The Nugget Newspaper's Focus on Health 2021 // 2021-01-20

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

13

focus on health winter 2021

These are strange and challenging times for people striving to preserve, protect, and enhance their health.

Inevitably, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic looms large. Our primary health priority is to avoid getting sick. But that effort in itself has created health-and-wellness challenges.

In speaking with health-and-wellness practitioners of all kinds across Central Oregon, one message comes across loud and clear: We can’t let COVID-19 keep us from taking care of ourselves.

Don’t delay going to the doctor or the dentist because you fear COVID exposure. All practitioners have well-developed safety protocols — and delaying taking care of a health problem is a bigger risk than being seen. From doctors to physical therapists to chiropractors, practitioners across Sisters Country are seeing the negative results of delayed care: Problems become more acute and take longer to resolve.

Self-care — whether it’s massage, skin care or exercise — remains critical to maintaining your wellbeing, emotional and psychological, as well as physical. And Sisters’ innovative practitioners are finding ways to deliver their vital services safely.

Staying safe and well means more than simply avoiding illness. The practitioners you will find in these pages stand ready to help.

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PORTFOLIO/BERONB

inside...

A plant-based diet can boost health ...................... pg. 14 Diet season .......................................................... pg. 15 Taking care of the skin you’re in ............................. pg. 16 Healthier after cancer: intention and tools .............. pg. 18 The new health metric — capacity for compassion .. pg. 19 Health Directive for Dementia................................ pg. 20 Vaccination clinics set at fairgrounds ..................... pg. 21

14

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

A plant-based diet can boost health

By Jodi Schneider Correspondent

Through research, it’s now clear that following a plant-based diet is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

Plant-based or plant-forward eating patterns focus on foods primarily from plants — but it doesn’t mean that you need to be a vegetarian or vegan and never eat meat or dairy.

Instead, you are proportionately choosing more of your foods from plant sources.

For heart-health protection, your diet needs to focus on the quality of plant foods, and it’s possible to benefit by reducing your consumption of meat without completely eliminating it from your diet.

There are many types of plantbased diets, but they all highlight certain foods associated with heart benefits, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and healthy oils like olive oil.

There’s the whole-foods diet that avoids processed foods, added sugar, artificial sweeteners, refined grains, and hydrogenated oils. Another plant-based diet is the whole-foods plant-based (WFPB) diet which was highlighted in the 2011 documentary

“Forks Over Knives,” which pro- addition of fish with omega-3 fatty also includes small amounts of fish, motes the abstinence of meat, dairy, acids, is a heart-healthy choice. poultry, eggs, cheese and yogurt a oil and sugar, and advocates eatNutrition research has examined few times a week, with meats and ing whole, unrefined, or minimally plant-based eating patterns, such as sweets less often. refined plant-based foods. the Mediterranean diet and a vegetarThe Mediterranean diet has been The types of plant foods and their ian diet. The Mediterranean diet has shown in both large population studsources are also important. For exam- a foundation of plant-based foods; it ies and randomized clinical trials to ple, white rice and white bread reduce risk of heart disease, are plant-based foods, but they metabolic syndrome, diabetes, are highly processed, and are certain cancers, depression, depleted of many heart-healthy and in older adults, a decreased nutrients and have a high glyrisk of frailty, along with better cemic index, which means they mental and physical function. can make blood-sugar levels Essentially, anyone can be spike and increase hunger, on a plant-based diet and still leading to overeating. consume fish and/or small Drinking 100 percent fruit amounts of lean meat. Since juice is not the same as eating there are different types of the whole fruit, since juices can plant-based diets, they will vary be high in sugar and squeeze depending on what you want to out valuable fiber and vitaachieve as a healthy diet. mins. And many canned plant A plant-based diet limits the foods include extra additives, use of sugars and processed sodium, and sugar. foods, leaving whole foods to I personally enjoy seafood provide nutrition. These diets and have tried the pescatarian are lower in saturated fat, and diet, a keto diet where a perrich in fiber, vitamins, minerals son’s main source of animal and antioxidants. protein comes from fish, such Bottom line: Clean eating is as salmon, and other seafood, a plant-based way of approachsuch as shrimp. Eating a diet ing your food that accepts the consisting mainly of plantwide variety of foods you can ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PORTFOLIO/VAASEENAA based foods has a variety of A plant-based whole-foods diet can be rich in fiber, eat, not whole categories of health benefits and, with the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. food you have to eliminate.

Central Oregon Dental Esthetics Now Accepting New Patients Of All Ages!

Cleanings • Fillings Dentures/Partials • Bridges • Veneers Solea Sleep for Snoring Solea Laser for no Shots/Drills Botox • Dermal Fillers

541-526-5661

905 SW Rimrock Way, Ste. 201, Redmond www.oregonesthetics.com

The secret to aging & living well is movement!

Improved muscle and spine function, healthy heart, non-stressed mind, well-functioning immune system.

www.blackbutte chiropractic.com Formerly Bigfoot Wellness

541-389-9183 392 E. Main Ave., Sisters

The health of our teeth and gums is critical to the health of our entire body. Central Oregon Dental Esthetics believes in providing treatment to the whole person.

Central Oregon Dental Esthetics goes above and beyond to make the experience of going to the dentist both COVID-safe and reassuring for those for whom dental work brings anxiety.

They utilize the latest in dental technology and techniques in order to offer you the best preventive care and treatment available. Central Oregon Dental Esthetics is proud to be the first and only clinic in Central Oregon to offer the Solea Laser — an advanced new dental laser technology that is virtually replacing the needle, drill, and scalpel

in the dental office.

Solea can accommodate patients of all ages and procedures of all kinds — without the need for anesthetic in most cases.

With comprehensive services offered in a safe, comfortable environment, Central Oregon Dental Esthetics will make you smile — confidently.

Black Butte Chiropractic

Chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage are not luxuries — they are critical to our health and wellbeing.

Black Butte Chiropractic has taken every precaution to make sure that you can safely access the treatments you need to stay healthy and active.

“We feel really safe working here and people feel safe coming in,” says Sarah Conroy, DC. They maintain limited numbers in the clinic at any one time, so social distancing is no problem, and sanitation is at the highest standard. In addition to the fundamental treatments, you can get a facial, and counseling on herbs and nutritional supplements. Saturday appointments are available for massage and facials.

Movement is critical to health, and we should never just accept impingement on our ability.

With a focus on safety and individualized care, Black Butte Chiropractic ensures that you can keep moving and enjoying the lifestyle you seek in Sisters Country.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Fit For

Sisters Andrew Loscutoff, Columnist

Diet season Welcome to diet season. After the holidays, people often feel the propulsion of self-loathing and throw the life ring to a diet protocol they may have heard about on a talk show or seen on social media. Oftentimes they have little to no knowledge how these diets work. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular “programs” people do to lose weight.

• Keto The ketogenic diet relies on the physiological process of ketosis in order for one’s body to use energy.

The key to this process is cutting all carbohydrates out of the diet because ketosis is an energetic pathway which activates when carbohydrates are depleted. The general population sees this, and makes a connection to the diet as fat burning, and leaning.

Although this can be true, it’s not because of the diet but because a person is eating less overall once sugars, grains, and other carbs are off limits.

• Paleo The paleolithic diet asks a person to consider what their ancestors ate in bygone eras. This theory states that evolution is a very long process and humans aren’t equipped to eat the foods in the quantities eaten in modern ages. Tens of thousands of years ago, no one ate refined grains, processed foods, sugars, and more. This diet helps people lose weight, not because of a special characteristic of the foods being better, but without all the snacks and indulgences available, they are going to eat less.

• Whole30 The Whole30 diet bases its eating paradigm around low-processed foods with little to no “inflammatory” foods, which aims to “reset” one’s eating into a healthier status.

It takes out dairy, beans, grains and sugars, and follows a pattern to help people understand how their eating affects their overall wellness. It works because people need to follow a very prescriptive plan and it allows for only minor deviation. This gets them to eat less, and what they’re eating is much lower calorie; therefore, they lose weight.

• Intermittent Fasting This diet program has little restriction beyond asking people not to eat at given times in order to achieve better health in many claims.

From lowering insulin sensitivity to increasing cognition, there are several claims, many of which are still theory. There are many types of ways to fast — from not eating an entire day, to eating only from noon to 8 p.m., and many others. This diet works mainly because in narrowing the window of eating, people have less chance to eat. There is also something to mention about hormones and eating disorders, but this topic will be saved for a full intermittent fasting review.

• Vegan/Vegetarian Vegan or vegetarian diets eschew animal products to certain degrees.

They can be strictly against all animal products, or allow for cheese, eggs, and others depending on their constituent’s outlook. It’s low in cholesterol, unhealthy fats, and compounds in meat which are believed to be carcinogenic. It asks us to eat better by eliminating these products and usually, when very calorically dense meats and the like are removed, it effectively gets you to eat less.

The mechanism in action.

Notice anything similar to all these diets? First, they all are asking the dieters to eat less. Once you

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PORTFOLIO/RYZHKOV

Most diets ask the dieters to eat less and consider what they eat. have a limited scope on what you can eat, you might just eat less. Next, you consider what you’re eating. This can have huge implications, as mindless eating or snacking can be a big reason why some people consume too many calories.

What the diets aren’t.

These aren’t silver bullets of health, wellness, and immortality.

In fact, a lot of junk food can still be eaten on these diets. French fries and beer are vegan. Keto lets its disciples nosh on salami and processed meats ad libitum. The main thing that fails all of these diets is that if the patron of the diet doesn’t make healthy eating habitual, once the diet is over they gain their weight back.

Our weight is more or less a direct reflection of the way we eat, so we have to systematically change — and this is hard. People want to diet, and then they want to not diet but keep their diet body. This equation doesn’t work.

Seek out simple habits and attack those first.

Flu shots at NO COST TO YOU!

Insurance will be billed.

While supplies last. Expires 2/28/21.

Call for an appointment.

Your Care These times have shown us that nothing is more important than maintaining our health. Your Care stands ready to help the Sisters community do just that, with urgent care available every day.

Dr. Eric Wattenburg urges patients not to delay being seen out of fear of COVID-19.

Located in the copper-top building just off Highway 126 in Redmond — they offer easy and safe access in and out of their facility. Make sure that you stay well by seeking help for ailments before they get more serious. Your Care continues to offer a full complement of health services.

Your Care has the vision to be proactive. This season, it is especially important to protect yourself by getting a flu shot.

Your Care is committed to helping local businesses keep their employees healthy through ongoing occupational medicine programs. It’s all part of a longterm commitment to service and the health of the community.

541-548-2899 | yourcaremedical.com 3818 SW 21st Pl., Ste. 100, Redmond • Open every day

HO L ISTIC M EN TA L -HEA LTH SO L U TIO N S F O R THE W HO L E FA M ILY

Dedicated to your health and safety.

15

• Functional medicine approach • Most insurance plans accepted • Low-cost monthly memberships • Counseling & medication management • Virtual sessions available

Audry Van Houweling PMHNP-BC

www.sistersathletic.com Call to set up an appointment,

541-595-8337

www.shesoarspsych.com

204 W. Adams Ave., Ste. 202, Sisters

16

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Head-to-Toe Glow

Body Wrap & Facial.....$150

Call 541-480-1412 to schedule your appointment.

17-20% OFF Bundle Savings 3-month supply of weekly facials

Cleanse • Exfoliate Masque • Moisturize

Series of 6 LEDs ONLY $225!

Karen Keady

Esthetician/Owner

541-480-1412

Essentials E l Skincare

492 E. Main Ave. www.SistersEssentials.com Open Mon-Sat Flexible Hours

YWe’re O Uhere R DtoRhelp E A MyouS feelM AT T E R confident in your financial future.

Retirement Strategies:

Income • Asset Protection • Annuities Life Insurance • Tax-efficiency Long-term Care • Legacy Planning

541-633-4727

704 W. Hood Ave., Suite C, Sisters, OR 97759 clients@BlueStoneRetirement.com

BLUESTONERETIREMENT.COM

OL

TF M/ PO R

When talking about taking care of yourself, you cannot forget to think about taking care of the largest organ of the human body — your skin. Taking the time and energy to take care of all parts of your skin, but particularly the face, has a number of benefits not only to your skin health, but also your overall wellbeing.

Karen Keady, owner of Essentials Salon and esthetician, has been promoting natural and organic skin care since 2011. Keady really tries to encourage organic skin products and encourages her clients to “always read the labels.”

For instance, if a product’s first ingredient is water, it is going to have the organic materials diluted making it less effective.

Keady got into skin care after retiring from nursing and attended a number of classes and trade shows to learn what the best product lines for her own business would be.

Keady primarily sells a brand called Éminence Organic Skin Care, which is a European line.

a partner,” she said.

Keady offers primarily Éminence, but also the brands Osmosis and Blinc, other natural skincare and makeup lines. Éminence mainly focuses on products that are, as Keady said, “on-the-skin products that promote cleansing, and organic products.”

Keady will do a complementary consultation with new clients who aren’t getting a facial. When getting a facial, however, Keady has a process of checking the skin and giving a consult.

“I start by doing a deep pore cleanse and then get right down and use a magnifier and light and look at every area of the face and see what’s needed on the skin whether that be for dull aging skin, or breakouts, or oily prone skin,” she said.

Keady often gives clients samples of the products she used during treatment as well.

One aspect of her job that is particularly gratifying is genuinely being able to help people — including helping and encouraging people to get anomalies checked out.

HO TO .C O

Correspondent

“The U.S. FDA standard requires only 70 percent of the product to be organic, whereas in Europe, products are required to be 95 percent for organic to 99.9 percent for the Certified Biodynamic (hypoallergenic, gentle type of products), Certified by Demeter International to be considered so. Éminence has a lot of different products for all different skin types and needs,” said Keady.

Keady’s salon is the only salon in Sisters that sells Éminence products.

Keady is a partner with Éminence and got approved to sell their products 10 years ago.

“I get monthly trainings from them as well as different promotions to give clients every month for being

C KP

By Ceili Cornelius

IO/ FIZ KES

Taking good care of the skin you’re in

“I have found notable marks on people’s skin that once they get it checked out, turned out to be operable skin cancer,” Keady said. “I worked for a dermatologist so I know what to look for and under magnification is the only way you could really see something notable.”

That is her favorite part of her job.

“I get to help people and I know what to look for and suggest seeing

A good moisturizer at night to keep the moisture in is helpful, and maybe a vaporizer in the home as well, especially here.

— Karen Keady

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PORTFOLIO/GPOINTSTUDIO

IS

TO

someone more professional if there’s anything there,” she

said.

According to Keady, skin care should be a part of self-care because of the importance to the rest of the body.

“The skin is our first barrier against infection on the outside. It is super important,” she said. “Skin care is like baking a cake — there isn’t just one thing you can do, it’s a combination of things to put it together like a cake,” she said.

Keady often sees the problem of wintered and weathered skin in Central Oregon and tries to encourage plenty of moisturizing to avoid what is called TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss), which happens when skin is dehydrated on the surface, especially in

dry weather.

“A good moisturizer at night to keep the moisture in is helpful, and maybe a vaporizer in the home as well, especially here,” said Keady.

For more information on Keady’s salon, Essentials Skincare, visit www.sistersessentials.com.

Sarah Woods, licensed esthetician at Roam Natural Skincare, bases her choice of products and routine from a professional standpoint; she looks for things based on what she calls “three legs of approach.”

“The first thing I look for is the details of the brand and their business ethics with sourcing and how it is produced. It has to feel comfortable from a standpoint of where it comes from,” said Woods.

The second leg is all about the experience of the skincare product.

“I think about how it feels on the skin, how does it smell, what is its texture. I have to gauge whether people will enjoy using it as part of their regime and also in what I use for facials,” she said.

The third leg involves looking at what the product does for the skin and if there is a noticeable change or benefit.

“A lot of brands have the same tagline to draw you in of what it does, so you have to be careful about not falling just into a label, but actually knowing what change it promotes in

Essentials Skincare At Essentials Skincare a well-conducted assessment of the integumentary system is a valuable aid to the esthetician in determining the well-being of skin health and knowing what treatments to offer, both in and out of the facial room.

Voted favorite skincare line by professionals, 12 years in a row, Éminence Organics continues to lead the industry with results-oriented products for every skin type and every skin condition.

A great winter treat for dry, itchy skin is the stone crop full-body scrub and wrap. A gentle exfoliation from head-to-toe leaves skin glowing.

As the nourishing wrap processes for 20 minutes clients receive an LED facial. products from acne treatments to hydrating, nourA three-month supply home-care kit offers ishing facials. Call Karen to book a complimentary bundle savings from 17 to 20 percent on a trio of consult and begin 2021 with healthy, glowing skin.

BlueStone Retirement As we move into the new chapter of life that retirement represents, financial health is as critical as any other factor in our wellbeing.

BlueStone Retirement is a locally owned and operated financial services firm based right here in Sisters. Services include: how to maximize your Social Security benefits; how to reduce taxes on your Social Security benefits and IRA distributions; strategies on how to partner your Social Security benefits and other income sources; how to develop and implement a Retirement Income Plan.

BlueStone’s process is simple: Step 1: Meet for a consultation. No cost. No pressure.

Step 2: The team will formulate a plan specific to your needs and objectives.

Step 3: Review the plan. If you like it, you can talk about moving forward as a client. If not, you keep the information at no charge.

As Certified Financial Fiduciaries, BlueStone Retirement is here to serve their clients and community with the highest standards of ethics and business practices.

texture, and brightness in the skin,” she said.

Woods tends to stick with products based on natural ingredients. She also notices the trends that happen in the beauty industry that happen for about six months to a year and tries to cater to those trends, while also reminding customers of all parts of a good regime. At the moment, for instance, facial oils and oil cleansers are the latest trend; however, Woods often sees congestion because people forget the exfoliation part.

“I think the most important thing a consumer can do is educate themselves on ingredients and where they came from and what they do for the skin and choose what is best for their skin,” said Woods.

When approaching doing a facial with clients, or selling products to new customers, Woods often does some sort of consultation with the client.

“The consultation is important and can be more in depth, or simpler.

If I don’t know how the person is with their skin at home and their routine, I know some aspects wouldn’t be sustainable like having a 10-step routine if they really only have time for 2,” she said.

She also emphasized the importance of a long-term relationship with her clients.

“That is what the small business

I think the most important thing a consumer can do is educate themselves on ingredients and where they came from and what they do for the skin and choose what is best for their skin.

— Sarah Woods aspect is about, is building these relationships and really being able to touch and explore the skin to know what they need. The hands can tell you a lot in designing what treatment is best.”

Acne and skin issues look different to different people. ‘“For some, acne is two pimples and for others it is a whole face, so it is all really relative,” she said.

Woods’ favorite part of her job is getting to be creative and do different aspects every day, while also homing in on her natural affinity for taking care of people.

“It’s kind of like being an artist. I get to change my palette and every facial is different. My body is also content with helping others and I have this innate sense to translate touch to others,” she said.

For more information visit www. roamnaturalskincare.com.

Winter Wellness Wednesdays Locals’ Special!

All Swedish Massages and Customized Facials are only $95 each!

(Reg. $125/$130 each) Mention this special to receive your discount.

Call 541-549-6164

Shibui Spa at FivePine Taking care of yourself is no indulgence. In the midst of a pandemic, it’s actually a form of preventative care.

Shibui Spa is open, offering massage, body treatments and facials — with safety at the forefront.

We have been really diligent about our safety precautions,” said spa manager Kendra Littrell. She notes that it is a safe haven for her and the practitioners, as well as clients. “I know when I’m at work, everything is safe,” she said.

Visit www.shibuispa.com for a rundown on safety protocols.

Being able to access services — in one of the very few spas in the region that can still offer them — is a real boon to clients.

“People are so excited to come and get services,” Kendra said.

Boost your health and your morale with a visit to Shibui Spa, where your safety and your total wellbeing is everyone’s top priority.

Central Oregon’s Premier Fitness Equipment Dealer

Place your order online at hazelnuthill.com

541-510-4464

• New & used residential & commercial equipment • Servicing all brands of equipment • Delivery, installation, removal, recycling • Trade-ins welcome • Many brands to choose from — 541-420-5985 — www.backinactionfitnessequipment.com Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1310 SE Reed Market Rd., Ste. 100, Bend

FOCUS ON HEALTH

17

16

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Head-to-Toe Glow

Body Wrap & Facial.....$150

Call 541-480-1412 to schedule your appointment.

17-20% OFF Bundle Savings 3-month supply of weekly facials

Cleanse • Exfoliate Masque • Moisturize

Series of 6 LEDs ONLY $225!

Karen Keady

Esthetician/Owner

541-480-1412

Essentials E l Skincare

492 E. Main Ave. www.SistersEssentials.com Open Mon-Sat Flexible Hours

YWe’re O Uhere R DtoRhelp E A MyouS feelM AT T E R confident in your financial future.

Retirement Strategies:

Income • Asset Protection • Annuities Life Insurance • Tax-efficiency Long-term Care • Legacy Planning

541-633-4727

704 W. Hood Ave., Suite C, Sisters, OR 97759 clients@BlueStoneRetirement.com

BLUESTONERETIREMENT.COM

OL

TF M/ PO R

When talking about taking care of yourself, you cannot forget to think about taking care of the largest organ of the human body — your skin. Taking the time and energy to take care of all parts of your skin, but particularly the face, has a number of benefits not only to your skin health, but also your overall wellbeing.

Karen Keady, owner of Essentials Salon and esthetician, has been promoting natural and organic skin care since 2011. Keady really tries to encourage organic skin products and encourages her clients to “always read the labels.”

For instance, if a product’s first ingredient is water, it is going to have the organic materials diluted making it less effective.

Keady got into skin care after retiring from nursing and attended a number of classes and trade shows to learn what the best product lines for her own business would be.

Keady primarily sells a brand called Éminence Organic Skin Care, which is a European line.

a partner,” she said.

Keady offers primarily Éminence, but also the brands Osmosis and Blinc, other natural skincare and makeup lines. Éminence mainly focuses on products that are, as Keady said, “on-the-skin products that promote cleansing, and organic products.”

Keady will do a complementary consultation with new clients who aren’t getting a facial. When getting a facial, however, Keady has a process of checking the skin and giving a consult.

“I start by doing a deep pore cleanse and then get right down and use a magnifier and light and look at every area of the face and see what’s needed on the skin whether that be for dull aging skin, or breakouts, or oily prone skin,” she said.

Keady often gives clients samples of the products she used during treatment as well.

One aspect of her job that is particularly gratifying is genuinely being able to help people — including helping and encouraging people to get anomalies checked out.

HO TO .C O

Correspondent

“The U.S. FDA standard requires only 70 percent of the product to be organic, whereas in Europe, products are required to be 95 percent for organic to 99.9 percent for the Certified Biodynamic (hypoallergenic, gentle type of products), Certified by Demeter International to be considered so. Éminence has a lot of different products for all different skin types and needs,” said Keady.

Keady’s salon is the only salon in Sisters that sells Éminence products.

Keady is a partner with Éminence and got approved to sell their products 10 years ago.

“I get monthly trainings from them as well as different promotions to give clients every month for being

C KP

By Ceili Cornelius

IO/ FIZ KES

Taking good care of the skin you’re in

“I have found notable marks on people’s skin that once they get it checked out, turned out to be operable skin cancer,” Keady said. “I worked for a dermatologist so I know what to look for and under magnification is the only way you could really see something notable.”

That is her favorite part of her job.

“I get to help people and I know what to look for and suggest seeing

A good moisturizer at night to keep the moisture in is helpful, and maybe a vaporizer in the home as well, especially here.

— Karen Keady

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/PORTFOLIO/GPOINTSTUDIO

IS

TO

someone more professional if there’s anything there,” she

said.

According to Keady, skin care should be a part of self-care because of the importance to the rest of the body.

“The skin is our first barrier against infection on the outside. It is super important,” she said. “Skin care is like baking a cake — there isn’t just one thing you can do, it’s a combination of things to put it together like a cake,” she said.

Keady often sees the problem of wintered and weathered skin in Central Oregon and tries to encourage plenty of moisturizing to avoid what is called TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss), which happens when skin is dehydrated on the surface, especially in

dry weather.

“A good moisturizer at night to keep the moisture in is helpful, and maybe a vaporizer in the home as well, especially here,” said Keady.

For more information on Keady’s salon, Essentials Skincare, visit www.sistersessentials.com.

Sarah Woods, licensed esthetician at Roam Natural Skincare, bases her choice of products and routine from a professional standpoint; she looks for things based on what she calls “three legs of approach.”

“The first thing I look for is the details of the brand and their business ethics with sourcing and how it is produced. It has to feel comfortable from a standpoint of where it comes from,” said Woods.

The second leg is all about the experience of the skincare product.

“I think about how it feels on the skin, how does it smell, what is its texture. I have to gauge whether people will enjoy using it as part of their regime and also in what I use for facials,” she said.

The third leg involves looking at what the product does for the skin and if there is a noticeable change or benefit.

“A lot of brands have the same tagline to draw you in of what it does, so you have to be careful about not falling just into a label, but actually knowing what change it promotes in

Essentials Skincare At Essentials Skincare a well-conducted assessment of the integumentary system is a valuable aid to the esthetician in determining the well-being of skin health and knowing what treatments to offer, both in and out of the facial room.

Voted favorite skincare line by professionals, 12 years in a row, Éminence Organics continues to lead the industry with results-oriented products for every skin type and every skin condition.

A great winter treat for dry, itchy skin is the stone crop full-body scrub and wrap. A gentle exfoliation from head-to-toe leaves skin glowing.

As the nourishing wrap processes for 20 minutes clients receive an LED facial. products from acne treatments to hydrating, nourA three-month supply home-care kit offers ishing facials. Call Karen to book a complimentary bundle savings from 17 to 20 percent on a trio of consult and begin 2021 with healthy, glowing skin.

BlueStone Retirement As we move into the new chapter of life that retirement represents, financial health is as critical as any other factor in our wellbeing.

BlueStone Retirement is a locally owned and operated financial services firm based right here in Sisters. Services include: how to maximize your Social Security benefits; how to reduce taxes on your Social Security benefits and IRA distributions; strategies on how to partner your Social Security benefits and other income sources; how to develop and implement a Retirement Income Plan.

BlueStone’s process is simple: Step 1: Meet for a consultation. No cost. No pressure.

Step 2: The team will formulate a plan specific to your needs and objectives.

Step 3: Review the plan. If you like it, you can talk about moving forward as a client. If not, you keep the information at no charge.

As Certified Financial Fiduciaries, BlueStone Retirement is here to serve their clients and community with the highest standards of ethics and business practices.

texture, and brightness in the skin,” she said.

Woods tends to stick with products based on natural ingredients. She also notices the trends that happen in the beauty industry that happen for about six months to a year and tries to cater to those trends, while also reminding customers of all parts of a good regime. At the moment, for instance, facial oils and oil cleansers are the latest trend; however, Woods often sees congestion because people forget the exfoliation part.

“I think the most important thing a consumer can do is educate themselves on ingredients and where they came from and what they do for the skin and choose what is best for their skin,” said Woods.

When approaching doing a facial with clients, or selling products to new customers, Woods often does some sort of consultation with the client.

“The consultation is important and can be more in depth, or simpler.

If I don’t know how the person is with their skin at home and their routine, I know some aspects wouldn’t be sustainable like having a 10-step routine if they really only have time for 2,” she said.

She also emphasized the importance of a long-term relationship with her clients.

“That is what the small business

I think the most important thing a consumer can do is educate themselves on ingredients and where they came from and what they do for the skin and choose what is best for their skin.

— Sarah Woods aspect is about, is building these relationships and really being able to touch and explore the skin to know what they need. The hands can tell you a lot in designing what treatment is best.”

Acne and skin issues look different to different people. ‘“For some, acne is two pimples and for others it is a whole face, so it is all really relative,” she said.

Woods’ favorite part of her job is getting to be creative and do different aspects every day, while also homing in on her natural affinity for taking care of people.

“It’s kind of like being an artist. I get to change my palette and every facial is different. My body is also content with helping others and I have this innate sense to translate touch to others,” she said.

For more information visit www. roamnaturalskincare.com.

Winter Wellness Wednesdays Locals’ Special!

All Swedish Massages and Customized Facials are only $95 each!

(Reg. $125/$130 each) Mention this special to receive your discount.

Call 541-549-6164

Shibui Spa at FivePine Taking care of yourself is no indulgence. In the midst of a pandemic, it’s actually a form of preventative care.

Shibui Spa is open, offering massage, body treatments and facials — with safety at the forefront.

We have been really diligent about our safety precautions,” said spa manager Kendra Littrell. She notes that it is a safe haven for her and the practitioners, as well as clients. “I know when I’m at work, everything is safe,” she said.

Visit www.shibuispa.com for a rundown on safety protocols.

Being able to access services — in one of the very few spas in the region that can still offer them — is a real boon to clients.

“People are so excited to come and get services,” Kendra said.

Boost your health and your morale with a visit to Shibui Spa, where your safety and your total wellbeing is everyone’s top priority.

Central Oregon’s Premier Fitness Equipment Dealer

Place your order online at hazelnuthill.com

541-510-4464

• New & used residential & commercial equipment • Servicing all brands of equipment • Delivery, installation, removal, recycling • Trade-ins welcome • Many brands to choose from — 541-420-5985 — www.backinactionfitnessequipment.com Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1310 SE Reed Market Rd., Ste. 100, Bend

FOCUS ON HEALTH

17

18

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Healthier after cancer: intention and tools

By Katy Yoder Correspondent

2014 was the year I got the news. ”You’ve got cancer,” are words no doctor wants to say and no patient wants to hear. My mind flooded with images of my father, grandparents, uncle, cousin and brother-in-law.

They all died from the disease. I saw them go through treatment. I was terrified. Ready to do battle… not with the disease but the people in charge of healing me. I was more afraid of the treatments than cancer.

Eventually, I came to terms with my fears. I acknowledged that the treatments family members endured had come a long way. Techniques were more precise and doses adjusted. Additional practices to promote wellness and peace-of-mind would be part of my treatment plan.

I did surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. My St. Charles Health System team of doctors were exemplary. I trusted them. When I told my oncologist I wanted to work with a Naturopath Oncologist too, his initial reaction wasn’t supportive. But my nurse navigator was there to listen to my concerns and convey them to my doctor when I didn’t have the strength to do it myself. He came around and my team was complete.

As I’m writing this piece, I’m mentally knocking on wood. There’s no sure way to stay healthy after a cancer diagnosis. I know that. But I also know from research, smart doctors, and innovative practitioners that there are ways I can live a healthier life and hopefully remain cancer-free.

I identified several health categories I needed to work on: emotional; physical; nutritional; and mindfulness.

• Emotional health required a deep dive into my past, beginning with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that were still affecting my life. I knew, to remain healthy, I had to overcome the resentment, hypervigilance, and anger stored deep in my body. That took reading old journals, writing down current triggers and doing writing meditations where I could access and release emotions and explanations long forgotten but still unhealed.

Then there was my job. As much as I loved aspects of it, I was also extremely stressed. I knew deep in my soul, my job was causing dis-ease on a regular basis. But I kept going because I was too afraid to quit. That being said, if I had to choose a group of coworkers to go through cancer with, I couldn’t ask for a more supportive, understanding, and loving team. They were truly a blessing.

Two years after treatment, I quit my job to pursue my lifelong love of writing.

• Physical health was something I’d let slip. I made excuses about my job taking up too much time or that I was too tired and over-obligated with family responsibilities. I know when I’m active, I feel better. After treatment, my body was different.

Surgery left scars and repositioned tissue that made moving harder. I was afraid I might break. Moving my new body has been full of challenges and setbacks. But, with help from physical and massage therapists, a fitness coach at Sisters Athletic Club and patient friends who didn’t get bored by how slow I had to walk on hikes, eventually I learned how to use my new body.

• Nutrition plays a big role in feeling healthy. I learned that food is fuel. I had to admit, I often used sweet and starchy foods to escape emotions. When I was stressed, I ate.

When I was sad, I ate. When I was celebrating, I ate.

Food wasn’t my fuel, it was my crutch. After treatment, I promised myself I would eat healthier and more mindfully. I learned that onethird of all cancers are caused by poor diet. I knew I could do better.

I began by eliminating most meats,

starches and sugar from my diet.

With a practitioner’s guidance and my oncologists’ blessings, I began experimenting with what foods made me feel good and which ones left me feeling tired, bloated, and grumpy.

I felt so much better and wanted to do more. That’s when my family decided to become vegetarians. We did it for our health and the planet’s, not to mention the animals we wouldn’t be eating. My husband and I went completely plant-based a year ago when we stopped eating dairy.

Family meals are just as delicious but we feel better when we’re done, kind of like the difference between eating sushi vs. steak. I take supplements to boost my immune system and keep my body humming.

It’s incredibly easy to eat vegan.

Just buy a vegan cookbook or search online and all kinds of meals will pop up. I’m a much better cook since we made the switch and I feel more confident that my food is helping me stay healthy.

• Mindfulness isn’t just about meditating, yoga and prayer. It’s also about being aware of what I’m thinking and doing. Before cancer, I wasn’t thinking about how I spent my See HEALTHIER AFTER CANCER on page 22

Green Ridge Physical Therapy

“You’re in the right hands” For all your Physical Therapy and Massage needs

541-549-3534 325 N. Locust St., Sisters

greenridgept.com

Green Ridge Physical Therapy & Wellness is celebrating 20 years of service in Sisters and Central Oregon.

Green Ridge Physical Therapy offers a diverse range of treatment techniques and specialties to meet a broad scope of patient needs.

At Green Ridge Physical Therapy, you have access to six physical therapists and three massage therapists, each offering an individualized and high level of training and focus to meet your goals. Staff specializes in vestibular chronic pain and injury prevention to name (vertigo/balance/fall risk), lymphatic, pel- just a few.

Reach out to the staff at Green Ridge and trust vic dysfunction, musculoskeletal, orthopedic and post-surgical rehabilitation, neurological, that you will be in the best hands!

All American Hearing For Lanie Tandy of All American Hearing, getting folks in Sisters to get their hearing tested is a mission and a calling.

Early testing is critical: Tandy notes that if you wait to test until you notice diminished hearing, “the brain loses its ability to process speech sounds — and you never get that back.”

Hearing is even more difficult while social distancing and communicating to people while wearing masks. Masks muffle our speech, as well as hide visual cues, and these issues become more difficult for people with hearing loss. Hearing aids can help bring back clarity and minimize confusion and stress with these added challenges in our world today.

Maintaining good hearing is key to quality of life — and is tied to long-term mental health. Lanie is

committed to bringing good hearing healthcare to Sisters, and she urges folks — even if their hearing still seems OK — to call and set up an appointment for testing. There are many, many options available today, and there is no cost for a consultation. “It starts with a conversation,” Lanie says.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

19

The new health metric —

CAPACITY FOR COMPASSION Your Story MATTERS

Audry Van Houweling, PMHNP Columnist

As I sit down to write this, nearly 375,00 Americans have left us from COVID-19. Many of these deaths were in isolation, away from loved ones, and the chance for processing and goodbyes interrupted by restrictions, adding to the isolation of those grieving.

Thousands (if not millions) more who have been impacted by the virus continue to contend with longterm and sometimes debilitating symptoms that make the motions of life seem daunting. While inexplicable, painful, and unfortunate physical and emotional calamities have always had the potential to intrude upon our lives and those we love, it seems COVID-19 has illuminated the idea that a body in relative working order is ultimately a privilege.

As a mental-health provider with a focus in functional medicine, it seems shallow, if not neglectful, to not talk to my clients about the

value of those very basic tenants of wellness: movement; nutrition; sleep; and connection.

In a functional medicine model there is no distinction between mental and physical.

Your body (that, yes, includes your brain) is constantly in an intimate, bidirectional dance, where a move or shift in one system can impact all others. Our emotions are driven by physiological events and can also trigger physiological events. How we treat our emotions and the story we tell ourselves about emotional experiences has a huge impact on our wellness from head to toe. And yet, we still live in a society skittish around confronting emotions and quick to shame or label certain emotions as weak.

I often ask my clients to define what constitutes “health.” What constitutes a “healthy” person?

From a holistic perspective and with a bias toward emotional wellness, I have seen many people check all the theoretical boxes watered down by outdated metrics and idealism, and yet be overwhelmed with despair.

Top-ranked in their career, hitting the gym every day, grabbing a green smoothie on their way to

work, returning to their meticulously maintained home, and ending their day tuning into their fiveminute meditation before they lie in their hypoallergenic bedding, and yet, peeling back the layers of emotional vulnerability is terrifying, as it goes against their continuous quest for perceived control.

I have found in my career that the greatest suffering comes in running away from emotion, not the emotions themselves. As we habituate distraction, numbing, and running, the disconnect that transpires can impact our whole-body wellness, our relationships, and our spirit.

As we enter the new year and in the pursuit of new goals and resolutions, I want to challenge you with a definition of health that transcends the number on the scale, dietary habits, blood pressure, or cholesterol.

My personal definition of health is: Cultivating a lifestyle, relational landscape, and spirituality that maximizes our capacity for compassion and connection.

Much of how society tells us to constitute health is altogether shallow.

Why are you losing that 10 pounds, cutting out carbs, or dusting off the treadmill? Pursuing a goal without meaningful clarity is unsustainable.

If we are honest with ourselves, most of our pursuits for better health have roots in seeking connection. Some of us simply don’t like to admit that because in doing so, we are admitting vulnerability.

Somewhere underneath the aesthetics of a slimmer waistline is probably the desire to be more accepted, seen, and acknowledged.

I will not pretend to have been immune to the emotional rollercoaster of the past year. My inner empath has felt heavy, and the reassurances for myself and others sometimes sparse. Nevertheless, I acknowledge the energy that I put forth has consequences both personally and professionally. And that goes for all of us. The energy I bring into sessions with clients or bring home to those I love matters.

Safeguarding that energy is a daily, intentional practice that sometimes feels like an uphill battle.

See COMPASSION on page 22

St. Charles Family Care St. Charles Family Care is passionate about providing patients with comprehensive medical care close to home. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinic has been available to provide you with important, routine care in a safe environment.

As always, St. Charles provides a team approach to your care. The Sisters clinic is staffed with primary care physicians, highly trained medical assistants, nurse care coordination, an embedded pharmacist and behavioral health specialist. They offer X-ray services and an outpatient laboratory.

By using a team-based care approach, St. Charles works to ensure you receive the treatment you need based on your unique health circumstances. Because the Sisters clinic is part of St. Charles Health System, patients benefit from ready access to specialized services, including on-site visiting cardiology, orthopedics, and women’s health care.

St. Charles believes active engagement between you and the clinic team is an important part of achieving your health care goals.

Call 541-549-1318 to make an appointment.

Sisters Dental We are here for you!

Trevor Frideres, D.M.D. Greg Everson, D.M.D. 541-549-2011 www.sistersdental.com

491 E. Main Ave., Sisters

Hours: Mon., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tues.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri., 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

FOCUS ON HEALTH

Of a certain

AGE

Sue Stafford, Columnist

Health Directive for Dementia Probably the biggest fear I have when it comes to aging is developing some form of dementia, like my mother did. Even now, when I can’t immediately think of a word or someone’s name, I worry this may be the beginning of memory issues.

Next June, I will celebrate my 77th birthday, so I am smack dab in the middle of the years when people may begin to experience progressive memory issues. I do what I can to keep my mind agile — walk every day, play word games and other brain-challenging activities, and continue working as a freelance writer.

In October 2018, I experienced a significant fall, hitting my head, which resulted in serious post-concussion symptoms that impacted my cognitive and physical abilities.

Fortunately, testing done by a neuropsychologist indicated that my brain was “working just fine,” according to the test results. That period of impairment brought right to the fore how much I cherish my mental faculties.

One of the best things I have done for myself now to prepare for any eventual dementia is to have a Health Directive for Dementia, which indicates what I want done by my family, physician, health proxy with power of attorney and people who would be taking care of me if I were to develop worsening dementia.

People with advancing dementia lose the ability to make decisions for themselves, making it necessary for families to make medical decisions for them, hopefully based on a medical Healthcare Advance Directive completed while they were legally competent.

The Health Directive for Dementia, or a Dementia Provision as an Advance Directive Addendum, is a supplemental instrument to the medical directive that can ease the burden of families in making end-oflife decisions. Having both the medical and dementia directives in the hands of my family and physician allows me to feel more secure that I’ll receive the care I want.

By providing guidance today, I am helping the people who will be caring for me in the future.

LI O/ FI ZK ES

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

TF O

20

If I develop serious dementia, and I can’t understand what’s happening around me, I wouldn’t want medical care that would prolong my life, but rather just keep me comfortable.

The Health Directive for Dementia describes each stage of dementia and gives choices for the goals of medical care I want for myself if I were at a particular stage of dementia. Choices at each stage range from living as long as I could, including restarting my heart, to not being taken to the hospital, through having a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, to receiving comfort-oriented care only.

The newest version of the Oregon Advance Directive form has an additional provision in which the list of instructions of what I want if I am disabled by dementia may be initialed.

R O /P OM C .

TO HO KP

A separate Dementia Provision may also be added to more thoroughly outline my wishes.

I do not fear death. I do fear a life of not knowing who I am or where I am, not able to experience the joys of life, and not knowing my friends and family. I want to ensure that my wishes are clearly spelled out and understood by those who may be called on to make decisions on my behalf. I don’t want my sons to have to guess what I might want.

Several different forms for a Dementia Directive are available online at www.dementia-directive. org and www.compassionandchoices. org. Medical Advance Directives are available from your physician or on the Oregon Health Authority website as well as from hospitals and hospices.

O IST

C

Council on Aging A regular phone call can make a world of difference to someone who is lonely.

Although it’s not uncommon for older adults to occasionally feel lonely, the COVID-19 pandemic has made the isolation epidemic worse. Through the Council on Aging’s new Caring Connections program, volunteers provide companionship and social contact to seniors through weekly phone calls. Our volunteers are local to Central Oregon, trained, and background checked.

“My Caring Connections volunteer calls me each week. He is conscientious and has never once missed If you are a senior interested in joining our calling me! I’m grateful to the Council on Aging for having this program. My Caring Connections buddy Caring Connections program or know an older has helped a great deal in alleviating the loneliness adult who would be a good fit for connecting to a volunteer weekly, call us at 541-678-5483. that I feel.” – Joseph

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH in 2021 with Virtual Programs!

WITH CHRONIC CENTRAL OREGON CONDITIONS Two New Classes in Fridays 2-4 p.m., Jan. 29-Mar 5

— COST: $10 — Scholarships Available For more information or to sign up:

541-408-6111

kimr@deschutes.org www.livingwell.co.org

January 2021!

— NO COST — For more information or to sign up:

541-322-7446

sarahw@ deschutes.org www.deschutes.org/ preventdiabetes

To request this information in an alternate format, please call 541-322-7446 or send an email to accessibility@deschutes.org.

Prevent Diabetes and Living Well Diabetes is a threat to the health and wellbeing of many in Sisters Country. Prevent Diabetes Central Oregon is an evidence-based program of Deschutes County Health Services that offers attainable lifestyle changes to prevent type 2 diabetes.

You will work with other participants and a trained lifestyle coach to learn the skills you need to make lasting changes. These changes include losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active, and managing stress. New sessions begin via Zoom January 26 and run Tuesdays 1 to 2 p.m. and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The Living Well With Chronic Conditions Program is a six-week workshop that offers

strategies and techniques to manage conditions from arthritis to depression. Find practical ways to deal with pain and fatigue. Discover better nutrition and exercise choices. Understand new treatment choices. Learn better ways to talk with your doctor and family about your health.

For more information visit www.deschutes. org, www.deschutes.org/preventdiabetes, or www.livingwellco.org.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

21

Medicare Advantage open

Vaccination clinics set at fairgrounds

January 1 marked the beginning of the 2021 Medicare Advantage open enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries with an existing Medicare Advantage plan.

Beneficiaries who take advantage of this open enrollment period will have coverage that starts the first day of the month after the enrollment action.

Before March 31, beneficiaries who already have a Medicare Advantage plan can: • Change to a different Medicare Advantage plan, either with or without drug coverage.

• Enroll in a stand-alone Part D (prescription drug) plan, which returns the beneficiary to Original Medicare.

Beneficiaries can make only one change during this enrollment period and cannot change from one stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan to another stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.

Other enrollment opportunities if someone missed the December 7 deadline: • Oregonians have one five-star plan through Kaiser Permanente that will accept enrollments at any time.

• Anyone affected by COVID-19 or Oregon’s wildfires may still have time to enroll in a plan under a four-month special enrollment period, which begins the date affected.

• Anyone affected by nonrenewing plans (e.g., Moda Med-Advantage) still has time to choose a plan.

Oregon’s SHIBA program is available to help beneficiaries understand their options. To find free, local Medicare counseling help, go to dcbspage.org/SHIBALOCAL or call 800-722-4134 to speak to a Medicare counselor.

SHIBA counselors can help Oregonians navigate the Medicare.gov Plan Finder tool to enter prescriptions and compare the cost and benefits of individual drug plans, provide enrollment guidance, and answer any questions related to Medicare benefits. These services are available remotely statewide to ensure the safety of clients and counselors.

Starting this week, St. Charles Health System and Deschutes County are hosting vaccination clinics at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center. The clinics are available to individuals in the Phase 1A group by appointment only.

“We are preparing to move vaccine clinics to the fairgrounds so that we can safely vaccinate more people faster,” said Dr. Jeff Absalon, chief physician executive for St. Charles. “We are going to be ready to deploy vaccine to our community. But we also acknowledge the vaccine is in very short supply. We are striving to get as many doses here as possible.”

In a press conference on Friday, Gov. Kate Brown and Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen announced changes to eligibility requirements for the vaccine: • Vaccination of the 1A group — including healthcare providers, first responders, medically fragile children and their caretakers and those with intellectual disabilities — continues. It is the only group eligible for vaccination at this time.

• Starting the week of January 25 (and in some counties, sooner), childcare providers, early learning and K-12 educators and staff will be eligible for vaccination.

• Starting the week of February 8, vaccinations will open to individuals 80 years and older — who represent 30 percent of COVID19 deaths in Oregon • Following the 80 and older group, seniors in three age bands will also become eligible in the following order (the dates

to be announced): • Seniors 75 and older • Seniors 70 and older • Seniors 65 and older “We are very fortunate to have an opportunity to continue COVID-19 vaccination and to broaden the pool of our population eligible for this potentially life-saving vaccine,” said Deschutes County Health Services Director Dr. George Conway.

Deschutes County Health Services is launching an online platform that will allow residents to sign up to be notified when they are eligible and about how to make an appointment to be vaccinated. More information will be available at www.deschutes.org/ covid19vaccine.

To date, St. Charles and Deschutes County have administered more than 7,000 vaccines.

As of last Monday, individuals who are in the 1A vaccination group can resume scheduling an appointment. Registration had been temporarily suspended while the health system verified how many doses would be available in its next allotment. More information about the registration process can be found at the St. Charles Health System website, www. stcharleshealthcare.org.

“We are going to vaccinate the 1A group through next week, and will broaden our vaccination efforts to the next group, educators, on January 25,” Absalon said.

For more information about the vaccine, Deschutes County residents can visit www. deschutes.org/covid19vaccine.

Partners In Care After nearly 20 years providing inpatient care in a six-bed unit, Partners In Care is constructing a new 12-bed Hospice House on its campus in Bend in order to meet the healthcare needs of a growing population.

Hospice House is designed to care for hospice patients with the most acute end-of-life needs or who will benefit from a short stay to provide respite for family members. The spacious suites will accommodate patients in a homelike setting while they receive 24/7 care.

Hospice House is the only specialty hospital of its kind in Oregon east of the Cascades.

Partners In Care serves hundreds of patients each day in their homes and care facilities. Core service lines include Home Health, Transitions, Palliative Care, and Grief Support in addition to Hospice.

Information about the new Hospice House, and a video featuring three patient stories can be viewed at www.PartnersBend.org/campaign.

Let me help design a custom itinerary, off the beaten path...

Active, Outdoor Adventures!

Hiking • Biking • Multi-Sport

Luxury & Adventure Specialist,, re Susan Waymire, CTC, TravelStore 541-719-8997 Susan.W@travelstore.com

FOCUS ON HEALTH

22

Wednesday, January 20, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

COMPASSION: Lifestyle choices can make us kinder humans Continued from page 19

As I wake up in the early morning hours seeing frost on the ground or the rain pouring down, there is little motivation to put on my layers, don my headlamp, and run the handful of miles I do while dodging icy puddles and muttering resentments that I can’t be warm in the comfort of my currently closed gym (thank you for your pity).

Ultimately, I run those miles because I know it makes me a more productive, pleasant person, more likely to be compassionate and connected. The same goes for the sleep I get, the foods I put in my mouth, who I spend my time with and my spiritual practices. These lifestyle choices matter, not simply because they check a

box, but because they are critical to how I show up in this world and are the provisions needed for me to be a kinder human. In my view, that elevates them from mainstream recommendations to sacred and yes, a privilege.

Our world has always had its challenges. This past year it’s been a doozy and undoubtedly, there will be more challenges ahead. It is easy to burn out and hit the metaphorical (or literal) snooze button time and again. Denial is the ultimate form of disconnect.

With all the pain and loss, it is easy to harden our hearts, feel defensive, take sides and lean into anger rather than compassion. It takes courage to confront the pain, but rather than hardening our hearts, we can seek to strengthen them.

Simply put, when we can nourish, move, and rest our bodies, and ground our spirit, this strength comes easier.

HEALTHIER AFTER CANCER: Put effort into living for wellness Continued from page 18

time and whether my choices were making me happy and content. We began spending more time outside on hikes and paddling kayaks on rivers and lakes. I began to feel joy again.

I took a class through the St. Charles post-cancer support network. We read Brené Brown’s book, “Rising Strong.” Her suggestion to get curious about your thoughts and then take the time to explore their origins opened all kinds of doors to understanding myself better. I began to stop and think before obeying my impulses.

I began to recognize thoughts that were holdovers from childhood and no longer relevant to me.

Even with all those changes, sometimes I still feel anxiety about cancer coming back. Sometimes, it’s because someone comes up to me and asks, “How’s your health?”

I look at their eyes and know what they’re really asking, “Do you have cancer again?” Thinking about that grabs my chest and squeezes. I have to take a moment, breathe and answer without the emotion I feel welling up.

It’s those kinds of interactions that used to cut me down. But now, I can remind myself I’m doing a lot to keep myself well in both mind and body.

There are no guarantees, but changing my life and not living in the same way I was when I was diagnosed makes me feel better. In the end, my life has improved since I had cancer.

I have learned a lot. I appreciate time with family and being in beauty.

I don’t take my health for granted.

Hummel Laser Therapy

HUMMEL LASER THERAPY — BETH HUMMEL, BSN, RN, LMT —

Call to schedule an appointment 541-550-6234 • Lic#12764

Just about everyone suffers from the aches and pains that living brings — especially when the weather turns cold and damp. Hummel Laser Therapy brings relief and healing to those dealing with pain and inflammation.

Beth Hummel employs a class IV heat laser, a powerful therapeutic instrument that uses focused light to stimulate a process called photobiomodulation. Since she launched her practice in Sisters last year, her clients have found success in dealing with chronic complaints and nagging injuries.

Laser therapy generates a photochemical response in damaged tissue, stimulating healing on a cellular level by enabling cells to more rapidly produce energy.

“Simply put: The light goes into the cells, wakes

those cells up, and gets the cells active again,” Hummel explains. “The big key factor is increased range of motion and decreased inflammation. It’s noninvasive and drug free.”

Beth will work with your schedule to make appointments convenient.

Life.Love.Yoga.

During these difficult times, Life.Love.Yoga., like many small businesses, has had to adapt.

The Sisters yoga studio, which opened in 2009, was forced to close its doors last year due to COVID-19. Since then they have been offering daily live yoga, meditation, and barre classes via Zoom.

Throughout the summer and fall, classes were also held outside in various locations such as FivePine, Black Butte Ranch, and private residences. They plan to start those outdoor classes up again as soon as the weather allows. Joining them online is an easy process, you simply visit their website at www.lifeloveyoga.com, create a student account, purchase a class pass, and then sign up for any classes that interest you.

A unique link will then be emailed through the studio software, along with class reminders. Life.Love.Yoga. still has their full teaching staff and a robust schedule — now virtually!

Next week...

• Working out effectively at home

HELPING PATIENTS GET MOVING!

Physical Therapy • Aquatic Therapy Post-Surgical • Sports-Specific Training Strengthening & Conditioning Strengthe

541-549-3574 2022 Desperado Trail, Ste 201 at Sisters Athletic Club www.therapeuticassociates.com/Sisters

Walk-In & Same-Day Appointments

541-549-9609 | 354 W. Adams Ave., Sisters Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed for lunch from Noon to 1 p.m. daily Lab Hours by Appt., Monday 8 a.m. to Noon

highlakeshealthcare.com/locations/sisters

• Body work for better health • Improving sleep in stressful times • Sisters is home to supplement innovators