2017 vitality by Columbia Valley Pioneer

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2017

7 Beware of Adrenal Burnout

15 The Healing Aroma of Plants

10 Stepping it Up with CrossFit

18 On Becoming a Zen Master

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Columbia Valley Vitality â&#x20AC;˘ 4 â&#x20AC;˘ Vol 1: 2017

Table of Contents

› Invermere urban homesteader Kalista Pruden is seated on an elk hide she hunted herself with one of her Mehndi design paintings on the wall behind her. Read about her quest to live as naturally as possible in "Meet the Valley's Homesteading Hipster" on page 12.

Editor's Note.................................................................................. 6 Beware of Adrenal Burnout.......................................................... 7 Avoiding the F#?% IT Effect........................................................ 8 Hands-on Hellerwork Treatment Can Help................................. 9 Stepping it Up with CrossFit..................................................... 10 Meet the Valley's Homesteading Hipster................................. 12 Reality is What You Make it...................................................... 14 Harnessing the Healing Aroma of Plants................................ 15 Complete Strength Fitness........................................................ 16 On Becoming a Zen Master....................................................... 18 Healing with Ancient Eastern Medicine................................... 19 Topical Toxins in Your Beauty Routine?................................... 20 Spa Days for Men: They're a Thing........................................... 22

Advertising Index

Om Organics.................................................................................. 2 Nipika Mountain Resort................................................................ 3 Healing Hollow.............................................................................. 4 Janessa Williams, RMT.................................................................. 6 Fiona Millar.................................................................................... 6 Dr. Mike Baker, ND........................................................................ 6 Do Nothing Floatation................................................................... 7 Pleiades Spa & Wellness.............................................................. 7 Your Health Continuum................................................................ 8 Hellerwork...................................................................................... 9 Luminescence/Zumba Fitness.................................................. 10 Endeavor Fitness.........................................................................11 Penny "Halie".............................................................................. 13 Grant's Foods.............................................................................. 13 Brenda Holden............................................................................ 14 Corri's Spa Studio....................................................................... 14 Valley Fitness Centre.................................................................. 15 Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley................................... 17 Family Dynamix.......................................................................... 18 Traditional Thai Massage........................................................... 19 Columbia Valley Qi Gong........................................................... 20 College of the Rockies............................................................... 21 Pharmasave................................................................................ 21 Valley Foods................................................................................ 23 Fusion Wellness Spa.................................................................. 24

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› Photo by Angela Miller Photography

Vitality: Columbia Valley Health Magazine is published annually by The Columbia Valley Pioneer Newspaper, Misko Publishing Limited Partnership.

Cover Photography:

Publisher Editor Writers

Cover Concept:

Dean Midyette Nicole Trigg Dr. Mike Baker, Hayley Partington, Eric Elliott, Nicole Trigg, Brenda Holden, Teresa Rogal, Kimberly Olson, Nikki Fredrikson Graphic Designer Emily Rawbon Sales Associate Angela Miller Photography Angela Miller Photography, Eric Elliott, Kyla Brown Photography, TLV Birdie/Knotably Studio Proofreader Melanie Remple This material, written or artistic, may not be reprinted or electronically reproduced in any way without the written consent of the publisher. The opinions and statements in articles, columns and advertising are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff of Columbia Valley Homes & Lifestyles. It is agreed by any display advertiser requesting space that the owner's responsibility, if any, for errors or omissions of any kind, is limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the space as occupied by the incorrect item and there shall be no liability in any event greater than the Columbia amount paid for the advertisement.Valley Vitality • 5 • Vol 1: 2017

Angela Miller Photography Nicole Trigg Model: Kalista Pruden is wearing a Blue Lotus Apparel outfit designed and handmade by Invermere local Kelly Furlotte. The Cypress Top ($90) and Vilbrium Pant ($135) featured are just a couple of pieces from her line of alternative apparel made of natural and recycled fibres. The full collection is available online at www.bluelotusapparelshop.com.

Editor's Note Supporting you in strength | Nicole Trigg

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Dr. Mike Baker, ND | 250-342-1457 | www.drmikebaker.ca Columbia Valley Vitality • 6 • Vol 1: 2017

hat do you get when you put a live chicken, two bales of hay, a pitchfork, several baskets of organic produce, an elk hide and a woman passionate about the environment wearing locally made eco-clothing together in an otherwise empty room? Why, the cover of the second issue of Vitality: Columbia Valley Health Magazine, of course. It occurred to me, when planning the 2017 Vitality magazine, that a great feature story would be one about a valley local whose lifestyle demonstrates what’s possible when it comes to living a sustainable and holistic life — in essence, one filled with healthy values and vitality. What I knew of Invermere resident Kalista Pruden made her the perfect choice; and in researching her story, I discovered that what I knew was just the tip of the iceberg. This woman is literally a force of nature, and leads by example. A look at her life’s work is just one of the many enlightening articles this edition presents. I didn’t plan on an overall theme, but one seems to have spontaneously surfaced: strength. What could be sapping your strength? Naturopath Dr. Mike Baker discusses adrenal fatigue. How can you maintain the strength of your willpower? Precision Nutrition expert Hayley Wilson offers expert tips on sticking to your goals. Have you ever wondered about strength training, but felt too intimidated to try? Certified trainer Teresa Rogal leads you through a series of exercises. Feel like stepping it up and learning about strength you didn’t know you have? Jolaine Undershute might have just the fix for you at Endeavor Fitness with CrossFit. And there’s more. In-depth information about the bodywork treatments of Hellerwork and Traditional Thai Massage; about the health benefits of essential oils, organic skin care and skin treatments in general; about strengthening your mind through meditation and re-patterning your thoughts; and about the strength of conviction to choose a way of life that puts the health of the planet first. At the very least, you’ll come away informed. At best, you’ll be inspired to take action. Even just taking a moment for yourself to put your feet up and relax will make a world of difference.

Beware of Adrenal Burnout Daily stressors can sabotage your health | Dr. Mike Baker

tress: ever-present and an underlying cause of many health concerns. Can’t sleep at night because your mind won’t shut off? Heart racing? Sugar crashes? Hangry (hungry+angry)? You’ve got stress! Our bodies and brains are evolutionarily geared to react to stress as an automatic response — the fight or flight response. When we are faced with a stressor, a series of chemical reactions take place that increase blood sugar and blood flow to muscles. This boost of energy in the right places allows us to run away from our stress or to fight it off. Adrenal glands are partly responsible for this stress response. They are tiny pyramid shaped glands that sit on top of the kidneys. Although small in size, they are a powerful contributor to our well-being and survival. Adrenal glands produce sex hormones like testosterone; estrogen and progesterone; aldosterone, which helps to control blood pressure; cortisol which raises our blood sugar and quenches inflammation; and finally adrenalin, which increases the heart and breathing rates while promoting blood flow to the muscles. Although this reaction is useful in the short term for ensuring our survival against predators, chronic stress is bad for our health! Stress has been linked to heart disease (atherosclerosis and elevated blood pressure), asthma, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety, IBS, headaches and the list goes on. Whether we realize it or not, we are faced with potential stressors every single day. There are the obvious stressors such as deadlines, scary movies, abuse, and violence and then there are not-so-obvious stressors to consider as well. Non-obvious stressors include a high sugar diet, anxiety (where one makes mountains out of molehills), excessive exercise, inflammation, obesity, excessive screen time at night, and working night shifts. All of these stressors lead to increased levels of cortisol and altered cortisol production. There is a complimentary medicine theory that excessive production of cortisol leads to adrenal burnout and a condition called “Adrenal Fatigue.” This term, however, is not currently recognized as a diagnosable medical condition. The argument is that adrenal glands do not “burn out” unless you have a condition called adrenal insufficiency or Addison’s disease. Some of the latest findings suggest that adrenal glands do not burn out from fatigue, but rather chronic stress results in inappropriate cortisol regulation resulting in symptoms of fatigue, depression and chronic pain.

A newer, better term for “Adrenal Fatigue” may be “Stress Induced Cortisol Dysfunction.” Regardless of what you call it, patients who struggle with symptoms related to chronic stress may benefit from the following lifestyle changes: • Sleep! Aim for seven to eight hours per night and go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time every day. This solidifies the circadian rhythm and helps to control appropriate cortisol and melatonin production. • Avoid the nighttime “second wind.” If you are tired, go to sleep or wind down for the evening. Don’t wait for another boost of energy as this will also alter melatonin and cortisol production. • Start a good nighttime routine. Two hours before bed, turn the lights down low, shut off the screens and read a calming book. • Moderate exercise before noon — put that adrenalin and rise in blood sugar to good use: burn it off! • Regular low glycemic meals. Low glycemic meals of fibre (legumes, leafy vegetables), pro-

tein and fats prevent sugar crashes and subsequent cortisol release. • Calming exercises: Qi gong, yoga, meditation on a daily basis. • Appropriate mental-emotional support. Visit with good friends and seek counselling when needed. • Minimize caffeine to one to two cups in the morning. Savour the flavour; don’t rely on it to get you through the day. Lastly, it should be noted that persistent fatigue could be a symptom of a serious underlying disorder. Talk to your doctor to rule out other causes of fatigue such as hypothyroidism, iron deficient anemia, or underlying chronic disease. But whatever you do, don’t stress out about it! Dr. Mike Baker is a naturopathic physician practising in Invermere. For more information, call 250-342-1457 or visit www.drmikebaker.ca.

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Columbia Valley Vitality • 7 • Vol 1: 2017

Avoiding the F#?! IT Effect Simplify your goal setting to seal your success | Hayley Wilson

e’ve all been there. You wake up on New Year’s Day with a bit of a headache and clean the slate. It’s a new year and you are ready for a change. And this time, you’re going to stick to it. You’re going to drink less, eat more veggies, ditch all bread, cut out sugar completely, hit the gym at least five days a week, and lose that extra weight you’ve been building up over the past 10 years. But after a couple of weeks, real life gets in the way. You get a cold. The kids have extra-curricular activities. Your boss asks you to stay late. Your girlfriends want a night out, and so on… Enter the F#?% IT Effect. You’re not being as consistent with exercise and healthy eating as you hoped for, so why even bother. You start

skipping your workouts. You replace healthy salads with frozen pizza on busy school nights. You bring doughnuts to the next swim meet, and slowly but surely, all those good intentions disappear and you give up completely. Why? Because you tried to change it all at once… Commit to less When it comes to improving our health and/or losing weight, we tend to overpromise and underdeliver. We try and change a bunch of stuff all at once and set expectations that are hard — if not impossible — to maintain. This year, try something completely different! Instead of overhauling all your habits overnight, try improving one small thing at a time — let’s say every two weeks — for an entire year. Once the first habit requires less effort and focus, simply add another habit, progressively changing key elements of your nutrition and lifestyle over time. It might look something like this: • Week 1-2: Work out twice a week. • Week 3-4: Eat lean protein with every meal.

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• Week 5-6: Choose smart carbs. • Week 7-8: Drink calorie-free beverages. • Week 9-10: Eat healthy fats. • Week 11-12: Eat a variety of fruit and vegetables. Although you might be tempted to speed up the process, the key to success is to focus all your efforts on ONE habit at a time. In his book, The Power of Less, author Leo Babauta describes how the habit-based method breaks larger goals into small, manageable, concrete tasks that can be done daily. More importantly, his research illustrates that if you focus on changing one small habit, you are likely to be consistent about 85 per cent of the time. If you try changing two habits at the same time, that consistency drops drastically, to about 35 per cent. Try changing more than three habits at once, and you’ll likely manage nothing at all. On top of slowing down and changing one small thing at a time, it’s also important to set the right expectations. The idea is to underpromise and overdeliver consistently to develop feelings of success rather than failure. Whatever small habit you commit to, make sure that you are at least 99 per cent confident that you are ready, willing, and able to maintain that habit consistently. For example, if you’re not convinced that you can eat lean protein with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, then take a 9›

Hands-on Hellerwork Treatment Can Help R

Learn about the root cause of any tension or pain | Eric Elliott

emember when your parents constantly reminded you to eat your vegetables growing up? You hated the taste of them and would rather snack on tasty treats, but you were told they were “good for you” and would make you into a healthy person. That’s Hellerwork massage. “A lot of people will say Hellerwork can be painful,” said Jean-Luc Cortat, registered Hellerwork structural integration practitioner at Renaissance Wellness in Invermere. “It’s not. It can be uncomfortable because people come to me when they’re in pain already; and to release the pain we have to make them uncomfortable a little bit, but when you release the pain, the pain disappears.” If you’re looking for a conventional massage where the practitioner gently works the muscles of your body without any discomfort, you’re not going to find that at a Hellerwork treatment. What you will find is a system of bodywork that combines deep tissue massage, body movement education and verbal dialogue in an attempt to realign your body’s structure for overall health improvement, improvement of ‹ 8 smaller step. Focus on including one palm-sized portion of lean protein with dinner every day for the next two weeks before upping the ante. If it seems too simple, you’re probably on the right track. You might be wondering: will this work? Will small tiny habits really improve my health and

R E N A I S S A N C E

posture, and reduction of physical and mental stress. Hellerwork was originally developed by Joseph Heller on the principles of an earlier practice called Rolfing. Unlike chiropractic treatments that work on the skeletal parts of your body, and massage therapy that focuses on the muscles, Hellerwork focuses on the connective tissue, known as the fascia, that is often overlooked in conventional treatments. Each session typically begins with an assessment of your body structure by the practitioner, who will ask you to stand in a standard posture so they can examine your areas of tension, the causes of which they will simultaneously educate you on. “When I look at the body ergonomically, I see the unbalance of the body and I look at what’s holding the pattern,” Jean-Luc said. “Very often, if your shoulder is down and people feel the pain in the shoulder, it doesn’t mean that the shoulder is the problem. I’m looking at what the pain is and I’m going to listen and pay attention to what your pain is and look also where the issues are.” change my physique? The answer is yes. If you want to make exercise and healthy behaviours a permanent part of your life, ditch the diets, the quick fixes, the restrictions and the impossible rules for a sustainable, lasting lifestyle. Small changes over time got me where I am today, and they can do the same for you.

Once your areas of tension are identified, the practitioner will start on the connective tissue massage, designed to release the tension that exists in the deep connective tissue, bringing it back to normal alignment. A Hellerwork treatment returns fascia to its normal state so that your body works efficiently without unwanted tension. One of the more informative aspects of Hellerwork is the verbal communication between the patient and the practitioner. Throughout the treatment, the practitioner communicates with you to give you a better understanding as to why you are experiencing pain or tension in a given area. Hellerwork can be a unique, even uncomfortable, type of treatment for someone who has never experienced it before but, like eating your vegetables, you'll be better off in the long run. “You can stay in pain for two weeks or you come see me when you’re in a little bit of pain and have just half an hour or an hour of being uncomfortable,” Jean-Luc said. “And after that release, you feel better.” Hayley is a Master ProCoach with Precision Nutrition, as well as a Certified Personal Trainer at the Valley Fitness Centre. You can learn more about her services at www.healthcontinuum.ca or set up a free 15-minute consult by reaching her at 250-688-0024.

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Columbia Valley Vitality • 9 • Vol 1: 2017

Stepping it Up with CrossFit Endeavor offers a family feeling of fitness | Eric Elliott

t’s 6 a.m. when that alarm first starts ringing telling me it’s time to wake up. I funnel down my morning coffee and head to Endeavor Fitness to take part in what has quickly become one of the most popular workout programs around the world — CrossFit. I had seen it on TV before in the infamous CrossFit Games and it looked excruciating. I had heard the definition: “…constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity”, but had yet to experience what exactly that all meant for myself. My first morning at Endeavor I got a taste more addictive than sugar. Performing an AMRAP (As Many Reps as Possible in the given timeframe) workout with Turkish Get Ups, skipping and box jumps, I quickly realized this was no ordinary gym. The workout took me to the extreme of what I thought was possible, pushing me to my highest intensity and, when I looked around at the dozen other people in the class who finished the workout with me, the shared sense of accomplishment and achievement was undeniable. Maybe there was something to the popular notion that everyone falls in love with this sport. What was most profound after such a short, high intensity workout, was that everyone in the entire class was able to finish the workout regardless of age, skill set or physical ability. Jolaine Undershute, owner of Endeavor Fitness and a CrossFit Games competitor herself, said this is one of the most attractive qualities for people thinking of dipping their feet into the CrossFit waters. “I just reassure them that what they’re seeing on TV, yes there’s a few of us who are competitive,

but for everybody else it’s a program that’s going to work on strengthening your body (muscles and mental toughness), increasing your cardio respiratory endurance, and improving your flexibility and mobility,” she said. For someone who has mobility issues, previous injuries or is a new student to the class, Jolaine works closely with the individual to scale the movement to something they find challenging, but that they can safely handle. The main aspect CrossFit tries to highlight is that the exercises or movements are what’s deemed as “functional”. Isolation movements, working on a specific body part on a given machine, cease to exist in the CrossFit world where everyday you’re doing compound functional movements that serve your body to participate in active living for the rest of your life. “Functional movement means that you’re incorporating all kinds of different muscles at the same time like you would in real life,” Jolaine said. “What we focus on more than anything is technique,” she said. “We lift thousands of pounds daily in a variety of different movements including body weight. We break down more complex movements like the clean and jerk, and the snatch, into bite-size chunks. Each piece has a specific sequence of muscles that need to fire. We then focus on repetition with an unweighted dowel, repeating the steps until the student demonstrates a basic understanding.” “These movements and even a basic body weight squat can take years to master, but most folks just want to move efficiently and safely.

That's my number one concern, safety! If there are any muscular imbalances, the students are given specific exercises to strengthen them. The reward is better posture and overall strength so you can play hard all the way into your seasoned years.” One bonus at Endeavor Fitness is that you’re truly getting coaching from a world-class athlete at an affordable rate. Jolaine only recently

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Columbia Valley Vitality • 10 • Vol 1: 2017

Photos by Eric Elliott became a professional athlete at the age of 43, competing at the CrossFit Games in Carson, California three different times and finishing as high as fourth in 2013 in the women’s masters category (ages 40 to 44). Not only that, she accumulates more than 1,500 hours of coaching per year with her gym while working with some of the top coaches for the sport in North America during her career. One of the most attractive aspects of joining a “box” (name for a CrossFit gym),

CrossFit Dictionary

though, has to be the community that is created amongst the athletes every day. After just one class, I felt I was part of something bigger with people I had just met who were encouraging me to push harder than I would have if I was working out alone. “When you’re by yourself, it really is difficult to push yourself to that kind of intensity, but when you’re in a group setting or even the partner workouts, you are working a little bit harder,” said Jolaine. “The community is the number one thing that people like the best. They’re not saying it’s our amazing coach or it’s the fantastic awesome programming, it’s the community environment that’s people’s number one favourite thing about CrossFit.” At the end of a week, what I learned most about CrossFit is that despite the common perception that it’s a workout aimed only at elite athletes, everyone can do it in a fun way that will make their lifestyles healthier and sustainable into the future. “We’re doing this so we can live a healthy lifestyle,” said Jolaine. “We can scale everything down; it’s fun, you can take it to whatever level you want and if that ever goes anywhere and you’re having fun and making progress, that’s OK.” If you’re like me and thousands of others across the world, once you get a taste, you’ll want to keep going back.

BOX: a common term used for a CrossFit gym PISTOL: a one-legged squat WOD: a Workout Of the Day EMOTM: perform the given exercises Every Minute On The Minute for as many minutes as the workout prescribes AMRAP: As Many Reps As Possible in a row of the given exercises under a prescribed time cap CINDY: Crossfit Workout AMRAP in 20 minutes of 5 pull ups, 10 push ups and 15 air-squats DOUBLE UNDER: jumping rope where the rope must pass two times under the feet on each jump DEATH BY: doing one rep of a given exercise the first minute, two reps the second minute, three reps the third minute and so on until you can’t complete the proper number of reps within the minute allowed

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Meet the Valley's Homesteading Hipster Kalista Pruden knows a thing or two about vitality | Nicole Trigg

he affection Kalista Pruden feels for her chicken, who goes by the name of “Love”, is obvious. Showing up for the photo shoot with Love in a box, she gently lifts her out and carries her onto the set, patiently handling Love’s initial confusion at being in a strange new environment after getting plucked from her warm roost, and lovingly holding her close. Even more obvious, though, is Love’s trust in Kalista, resting calmly on her knee, looking inquisitively around and happily receiving the occasional treat — whether a piece of kale or plump strawberry plucked from the produce basket props — as a reward for her good behaviour. “She’s Avalyn’s chicken,” Kalista explained. Avalyn is her eldest daughter. “She named her; Love was the friendliest chicken of the batch. We hatched them from chicks; we’re their mommas.” It’s a connection Kalista treasures. She and her husband Justen Foster, along with their two young daughters Avalyn and Liliana, hatch and raise chickens. In exchange for caring for them, they receive back organic, cruelty-free, free-range eggs devoid of hormones and antibiotics; fertilizer for their garden; pest control for their crops; tilling services; and, when it’s needed, meat. Kalista lets nothing go to waste and uses the feathers for her crafts, like the earrings she’s wearing for the photo shoot. “I was brought up in a family that gardens, wildcrafts and hunts,” she said, “and is intricately tied to nature through spiritual and cultural connections, through recreation, and through career choices.” Her great grandparents were farmers and homesteaders. On her dad’s side, her grandmother is a botanist and avid gardener, and her grand-

Photos by Angela Miller Photography

father is Métis. On her mother’s side, her grandparents lived on an acreage and gardened. When Kalista was growing up, her father worked as a forester in the timber industry and her hippie-esque mother — who is now a metaphysician and spiritual counsellor — went against the grain, raising Kalista and her brother as naturally as possible (“she was the ‘crunchy mom’ of her time”). Needless to say, homesteading (defined as “a life of selfsufficiency”) is in Kalista’s blood. “This has translated into a passion to protect the environment and live a healthy, lowimpact lifestyle,” she said. In pursuit of this passion, she completed a diploma in Renewable Resource Management and began working in the non-profit environmental field. Together with Justen, they grew a garden, hunted and fished. They used natural remedies and sought alternative health care options. They made sacrifices at home to conserve water and energy, and supported local farmers and businesses. “We continuously sought out knowledge,” Kalista said. “I discovered that my interests and values in this lifestyle were broad and ran deep, and that there was a good network of other people in the community that shared the same views.” Originally from Alberta, Kalista, 30, and Justen, 32, moved to the Columbia Valley in 2004 with the plan to start a family, and they chose a house in Invermere that was close to the schools with a large yard. The first projects they completed on their property were building a greenhouse and a large compost bin, while Justen, who had a strong interest in sustainable building, began growing his own contracting business. After giving birth to Avalyn, Kalista discovered permaculture — a holistic approach to agriculture that’s based on following nature’s patterns — through Invermere’s Groundswell Network Society and dove headfirst into planning an urban permacultured homestead with Liliana on the way. “I found that our values very much aligned with the guiding principles of permaculture,” she said. “We incubated eggs, built a large garden and chicken coop, introduced rainwater catchment, and began planting food shrubs in the front yard, all the while growing Justen’s business.” Soon, their front yard was transformed into a veritable food forest, and their garden into a beautiful spiral of edible art. They’ve since added bee-

Columbia Valley Vitality • 12 • Vol 1: 2017

keeping for pollination, honey and wax; they process and preserve as much of the food and medicinal herbs they grow as they can through drying, freezing and canning; and they’ve adopted more sophisticated systems for rainwater storage, irrigation, biodiversity and building soil fertility. “Currently, our growing area exceeds our living area,” Kalista said. “Our house is 1,100 square feet and our garden space is about 2,000 square feet, and we absolutely call ourselves urban homesteaders as we are in town.” And it’s physically demanding work. As someone who enjoys running and maintains a regular yoga practice, Kalista is also kept active chopping firewood, hauling around buckets of

soil and pushing wheelbarrows. “It’s hard work running an urban homestead. A lot of my exercise, aside from running and yoga, comes from lifting heavy bags of chicken feed and bee boxes full of honey, which weigh 50 pounds a piece.” Artistic by nature, she considers her passion for permaculture design an extension of her creativity, which has also found an outlet in bellydancing and painting murals, and now henna. The intricate hand-drawn designs of henna — called mehndi — fascinate her, as do the traditional crafts like basketry and leatherworking. She likes to use the leather from animals she and Justen have hunted for blankets and making items like moccasins and bags. When hunting, Kalista practices the ritual of giving thanks for the life the animal gave in order for her family to eat the healthy meat. “These animals lead a happy, free life before they are harvested, and eat what nature intended them to eat so they are healthy animals,” she said. “We hunt for food and hides (like the elk hide in the photos) because it is healthy and humane.” With a personal mission to lead a holistic adventurous lifestyle full of learning through which her family can flourish, Kalista eventually plans to have an off-grid, regenerative homestead on an acreage complete with a market garden, an even bigger food forest, a passive solar greenhouse and more animal systems — she sees pigs, cows, goats and sheep in her future, and even aquaponics (growing fish and plants together in one integrated system). She’d also like to provide educational opportunities for people to learn the tools they need to help make the world a more sustainable place; this in addition to working with Justen on Everbuilt Developments Ltd., their regenerative building and design company — the extension of his contracting business. “Where our food comes from, how it is grown, and how long it sits on a shelf or in transit makes a huge difference on how much nutrition you gain from it, and how it impacts the living systems that we depend on around the world,” she said. “Teaching our children to care for the earth and all living things, and care for people, as well as care for themselves is of high value to us.”

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Statements:

Reality is What You Make it Through re-patterning, your mind is more powerful than you know | Brenda Holden

o you let the critics around you control your life? It is easy to believe what the "critics" around us say, be it the family member saying "you can't do that" or the inner voice that tells us "we do not deserve to have ___." Living in this nonsupportive place drains us and drags us down. It can be tiring, overwhelming and frustrating. But you can change this. It is easier to put yourself in charge of you than you think. It is your choice. Visitors to the Columbia Valley come here to recharge and renew themselves. Many of us choose to live here so we can easily tap into our connection to nature and ourselves on a daily basis. How can you extend your valley experience so it becomes a way of life, a way to constantly refill yourself? Did you know your brain cannot distinguish between what is "real" and what you tell it is real? Your higher-thinking brain does not know the difference between past, future, real or imagined; it believes what you are thinking is real and it is happening right now. This means you can tap into the power of your brain to build your own reality. The sciences of

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epiogenology (the mind influencing gene expression, see the work of Dr. Bruce Lipton) and neuroplasticity (the brain’s capacity to change and adapt, see Dr. Rick Hanson) tell us that our cell membranes respond to our thoughts. And we can shift our thoughts or rewire our brains in two ways: repetition or emotional re-enforcement. How do we quiet the inner and outer critics? By disconnecting the brain synapses that lead to old files, and connecting two of the billions of unused dendrites in our brains to build a new neuropathway — in other words, a new file of information that we create as our mind’s "truth." The movie Inside Out demonstrates this for all ages. Hay House Author, Suze Casey, developed a learning technique — Belief Re-patterning® — that anyone can use to make decisions from an energizing place. Developing our skills of reaching for the positive while things are going well will sustain us when "life happens". Practising this means our subconscious mind will kick in with a positive response and we will make decisions that will empower us. The benefit? Less need to clean up after any conflict and less need for apologies. Using seven simple steps, we can rewire our brains and create the life

Find out how. Call or text Brenda at 250-341-5291

Learn to live your life with passion!

I forgive myself for believing the way things have been are the way they need to stay. I give myself permission to increase the feeling of relaxation.* I can feel stuck or stressed or I can feel relaxed. I cannot feel both at the same time. I choose to feel relaxed. I am free to increase the feeling of relaxation in my life today by... (insert something simple like: "going for a 10-minute walk"). I know what it feels like to be relaxed; it happened today — affirmation — when I... "chatted with my best friend on the phone", and when... (give yourself 2 or 3 examples). I am becoming — surrender — more relaxed and it feels... (what advantage does this give you?). *You can substitute any uplifting feeling you would like to experience for "relaxation".

we choose. Forgiveness acknowledges the desire to change. Permission opens us to exploring the options. Choice opens the new brain file folder. Freedom lets us try on something new and build experiences for the folder. Affirmation tells our brain what we already know to be true. Surrender acknowledges this as our new truth and gratitude re-enforces the statements at any stage. You can experience this technique using the statements in the box or work with a practitioner to accelerate your results. Take your valley experience and use it to define and charge your emotional state in ways that will uplift you every day. Brenda Holden owns All Things Beautiful online and is a Licensed Belief Re-patterning® Practitioner and Facilitator. Contact her at brenda. holden@beliefrepatterning.com or 250-341-5291.

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Columbia Valley Vitality • 14 • Vol 1: 2017

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Harnessing the Healing Aroma of Plants Enhance your health and wellness with essential oils | Nicole Trigg

ssential oils have been used for thousands of years in cultures around the world — and it’s no wonder. They have incredibly therapeutic qualities across a wide range of uses, and now that more people are looking for a natural alternative when it comes to health and home care products, business is booming for Healing Hollow, an essential oils storefront that opened its third location in downtown Invermere in December 2016, bringing its fragrant trail of blissful yet useful blends to the Columbia Valley. “People seem to be using essential oils for a variety of reasons these days,” said Healing Hollow founder Michelle Cubin. “We see new parents coming in curious if there is a natural option for teething pain then we see the elderly looking for sleep solutions or skin issue. We have seen an increase in doctors referring patients to essential oils for sleep and so forth, before offering them sleeping pills. Then we always see the groups who are just curious and want their house to smell nice and come for the scents.” Despite their ancient history, essential oils didn’t capture the attention of the modern Western world until 1910, when Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a French cosmetic chemist and scholar, severely burned his hands and arms in an accidental lab explosion. Immersing his arms in lavender oil, he was astonished to discover how quickly his burns healed with very little scarring. His fascination led him to experiment with essential oils on soldiers in the First World War. He later coined the word “aromatherapy” – the treatment of disease and injury using aromatic essential oils, which today has become a branch of alternative medicine “Over the years, we have seen people trade in their medications for essential oils. Some finding essential oils working better than their antidepressants,” said Michelle, “and with a lot of actual studies lately, essential oils have been proving themselves effective.” The many health conditions she sees people buying oils for include snoring, teething, skin tags, yeast infections, hormone balancing, scalp treatments, ADHD and fatigue. “The list goes on and on,” she said, adding that the demand for particular oils tends to be seasonal, with winter typically bringing in those looking for cough and flu blends, for instance. If you’re a first time buyer of essential oils, it’s important to know that while many can be ingested, not all oils are safe for consumption and can even prove to be quite toxic, which is why

it’s best to consult with an expert when selecting an oil or blend. “Oils are generally used on the skin topically, however,” said Michelle. “A common cold remedy would be a combination of antiviral and antibacterial oils such as clove, lemon, oregano, cinnamon and so on. Some of these could be taken internally, but when applied to the skin via the foot they reach every cell in the body in 21 minutes.” Skin application is also best for young babies and children as only a little is needed, she added. Consumers beware. The pricing on essential oils tends to vary considerably. If an oil is priced cheaply at $10 for 30 ml, you may want to question its purity and growing process. On the other hand, multi-level marketing oil companies can price substantially higher than what smaller companies will charge. Rest assured, though, that the quality of oil at Healing Hollow is essential to Michelle’s personal philosophy and business. The blends are

handmade in small batches here in the Kootenays with 80 per cent of the company’s inventory certified organic and wild harvested. “Quality oils will always come with their proof of distillation, country of origin, and organic certification,” she said. And because essential oils tend to fix whatever issue they’re treating, usage tends to be more short term than long term. “There are so many amazing things I've seen,” concluded Michelle, “from autism changes to customers coming off their inhalers, to yeast infections and cold sores being cleared completely.” Visit www.healinghollow.com .

Be your best in 2017! • Now open from 4 a.m. – Midnight with after-hours keytag access! • Fully Equipped Cardio and Weight room • Over 25 classes per week including Yoga, Spin, Zumba, Qigong and more! • Day passes available • No sign up fees • Friendly, fun atmosphere! www.valleyﬁtnesscentre.ca 250-342-2131 www.facebook.com/valleyﬁtnesscentre Columbia Valley Vitality • 15 • Vol 1: 2017

Complete Strength Fitness Make it part of your lifestyle | Teresa Rogal

fell in love with strength training at an early age of 16. It has carried me through life and its challenges like a suit of protective armour. I have personal experience with rehabilitation of the body and know that slow and steady always wins the race. I model my training with the philosophy that lean bodies are won with strength training and healthy eating habits; building muscle gives people shape in places they want while trimming fat where they don’t. Strength training is for people of all ages. The positive results of strength training are truly endless. I have heard these testaments and more from my clients: “Training makes every aspect of my life better!”; “ I have more energy”; “I am stronger”; “My everyday activities are easier”; “I sleep better”; “ My clothes fit better”; “ I feel more positive”; “ I feel more focused and clear headed”. Health benefits include: • Lowered risk of heart disease • Improvement of flexibility and mobility • Prevention and improvement of the onset of osteoporosis • Increase in strength and muscle mass • Increase in resting metabolic rate • Increase in fat loss • Increase in cardiovascular endurance • Lowered blood sugar Many people feel intimidated by strength training, however once they have the foundation of exercise form and tempo, they feel at ease. Just like anything new, the more you practice, the better you get at it. There is also the misconception that strength training will make a person big and bulky with bulging muscles when, in reality, strength training burns fat stores longer than a cardio session and is instrumental in achieving that toned, reshaped look. Now, if bulky, bulging muscles is something you wish to achieve, it can be done. This is a very dedicated lifestyle of fitness, nutrition and supplements taken to the next level above just being fit. Finally, motivation to strength train is a big roadblock for some. Ways to combat this are: to join a gym that welcomes all ages, shapes, sizes and fitness levels; hire a trainer to get you started; and join a group class or get a gym buddy who will commit with you. The key is to find like-minded people who are looking to improve their health and fitness level just as you are. Make these people your people!

SUMO SQUATS

Photos by Angela Miller Photography

>Toes out, feet hip-width apart >Weight in heels, knees slightly bent >Squat like sitting in a chair — inhale >Neutral spine, chin parallel to floor >Engage hamstring, quads and glutes >Return to start — exhale

BULGARIAN LUNGE

>One foot behind on bench >Slight bend to stabilized leg >Neutral spine, chest up >Deep lunge down while inhaling >Knee does not pass toes at bottom and return up — exhale

DB INCLINE CHEST PRESS

>Sit with back against incline bench >Neutral spine, feet flat >Press DB up above chest — exhale >Squeeze chest at top, not locking elbows >Bring DB back to start with elbows at 45 degrees — inhale

Teresa Rogal is a certified trainer who works out of the Valley Fitness Centre, and volunteers two lunch hours a week in the David Thompson Secondary School weight room. Contact her at 250-688-0388 or btfit@shaw.ca. Columbia Valley Vitality • 16 • Vol 1: 2017

Bereavement Programs

SEATED ROW

>Slight bend to knees >Neutral spine, chest up >Extend arms with control >Pull handles to lower ribcage — exhale >Squeeze shoulder blades together at finish and return — inhale

What is Hospice and How Can We Help? The Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley understands that from the time of a terminal illness diagnosis families are on a journey. Many people assume Hospice assistance is only available when a client is at the end stage and palliative however we are available to support clients and their families from the time of diagnosis, through the first year of bereavement with in home visitations. For those needing support you can access our services directly or have your GP or Home Health Nurse fill out a referral form. If you are in a long term care facility, your residential care coordinator can fill out the form on your behalf. To provide visitation services we are always looking for interested volunteers to join our team. If you are interested in any of our programs or joining our team either as a member or as a volunteer, we would love to hear from you.

TRICEPS – SKULL CRUSHERS

>Lay flat on bench, feet stabilizing on floor >Start arms with DB straight out and above shoulders >Hinge at elbow, lowering elbow to above shoulder — inhale >Press DB back to starting position — exhale >Engage core to stabilize body

Please contact us at 250-688-1143 or info@hospicesocietycv.com

“Grief is a process, not an event. You can’t avoid it. You can’t rush it. It’s a walk, one step at a time, and it takes time for this necessary process to bring healing and wholeness back to your life.” – Michael and Brenda Pink The Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley is dedicated to walking this journey with you. We offer a series of bereavement programs designed to support those struggling with the intense emotions associated with grief, loss and bereavement. Programs include… • Visitation in the home or at another location (on-going) • 12-week bereavement support group (will start again in January in both Invermere and Fairmont) • Walk and Talk Groups (various communities dependent on need June - October) • Resource centre and lending library Open Monday - Friday, 12-4 p.m.

All programs are free of charge. Please call for more information.

Proud sponsor of the Lending Library

Proud sponsor of the Bereavement Program

Phone: (250) 688-1143 Address: Unit 103, 926 7th Ave, Box 925 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 Website: www.hospicesocietycv.com

Columbia Valley Vitality • 17 • Vol 1: 2017

On Becoming a Zen Master Meditation offers a mental break from everyday living | Eric Elliott

f you’ve been looking to reduce stress, eliminate anxiety and just generally get more in tune with your body and mind, you’ve probably stumbled across the suggestion to try meditating. You’ve likely been told about the countless health benefits such as increased mental awareness and happiness and slowed aging all the while promoting improved cognitive function. Still, the idea of meditation for someone who’s never tried it before can seem daunting. The thought of sitting by yourself with your thoughts, repeating some weird, quirky mantra, can often be a turn-off for people thinking of giving it a try. But it shouldn’t. Meditation can be one of the most important habits one can form in an attempt to become more peaceful, focused and appreciative of everything that is happening in your life. To start with, everyone should understand that becoming a master of your mind through meditation is not an overnight process. You won’t be able to sit quietly, stay in the moment and have a clear mind during your first attempt. It might not even happen during your first few attempts. Instead, it takes repetitive practice of easing into the exercise. Start by finding a quiet space in your home, sitting either on a chair or the

floor if it’s more comfortable, where you won’t be disturbed. Aim for just two minutes a day for a week. It may seem mundane and easy at first, but it’s a great building block and can have a transformative impact on your mind that you won’t believe. Once you’ve begun, try to get in tune with how you’re feeling while focusing on your breath. Ask yourself, how does my body feel? Is there tension in my shoulders? Am I anxious? Tired? Find out how you feel, but see your feelings objectively without judgment. As you get settled in, staying in tune with your body in the present moment, count your breaths, following the air through your nose and into your lungs for a count of one before releasing your breath for the count of two. Repeat this to the count of 10, then start again at one to practice on staying focused on what’s happening right now. Throughout this practice, your mind is going to wander every now and then. It’s only natural that you’ll think about everyday problems like the dishes that need to be done, or the dog that needs to be walked. Our brains are thoughtfactories so it’s important to know that these thoughts are going to come and go.

During meditation, our job isn’t to eliminate those thoughts — which can eventually happen — but instead, it’s to let them come up without judgment and bring your attention back to your breathing. As you get better, you can familiarize yourself with your current surroundings (the lights, sounds, energy) while doing a body scan to get in tune with how each part of your body is feeling. If all goes well, gradually increase it to the point where you’ll be meditating 10 or even 20 minutes a day. The great thing about meditation is that there is no right or wrong way to do it — it’s just “being”. It’s not always going to be easy and there will be good and bad days on your journey to becoming a Zen master, but you will experience truly amazing benefits that will impact you for the rest of your life. Eric is a Columbia Valleybased journalist who discovered meditation through an app on his phone and is working to raise his consciousness one day at a time.

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Healing with Ancient Eastern Medicine Traditional Thai Medicine offers a multi-dimensional approach to healing | Kimberly Olson

ach morning I sit on my heels, bow five times and start to recite Pali scripture that dates back 2,500 years. On the altar in front of me, an image of Buddha sits high, Jivaka (Buddha’s doctor) a bit lower, and malas drape over Buddha’s base. Surrounding these images are various objects gathered from my travels, some of them blessed by my teachers, all of them symbols of the qualities I value and the beliefs that I align with. This is my home altar. My altar represents a journey towards a place of humbleness and healing and a commitment to do what I can to help ease suffering and dis-ease in the world. The Thai practice of reciting Pali scriptures in front of an altar is called Wai Khru. “Wai” means to “Honour” or “Respect”, and “Khru” means “Teacher”. This practice is a vital aspect of Traditional Thai Medicine/Massage. It honours the values of loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. It pays respects to all of the teachers in life and in medicine, all the teachers down the lineage dating back 2,500 years. It honours where things come from. It recognizes personal merits and mistakes, and reminds us to move through life mindfully with plenty of selfobservation. It holds a wish for all disease and suffering to come to an end. At the most basic level, Wai Khru practice sets the mood for our day, an intention for our practice, and encourages a focused mind as we work with our clients. Buddhist thought is a large part of this traditional medicine as 93.6 per cent of the Thai people practice within the Theravada school of Buddhism. Buddhism is a philosophy that encourages selfobservation and mindfulness. It also encourages the use of direct personal experience as a means to discover truths for yourself. It teaches us how to free ourselves from suffering so we can live a more happy, more peaceful life based on the freedom found from cultivating compassion, and acting in non-harmful ways. Like many other traditional medicines around the world, Elemental Theory is a huge component in Traditional Thai Medicine. Elemental Theory views EVERYTHING in the world, the riverbed, the floors in your house, your computer, animals, plants, even the crazy thoughts in your head — all things — as comprised of mixed ratios of Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Space. Each element has certain qualities, functions and experiences that help us to identify the presence of each particular element in each given thing. For

example, blood is the essence of our existence. It contains Water element (fluidity of the blood), Fire element (heat of the blood) and Wind element (motion of the blood). This medicine looks at each of us as multi-dimensional beings made up of interrelated layers: the Physical body, Mental body, Emotional body, and Spiritual body. Each of these “bodies’ is affected and influenced by the other. There are five branches to Traditional Thai Medicine: Medicinal Sciences, Orthopedic Medicine (physical therapies including Thai massage), Oracular Sciences, Spirit Medicine and Buddhism (mental health). Many Thai doctors usually specialize in one of the branches of medicine, but all use aspects of each in their practice. My specialization is in the physical therapies, primarily Thai Massage, but I include aspects of the other branches in my treatments. A traditional Thai massage treatment is a bit different than a conventional massage. In this tradition, each session takes place on the ground on a thick mat, and the clients are fully clothed. The work is guided by the knowledge of Elemental Theory. A wide variety of techniques are often used in each treatment. Some common techniques would be: gentle supported stretching (similar to supported yoga poses), acupressure, traction, percussion, range of motion, neuromuscular release points, compression, alternate thumb and palm pressure and many other techniques. All are dependent upon the needs and current imbalances present in the client. Often, other modalities are included within a treatment such as Herbal Compress, Fire Cupping, and Tok Sen. As you can see, the Thais know a thing or two about being thorough in their work.

There are common benefits to both the physical and the emotional bodies that coincide with regular practice of the physical therapies, as it takes time and diligence to make permanent shifts in the body. These benefits to the physical body include relief of muscle tension, increased flexibility, re-alignment of the body’s physical structures, calming of all sympathetic and parasympathetic function through the peripheral stimulation of rocking (alternate, palm/ thumb pressure), increased blood and lymphatic circulation, regeneration of injured or weak areas for optimal functioning, and an improved immune system. Benefits to the emotional body include reduced stress, improved state of wellbeing, increased mental clarity and the release of pent-up emotions. No matter what therapies you choose to use on your own path to wellness, it is the conscious devotion to yourself that counts. The better we take care of ourselves, the better we can take care of others. Self-care is of utmost importance, to be mindful of our diet and exercise, ensure we make time for joy, cultivate good sleeping habits, and healthy work habits, etc. In the Columbia Valley, we have a wonderful community of healers with varied talents and specializations, so you have a large team of talent to assist you in your quest for health and balance. Health and happiness to each of you on your journey! Kimberly Olson is the owner of Traditional Thai Massage and Yoga. Contact her at 250688-1051 or mettainmotion@gmail.com and visit www.kimberlyolson.ca.

w w w. kimb erl yo l s o n . ca Columbia Valley Vitality • 19 • Vol 1: 2017

25 0. 6 88 . 10 51

Topical Toxins in Your Beauty Routine?

| Nikki Fredrikson

Why it’s time to switch to organic skin care products

growing trend in the cosmetic and health as to what types of preservatives companies can industries has been the shift to natural use, what types of emulsifiers they can use.” The mainstream market of cosmetics and products. Whether you’re looking for something health products allows compagentler on your skin, a healthy Photo by TLV Birdie/ nies to use preservatives that natural product or you want to Knotably Studio extend the shelf life of prodprotect the environment, organic ucts to 10 years, according to products can offer something for Kari, but these are harmful everyone. ingredients that are toxic to the Kari Asselin, owner and crebody, whereas organic prodator of Om Organics in Inveructs contain a variety of natumere, spent 10 years working as ral ingredients that are healthy an esthetician before developing alternatives to the mainstream her line of organic products. As formula. an esthetician, she has knowl“We use a non-toxic preedge of a wide range of skin care servative that’s paraben- and products and an understandformaldehyde-free that keeps ing of what mainstream versus the product on the shelf for a organic products can offer the really reasonable amount of consumer. time,” she said. “A lot of customers don’t really Products containing water allow for mainrealize that a lot of those mainstream products have really harmful things in them,” she said. stream products to have that “natural” label “That’s because there are very few regulations while using other chemicals to preserve the product, she explained. “Products that don’t contain water — oil, face oil, massage oil and balms — any product where there is no water, there are just so many options for natural preservatives,” she said. “Vitamin E oil is a natural preservative, elderberry extracts, radish root ferment, there are all kinds of natural preservatives that you can use for those waterless products that will keep them on the shelf as well.” When considering a health or cosmetic product, one should consider what the ingredients are doing to your overall well-being. “The skin is an organ and it actually absorbs 60 per cent of what you put on topically into the system, into the blood stream,” said Kari. “Just not putting those chemicals on your skin is going to have a major effect on all organs. The whole internal system will benefit from not having those synthetic chemicals applied to it every day.” Organic products are also beneficial for the protection of the environment, making them healthy for humans and the planet. “When you're formulating with natural ingredients, there’s not as much manufacturing behind the ingredients that we’re using. The actual MQT way the ingredients are being manufactured is way less harsh on the environment,” said Kari. Phone/text: 250-342-5736 With traditional cosmetic and health care newtonhome@shaw.ca products, a huge trend is the inclusion of synthetic fragrance in their creation. A concern for

Columbia Valley

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Columbia Valley Vitality • 20 • Vol 1: 2017

Photos by Kyla Brown Photography

Kari is the rise in allergies and skin irritations stemming from fragrance in lotions, soaps and deodorants. “People don’t realize how harmful those synthetic scents can actually be, so that’s why I think it’s really important to start making the switch over. People are just starting to get more and more sensitive to these sorts of chemicals. We’re seeing a lot more allergic reactions, eczema, psoriasis, allergies to fragrances and it just seems to be people are becoming more and more sensitive to these types of chemicals,” she said. In organic products, all fragrance comes from essential oils such as lavender, lemongrass, and patchouli. At Om Organics, any scent in their products comes from oils, or plant and fruitbased extracts, making them safer than a synthetic fragrance. “We choose all of our essential oils and all of our scent blends for the therapeutic benefits, not just for the pretty smell of the product,” Kari said. If you’re considering making the switch to organic products, her advice is to ask questions about different products to ensure you’re making the right choices for yourself, and to start small. “Maybe just start with two or three products and not to overwhelm yourself,” she said. “It’s definitely the new wave and people are waking up and realizing that this is a shift that needs to happen.”

A perfect blend of full-time, part-time and evening classes.

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Columbia Valley Vitality • 21 • Vol 1: 2017

Spa Days for Men: They’re a Thing

| Eric Elliott

Break past the gender stereotypes and enjoy some time out

any women know of the benefits of going to the spa to relax and unwind while taking care of their bodies, and will create time in their busy schedules to do so. Rarely, though, do men consider it a priority. But the reality is that spa treatments are equally beneficial for both sexes. Today, spas have become gender-neutral relaxation destinations as the fellows have come to realize that the physical therapy they offer has a positive effect on the aspects of life that we of the male persuasion often ignore. A common day at the spa for a male, one which I enjoyed myself at Fusion Wellness Spa in downtown Invermere, starts with a massage — a treatment that nearly anyone can enjoy. Using a variety of different massage therapy techniques, the massage therapist is typically able to work with you to relax any areas of tension that you may experience throughout your body. As someone who plays a variety of sports, my body is usually pretty banged up with aches and pains throughout my lower back and neck so the massage was well-needed. I can only imagine how much more beneficial a massage could be for someone working a job involving physical labour on a regular basis, as many do in the Columbia Valley. After just 30 minutes, my body was in a state of total relaxation as I prepared for the second phase — the facial. This was something I was admittedly a little bit wary of prior to the treatment. I knew what to expect, having seen facials on TV and in movies, but I had little knowledge of the actual benefits. What I received, though, was a handful of knowledge along with an eye-opening experience.

While men and women do share some similarities in terms of their needs for a facial —wrinkles, blemishes and other skin impurities — a man’s face goes through a different kind of stress. This, as my therapist noted, is because men regularly shave their face. Once you add regular shaving of a man’s face to the fact that few take the time to moisturize or even think about taking care of their skin, some of the potential benefits for men getting a facial become immediately obvious. Throughout the treatment, my therapist applied various moisturizers to help the skin on my face, massaging it as the process went along. Having never had my face massaged before, this certainly was a unique experience that felt weird at first, but, once I relaxed, it allowed me to ease into a meditative state where nothing was on my mind. To wrap up my time at Fusion Wellness Spa, I received, yes, a pedicure, which, for all you men out there, is a cosmetic treatment of the feet and toenails for therapeutic and medical purposes that can even help prevent nail diseases and disorders. And while I was getting the pedicure, I was enjoying the luxury of sitting in a massage chair, falling further into a state of deep relaxation.

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My hunch is that men don’t frequent spas as much as women because the various treatment names — manicure, pedicure — have become gendered through the media and compounded over time. But to break it down, though, ask yourself this: Do you find yourself stressed from your daily work and/or life and want to find a way to relax? Do you enjoy attention? If you answered yes, then you will definitely benefit from a spa day. The experience may seem strange at first to a guy who has never tried it before, but give it a chance and you might just leave with a revitalized state of mind.

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