absence. Our families have all been very supportive and they are happy that we will be doing something that we all love to do… in what could well be an experience of a lifetime!
This Month’s Feature Therapy #2:
By
Kim MacEachran, Jin Shin Do® Bodymind Acupressure™ Practitioner, RMT
Staying Healthy This Winter
The ancient Chinese believed that we should live in harmony with the natural cycles of our environment.
Seasonal changes affect the body. With colder,
windy weather come the colds, flu’s, aches and pains. Here are a few tips to staying healthier and happier this winter.
Sleep In – By keeping a regular sleep routine, you help preserve you own energy (chi) for the task of warming yourself throughout the day.
Comfort Food – Warm hearty soups. Push hot fluids to keep mucus membranes and the bronchi hydrated and phlegm loosened. Salty foods are craved over any other taste. Salt thickens the blood to increase our warmth.
Wash Your Hands – Yes, you’ve heard this one a lot lately, but it’s a real health saver in the long run. Soap does just great – enough said.
Stress Level – Find a release valve for your stress. According to Chinese Medicine, stress, frustration and unresolved anger can play an important part in throwing the immune system off. Find a way to relax on a daily basis.
Seasonal Tune-up – Acupressure can help prevent colds and flu’s by building up the immune system. This is accomplished by strengthening the circulation of blood and energy (chi) at the outer defense layers of the skin and muscles of your body.
If you are already sick, acupressure can help you in a non-toxic, safe way that doesn’t overload your already tired body. Acupressure does not interfere with western medicine. Instead it provides a welcome compliment to it, in most cases.
Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure emphasis is on treating the whole person so recovery time for illness can often be reduced.
“
The Wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat, by harmonizing joy and anger in a tranquil dwelling, by balancing yin and yang, and what is hard and soft. So it is that dissolute evil cannot reach the man of wisdom and he will be witness to a long life.” The Huangdi Neijing*
*( Reference to The Chinese Medical text for diagnosis)
This Month’s Featured Therapist:
Karyn Morrison - I am a graduate from Medicine Hat College where I completed an extra year of specialization in Sport Massage. I am presently working with the St. Albert AAA Midget Raiders Hockey Team but have experience in a variety of sports including Lacrosse and Rugby. I have had some National opportunities in 2009/10 including a tour in France with the Canadian National Women’s Rugby Team. On the 10-day tour we played 2 matches against the French National Women’s Team in preparation for World Cup in August 2010. The Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team is coming to St. Albert on January 10, 2010 to play against my Midget AAA St. Albert Raiders, and I will get a chance to work with the ladies as well. Hockey Alberta has also recently selected me as a Trainer/Therapist for one of their Alberta Cup teams coming up in March and April.
Meet our newest Massage Therapist
Nicole Poirier – is returning to the Active Life Centre! She left us a few years ago to head back to the beautiful town of Jasper where she owns her own Massage Therapy Clinic. She is presently in the Nursing Program at the University of Alberta. Nicole has been a therapist for 10 years and she specializes in
“Visceral Manipulation” which is the process of massaging and manipulating deep tissue to improve the functioning of the various organs in the abdominal cavity. Trauma, surgeries, and compensating postural positioning can all have
a negative effect on viscera, which in turn can lead to chronic conditions. Through the years, she have been able to incorporate scar tissue work with visceral manipulation to address post surgery, hysterectomy and other types of restrictions within the abdominal cavity, as well as the scar tissue that can build up from trauma. Nicole does a lot of myofascial release technique now, incorporating visceral manipulation when indicated. She also offers "
Onsen Therapy" which is a muscle energy technique that assists in rebalancing and realigning the body. The combination of all of these skills and knowledge provides her clients with an excellent form of therapy. Nicole will be working Saturdays and one or two afternoons/evenings per week at our clinic. Welcome back Nicole!!
Some Sad Goodbyes!
Brandon Barr has recently decided to leave the Active Life Centre to pursue other professional opportunities. We will all really miss him and we all wish him all the best with his new pursuits!
Dawn Hardy our “Girl Friday” Receptionist has taken on a part-time position with the City of St. Albert and will continue as a flight attendant with West Jet. So look for her the next time you are heading out on an adventure!
It’s never too late to mention our fantastic Receptionists who provide such a wonderful service for our clients and our staff! Thank you to Maria, Yvonne, Chelsey and Kylee for making everything running so smoothly at the Active Life Centre!
New Website:
Please check out our new website www.activelifecentre.com for additional information about our amazing therapists and the services that we offer at the Active Life Centre.