Summer 2014
A FREE Calgary-Based Magazine
Getting Ahead of
Mental Illness
facebook.com/trifectamag | tri·fec·ta • achieving optimal results involving three aspects of health: Mind, Body and Soul.
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Calgary’s Solar Powered, Environmental Printer 2 5 0 7 - 1 2 t h S t r e e t N e C a l g a r y , a l b e r ta t 2 e 7 l 5 telephoNe: 403-250-9510 www.mcara.com
contributors
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Celebrating 15 Years of pinkPOWER!
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An Innocent Question for Science
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Cover Story: If you met Michelle Crossland, you might think to
yourself, “Well, here is a bright, young woman who has it all figured out”. Michelle, who is only 25, has a degree in public relations, several awards and scholarships under her belt and is well on her way to becoming a leader in her field. Michelle shares with us a deeper look into her life as she discusses her journey through mental illness and how she managed to get ahead of this common disease before it debilitated her completely. We are grateful to Michelle for being so candid about an illness that affects so many men, women and children. Enjoy! Trifecta Magazine focuses on three aspects of health; Mind, Body and Soul. Achieving optimal results in these three areas is considered a perfect balance or trifecta, hence the name of this publication – Trifecta. Inspiring well-being and mindful living through community connection right here in Calgary, Trifecta Magazine provides a channel for community members to both share and learn from each other’s experiences in a solution-based forum of expression. Trifecta Magazine attracts readers, writers and advertisers with a desire for betterment and provides exposure to the many types of therapies, products and practitioners throughout Calgary and surrounding areas that can help people advance on their personal journeys. We hope you enjoy the experience and we look forward to sharing our passion in many issues to come.
For information on advertising opportunities or to contribute to Trifecta Magazine, email sales@trifectamagazine.ca. Trifecta Magazine can be delivered quarterly directly to your home or office for only $24.95 + GST for a one year subscription. Email sales@trifectamagazine.ca for more information. Published by Allison Cartwright and Cindy Drummond
By Colleen Clancy
By Sabine Goubau
Are You Living Your Tai Chi? By Jane Sponiar
Transforming Your Life Through the Practice of Qigong
By Munira Jawa
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Releasing Negative Energy
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Bowen Therapy – A Hidden Gem
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By Laura Principe
By Sandi Melnychuk
Making a Difference: Making Changes By Sonia Okamoto
Ever Since Happiness Heard Your Name, It Has Been Running Through the Streets Trying to Find You By Deborah Nichol
Starting Over
By Mark Groves
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Kick Some “BUT”
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Getting Ahead of Mental Illness
By Ramona Remesat
By Michelle Crossland
22 The Heart Of Leadership: Listening
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By Abe Brown
The Empty Nesting Project
By Wendy Zak
Container Inspirations By Joanne Dafoe
The Art of Manifesting By Tracy Makarenko
Be Cool in Bamboo
By Tanya Ristoff
Secrets to a Healthy Body and Healthy Weight
By Dr. Alma Nenshi, B.Sc., DC
The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights in regards to copyright of their work. No part of this work covered by the copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and advertisers and do not necessarily reflect those of Trifecta Magazine. Readers are encouraged to consult with their health professional before embarking on any exercise, medical or nutritional changes. Summer 2014
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Celebrating 15 years of pinkPOWER! By Colleen Clancy, President Chickwagon! was “hatched” in 1999 by a dynamic consortium of businesswomen led by Calgary businesswoman, Arlene Flock, who pooled their money to buy a chuckwagon in the Calgary Stampede’s Rangeland Derby. What began as a way to have fun, and to “take on the good ol’ boys” in the male dominated sport of chuckwagon racing, became a force to be reckoned with, soon gaining acclaim locally and nationally. “To Calgarians, the seemingly politically incorrect Chickwagon! had become a household name and the most sought after marketing vehicle in Western Canada. Traditionally the domain of established and well financed corporate businessmen, the Rangeland Derby got a big surprise when 100 local businesswomen banded together and made history as the first all female consortium entered in this iconic race!”, recalls originator and former Executive Director, Rita Egizii. From our members decked out in signature hot pink, black and bling, joined on the tarmac by our lively yellow and pink fleece winged mascots waving flags madly; to making a powerful statement in the Stampede Parade; to giving the barns a much needed décor makeover, chuckwagon racing has never been the same since. And neither has the way Calgary businesswomen approach networking, mentoring and fundraising!
Chickwagon! members gain great personal satisfaction from the many opportunities to utilize their expertise in creating fundraising events and hosting at the barns, as well as providing fresh fruit and vegetables to those served by the YWCA of Calgary through our Fresh Fruit Fridays Program, Christmas gifts through our Bows and Baskets Program and Mother’s Day Cupcake Baking. Chickwagon! is also attuned to the education and professional development of women. In 2007, the Chickwagon! Foundation for Women scholarship was developed through the University of Calgary, providing funding for studies in social work in the field of domestic violence. Networking and education opportunities are regularly provided for members to learn through mentorship, social networking and speaker’s forums. While we celebrate the power of women, this is not to say that we are militantly feminist. We definitely have a warm spot in our heart for our “Chickmates” who are the heart and soul of presenting our barn hosting and special events. The “Chicks” are held in high regard by the Cowboys and our chuckwagon driver and his team become like family for the ten days each Stampede.
Chickwagon! is a group of dynamic women who together support the sport of chuckwagon racing, provide women with the opportunity for professional and personal growth and create a living legacy through community involvement. Since 1999, Chickwagon! has contributed in excess of $600,000 to organizations including Wings of Hope, Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter, The Women’s Centre, Safe Haven, Project 118 Youth Ranch and the YWCA. We are very excited to have reached our goal last year of a $100,000 Endowment Fund held by the YWCA of Calgary for a future project. In 2007, Chickwagon! narrowed its focus and became committed to providing support to women and their families in our community affected by homelessness, domestic violence and poverty. As widely recognized ambassadors of the Calgary Stampede, we use our unique participation to generate critical funds and raise our voices to bring awareness to local and international audiences that “Home Should Be A Safe Place To Hang Your Hat!”
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The barns become a lively place to be. Nightly BBQ’s take place and guests are entertained in style, having an opportunity to mingle and trade harrowing stories with the driver and his outriders of that night’s race. It is a bit of a gypsy lifestyle so we also include the drivers wives as Honorary Chicks with a special welcome and presentation of “Chickwear”. We have even held afternoon tea for the driver’s wives at the barns. China cups, tea sandwiches and cupcakes surrounded by horses and hay bales is a site to behold! All this does come at a cost and, along with Membership fees, sponsorship is a necessary part of our operations to enable us to buy the wagon and provide the annual member benefits. As we look forward to an exciting year of 15th Anniversary celebrations, we welcome new members and offer a wide variety of sponsorship opportunities. We invite you to be part of the future of Calgary’s most unique and dynamic group of women. Please visit www.chickwagon.com for more information or to register today!
Giddy Up Go Chickwagon!
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
from the publisher With a few issues under our belt, both Allison and I are feeling grateful for the tremendous amount of support we have received from our friends, advertisers, contributors and our community. It’s not an easy feat to publish a magazine in the competitive digital age we are living in, but both Allison and I agree, there is something quite magical about picking up a brand new, glossy magazine and flipping through the pages to learn about a new business, read an inspiring story or find out what’s going on about town. We are thrilled that you have embraced Trifecta Mind Body Soul and hope you will continue along with us on this journey as we stay true to our vision to bring you some old school publishing with a focus on new age thinking.
Look for quarterly issues of Trifecta Magazine in stands throughout Calgary: S.E. Crossroads Market • 1235 26 Ave SE The Divine Mine • 222, 11566 –24 Street SE Fair’s Fair Books • 907 – 9 Avenue SE Good Earth Café • 356 Cranston Road SE Morning Sun Health • 19 – 275 Shawville Blvd. SE Sangster’s Health • 400 Willow Park Village SE S.W. Casablanca Video • 2101 – 33 Avenue SW Fair’s Fair Books • 104 – 61 Avenue SW Fair’s Fair Books • 7400 Macleod Trail SW Fair’s Fair Books • 1609 – 14 Street SW Fallen Angel Creations from Above • 827 – 17th Ave. SW Good Earth Café • 1600 – 90 Avenue SW Good Earth Café • 1502 – 11 Street SW Kingsland Farmers Market • 7711 Macleod Trail South Morning Sun Health • 104, 1600 - 90th Avenue SW
With Gratitude, Cindy Drummond
Morning Sun Health • 5747 Signal Hill Centre SW Morning Sun Health • 1200 – 37 Street SW Planet Organic • 10233 Elbow Drive SW N.E. Morning Sun Health • 2525 – 36 Street NE N.W. Angels Cappuccino & Ice Cream • Edworthy Park NW Bowness Health Foods • 6435 Bowness Road NW
INVITES YOU TO JOIN US FOR STAMPEDE
Central Blends Café • 203 – 19 Street NW Euphoria Café • 124 – 5403 Crowchild Trail NW Extreme Bean Café • 3303 – 3 Avenue NW
& A Celebration of 15 Years of pinkPOWER JULY 9TH, 2014
6 PM TO CLOSE
OSTERIA DE MEDICI STAMPEDE CORRAL $65/PERSON
$55/CHICKWAGON! MEMBERS
Tickets available at www.chickwagon.com
R E S TA U R A N T
• No Line VIP Access • A Private Party In The Chickwagon! Crystal Corral Sky Lounge • Musical Entertainment & Special Guests • Buffet Dinner & A Complimentary Beverage
201 - 10TH STREET NW
Summer 2014
IN THE HEART OF KENSINGTON
Fair’s Fair Books • 1829 Ranchlands Blvd. NW Friends Café • 104 – 45 Edenwold Drive NW Good Earth Café • 31 Crowfoot Terrace NW Lazy Loaf & Kettle • 8 Parkdale Crescent NW New Age Books & Crystals • 142 – 10 Street NW Nurture Health & Wellness • 63 Crowfoot Terrace NW Relax Café • 101, 502 – 25 Avenue NW Salt Crystal • 128, 5403 Crowchild Trail NW Self Connection Books • 125, 4611 Bowness Road NW Soul Food Books • 3, 213 – 19 Street NW If your business is interested in carrying Trifecta Magazine, contact sales@trifectamagazine.ca. Trifecta Magazine is distributed by JoyFull Promotions. facebook.com/trifectamag
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An Innocent Question for Science By Sabine Goubau
My daughter was eight when she asked me this: “I get that the brain and nerves and all that are controlling our body, but what’s controlling our brain?” She was learning biology in her new school in Spain and we were walking home in the scorching midafternoon heat. Her little hand was holding mine while she never stopped talking, so she could let my brain do the work of keeping her safe from the heavy road traffic. “I have that question too,” I said wondering in silence how an eight-yearold could have a query that my fellow scientists had always blatantly ignored. “I have no answer for you now, but never forget that question.” Seven years later I spotted a lead on an answer. So far we know that the activity of the brain shows as movements of molecules and with them, the generation of electrical currents. This activity can trickle down and cause all kinds of changes in the body, including in the brain itself. But this is like explaining the game of billiards without mentioning the cue and the person holding it. It’s no wonder a child would ask what makes the balls move. This is where concepts such as mind, consciousness, soul or spirit get invoked. These are not physical realities to us and are not part of the ball game of modern science. Perhaps this is why we are stuck. How does the consciousness interact with the brain to create movements of particles and electrical currents? We’ve explained what the billiard balls do and mentioned the player, but not the cue. When you have a burning question, you don’t miss the answer when it shows up. For me, it came in the form of a book left untouched for three years on the shelf of the Dunedin public library, a small town at the southern end of the South Island of New Zealand. It was large with small print and no images. It would have looked tedious to anyone, but a scientist. The book was written in very clear English translated from Mandarin and described the missing link between the consciousness and physical existences, with a concept called Qi. Qi has been studied for thousands of years in Chinese culture and the theory is complex. Put simply, it says that Qi is the source of everything in the universe, that all physical and non-physical existences (that includes consciousness) are a form of Qi and that Qi is continuous. This means that the universe is continuous: a web, or, as physicists would call it, a field, of Qi. This is a leap from Western thought, which usually doesn’t, or barely, recognizes the continuity between the consciousness and the body. Some religions create a separation between body and spirit as if you could attend to one without the other. Qi theory says that the lack of health in one will drag down the other because they are intimately connected. This is the missing link that can explain the elusive, but well-documented, placebo effect. From the perspective of Qi, the consciousness and the body have the same origin and are different aspects of the same thing. In practical terms it means that when you affect one, you are indirectly also affecting the other. From this viewpoint the placebo effect is not mysterious and can be studied and exploited.
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Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
How do we know that this is how Qi works? Through systematic inquiry. For millennia people have been experimenting with Qi to test the theory and refine it. As for any science this takes considerable expertise and requires special methods, some of which are called Qigong. Modern science is not much involved, partly because few scientists have the familiarity with Qi and the experience in working with consciousness that would allow them to carry out this kind of research. I also don’t think it can be done without questioning some of the paradigms of modern research. And what does this have to do with you? Everything! You are Qi. How can you understand your problems and fix them, if you’re missing half the pieces of the puzzle? We have a lot of autonomy in the way we live our lives. The downside is that, if we don’t understand our life very well, it is almost impossible to avoid making mistakes and piling-up problems. We’ve all tripped and been bruised. We all know that our life is subject to the law of gravity. It is also subject to the laws of Qi. And when we start to grasp those laws we can better protect ourselves and avoid illness. My daughter hasn’t asked me that question again. Perhaps she has more pressing concerns as a young adult. It could also be that she doesn’t feel stuck anymore because I have given her the clue: “Look at Qi.” The curious do not need to go to Dunedin. I have left a copy of the book in the Calgary public library. Search under author “Yuan Tze”.
Illuminous Vibrations
Healing through Light, Sound and Energy
Sound & Vibration Therapy Light Language Reiki Yuen Method Millennium Method Aromatherapy Chromalive Therapy Acutonics Fibonacci Process Drumming Circles
Sabine Goubau Certified Ren Xue and Qigong teacher and therapist, PhD in Biology
I am thrilled to share the beloved harmonics of mother earth and the universe with(in) you! Sound healing is presented through the tones of crystal and alchemy singing bowls; overtones of the tibetan singing bowls; acutonics & fibonacci process (tuning forks); ancient wisdoms of tingshas; faery bells; sacred instruments of drums and rattles; voice toning and light language (language of vibration). Energetics (Usui & Karuna Reiki, Yuen Method, Millenium Method), Chromalive (Light & Color) therapy and Aromatherapy are often used to compliment your session as well. Sound and energetics are powerful in supporting your healing and transformation! Shed “old patterns” and enhance your “vibrational glow” to its optimum. It is truly a life shifting experience! Namaste.
~ Jolene Tse ~
Personal and Group Sessions Available www.illuminousvibrations.com
hoMe… made to enjoy
M a i n F l o o r , 1 1 0 – 8 av e n u e S W
Summer 2014
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Tai Chi
healing through movement
Are You Living Your Tai Chi? By Jane Sponiar
After our first child was born, I was ready for some much needed activity to nurture my exhausted body and aching soul. I found a Tai Chi class at the Eau Claire YMCA and am forever grateful to my teacher, Stephen Leung, for his guidance through this wonderful art. It has become my daily companion for over two decades and I continue to share my passion for Tai Chi with others.
me to rewire my left and right brain by having to remember all the different moves and how to do them. Without Tai Chi, I believe I would never have come as far as I have.” Tai Chi could be as physically demanding as you wish depending on your fitness level, age and health limitations. The form could be also done as visualization, sitting in chair with arms only, or even in the water. Some people focus more on meditative aspects and others like the social part of group interactions. Tai Chi is for everybody, but it is up to you to determine if Tai Chi is right for you and how you plan to adopt it into your life. This is how to live your Tai Chi. Jane Sponiar, MSc. Kinesiology Tai Chi, Qigong, Yoga & Meditation teacher, Reiki Master
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Being a national level swimmer in my youth and after that an avid climber for a decade, I had 20 years of vigorous daily training experience when I came to Canada with my husband. It was a life changing experience, and not easy one.
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Some people focus more on meditative aspects and others like the social part of group interactions.
Tai Chi, an old internal art form now has reemerged as an exercise for overall health and well being. Traditionally it was practiced as a martial art and although these aspects are still present and visible, it is the value of this rejuvenating and healing practice that attracts the attention of many practitioners today. To watch a Tai Chi master perform is like admiring a painting in a museum; it is beautiful and mesmerizing. To strive for the same performance as a Tai Chi master gives practitioners a great challenge, but also endless satisfaction. You can practice Tai Chi anywhere, anytime and for as long as you desire. I’ve done it on mountains, in art galleries, or confined to tiny spaces during my travels. Whether you practice Tai Chi for five minutes or a few hours, it can bring real transformation to your life. There are many health benefits from the regular practice of Tai Chi. I have heard from my students how it helped them with stress, insomnia, balance, pain management and more. Besides healing your physical body Tai Chi also offers peace and stillness to the mind. When you engage in a Tai Chi routine, it is impossible to ‘contemplate’ anything else. You as the practitioner have to be present in the moment focusing on performing each move precisely and in the right order. If your mind drifts the sequence could be lost. Lori Healy, one of my students at Wellspring Calgary (an organization that provides support, resources and programs for anyone living with cancer) says “Diagnosed with brain cancer, I went through surgery, maximum radiation and chemotherapy. Then I found Wellspring Calgary and Tai Chi. I attribute a lot of my recovery to Tai Chi, as it strengthened all my muscles, gave me a lot of my balance back, taught me how to meditate, helped my cognitive abilities, my coordination and helped
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Qigong
healing through movement
Transforming Your Life Through the Practice of Qigong By Munira Jiwa
Qigong has sometimes been referred to as “Acupuncture without the use of needles” as both of these tools are used to help balance and get the energy flowing smoothly in our energetic system. When you experience symptoms such as a cold, arthritis, depression or any disease, these are symptoms of the imbalance of energy flow in your body. There are many styles of Qigong available for you to study. Spring Forest Qigong (SFQ) is a form of Medical Qigong that was developed by International Qigong Master Chunyi Lin. Spring Forest Qigong is a practice of simple movements, mental focus, breathing and meditation. In creating SFQ, Chunyi Lin has blended these together into a system that is so simple yet so very powerful that thousands of students have found the practice life changing. SFQ enables us to tap into our body’s inner wisdom and activate our ability to help ourselves heal physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Calgary and surrounding areas. Visit www.meetup.com/spring-forestqigong-community to check out free introductions and drop in classes. The practice of SFQ has completely transformed my life and continues to do so. Not only do I enjoy good health and vitality, but I have met so many wonderful people that are now part of our growing “Qi- Community” in Calgary and throughout Canada. The practice has positively changed my perspective of how I choose to live my life in joy and harmony. Munira Jiwa, BScPT Certified Spring Forest Qigong Instructor and Master Healer Spreader of Qi-Joy
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Qigong (Chee - gong) is an ancient selfhealing practice originating in China that dates back thousands of years. It is a form of meditation exercises designed to help you remove energetic blockages and balance your energy in your body. With balanced energy, you experience optimal health and can live a life full of vitality, joy and peace.
The practice of Spring Forest Qigong has completely transformed my life and continues to do so.
Everything in the Universe is energy or “Qi”. This fact has been recognized by scientists since the work of Albert Einstein. Everything that we can see, as well as everything we can not see, is composed of dynamic relationships of energy. Einstein proved that while energy cannot be created nor destroyed, it can be transformed. In Qigong healing we learn to transform energy, in that we can transform the energy blockages leading to illness or sickness into wellness. Energy flows through our body similarly to how water flows in a river system. It is meant to flow smoothly and harmoniously. The energy in our body is meant to flow smoothly and we are meant to experience wellness. When we experience symptoms such as a cold, headache or depression, these are symptoms that manifest due to the imbalance of energy flow in your body. When we remove energy blockages and restore energy flow, the symptoms will dissipate or completely go away.
Join
Munira Jiwa
and experience Spring Forest Qigong; Learn how to balance your energy
I was led to the simple practice of Spring Forest Qigong eight years ago when I was suffering from chronic neck and back pain, fatigue and low energy. Trained as a Physical Therapist, I was unable to find any long term relief of my symptoms using traditional western therapies. Within a very short period of time of practicing SFQ daily, I started to feel better, more energized, and happier. After practicing for about six weeks I realized that all my chronic neck and back pain were completely gone! The positive results that I experienced compelled me to study SFQ further so that I could share this simple yet profound practice with others. I went to Minneapolis to study with Master Lin, the creator of SFQ and became the first Certified SFQ Instructor in Canada in 2009. SFQ is a wonderful complementary practice to the many healing modalities available to you. If you would like to experience how this simple practice can assist you, you can drop in and experience the practice through one of the many practice sessions that are offered throughout Summer 2014
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and optimize your health and well-being using: breath, your mind, movement and sound. Learn more at
www.coreenergywellness.com
or Contact Munira directly
(403) 681-5492 • mjiwa@coreinc.ca Join our SFQ community on meetup
www.meetup.com/spring-forest-qigong-community Sharing the practice of Spring Forest Qigong
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Releasing Negative Energy By Laura Principe
There are moments when you are surrounded by people that elate you, that create a vibrant, positive energy within you. There are also times when you find yourself with people that bring you down, make you feel tense and negative. You find yourself exhausted and drained rather than joyful. Or your mood easily turns sour. The best way to avoid this energy is to not put yourself in that position in the first place but that can be hard if there are obligations to meet with these toxic people. So what can you do to release it after? • Literally shake it off. When you are no longer in their presence, shake your body as if you are shaking something awful off. It may sound weird but it works, especially if at the same time, you mentally tell yourself that it is over and you are moving forward. • Take deep, big breaths and with every exhale, sigh out all the negativity in your body and mind. Do as many big breaths as needed. Inhale through the nose and a strong exhale through the mouth. Think of a mantra to say with every breath such as, “I release the negative hold.” Or, “I release the energy _________ put on me.” Or better yet, include a positive mantra with the negative such as, “I release the need to hold on to this tension as I find strength to move forward.” If there is a phrase that works better for you, use that instead.
for those who heal with light
• Therapuetic & Stress Relief Massage • Aromatic Kinesiology • Reiki Sessions & Classes • Enlightened Drops Therapy Jeannine Millan RMT, CA Usui Reiki Master www.enlightenedhands.com ~ 403.229.4840
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Enlightened Hands
• Give in to your emotions. If you feel angry, scream. If you feel sad, cry. Whatever you feel, simply let it happen and embrace it. Expressing emotions rather than holding them in releases the tension in your body and frees up your mind for more authentic thoughts. Lock yourself in your car or in your room if you need privacy. After you finished your vent session, release the moment and carry on with your day.
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I believe that regular meditation is the key to building long-lasting, beneficial energy for yourself.
• Listen to your body and mind. Lie down or sit in a comfortable position and let all thoughts, emotions, sensations, and images come into your body and mind. Listen to its message. What can you learn from this experience? Examples: How can you prevent letting yourself be in a toxic situation in the first place? If there is something that really bothers you, is it worth holding your tongue and feeling the tension for days after? Or perhaps is it better to build up your confidence to speak your mind so you can free yourself from days of discomfort ahead. Do you need to learn techniques of creating more power in yourself and releasing negative energy? Should you buy a book on this subject?
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Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
Also, listen to what sensations are coming from your body. Is your stomach in knots? Perhaps that is a great clue to use in the future when you are involved in a toxic situation you don’t want to be in. If you feel your stomach cramping, then it’s time to either remove yourself from the situation or do something about it. The stomach is just one area. Do you feel anything else? What other messages are coming to you? The mind is capable of doubts, self-blame, and the constant debate of what to do but the body never lies. Listen to it. It will tell you what to do. • Meditate. This is best done when you’re not in the thick of negative energy but after, when you’ve restored yourself somewhat. It can be for as little as five minutes or as long as an hour. Whatever it takes. Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed and sit or lie in a comfortable position. Meditation is about focusing your mind on one thing while trying to still the chatter in the brain. It is not forced. You simply drift back and forth between the stillness and the chatter. You can focus on a breath, a mantra, or an image. There are many great meditation CD’s out there or download some from itunes. I believe that regular meditation is the key to building long-lasting, beneficial energy for yourself. It helps build confidence so that when troubled energy comes your way, you’ll know how to approach it, address it, and release it quickly and resume your true nature. So, did you try any of these? How did it go? Sometimes you’ll feel better right away and sometimes you’ll need practice. Keep at it because the results are worth it. Being on the other side of tension is simply incredible. Laura Principe Revive Calgary
holistic oasis studio improve health • resolve pain • optimize performance
Reiki Bowen Therapy EFT “I’m 100% committed to helping you attain Sandi Melnychuk, better health.” Reiki Master, Advanced Bowen and Certified EFT practitioner
For appointments, consultations or information on Holistic Healing services: 403-852 1200 • sandmel@telus.net www. holisticoasisstudio.ca
Bowen Therapy – A Hidden Gem By Sandi Melnychuk
Have you heard of Bowen Therapy? Until four years ago I hadn’t, but after struggling with a shoulder injury, a friend had suggested it. I am very pleased to say, after only three sessions I was completely pain free! I was left wondering why such a good, effective therapy is so unknown. The answer is, it is still relatively new, but it is getting much attention around the world as it’s results can be quite amazing! How does this therapy work? It affects the nervous system by settling the fight/flight system and activating the parasympathetic system. It’s responsible for regenerating 80% of our body. There is another component that correlates with the Chinese meridians. This technique addresses not only the musculo-skeletal system, but the fascia, nerves and internal organs.
Bowen is so gentle that it can help the young and old. It can assist in recovery of sickness and disease. It can be considered for depression, back pain, shoulder problems, digestive problems, menstrual and hormonal irregularities, sport and accident injuries. The list goes on and on! If you would like more information on Bowen therapy, visit www.holisticoasisstudio.com Sandi Melnychuk Holistic Oasis Studio
It is truly a therapy like no other! The gentle but precise moves send messages deep into the body, causing relaxation, and accelerated healing.
Summer 2014
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making a difference Making Changes for Teens: My Best Friend’s Closet Walk into almost any mall in Calgary and you’re bound to see teenagers there. Lots of them. They come in throngs after school and on weekends to hang out and, inevitably, to shop. Girls especially are notorious for their passion for clothes, shoes, and fashion. We often think of shopping and teenaged girls as going hand in hand, so it can be easy to forget that there are many young women in our city who do not get this privilege. This can be a tough circumstance in one’s teen years; it is a time when fitting in with peers is especially important and, simultaneously, a time when selfconfidence can be at its most fragile. We know that having a sense of belonging and positive self-esteem are important factors in the success and emotional well-being of our young people. Feeling that you have clothes in your closet that help you fit in with your peers can be a gateway to engaging in school, participating in recreational activities, and increasing confidence. Making Changes Association recognizes the numerous factors that can impact a family’s ability to provide an adequate wardrobe for their teenaged daughters. Some parents may be struggling financially, being under or unemployed; some may be transitioning into the workforce; and others may also be new to Canada. As families try to manage the many costs associated with raising their children, such as school supplies, bus fees, and extra-curricular fees, buying stylish clothing is not always feasible. If you are a newcomer to this country, you may also find yourself unprepared for the range of clothing and apparel needed to make it through our four distinct seasons.
Since My Best Friend’s Closet opened its doors in August of 2012, it has served over 640 teenaged girls. The feedback from the young women has been overwhelmingly positive, with 94% of participants reporting increased self-confidence and 97% reporting they were happy with the service. Community support for the program has also been outstanding, with numerous residents and businesses generously donating their time, resources, and clothes to keep the Closet’s doors open. In order to meet its goal of serving 500 teens annually, Making Changes Association gratefully accepts donations of new or gently used teen clothing items in all sizes, such as jeans, athletic wear, tank tops, hoodies, winter coats, boots, ballet flats, purses and backpacks. In high demand are new or gently used running shoes, leggings, and brand-new undergarments, such as bras and socks. Toiletries and accessories are also needed.
did you know? • Making Changes Association has been a not for profit society since 1996; however, its roots providing programs for women in transition date as far back 1981. • In addition to My Best Friend’s Closet, Making Changes offers the Walk-In Closet program, which provides women facing financial barriers with gently used business clothing and consultations on professional attire, and the Employment & Life Skills program, which provides free workshops for immigrant women to help them prepare for a future in Canada.
Making Changes Association and its youth program, My Best Friend’s Closet, works to fill this need in our community, providing teenaged girls from low-income households with clothing and accessories in current styles – all at no cost to their families. The program is the only one of its kind in Canada. Girls aged 12 to 18, who are referred to the Closet by local community-serving agencies and institutions, can come in for a 90-minute “shopping spree”. Working with a friendly volunteer in a fun, retail-style space, the girls try on and select a year’s worth of clothing for school and recreation. They are given everything they need, from warm winter boots and runners, to hoodies and skinny jeans, to outerwear and undergarments. A great selection of bags, jewelry, and toiletries is also offered.
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• Between the three programs, Making Changes provided much-needed support to about 2000 women and girls in our community in the past year. • Programs and services are run almost exclusively with the efforts of over 200 dedicated volunteers; that’s over 9000 volunteer hours last year alone! For more information on My Best Friend’s Closet and how to donate, please visit the Making Changes website, www.makingchangesassociation.ca
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
Ever Since Happiness Heard Your Name, It Has Been Running Through the Streets Trying to Find You By Deborah Nichol Do you remember playing hide and seek? Finding the best place to hide; there was always one so good no one ever found you! We are all waiting on some level to be found or discovered, not necessarily in the famous sense but in the way that people recognize our talents, and our gifts, they see what we are good at and we receive kudos for it. The time has come to either discover our own special talents, or start using the gifts we already know we have. Take some time this week and ask yourself: 1.
Do I know what I am good at?
2.
Do I use my gifts and talents to be of service to others? (this can be anything, you may be a good listener)
3.
Am I afraid to acknowledge my talents?
4.
Do I want someone else to tell me what I am good at? Or do I just need some guidance to help me figure it out?
5.
Do I hide from the world? Why?
6.
Do I think it’s too late to use my talents, did I miss my opportunity?
7.
Do I feel like I have wasted a lot of time in my life? Can I see that every moment has been part of my own journey?
8.
Am I looking outside of myself for what is really inside of me?
}
}
Instead if you look back at your life, it is usually the small things that had the greatest impact on our memories.
We sometimes get on a roll and search for the big chunks of happiness or the big things that we think are the game changers. Instead if you look back at your life, it is usually the small things that had the greatest impact on our memories. It is in the everyday things we need to find our happiness. The quiet time spent in your yard or in the sunshine, the free parking spot, the smile from a friend, your favorite song on the radio. Its happiness that finds us every day, in the small things, it is us who becomes too busy to see it is in our life, we just need to recognize and enjoy it.
Summer 2014
It doesn’t really hide, but it loves to be found and acknowledged. Just as all human beings do. We want our talents and gifts to shine through, so others can see them. If you were at a party in your honour and you were given a gift, would you place it on a shelf and maybe open it later, or would you open it now and share it with everyone? If you were the gift giver, how would you feel if they never opened your gift? We are all given special and unique gifts this is a part of life, we are also given the freedom to use these gifts or not. However, if you are looking for your life to be fulfilled and amazing, it’s time to take those gifts and open them all up, everything you’re searching for lies there!! What are you waiting for? “Ever Since Happiness Heard Your Name, It Has Been Running Through the Streets Trying to Find You.” -Hafiz Deborah Nichol, Theta Healer & Life Coach Healing Heart Wellness
Calgary’s newest online boutique! We offer a selection of trendy, fun, affordable clothing and accessories with fast delivery times. Trendy shopping. From the comforts of home. www.GraBoutique.ca Mention this ad and receive 15% off your first order. Discount code: TRIFECTA
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Starting Over By Mark Groves
We’re always in some state of rebuilding, aren’t we? Whether you call it recovery, repair, or personal growth, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is recognizing that change plus the ebbs and flows of life and the human heart are constant, a dance that we forever strive to perfect. And then, once we think we have it all figured out, it’s almost as if we are given another test, obstacle, or heart-opening event to remind us that we are after all, imperfect. I think it is in the acceptance of this truth that we have ultimate freedom. Whether your relationship ended one year, one month, or one day ago and whether or not you’ve immersed yourself in a new one, we all seem to have residual leftovers from our past. We can get lost in the sea of “working on things”. No matter the length of the relationship that scarred you, there is no magic recipe or agenda as to what the appropriate timeline is to your repair. Time does not dictate the connection nor to the extent to which your heart has opened up. So if time isn’t the answer, what is? Will you ever meet someone new? People who have been through ultimate pain are able to love again. I remember being devastated for almost two years after a breakup in my early 20s and thinking I would never meet anyone else. Much to the dismay of my family, the echo of Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” could be heard from my room for ages, and yet, I moved on to have had many great relationships that have each been unique and fulfilling. So how did I step out of my bat cave and learn to love again? When starting over, there are two things that are very important. One, we need to make peace with our past and be able to reframe its meaning in our life. And two, we must get to a place where we are feeling love for ourselves and honouring where we’re at this moment and what we need at this particular given time. I’ll explain both. “Your past is not your future unless you live there.” ~ Tony Robbins In order to reframe and be at peace with our past, we have to learn what we can from our previous relationships. It is very easy to fall into the same story of, “how can I move forward when he/she”: “Cheated on me” “Took me for granted” “Neglected my needs” “Lied to me” the list goes on... Notice one pattern in all of these statements? They are the victim mindset. “The world happens to me.” As humans, we naturally default to this state when we’re hurt and it allows us to project the blame onto someone else. It’s ok to be hurt and sad for a while, just don’t unpack and camp there. In order to move forward, you need to see your past relationships as life lessons. It doesn’t mean that your ex wasn’t a bitch or an asshole. What it means is that the name calling no longer matters and that someone that once cheated, lied or neglected us can offer a lot of insight into how we show up to relationships. Those behaviours are not usually the first signs of trouble. We tend to receive many warnings that we choose to ignore. So how do we reframe our past to be a positive experience? How do we find lessons in the hurt?
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Grab a piece of paper and answer the following: 1.
When you think about previous partners, the thought of them either feels heavy or light. Write down the names of those that make you feel heavy.
2.
What was is it about those relationships that make you feel heavy? Write out everything that comes to mind. You are in a state of clearing, so don’t hold back.
3.
What was your role in the relationship that enabled this? Could you have honoured your boundaries better? Could you have communicated your concerns in a more effective way? Should you have walked away earlier? What was the turning point? Did you follow your intuition?
4.
What were the best parts of the relationship?
When I did this exercise, it was very therapeutic for me. I wrote it all down and then strapped on my running shoes and went for a run and one by one, I forgave them for any hurt, apologized for the role I played, and thanked them for their contribution to who I am today. There are so many lessons in our past, but they only become lessons once we’ve learned to remove the emotional attachment and blame from our memories, so that we can process the event from a space of awareness and then forgive. When you stop reliving your old story, you can start living a new one. The reason being complete with our past is so important is that it fills a space that we so often fill with someone new. We all know or have been the person that goes from relationship to relationship having never sat in our pain and felt it through our heartbreak. In order to fully be present for our relationships we need to be in a place where we love ourselves and have a high sense of self worth. Why? When we think highly of ourselves, we respect and communicate our boundaries, our needs and desires, and we don’t tolerate behaviour and people that aren’t worthy of our time. Our self respect, values, and principles become so important to us that when someone does not live up to our standards, we can move on knowing that we are the architect of our life, and we get to choose who is in it. Only high performers need apply. In order to get to that place, we have to do the things that we love. Eating well, exercise, meditation and spending time with friends and family all contribute to a healthier mind and body. Shining light on our emotional blind spots and learning how to participate in a fulfilling and effective relationship empowers us so that we do not repeat those same mistakes. Make YOU a priority. What’s important to you? What activities and events make you excited and happy? Starting over is about picking up the pieces and moving forward. The truth is that there is no exact recipe or plan that works for everyone. However, will you let resentment, anger and hurt from past relationships consume you? Or will you choose to accept what happened, forgive yourself and others and move on to a better and more fulfilling relationship? Let your heart and intuition be your guide and let your experience be your own.
Mark Groves Relationship Blogger, Speaker, Sales Consultant and Coach. Through Mark’s journey he came to realize that there is no secret to great relationships, we create them. His purpose and passion is to help everyone do just that. Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
our favourite apps Kick Some “BUT”
Garden Tracker
By Ramona Remesat
Ah, Spring! Just the sound of that word seems to bring a smile to our faces and a jolt of energy to our weary souls. Personally, I am of the mindset that every Albertan should receive a medal in the Spring for making it through another long, cold and dark winter! And while I can enthusiastically say that I am not a fan of Winter, it does afford us an opportunity to slow down a little and check in with ourselves. It’s a great time to put our lives under the microscope and take a hard look at things like our career, relationships, health and lifestyle etc. Once we identify things that aren’t working so well, we can then decide to do something about it. Or, sadly, not. I hear it all the time, “I hate my job but...” or, “I know this person isn’t right for me, but...” or, “I know I am meant to help others and be of spiritual service, but...” When someone says “but” what they really mean is “I’m afraid.” What they are really saying is: •
I hate my job but I am afraid to quit before I find a new one because I don’t know if I will find a new one.
•
I know this person isn’t the right one for me, but I’m afraid that if I end the relationship I won’t find anyone else and I don’t like to be alone.
•
I know that I am meant to be of spiritual service but if I start a spiritually-based career I am afraid of what others will think of me, including my family. They helped me through school financially and now I am afraid I will be letting them down because they don’t understand my new career choice.
}
}
The “but” is what holds us back from moving forward in a direction we know or feel we are meant to.
The “but” is what holds us back from moving forward in a direction we know or feel we are meant to. The knowing and feeling is our internal guidance system, also known as Divine Guidance. These days, most people don’t acknowledge this guidance even though we receive it each day, every day. And if they do acknowledge it, they are reluctant to trust it enough to actually act on it. What ends up happening in the situations like the ones listed above is a heart/head tug-of-war. The heart tells you to move forward in a way that feels uncomfortable to you, so instead of taking a closer look at the situation or opportunity, you let your head talk you out of it. This behaviour keeps you in your warm and cozy comfort zone. Summer 2014
Garden Tracker lets you size and plan your garden plots, plant your vegetables in up to 50x50 squares, and then track your garden’s progress, including days to harvest, days since watered, and days since last fertilized.
The 7 Minute Workout The 7 Minute Workout is a research-based workout program that has become an international hit allowing you to complete this workout anytime and anywhere. Complete with full video, audio, image and text instructions with the ability to track your progress.
CamCard CamCard captures business card by using your phone’s camera as a scanner. It catches names, phone numbers, addresses and other info and puts it into form labels. You will be able to turn a physical business card into a v-card. You can save the contact to your phonebook or to the app database, save it to your Gmail account or share it by SMS or other means.
Well, nobody ever achieved anything great by staying in their comfort zone, my friends. Okay, so I might have “borrowed” that quote but it’s definitely true! Next time you feel afraid, or fearful, about moving forward, smile! Be happy! This is a big fat sign that you are on the right track! When my clients tell me they are afraid I say, “GREAT!” Then they look at me funny and I explain that fear is a good thing because it means they are on the right track. It’s tangible proof that you are tuning into your inner guidance - you can finally hear and feel it! The neat thing is, once you tune in, you’ll want to keep working with it more and more and you will wonder how you ever got along without it! I know, because although it wasn’t always so, I now use my inner compass all the time. It’s what helped me find my path and purpose in life and reach true fulfillment. If you’ve decided to make some changes in your life this Spring, but feel some fear creeping in, take a deep breath and go kick some “but”! Ramona Remesat Angel Therapy Practitioner, ATP® & Usui Tibetan Reiki Master, CRA-RP Connect 2 Your Angels
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7 tips on
cover story
avoiding anxiety
2.
3. 4.
5.
6. 7.
Exercise Regularly – Time and time again, the value of exercise on mental health is forgotten. Every single person with anxiety needs to exercise more. Movement and activity promote blood flow, improve neurotransmitter production and regulation, calm anxiety symptoms and much more. It can be as powerful as any medication, and while it’s not a permanent cure on its own, you’ll experience considerable relief if you exercise every day. Learn Relaxation Techniques – There are many relaxation strategies that are also effective at reducing stress. Most people are aware of these strategies but find them unfulfilling and stop using them. But the reality is that relaxation strategies do not work right away. They only work when you have completed them enough that they become boring and second nature. In the beginning, when you just start out, you’re thinking too much about everything you need to do, and your anxiety will stay the same. Only after you’ve practiced them a lot will you get the relief you need. Examples of these strategies include Visualization, Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Meditation. Sleep – If you’re someone that skips sleep, then you’re someone that increases their anxiety symptoms. Sleep is designed specifically to help control stress – both physical and mental – so if you’re not sleeping, get to bed earlier. Sleep is absolutely necessary for those with anxiety, and something you should never skip on purpose. Systematic Desensitization – You can also work on desensitizing yourself to your fears and worries. For example, if you have a fear of being embarrassed, go out in public dressed as something ridiculous and make weird noises. Feel embarrassed on purpose. Eventually you’ll get used to the feeling of embarrassment and it won’t be as stressful. You can do this for all sorts of fears and anxieties. You can even do this for many of the symptoms and triggers of panic attacks. Turn Things Fun – Life isn’t something that should be taken too seriously. So any opportunity you have to turn something more fun you should take. For example, if your work causes you anxiety, try to find ways to make work fun, like inventing little games for yourself that you can do without impacting your work ability. Be responsible, of course, but also don’t let places or people that cause you stress be something that you fear. Instead, let it be something you try to change. Find Healthy Distractions – Distractions are a great tool for controlling anxiety. Healthy distractions – like listening to upbeat music, watching funny shows on TV, playing baseball with friends are all great ways to avoid anxiety. Anxiety tends to control your thoughts. Spend less time sitting back and thinking and spend more time making it hard on yourself to worry, because you’re too busy doing other things. Create Art – Art is also a powerful tool for reducing anxiety. Art allows you to express yourself in ways that are therapeutic, while also giving you an activity to do that serves as a great distraction from your mind. Also, once you complete an art piece, you’ll get the joy of accomplishment. While it may seem silly, accomplishment can be a powerful anxiety reduction tool. www.calmclinic.com
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Getting Ahead of Mental Illness By Michelle Crossland
Let me introduce myself. I’m 25 years old and already five years into a public relations career that I love. I went to college on full scholarship and graduated debt free with a GPA of 3.89. I have lived and travelled extensively in Europe and have spent a considerable amount of time in Southeast Asia. I’m a former Calgary Herald Class Act award winner, have been awarded with multiple leadership and citizenship awards, and I’m also training for my first marathon. One thing people don’t realize is that I’ve done all of this while battling mental illness. Since I was little, I have struggled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The Mental Health Commission of Canada defines OCD as, “An anxiety disorder characterized by persistent intrusive ideas, thoughts, impulses or images (obsessions) which often result in performing compulsive rituals over and over again.” The rituals that the Mental Health Commission of Canada refers to include things like washing, checking, arranging and counting to provide temporary relief from anxiety. While many people constantly perform these “rituals”, the OCD I experience is slightly different. I have racing and repetitive thoughts that make it extremely difficult to make decisions. OCD is known as the “what if” disorder, meaning that anxiety is caused by fearing something that may or may not happen. My mind literally “gets stuck” on certain thoughts, especially if I need to make a decision. This ongoing “what if” battle causes my thoughts to race out of control until I spiral into depression.
}
1.
}
Anyone who has dealt with depression knows that suicidal thoughts are common, but extremely difficult to deal with.
It wasn’t until I completed college and was working in my first job that my life fell apart due to mental illness. At the time, I was working in a job that wasn’t a good fit for me, I was in a toxic relationship, and to make matters worse, I was trying to rekindle a relationship with my estranged father. For someone without OCD, dealing with these three things is emotionally draining, but for someone with OCD, the impact was severe. Over a period of about six months, I can recall myself slowly starting to slip. My mind was constantly racing and questioning whether I should break up with my boyfriend, leave my job and stop reaching out to my dad – I was always worried about “what if” I make the wrong choice? At home, I was desperately trying to find ways to decrease the anxiety and pressure I was feeling, but nothing seemed to work. I felt down all the time and couldn’t find anything that would make me happy or care – all I wanted to do was sleep. I felt nothing but despair and constantly asked myself what the point of my life was, feeling that there was nothing for me in the future. The breaking point for me happened one day when I woke up and was crying uncontrollably. I
Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
wake up to breakfast
cover story called in sick to work knowing that something wasn’t right and then drove to my parent’s house to stay with my mom because I was so upset. When I arrived at my mom’s house, I told her that I couldn’t stop crying. My mom, who had noticed that I hadn’t been myself for a while, said, “I think you’re depressed.” That day, my mom and I went to the doctor, and I described exactly what I was experiencing. My doctor immediately recommended that I take six weeks off work to deal with my depression caused by OCD. I was terrified. At work, I had been pursuing a position in another department, and had just found out that I got the job. I had only been in the new position for a week when I had to tell my boss that I needed to take six weeks off of work. This was one of the hardest things I had to do, but it was also my first step to recovery. Looking back, I understand the importance of working for a company that embraces the well-being of its staff – I was lucky to be working for an organization that did. The events that happened during the next six weeks are a blur, but I remember having suicidal thoughts all the time. Anyone who has dealt with depression knows that suicidal thoughts are common, but extremely difficult to deal with. It’s interesting and scary how depression distorts your thinking. At the time, I remember thinking I was a coward for not being able to take my own life. Now that I’m better, I’m so thankful I didn’t make this choice.
Starting each day with a healthy breakfast not only gives you and your family more energy for work, school and play, but it helps maintain a healthy body weight and lowers your risk of having chronic disease. Here are the facts: •
Eating breakfast improves memory
•
People who skip breakfast have lower intakes of calcium, iron and fibre. All are important for optimal health.
•
Children who don’t eat breakfast are more likely to miss classes, arrive late to school and get sick more often than children who regularly enjoy breakfast.
If you don’t have time to eat in the morning, try these easy breakfasts: A piece of fruit Small bran muffin Low fat cheese Hardboiled egg 1/4 cup of unsalted nuts Low fat yogurt Half of a whole grain bagel with cheese or nut butter Left over pizza, soup or pasta Fruit and veggie smoothie
EASY BREEZY BANANA SMOOTHIE INGREDIENTS I don’t want people to think that I was magically cured by taking six weeks off of work. Not only was I on anti-depressants, but several times a week I visited a psychologist who specializes in depression and anxiety disorders. It was from working with this lady that I was officially diagnosed with OCD and finally understood the root of why I constantly struggled with depression. Once I was diagnosed, I worked with my psychologist to learn everything I could about OCD. I was shocked to learn that 1 in 100 people suffer from it. I was encouraged – I wasn’t alone. I also learned that with the right strategies, people can cope with their OCD so that they don’t even realize they have a mental illness. During my psychology sessions, I was taught strategies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which is a type of psychotherapy where negative patterns of thought are challenged in order to alter unwanted behavior patterns. What I found was that CBT was effective, but not enough. I decided to continue using my strategies, but to try medication as well. I was prescribed a well-known OCD medication called Anafranil. Combined with the strategies I learned from my psychologist, I began to combat my OCD.
1/2 banana 1/2 cup low fat milk 1 cup fresh or frozen cantaloupe 1 cup ice DIRECTIONS
Blend all ingredients until smooth and drink immediately. Be creative! Try other fruit combos such as berries, pineapple, kiwi and why not toss in a small handful of spinach or kale.
Delicious!
Continued on Page 21 Summer 2014
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The Art and Science of Creating a Great Life – Gemma Stone Not to Yield: That is the Trick – Marie Reed Nutrition for Life – Carrie Hucal Understanding You to be More Effective – Del Edwards Freedom from Mental Dis”ease” to Achieve a New You - Laura Principe What Doesn’t Kill Us, Makes Us Stronger – Mighty Kuen Working with Angels – Ramona Ramesat Being Your Brainy Best – Crystal Willms Your Year to Shine – Wendy Woodworth Setting You up for Success – Donna Reid Grab the Pen, Author Your Own Story – Valerie Ball Let’s Talk About Sex – Mistress X Experience Qigong – Sabine Goubau NuYu Perspective Walk ‘n Talk – Perri Besserer Nia and Meditation – Tina Thrussell Love Art – Join Wendy Lees, art tour guide and facilitator with create! in the East Village, for an enlightening art experience. Hold On To Your Inspiration and Faith, You Are the Pilot – Brenda Schurko Heart Song: Stories of Healing through Music and Poetry – Tone Indbryn Depression Breakthrough, Finding Peace with Depression – Lee Horbachewski Facebook, What is Your Personal Brand – Claudette Stiven and Suzanne Presnial Keynote Speaker: Jo-Ann Vacing-Dibblee is coming forward to tell her story in the riveting book, “Frock Off: Living Undisguised”. Special Entertainment: Jilliane Yawney, Bev Williams and More 2014 Pricing** Double Occupancy – Two Bedroom Luxurious Condo – $479 per person Triple Occupancy – Two Bedroom Luxurious Condo – $449 per person Quadruple Occupancy – Two Bedroom Luxurious Condo – $419 per person
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cover story It’s been about three years since all this happened, and I can say that things have improved. My OCD is not completely gone, but it’s manageable and isn’t interfering with my life. I’m on medication and will continue to be even if it means using it the rest of my life. It’s funny, in society, there is a stigma surrounding mental illness. People see it as a weakness, something that you shouldn’t talk about. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Mental illness is just like having any other illness or health issue. My older sister described this to me the best. She asked me, “If you had a broken arm, would you talk about it?” Maintaining a balanced life is crucial to deal with mental illness. My OCD will never go away, but I implement strategies in my dayto-day life to manage it. For example, I avoid coffee and alcohol. Coffee increases my anxiety, while alcohol is a natural depressant. Exercise is also important. I try to run at least four times a week, and this has kept me balanced over the last few years. In addition, I value a work-life-balance and am fortunate to work for an organization that does as well. Mental illness can be managed. Is it easy? Not always, but it can be done. Having the support of family and friends, as well as working with multiple strategies, can make the battle easier. Because my career means so much to me, I’m happy to report that I feel balanced at work and my mental illness doesn’t interfere. If there is one thing that I can encourage people to do, it’s talk about mental illness. The more that people are aware of its affects, the more that people can learn to deal with it. Most importantly, talking about it has shown me that I’m not alone. It’s interesting how many people begin to open up about their own struggles with mental illness when you take the lead. I hope you do the same. Michelle Crossland Public Relations Consultant, Running Junkie, Tea Enthusiast and World Traveler michelle.d.crossland@gmail.com
Salt Therapy, known also as a Halotherapy, or Speleotherapy is 100% natural, safe, and drug-free treatment method, based on the concept of inhaling mineral micro particles of salt deep into the lungs to destroy bacteria and fungi in the body, that cause infections.
FOR PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM Asthma and Allergies • Bronchitis • COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases) • Sinus Infections • Cold and Flu symptoms • Smokers’ Cough Rhinitis • Skin Ailments (Dermatitis, Eczema, Psoriasis) • Skin Aging Stress and fatigue • Overall wellness • Enhance athletic performance The Salt Crystal Health Center is a Calgary based Salt Room that uses Halotherapy, or Salt Therapy to significantly improve to rejuvenate and remove impurities from the body and boosts the immune system through the use of dry aerosol of salt micro particles and minerals which treat respiratory, allergies, skin diseases and other ailments. It is the only Salt Health Center in Canada and North America that has five salt rooms, each equipped with its own Halogenerator, the most advanced technology in the field.
Contact us today for a relaxation session in one of our five salt rooms!
403.474.9080 • 128, 5403 Crowchild Trail N.W. admin@saltairtherapy.ca • www.saltairtherapy.ca
Summer 2014
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CYNERGY THOUGHTS Be Interested, Not Interesting By Cindy Drummond This is some of the best advice I’ve ever heard. Think about it! We are so often wanting to impress people, that while they are talking to us, we are thinking about what we want to tell them about ourselves. We don’t care what they are telling us and we keep thinking, “hurry up and finish your story cause I have something really important to say,” or worse, we can’t wait any longer, so we interrupt them mid-sentence because we have something we deem incredibly valuable to contribute to their conversation. Most people could improve their active listening skills. What is Active Listening? Active, effective listening is a habit, as well as the foundation of effective communication. Active listening requires you to intentionally focus on who you are listening to, whether in a group or one-on-one in order to understand what he or she is saying. As the listener, you should then be able to repeat back in your own words what you have heard to the speaker’s satisfaction that you did indeed receive the message correctly. This does not mean you necessarily agree with them, but rather understand what they are saying. If you’re truly interested in what the person is saying, open up the conversation by asking questions – what better way is there to show that you are engaged in the topic. I have been trying to work on my active listening skills and sometimes it’s really hard when I don’t want to forget what I want to say. I have a little trick that I use when someone is talking to me and I think of something I want to say. I just close my fist and stick out my thumb. This is a subtle reminder to myself to hold that thought and allows me to keep listening to my companion. There is a downside to my little trick though because sometimes the person I am trying to have a conversation with just never stops talking. If you feel you have been an active listener and want a chance to speak up, wait for your companion to take a breath, say something indicating you have understood what they just finished saying and then say that reminds me... and begin your story! Just a thought...
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The Heart Of Leadership: Listening By Abe Brown
“Canadians Want Bosses To Listen Better”. This was the Globe & Mail headline that caught my attention on December 30, 2012. It caught my attention because at the core, each of us have a fundamental need to be valued, to be cared for, and to be authentically heard. Giving people the gift of fully engaged listening is truly validating and affirming. Teddy Roosevelt said: “The single most important ingredient to the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” More than any single quality, what determines your success and effectiveness in life and in your work, is how well you relate with people, how you value people, and your connection with people. Dale Carnegie said: “Even in such technical lines as engineering, about 15% of one’s financial success is due to one’s technical knowledge and about 85% is due to skill in human engineering, to personality and the ability to lead people.” Connecting with people is about nurturing trust, fostering rapport, building bridges, and giving them the gift of being fully heard. People long to be listened to, to be understood, and to be known. We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak! Most of us seek to be heard and then to hear; to speak well and only then do we listen well. This is backwards and ineffective. Stephen Covey, the author of, “The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People”, said: “If I were to summarize in one sentence the single most important principle I have learned in the field of interpersonal relations, it would be this: Seek first to understand, then to be understood. This principle is the key to effective interpersonal communication.” Aesop said: “No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is Authentic Listening. People long to be listened to, to be understood and to be known. They have authentic problems, and seek authentic support. If we’re going to help people, first we need to listen to them, then understand them and help locate where they’re at. Ancient writings speak of King Solomon; people came from all over the world to hear his wisdom, exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart. “Largeness of heart” means “to broaden, to have width”. Solomon was not narrow and confined in his thinking. Alexander Solshenitsen said: “The less you speak, the more you will hear”. There are five levels of listening. Take some time to self-assess and discover what you do most: 1) Not Listening – Outright ignoring, not really listening at all. 2) Pretend Listening – Listening on autopilot. 3) Selective Listening – Drifting in and out of the conversation, paying attention to only parts of it. 4) Attentive Listening – Actually making the effort to listen. 5) Emphatic Listening – Listening with intent to understand, to get inside the person’s frame of reference, seeking to understand them emotionally and intellectually.
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When it comes to the highest level of listening, which is Emphatic Listening, there are a few actions which will empower us to do this well. First off, we need to really care; to look people in the eye, drop what we’re doing, and put ourselves in their shoes. We also need to listen “between the lines”; to hear beyond their words. This looks like listening to what is being said, and listening to what is not being said. Also, we should not be so quick to give advice or to speak. There is often huge value in simply letting people vent. The less we speak, interject and offer comment, the more we will hear, understand, and appreciate. As we look at listening better, we need to think a lot about how we come across to others. Our body language is critical in the actual listening process, and also in helping people to feel genuinely heard. 90% of all communication is not verbal communication – it is non-verbal. What you say with your body, actions and expressions accounts for up to 90% of our communication. This means that if we are to help people feel heard, we need to be visual. We must communicate it non-verbally: •
With our eyes – energy flows through your words.
•
With our facial expressions – energy flows through your facial expressions.
•
With our posture and body language – energy flows through your posture and overall body language.
“Canadians want bosses to listen better”. We all want to be listened to, not only by our bosses but by our friends, families, partners, business peers, and leaders. At the core, each of us has a fundamental need to be valued and authentically heard. Give people the gift of fully engaged listening. Abe Brown, B.Th., M.R.Ed./C., C.P.C., C.M.C. Certified Master Coach Trainer and President of the Certified Coaches Federation. He has been a professional Life and Executive Coach for over 15 years, and also trains others to be Life Coaches.
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The Empty Nesting Project By Wendy Zak As we go through life we’re constantly dealing with change and transition. I’m in the midst of one right now, and frankly I seem to be making something of a meal of it. You see, a while back it hit me that life as I knew it was about to change dramatically. My first child was nearing graduation, and planning her escape to another province, if not another country. I was forced to accept that the other two might eventually follow suit (isn’t that, after all, the object of the exercise?), leaving me with a preoccupied husband and an empty house. You see, if the truth be told, I realized that I had thrown myself into the business of raising children and lost myself in the process. In fact, I had created the perfect co-dependent relationship; where my children needed me to do everything for them, and I needed them to need me. Something had to be done, and I embarked on a quest to rediscover and reinvent myself. No problem, I thought; I will throw myself into my freelance copywriting business, take up some hobbies and reconnect with old friends. The children won’t recognize this fascinating creature and it will be good for them to learn that the washing machine works for anyone. What I didn’t expect was the whining and resistance I encountered with every move. I’d like to tell you it was from the children, but I was the one having trouble adjusting, not them. Even now I find myself glued to
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my cellphone, just in case one of them needs me. They don’t of course, they’re teenagers, but it always hurts my feelings a little when they manage without me. Nonetheless, there has been progress. I’ve joined a choir, which is officially the highlight of my week. I love having the opportunity to sing my heart out without anyone telling me to shut up. I’m thinking of taking piano lessons next, to round out my musical training and help make sense of those pages of weird squiggles the choir director hands out. In the interests of aging gracefully, I plan to start exercising and eating well any day now, although the lure of chocolate almonds has, to date, proved overwhelming. Maybe next week. I’m also becoming more involved in my husband’s business which has brought us closer together and given us something to talk about other than how dreadful the children are. Finally, I’m hatching plans to hike across England, backpack across India and volunteer overseas. I will be an inspiration to all those over 50s wondering about throwing the meds and the muscle rub into a backpack and heading into the wilderness in search of adventure. I wonder if someone might be willing to pay me handsomely for travel writing? Despite the progress, though, it’s been a tough adjustment. I worked hard to raise my children to be independent and adventurous, but I rather expected them to do it from home. Now that they’re spreading their wings it’s a type of bereavement. In fact, it occurs to me that the whole process has been akin to the five stages of grief: 1.
Denial. When they’re little it’s hard to imagine they’ll ever be old enough to leave home.
2.
Anger. I’ve been through my share of anger at having no career, no life and no end to the mess.
3.
Bargaining. I’m not above offering pizza or chocolate almonds if only someone will spend an evening with their poor lonely mother.
4.
Depression. I’ve tried to stay positive through all this, and I’ve started a blog as a way of forcing myself to look for the humour in it all. But in the spirit of keeping it real, I will admit that I have sometimes typed through the tears.
5.
Acceptance. I’m not sure I’ve reached peace yet, but I’m trying to see this as an adventure rather than just a way to fill the void.
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Kelly Hipkin Trained Professional Organizer Acting Executive Member for the POC Calgary Chapter POC Silver Leaf Member (5+ years) NAPO Member
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Now that the aforementioned child is in her second year of university in Vancouver, I am well into what I like to call my Empty Nesting Project. The steps I make are baby ones, but at least I’m starting to enjoy the journey. Now I just have to make sure the rest of the children eventually move out, and stay moved out! If you’d care to share my journey, perhaps you’d like to check out my blog at www.emptyingnest.wordpress.com
403-990-0708 | kelly@organizedlivesltd.com www.organizedlivesltd.com
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garden trends Container Inspirations By Joanne Dafoe
The allure of containers is that they are a small scale, instantly gratifying way to transform your outdoor space into something beautiful. Whether you have a large lot or an apartment balcony, containers are a way for everyone to unleash their creative side! Flowers are undeniably gorgeous in your seasonal pots, yet there are a plethora of container ideas that can give you such a stunning display, that you won’t miss the flowers at all. My choices of the season make a statement in the yard and are wonderfully low maintenance.
Just One
Sometimes less can be more, and a huge statement can be made with just one plant. Simple, minimalistic and absolutely stunning choices: • Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) • Castor Bean Plant • Karl Föerster Grass
Fabulous Foliage
The key to foliage containers is to choose a variety of plants with different forms, colours and textures: • Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’) • Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas ‘Blackie’ or ‘Margarita’) • Coleus ‘Defiance’ or ‘Brilliance’ • Elephant Ear (Alocasia plumb ‘Nigra), Variegated English Ivy (Hedera helix) and Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Caramel’)
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www.tfds.ca 403-873-0292 • wendy@tfds.ca Centre 70, Box 133 Suite 120, 7015 Macleod Trail SW
Grow Your Own
Container vegetable gardening is the biggest trend in gardening right now. A sunny deck or patio (at least 5 hours of direct light) is the perfect spot to grow your own food. Almost all vegetables can be grown in containers, so let me introduce you to the new plants tempting me this season: • Starburst Radish - a radish with white skin and bright red interior. Good eaten raw, as well as pickled. • Lolla Rossa Lettuce - a classic Italian lettuce with red, frilly, crisp leaves. • Action Hybrid F1 Beet - a baby beet ready to eat in 6-12 weeks. Whatever you choose to grow in containers, the basics remain the same: • Pots - bigger pots require less frequent watering, and provide extra root growing space • Drainage - every pot needs holes in the bottom, without exception! • Soil - always use bagged potting soil rather than top soil or garden soil • Fertilize - FEED ME!! Fertilizer is key to successful seasonal pots. Water - foliage plants and vegetables like to be watered deeply, but less frequently, every 3-4 days. (In extreme heat, check them every couple of days - don’t allow them to dry out completely)
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Containers are creative expressions for small spaces. Try something new this season and reap the rewards!
Joanne Dafoe, Horticulturist and Landscape Designer Dafoe Design
Summer 2014
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tooth truth Are your teeth sometimes sensitive to hot, cold, sweet or even when you brush your teeth? Tooth sensitivity is quite common although it can be confusing to pinpoint. Tooth sensitivity is called Dentin Hypersensitivity. It happens when the gums recede from where they should sit against the tooth normally. The dentin of the tooth is under the enamel (on the crown of the tooth) and under the cementum (under the root of the tooth). Minute cracks can be caused over time in the enamel and cementum, thus exposing the dentin. This dentin layer is made up of tubules filled with fluid. These microscopic holes in the dentin of the tooth transmit stimuli from the outside of the tooth to the nerve, which is located inside of the tooth. When a hot or cold or sweet substance is put against the surface of a tooth where the root is showing, the nerve inside the root is stimulated and you feel pain. A few things that can help deal with sensitivity are the following:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Use a soft toothbrush. This will minimize the trauma to the gums and help to reduce the amount of recession and root that is exposed. Use a special toothpaste like Colgate Pro-Relief or Sensodyne that are made to help with sensitivity. The ingredients in these toothpastes will help to plug up these tubules, thus reducing the transmission of stimuli from outside the tooth to the nerve. At your dental hygiene appointment you can have a special, high fluoride content paste applied to the tooth roots that helps to occlude the tubules and reduce sensitivity. Wait until you get older…the dentin will get thicker as you age and therefore the tubules will get smaller making the transmission of stimuli be less effective.
The Art of Manifesting By Tracy Makarenko At the age of thirty-three, I stopped for a brief moment and realized that my life was unrecognizable. I had a house, a husband, two daughters; but none of that seemed enough. I wanted more in my life and I wanted to offer more of my life to the world. Although I didn’t like what had become of my life and was confused about my new identity (stay-at-home mum…how had that evolved?), I was also completely aware that I was responsible for manifesting my life into its current state. Currently, it felt like I had fallen asleep at the wheel of my own life and was only referring to the to-do list in front of me. My house was as tidy as they come; my life, my life goals were in a complete shamble. Emotionally, I was a mess; never taking time for myself to regroup. Physically, I was exhausted from my full to-do list! And mentally, well, my mental state was frazzled; five international moves in nine years, without “the list” I can only imagine what state I would have been in! I was, however, completely aware that if I could manifest myself into this disastrous situation, I most certainly could manifest myself out of it, too! What I eventually realized was that manifesting takes time, especially when it involves such a large project. It hadn’t taken me days to get to this place in my life and it wasn’t going to take me just days to get out. This new “project” also taught me a lot about patience. I started with smaller projects, smaller dreams. I was amazed to see how fast some of them transformed into reality. The buzz word “manifesting” has been around for a while, so you may already be playing with changing your life for the better. You could be “seeing” that parking spot by the door; feeling the excitement of achieving that small goal; (Good for you!); “seeing” that raise for a job well done; feeling the excitement of your accomplishments! We need to do these little things each and every day to keep ourselves excited so that we can master the larger goals we set for ourselves.
The better you care for your teeth at home, the more easily you can control your teeth sensitivity on a daily basis and the less sensitivity you will have during dental hygiene appointments as well. Allison Keating RDH,BSc,MBA Floss Dental Hygiene Care
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We may think that those larger dreams are much harder to manifest, but that isn’t completely true. It’s just that they take a bit longer, we lose patience, our hope wavers and we start to think we aren’t good enough. We start to doubt if it is working at all. Now comes the second part about manifesting: you need to really learn how to transform your negative emotions and feelings into positive emotions and feelings. Negative emotions can be powerful agents of manifestation. In a negative state of mind, I found that I could stop something from happening a lot faster, and with more ease. “I don’t feel like working today,” a thought surrounded with negative emotions, could instantly bring forth a client’s call to cancel. Transforming these strong, negative emotions into reality is partially what got Trifecta Magazine MIND | BODY | SOUL
you gotta read this A Quiet Strong Voice A Voice of Hope amidst Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Thoughts me into this larger mess to start with; what I needed to learn was how to use that internal juiciness and attach it to positive emotions. The ultimate problem was that I wasn’t used to positive emotions. Fake it until you make it. Yes, that is exactly what you have to do to start feeling all those happy emotions. They may not be real to start with, but eventually you will feel what it is you are pretending to feel! You will transform those kinder, loving thoughts in your head into a new reality. You will transform your life. At this point, another level of healing needs to takes place. We can’t completely ignore those negative emotions, although we need to change the behaviors around them by thinking positive thoughts. Take a moment and connect with what you’re feeling: sadness, fear, resentment, anger, or whatever it is, you need to acknowledge these emotions by finding out where they come from and what control they have over you now. When you spend a few moments quietly connecting, a memory may surface that gives you a clue to the origin. When that connection is made, you can follow it to the when and where of that emotion’s birth. With that recognition, you can release the trigger that is trying to get your attention along with the emotional component attached to it. Manifesting positive emotions will now be that much easier, there is less garbage to wade through. This is a process. It may not happen overnight, but all those little miracles you manifest along the way make your life look and feel different. Better. In no time at all, you will transform all of it and master the art of manifesting! Tracy Makarenko Owner of Healing Possibilities and Author of Moving From the Outside, In
A Quiet Strong Voice is a raw, honest, reveal of a torturous journey through depression, anxiety and multiple suicide attempts. Lee Horbachewski bravely exposes the compelling intimate details of the darkness she experienced and the steps she took to find hope and choose life. Author, Lee Horbachewski is known to many as SimpLee Serene. Through her inspiring story of overcoming and passion for life, she has attracted over 68,000 followers on Facebook coupled with her popular blog. Lee knows first hand the fear, isolation and desperation that characterizes the illness that affects over 350 million people worldwide. In 2004, at the age of 33, Lee’s desperate battle with depression and anxiety came to a head when she made three attempts to end her life. She courageously exposes the truth of her torturous journey in the inspiring and compelling tell-all, A Quiet Strong Voice. Her advocacy and willingness to openly share her story has resulted in thousands of people opening up about their own struggles and finding the hope and courage they need to keep going through the darkness. Lee lives with her husband and two daughters in Calgary. Join her strong quiet voice of hope and mission to inspire millions of people across the globe who are facing depression to know they are loved and not alone. Calgary Support Centres
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Be Cool in Bamboo By Tanya Ristoff
Even if the weather chooses not to cooperate, all signs point to spring. Spring sports are getting underway, the stores are stocked with garden and patio favourites and I find I am instinctively gravitating toward the brighter colours in my closet. The transition from spring to summer can be a real challenge if you are trying to choose something comfortable to wear. The warm wooly sweaters we love to snuggle into during the cold months feel like a suffocating bear hug when the thermometer climbs beyond 10 degrees Celsius. But that ultra-cute skirt and top isn’t quite enough to ward off the breezy chill when the sun is hiding. Personally, I’m a big fan of layering, but I’ve also learned that the type of material you choose can make all the difference. Hence, my new love for all things bamboo. You might have bamboo in a plant pot in your home warding off bad luck, but it’s worth considering in your closet as well. Many of the natural properties and characteristics of fabric made from bamboo make it a go-to favourite for a range of clothing options. Bamboo is ultra-lightweight, breathable, and moisture wicking, which makes it ideal for the active, athletic or outdoorsy set. It is temperature regulating, which means you keep you cool and comfortable on hot or humid days, but it serves also as an excellent base layer for added warmth. Bamboo’s natural anti-bacterial properties make it odour resistant (great news for gym and yoga wear!)
one retail location in Sherwood Park, Kristi, and her business partner Randi Bretzlaff have not let location get in the way of reaching out to a broader customer base. The company’s full collection is available for purchase online, or through one of its KEYLIME reps, home-based sales reps who can accommodate personal shopping or host in-home shopping parties. “We have reps across Canada now,” said Randi, who manages KEYLIME’s rep sales force. “Many of the reps will set up at tradeshows, but parties in home continue to be really popular. What better way to get out with your girlfriends and get your spring shopping done?” Tanya Ristoff KEYLIME Rep
Conscious consumers are also turning more and more to earth friendly bamboo (in a range of products, in fact), because it grows rapidly and abundantly without fertilizer, pesticide or irrigation. Many bamboo species have been known to grow as much as one to two feet per day. When harvested, bamboo renews itself quickly. While it is growing in popularity, you are more likely to find the best selection of clothing made from bamboo if you are willing to stray slightly off the beaten path. Canadian-owned retailer KEYLIME Athletic Wear has just amped up its already terrific line-up with new styles and colours for spring, including its own special blend of bamboo French terry. KEYLIME owner, Kristi Wozniak says the company’s growing line, which is all manufactured in Canada, has something for everyone. “We carry an extensive women’s collection that includes athletic and casual wear, and our men’s line is growing as well,” Kristi says. With five years under its belt, KEYLIME is experiencing increasing success year on year. When Kristi began developing her yoga-inspired line, she set out to fill a gap she saw over and over when looking at yoga apparel. “There always seems to be a great selection for the size zero, sixfoot tall woman, but that only represents a small percentage of women out there,” Kristi says. “Our product line has something to offer all of our customers, whether they are size zero, size six or size 16.” While they operate
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Secrets to a Healthy Body and Healthy Weight By Dr. Alma Nenshi, B.Sc., DC If you’ve ever been on the weight loss roller coaster of ups and downs, you may be interested in the secret to a healthy body and healthy weight. Before I delve into this secret, we need to address a couple of myths about weight loss. Myth 1: Counting calories and eating less is an effective strategy to lose weight. Certainly if you don’t eat you will lose weight, but usually not in a healthy way and often not in the areas you want to lose fat. Cutting calories is not the solution to healthy weight management. In essence your body will store more fat because it cannot rely on you supplying it fuel for energy.
of the body to another via the nerves. Fast and accurate electrical signals are essential for the healthy function of every cell, tissue, organ and system of the body. Inflammation along nerves may slow how well they are able to send the brain’s electrical signals to the body, thereby compromising the functions of the organs and tissues they supply. For example, strain in the neck and upper back regions from poor posture, traumas, arthritis, etc. may affect the electrical signals relayed to the thyroid gland, heart, lungs, shoulders, arms and upper digestive organs, just to name a few. These in turn may lead to dysfunctions ranging from asthma and allergies to poor energy, poor digestion, high blood pressure, headaches etc.
Myth 2: Exercising more will help you lose weight. While I am a strong supporter of active lifestyles, exercise for some may actually cause them to gain weight. I’m not talking about gaining weight because muscles are heavier than fat, rather gaining weight from placing excess physical stress on an already overloaded stressed out body. These individuals appear large and muscular by nature and often use the term “big boned” to describe their shape. Every body is unique and deserves a custom program of healthy eating and activity. Some may benefit from short burst workouts with lots of stretching while others may respond to more physical workouts. Different strategies for different people, there is no cookie cutter approach.
Hormones work differently than nerves in that they are circulating in our body all the time. Think of changing channels on the radio, the frequencies are all out there but you have to select the channel you wish to hear. Similarly the cells in the body need to recognize specific hormones as they travel by and effectively bind onto them in order to turn them on. Therefore, challenges with hormones may be due to either a low or high amount of hormone available in your circulation (your medical doctor can help you evaluate this with lab work) or perhaps poor nerve function where the cells of a particular organ are unable to turn the hormone on due to poor nerve signaling in the body. In this case consulting with a chiropractor may help you feel healthier, improve your metabolism and help you lose weight.
So what is the solution to a healthy body? The secret is actually quite simple: Reduce the underlying tone of inflammation in the body and improve healthy hormone function.
Dr. Alma Nenshi, B.Sc., DC Chiropractic Wellness Clinic
You know you have inflammation if you experience pain. Your brain communicates linearly with electrical signals that are relayed from one part
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our favourite things
for your Mind
Salt Crystal 128, 5403 Crowchild Trail NW, Calgary
Certified Coaches Federation www.certifiedcoachesfederation.com Headway Coaching International www.headwaycoachingintl.com
Stillness Room Eco-friendly Meditation Furniture www.stillnessroom.com
Healing Possibilities www.healingpossibilities.com
Revive Calgary www.revivecalgary.com
Self Connection Books 125, 4611 Bowness Road NW, Calgary
Yoga Studio South 110,1330 15 Ave SW, Calgary 403-228-5808 www.yogastudiocalgary.ca
The Seeds of Inspiration www.theseedsofinspiration.com
for your Soul
Soul Food Books Purveyors of Fine Crystals 3, 213 -19 St NW, Calgary 403-270-0410 www.soulfoodbooksetc.com
Be Crateful Unique Gift Crates 403-474-7618 www.becrateful.com
for your Body
Connect 2 Your Angels 403-312-1556 www.connect2yourangels.com spiritualmailman@connect2yourangels.com
ASEA Replenish Redox Signaling Molecules 403-998-0153 www.yourlife.3minutepeek.com Floss Dental Hygiene Care 104 - 10325 Bonaventure Drive SE, Calgary 403-719-9805 www.flossdhc.com Home Tasting Room 110, 8 Ave SW, Calgary Jodi O ~ Calgary Photographer www.jophoto.info Kingsland Farmers Market 7711 Macleod Trail S, Calgary Moksha Yoga Calgary www.mokshayogacalgary.com 403-457-4660
Dafoe Design Horticulturist and Landscape Designer Enlightened Hands enlightenedhands.com TantricPath Exploration and Healing through Sexuality 403-918-6783 www.tantricpath.com Tracy’s Vision 403-226-2906 tracysvision.com Zenchi Healing Reiki, Crystals, Sacred Geometry, Readings & Classes 403-463-8189 www.zenchihealing.com
The above mentions are the personal opinions of the publisher and believe the information to be true.
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