Coaching is a growth-promoting relationship which elicits motivation, increases the capacity to change, and facilitates a change process through visioning, goal-setting, and accountability which leads to sustainable change for the good. ~ Wellcoaches® The best-laid plans. Have you ever tried to create new habits - and failed? I have. I've encountered ...
General Information
Psoas Release for Whole Body Health
The psoas (with a silent p) – your deep core muscles so often ignored. In my practice I find they contribute to a wide range of symptoms. Low back, SI joint, or knee pain. Gastrointestinal distress, menstrual discomforts, fatigue and even headaches. Prolonged sitting is one contributor to short, tight, weak psoas muscles. But stress can be an even more ...
Sleep & the Science of Your Circadian Clock
Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together. ~ Thomas Dekker Are you sleep deprived? Professor Michael Rosbash believes most of us are. He and fellow biologists Jeffrey Hall and Michael Young received the 2017 Nobel prize in physiology for their insights into our internal biological clocks. You can read Nobel Prizes 2017: Everything you ...
Time for a Coffee Break?
In late September I decided it was time for a coffee break. As in no more; I quit. I didn't start drinking coffee until my early 30's. My partner at the time kept urging me to try it. When we started triathlon training, I decided a latte for a pre-workout boost might work. It did, and in no time I was hardcore - no milk or sugar for me; I'll take it black, ...
Bringing Your Baby for Osteo – What to Expect
What can you expect when you bring your baby for an osteopathic treatment? It'll be a lot like an adult session, but with time-outs for snuggles, feeds and diaper-changing. We'll start with a discussion of your baby's symptoms. Then a review of family history, prenatal and pregnancy health, labour and delivery. I'll ask about any illnesses, accidents or ...
Pillow Fight – Mobility vs Stability
I think my pillow might be the reason for my stiff neck. I can't seem to find one that's comfortable. What do you recommend? ~ FAQ Every time I see someone in a movie sleeping with their head propped up on a super high pillow I cringe. And hotel pillows - aargh – so thick and never comfortable! A pillow that’s too high keeps your neck at an unnatural angle. ...
Silence is Golden
This morning, like most Sunday mornings, we were listening to Michael Enright on The Sunday Edition. His Digital Sabbath essay, a follow up to an earlier Digital Detox story, struck a chord. I'm happy to chat and socialize, but I'm very sensitive to noise. I love having a few hours home alone with the TV and stereo off, basking in the (relative) silence. I ...
My Day of Mindfulness
Friday the 13th is often considered unlucky; this past one was most fortunate for me. I participated in a full day Mindfulness Core Concepts workshop. It's part of the health professionals program at the Centre for Mindfulness Studies. What an enlightening day! My introduction to meditation was as a kid. My unconventional father took our entire family to ...
Gravitate Toward the Good – Ann Douglas
Sure, you want to be aware of what's happening in the world, but that doesn't mean that you have to be plugged into your Twitter or Facebook feed 24/7. Give yourself permission to take breaks. And aim for a balanced media diet. Don't just focus on the really bad news. Gravitate toward the good, too. ~ Ann Douglas I've cut way back on social media this year. It ...
Immune Boosting – Move Your Fluids!
The movement of body fluids is essential to the maintenance of health – a key principle of osteopathy. Your immune system vessels don't have a pump so they rely on muscular contraction and changes in pressure to move lymphatic fluid. Regular and frequent whole body movement keeps those fluids flowing freely. My colleague, restorative exercise specialist Petra ...