Those ebbs and flows in energy and focus that you experience throughout the day - perfectly natural. Pushing through or reaching for a shot of caffeine can have adverse health consequences. Better to respect your body; exhale and unplug, close your eyes or take a walk. You'll feel refreshed and ready to go again in no time. This information isn't new, but back ...
Self-Care
Osteopathy for Better Postnatal Health
Can osteopathic treatment help me after my baby is born? When is the best time for a visit? I see a lot of pregnant women in my office (you can read why here), so I'm often asked how I can help new moms. Back and neck pain, fatigue, and varying degrees of pee problems are the most common postpartum complaints I hear. Osteopathic treatment is an effective ...
Create a Gentle Happy Birth Experience
Pregnancy can be stressful; there is so much unknown. Mindfulness meditation is an increasingly popular approach to managing this stress and preparing for childbirth and beyond. Potential benefits of mindfulness include: reducing anxiety, stress, and the risk of perinatal depression managing pain during pregnancy and labour enhancing 'connection' ...
Habits – You Have the Power to Change
When I'm working with clients, we often discuss habits - eating, moving, working, sleeping, or other aspects of self-care. And I frequently make suggestions for better health - cutting back on sugar, walking daily, sitting less or going to bed earlier. However, many people, myself included, find it difficult to change their habits, even if they have the best ...
Get Outside – For Your Body and Your Brain
"A city within a park." – Toronto's slogan that appears in many places, including the small park at the end of my street. Thirteen percent of our city is parkland, yet I find it difficult to feel truly connected to nature without making an effort. Maybe because most of my daily walking destinations are along concrete sidewalks. I make a point of finding green ...
How Stress Affects Your Body
It seems that what we are really built to do is to treat ourselves and others well — not flee from tigers all day long. ~ Jon Spayde. Stress can be at the root of why many people come to me for treatment. Low back pain, neck and shoulder tension, headaches, digestive disorders, weight gain; the list goes on. Often clients don't make the link until we start ...
Breastfeeding — What Your Baby Knows
Trust your baby, trust yourself. ~ Teresa Pitman, La Leche League Help with breastfeeding is one of the most frequent reasons I see newborns. I get referrals from midwives, doulas and lactation consultants, including the International Breastfeeding Centre. When I assess an infant, I look for physical strains that might be inhibiting breastfeeding or creating ...
The Shoes You Choose
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. ~ Dr. Seuss Feet are your foundation; their health impacts your whole body. The shoes you choose make a big difference. What should you look for on your next shoe shopping mission? A lightweight, flexible sole. Your feet need to be adaptable and mobile. ...
The Cortisol Curve — Balancing Tactics
You can’t keep withdrawing from your adrenal bank account without putting more funds in, with sleep and other healthy-lifestyle habits. You’ll go bankrupt. ~ Filomena Trindade, MD Hormones are a hot topic in my office. Different life situations and stages can create different challenges but we're all affected by hormones. They regulate our physiology and ...
Is Your Body Trying to Tell You Something?
A symptom is a message from the body – if you simply put on a band aid, it will get louder. ~ Dr Shawna Darou In Your Health History - It's All Relevant, I explained the importance of completing a thorough medical history form when visiting your healthcare professional. But sometimes it's difficult because we've been ignoring our symptoms. Or we've suppressed ...