The holiday season is a wonderful time of year. It is the time when we get together with family and friends. We spend quality time enjoying each others’ company and eating some great food and (hopefully) some rest and relaxation!

Hydrotherapy over the Holidays… and all Winter long.

The use of water therapy (hydrotherapy) for healing has been used by people for centuries. It became revitalized during the nature cure movement in Germany in the 19th century, which nature cure has 5 pillars to health: living a balanced lifestyle, herbal medicine, exercise, nutrition, and hydrotherapy. The nature cure movement sparked the creation of naturopathic medicine, and it’s principles including hydrotherapy are still being taught in naturopathic colleges today.

Welcome FALL, but don’t fall behind in your activity and exercise goals!

As we put away our beach toys, bikes, and summer gear, there naturally is a shift towards slowing down, indoor activities and a more sedentary lifestyle. Like all things, this is all good and fine, but let’s keep it in moderation! With the cooler weather looming and the fall days upon us, it’s easy to lose motivation and FALL off the exercise train.

Have you ever had a sore back, hip pain or pelvic girdle pain the day after you have been strength training, running or participating in an activity? But you feel like you have a great movement pattern and great technique. Have you experienced incontinence, prolapse or rectus diastasis that did not rehab fully post-partum? What you may not be activating or utilizing properly is your Inner Core!

Most common questions asked by the people about Occupation Therapy include:

Do you help people find jobs?

No, we do not help people find jobs. ‘Occupation’ refers to the activities that you complete in your everyday life. Anything that “occupies” your time is an occupation. We help people who are experiencing barriers to activity completion; these barriers vary drastically (disability, illness, role transition, etc.). Wow! This means the therapy we provide can vary dramatically from person to person!

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common menstrual related diagnosis in women of reproductive age. Typically symptoms first appear in adolescence, however some women begin to develop symptoms in their early to mid 20’s. Although PCOS is named after the presence of multiple cysts on the ovaries, it really is a collection of symptoms.

The birthing parent is not the only one who is at risk of developing anxiety or depression related to pregnancy and childbirth. The non-birthing parent is also at risk of postpartum depression and anxiety. The stigma men experience if they struggle as a new parent is even higher than women. Traditionally men are viewed as strong and self-sacrificing. This makes reaching out for help even tougher. Janelle Daku provides fantastic suggestions on how Dad’s can bond with baby and be the involved parent he desires.

During times of stress, the “fight or flight” (sympathetic) nervous system becomes more active to help us deal with our stress. This part of our nervous system is not meant to be turned on for a long period of time. Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht, ND provides insight on three common plants that are used to support the nervous system in naturopathic medicine.

Everyone has some level of stress or anxiety in their lives. It’s normal to feel worried at times, especially when you’re faced with tough situations - like financial problems, relationship issues, or a global pandemic! But fear and worry can go beyond that helpful range and have negative impacts on our day-to-day life. If you’re wondering whether anxiety is an issue in your life, here are five things to consider.

It is no surprise that this year has had trials and tribulations. Oftentimes, the uncertainty of the unknown translates into an experience of stress, anxiety or unease. The past 6 months with the events of a global pandemic, the economy ceasing to operate for months and a restriction on international travel have all altered our “normal” routines. Dr. Madolyn Linka, DC explains what happens to our central nervous system when we are faced with stressful situations in this fantastic blog post!

Our bodies are designed to deal with stress and the adrenal glands are one organ that plays a role in adapting to it. Dr. Stephanie Liebrect, BSc, ND discuss the different stages of our stress response, which includes the physiological and psychological changes that occur.

When we talk about pelvic health, more often than not our focus shifts towards women. Lindsey Tasker Cole touches on the importance of including men in the talk when it comes to pelvic health. “With much of the focus on women, it can cast a shadow on male pelvic health, and make it difficult for men to recognize the need for, and/or seek out treatment”.

“Symptoms such as pain or discomfort are sometimes the final signs your body gives you when there is an issue, disease or chronic injury underway”. Dr. Linka describes what is called the “iceberg approach” to health & wellness and the importance of being proactive, not letting pain be the only motivator when it comes to your health.

Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht talks testosterone levels in men, prevalent symptoms, and what your levels and bloodwork can tell you.

Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht provides insight on ways to support healthy digestion during the holiday season in her December blog post. Find out 3 easy ways that can ease digestive discomfort- gas, bloating, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal pain.

Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Kim Deschamps discusses how to begin practicing mindfulness.

Dr. Madolyn Linka describes the importance of self care and how it has been integrated into her life through the practice of Yoga.

Lindsay Olver discusses mindfulness and bringing awareness into our day.

If your mind and body are craving these above foods, it’s a good sign it needs support. Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht, Naturopath talks about eating healthy this holiday season.