. Unexpected injuries or infections can be stressful for both you and your pet. Prevention is key. However, inevitably accidents do happen. Sometimes there is no way to prevent an unexpected dog attack, so being prepared and knowing when to contact your veterinarian can really make a difference.
Heather’s Holistic Hints ~ Muscle Memory by Heather Saunders, RMT People ask me why muscle holds on to pain and dysfunction, why old injuries come back sometimes accompanied by emotions, or why they have these bad habits that lead to problems and they can’t seem to stop. Muscle memory is stored inside the nervous system that controls muscle and it is responsible for healthy movement habits, dysfunctional movement habits, to an extent; reoccurring injury, unnecessary muscle guarding as well as somatic-emotional release. Muscle memory is formed through repetition of movement and activities. Babies, for example, aren’t born knowing how to hold up their heads, sit up, roll over, crawl or walk. They learn these skills bit by bit and with practice. They go from falling over, to clumsy and uncoordinated, to walking, to simultaneously doing other activities. Eventually we get to the point where our brains simply say ‘walk’, and our body reacts; it becomes unconscious and automatic. This can be said for any activity or action we learn. Whether learning an instrument and practicing proper technique, or taking up dance, a sport or even a job, these things become second nature and therefore easier with time. This is when we become good at what we do. This can however work the other way around. We can form bad muscle memory habits over time through laziness, negligence or simply not realizing we’re doing something improperly. We may compensate for an injured area while it’s healing, but this compensation may become habit and then we’re functioning as though the injury still exists when in fact it does not. Not only does this look a little goofy, but eventually ‘compensating’ side that’s overworking to support the ‘injured’ side will most likely wind up with it’s own overuse injury. Re-injury or unnecessary muscle guarding may also occur due to muscle memory. In past articles I’ve explained why an area becomes prone to injury once previously compromised, and the importance of maintenance once recovered. When muscle guarding occurs, it’s purpose is to avoid re-injury. The area will simply try to prevent you from getting anywhere close
to the position you hurt yourself in. For example, if a person injured themselves due to the extreme force and range required to throw a ball, each time they near this position the body is going to say, ‘Hold up, this is how I got hurt before, better brace for impact’. The shoulder simply won’t want to move all the way through the range and the person won’t get the full swing and force needed to throw the ball effectively. The somatic-emotional release is essentially the re-living of a strong emotion related to or caused by a traumatic incident or great stress. It is triggered by the manipulation of the problem area that was affected in the accident or where the stress is being held. I have had people burst into tears, laughter or just let out a good sigh and feel a lot better for it once the moment has passed. Not everyone experiences this, but when it does occur it tends to take people by surprise because it’s unexpected, they don’t understand it or it seems embarrassing. It is however perfectly natural and can help speed up the healing process. As mentioned before, muscle memory is not stored in the physical muscle itself, but in the nervous system that controls it. Since the nervous system controls movement, senses pain, experiences and processes emotions and is our reflex system it makes sense that muscle memory works as a physical and emotional reminder as well as a protective mechanism against significant events in our lives. It’s good to keep in mind that muscle memory is like an old habit. We have all experienced that the longest lived habits die hard, so we can’t expect our less desirable muscle memory to just go away over night. Whether you want to stop compensating for an old injury that no longer needs compensation, or slowly teach your body that it’s safe to approach the position of injury again but with awareness, or to not react as emotionally to an area; it’s going to take time to break the pattern. Be patient with yourself and keep plugging along. Heather Saunders practises registered massage therapy at the Comox Valley Therapeutic Massage Centre. Her focus is promoting body awareness and patient education. Heather provides a free online resource with stretches, home care tips, articles and Facebook posts on her website. Please visit www. heathersaundersrmt.com for more information or call 250.339.9912. CV Health & Recreation Guide
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Yoga: for Bendy People? by Jennifer Naples, CYT, NHPC member since 2007
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MYTH BUSTING: Yoga is for Bendy People. True or False?? I’d like to dispel a myth ... Yoga is not only for people with bendy bodies. Really! What this means is that yoga is actually for and has great benefit to the majority of us stiff, inflexible types. Do you experience: Chronic back pain, rounded shoulders, tight hamstring and hips, even poor digestion? Is sitting cross legged or bending over to tie shoes a painful experience? Do you sit at a computer many hours a week, do heavy lifting, are you a tree planter or avid gardener? You may find that yoga is the answer to the pain your body is experiencing. Looking at yoga from a therapeutic point of view, suddenly some of those
Wes Gietz wgietz@windwalker.ca Emotional Freedom Techniques “Tapping” It works! I bring fifteen years of successful experience working with my clients. EFT is highly effective with recovery from negative and abusive memories, fears, PTSD (military & other), anxiety; physical healing; relief from stress, and much more! Rate $80/hr. If we don’t achieve significant results there is no charge.
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COMOX
stretches make a lot of sense. Suppose you spend your day sitting at a computer. Back and shoulders are rounded forward, the natural weight supporting “S” curve of your spine now in an unstable “C” shape ... you’ve got the visual, you might even be adjusting yourself as you read this. Your head is heavy, really heavy! As soon as it comes forward from that natural spinal “S” curve, it adds 10lbs or so to your back. That’s a lot of weight and a lot of time teaching your muscles to sit a certain way day in and day out. It make sense to put your body in the opposite position for a while, doesn’t it? For those of you that do gardening, heavy lifting or tree planting, every part of your body could use some opening up. Pain killers are an option, although, as you already know, they’re only temporary, only numbing the pain and perpetuating the problem. It gets a bit daunting to do those same heavy or repetitive motions day after day. I know, I’ve been there. For years, I pushed my body (and still do for that matter) working as a Park Ranger, Wildlife Field Technician, farm worker. Then there are the sports: backpacking, mountain biking, road riding, running, xc skiing and snowboarding. Making the transition to Massage Therapy and Yoga Instruction was interesting. There are still days when I feel I more resemble a piece Continued on Page 19...
THE PORT THEATRE SPOTLIGHT SERIES Flamenco Rosario Saturday March 23rd @ 7:30pm Kiran Ahluwalia Friday April 26th @ 7:30pm Classical Coffee Concerts ~ Tuesdays! March 12th & April 23rd @ 10:30am
For tickets call 250.754.8550 or purchase online www.porttheatre.com 125 Front Street, Nanaimo, BC
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FUNERA L PLANNING Introducing Rosemarie Clark Certified Pre-arrangement Counselor Physiotherapy - Shock Wave Therapy - Massage Therapy Acupuncture - Women’s Health - Kinesio Taping - Pilates Training
ALL Comox Valley’s ONLY fully LEVELS WELCOME! equipped Pilates Studio
Lynn Brandon, BScPT, CAFCI • Registered Physiotherapist • Certified in Acupuncture • Certified STOTT Pilates Practitioner
Brenda Walsh, BScPT, CAFCI, CAMT • • • •
Registered Physiotherapist Certified in Acupuncture Spinal Mobilization Women’s Health
Stephen Boothman, BPE, RMT • Registered Massage Therapist
Rosemarie’s passionate, resultsdriven service attitude has been key in developing relationships with integrity and respect. With 10 years experience with First Memorial Funeral Services in Victoria, Rosemarie invites you to call her for your complimentary “Personal Planning Guide” and if you are a member of a group or service organization and are searching for a dynamic speaker for a 15-minute presentation on “Dying to know before you go” please call Rosemarie. A door prize and cake will be offered for participants.
250.334.4 464 A Part of the Comox Valley for Over 60 Years
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THANK YOU Comox Valley for making our first year such a GREAT success!
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Alan Janes
February 22 to April 7 Same Great Staff, Same Great Service, Same Great Selection... ...of New Fords & Quality Pre-Owned Vehicles!! www.westviewford.ca 4901 North Island Highway Courtenay 250.334.3161 Toll Free 1.877.334.3161 18 CV Health & Recreation Guide
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Mobile Registered Massage Therapy ~ Therapeutic massage, relaxation massage ~ Weekend & Evening appointments available ~ Enjoy your extended benefits at your convenience ~ Service available in your home, office or institution Ocean Health Centre, 290A England Ave, Cour tenay, BC
Bryan Hill, RMT 250.702.7048 rmt@bryanhill.ca // www.bryanhill.ca
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Yoga Continued... of 2 x 4 than a flexible yoga instructor. The truth is, I don’t have a super bendy body, even after 16 years of practicing and 7 years of teaching. Some bodies are anatomically designed to not be hyper flexible, which is ok. It doesn’t mean you can’t increase your flexibility. Here’s something for you to try for yourself. In my work as a Thai Massage and Yoga Therapist, I find 90% of my clients up on Mount Washington using and benefiting from this exercise. Take a large bath towel, fold it in half length wise, then again width wise. Then fold it as if you were making a paper fan, each fold the width of your palm (4 inches). Lay it on the floor (bed is too soft) then lay your spine on it, supporting the base of your spine to the back of your head. If chin tips into the air and neck is uncomfortable, support the head slightly with only as much rise as necessary. Arms out to the sides in a T, palms up. Dedicate 5 to 10 minutes to yourself each day laying in this position, keep your mind focusing on your breath and see the effects for yourself. Commit to it for 1 week and see how you feel. Watch this Spring for my YOGA for Stiff Bodies class or come and see what Thai Massage is all about. Details can be found at www.NurtureTherapies.ca or call Jennifer at 250.218.9809. Shoppe Talk – PACMED®
Are you on three or more prescriptions? Do you occasionally miss a dose? If you answered yes to these questions then you may not be getting the most from your medication regimen. If you are having trouble organizing your medications or just want to simplify the process then the Medicine Shoppe and PACMED® have the complete solution to managing your medications. Your Medicine Shoppe pharmacist can use PACMED® to package your medications into personalized, easy to open cellophane pouches. These pouches display the day and time each medications needs to be taken even if it is four or more times per day. One quick glance and you’ll know if you’ve taken or missed any pills. PACMED® was originally designed for assisted living or long term care homes with multiple patients and multiple caregivers handling medications. However it quickly became apparent that PACMED® could be used in community practice as well. Using this system makes medication administration simple while at the same time reducing errors. The individual pouches are discreet, convenient and easy to carry. This means you are no longer restricted to bulky pill boxes or blister packed cards. As your Medicine Shoppe pharmacist I am committed to helping you get the most out of your medication. Get the full benefits of your treatment with the Medicine Shoppe and PACMED® working for you. Come in and see for yourself exactly how easy taking medications can be.
250.339.5050
1782B Comox Avenue, Comox, BC
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Root Issues by Danielle Lambrecht, M.C., CCC. As you are reading this article you are living and creating this experience. As you read the next line, you have now created a sentence that is stored in the past. As you continue to read this article this information enters into your working memory and then will either remain in short or go into long term memory. Now I am asking if you will please bring to mind some important memories that make up your past. It could be about a best friend, your wedding, moving to a new country, having a child. Why you may ask? The point of this exercise is to get you to pull information from your past into NOW. From the moment you were born your brain has been processing and storing all of your memories. Many may have been positive and others may have been negative memories. These negative memories and how it is associated to root psychological issues is the topic of this article. Root issues, I believe it are at the source of most emotional issues. As you were growing up, it was important that each developmental stage needs were met. If there was a traumatic event, that particular developmental stage would have been affected and created specific negative core beliefs related to that developmental stage. As you grow up and get older these negative core beliefs become layered with other similar negative core beliefs. This layered process becomes entrenched and affects the way you think about yourself, and other people. It also effects your emotions and behaviors.
Dr. Lisa J. Lundy B.Sc., Dr. TCM
Acupuncture, laser therapy, herbs, dietary therapy, massage, and cupping. “I’ve moved to Braidwood Naturopathic Clinic #2 ~ 202 North Island Hwy.” drlisajlundy@gmail.com *NEW Number & Website* 250.334.0655 www.drlisajlundy.com
Some negative core beliefs can be found in these statements “I am unworthy”, “I am unlovable”, “I am defective”, and “I am a failure”, and so on. These negative core beliefs can permeate your current life and you may not even be aware that you are thinking this way because it has become so automatic. Years worth of practicing and repeating has caused these negative core beliefs to be stored in the subconscious mind. If you find yourself struggling with low self-esteem, perfectionism, procrastination, depression, anxiety, or addictions, it may be associated with your negative core beliefs. For example, if you repeat subconsciously and believe “I am unworthy” you may continue to struggle with low self-esteem or anxiety issues. You may feel deep down that you lack self-esteem or can feel your anxiety symptoms, but you may not know that it stems for your own core beliefs. Some mental health issues are more complex and may or may not be related to negative core beliefs. I am talking about core beliefs that are affecting your current life in negative ways. If your negative core beliefs are affecting you, it is not a far stretch to think that it also can affect your relationships. If the core beliefs are not resolved they can take a life of their own and start affecting your relationships. For instance, if you believe “I am unlovable” you may think and do everything that proves you are and that can include sabotaging your relationships. In turn, that reaffirms your negative core belief “I am unlovable”. If you can relate to what I am writing and see how your negative core beliefs are affecting your current life, it may be helpful for you to see a counsellor to help you turn your negative core beliefs into positive beliefs. This is not easy work because many of these core beliefs lie hidden in the subconscious mind. It requires a counsellor to help you bring forward these beliefs into your consciousness so that they can be understood as to when and why they were created. The next step is to learn how to let go of these core beliefs, recognize them as misinterpretations of a traumatic event(s) and then replace them with healthy, functioning beliefs. The final step is to keep practicing and repeating these healthy core beliefs so that the negative ones are nothing but a dull noise, if any noise at all. Danielle can be reached at 250.898.9847 or visit her website at www.daniellelambrecht.ca CV Health & Recreation Guide
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Diving for the Colours... by Pacific Pro Dive Colourful, diverse, and spectacular are only a few of the adjectives you’ll hear when people describe scuba diving and snorkeling adventures in British Columbia. In recent years the local waters have gained increasing notoriety on the world stage after being recognized by the likes of Jacques Cousteau, being called ‘the best temperate water diving in the world’ and second ‘only to the Red Sea’. In addition, Scuba Diving Magazine readers continue vote BC with accolades for Healthiest Marine Environment, Best Value and Best Overall Destination to name a few. Besides a plethora of large marine animals like the Giant Pacific Octopus, fierce looking Wolf Eels, prehistoric Sixgill Sharks, mischievous Sealions
D r. S terling D esmond
ACUPUNCTURE, NATURAL & CHINESE MEDICINE 19 years successfully treating:
Osteo-Arthritic Joints, Hips, Knees, Shoulders, & Back, Fatigue & Immune, Digestive, Respiratory, Circulation, Facial Rejuvenation, Stroke, Paralysis, Spinal Stenosis, Depression, Anxiety & Insomnia.
250.941.8777
and Seals, local waters are also famous for Ghostly Shipwrecks and massive artificial reefs. In the past 20 years B.C. operators have become experts in creating artificial reef habitat having sunk eight ships including the 366’ long Destroyer Escort HMCS Columbia in Campbell River and the most unique, a Boeing 737 aircraft near Chemainus. Top this off with schools of Rockfish, fields of colourful corals and sponges as well as a plethora of smaller critters and you’ve got something to satisfy every explorers interest. Shore diving is a relatively inexpensive and easy way to explore local diving and snorkeling sites, with local shops offering maps, guiding services and expert advice. To get to some of the best sites you should consider a local boat charter services or resorts that operate on a year round basis. In addition to diving charters most boat operators also cater to snorkelers who are fortunate enough to experience many of the exciting and colorful creatures as divers. This is due largely to the fact that much of the marine life lives in quite shallow water and the visibility remains consistently good in the Strait of Georgia. Some of the most popular diving sites in the province are located right here in the Comox Valley and include; ~ Sixgill Shark dive Hornby Island: A short boat
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1842B Comox Avenue
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Patti Whacker’s Physiotherapy A private hands on approach to musculoskeletal disorders. Structural integration focuses on chronic tissue problems that limit flexibility and strength.
Served daily from 7-11am Open daily 7am - 3pm
If you have pain & dysfunction of a chronic or reoccurring nature... ...Patti Whacker is worth a try.
Patti J. Doyle “The Organic Mechanic” BScPt, BScP.Ed, OCS 1915 Merino Place, Comox
250.650.1350 22 CV Health & Recreation Guide
250-334-8087
EATERY & CATERING CO
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2601 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay
ride from Comox will take you to the small outcropping of Flora Islet. Flora is one of the few places on the planet where the usually recluse and deep dwelling Sixgill shark ascends to shallow enough depths that they can be seen by divers., ~ Sealions at Hornby Island and Campbell River: Giant Steller and California Sealions call this area home during the winter months while they gorge themselves during the annual herring migration. Given their ample size and inquisitive nature, sealions are certainly not afraid to get up close and personal with divers, ~ Wreck of the steamship Capliano which sank in 1915: Striking a submerged object in 1915, this union steamship sunk in the Straight of Georgia. The wreck sat undisturbed until 1971 when she was discovered colonized with a plethora of marine life, ~ Giant Sponge Wall at Vivian Island: Off this tiny bird sanctuary you’ll find a wall which drops from the surface straight down to over 100 ft. The wall is densely colonized with unique species of sponges and soft corals, ~ Wreck of the 366’ long HMCS Columbia: Prepared and sunk by the Artificial Reef Society of BC in 1996, this ex-Navy Destroyer Escort has been likened to a jungle gym for divers. Accessible to all levels of diver the wreck is located in a protected bay out of the current swept Discovery Passage. Dive in and see why Scuba Diving Magazines have rated British Columbia as the #1 best overall Destination in North America. For more information contact Pacific Pro Dive at 250.338.6829 or visit www.scubashark.com.
Two Wheel Wonders
2013 Bicycle
Collection Check out our selection of electric bikes as well as a wide variety of other types of bikes. Store Hours Monday to Friday 8AM - 9PM Saturday 8AM - 8PM Sunday 9AM - 6PM
250-338-0101
278 North Island Highway Courtenay, BC
Automotive Service: 250-338-6553 CV Health & Recreation Guide
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