Congratulations! You grew a complete and tiny human in your body and then gave birth to him or her. From the moment you found out you were pregnant, you probably paid close attention to your diet. Tried to hydrate enough, increased your intake of fruits, veggies, protein, dairy, and ice cream. (Maybe the ice cream was just me?)

Your body has been through so much. You grew an entire human being! You labored to bring that person into the world, and now you spend all day every day feeding, rocking, and loving that little baby. Your breasts may feel swollen, your pelvic area is healing, and the space between your hip bones and your ribs just feels like jelly where there should be muscle.

It’s no secret that routines and rituals are restorative. Our nervous system, by design, responds favourably to the familiar. When we know what to expect, we feel safe. It’s the unexpected things in life that can cause confusion and indecision, leading to stress and a nervous system in a state of unrest. Even the simplest of routines performed with regularity can create a sense of surety and safety.

Lakota Wisdom tells us that “In the circle, we are all equal. There is no one in front of you and there is nobody behind you. No one is above you; no one is below you. The circle is sacred because it is designed to create unity.”

You might have noticed a theme this month in our blogs – all those important things we need for our own health and wellness? It shouldn’t come as a surprise that our kids need them too. And gut health is no exception.

We all want to be healthy. But how, exactly, does one define health? That depends on who you ask.

If you ask Pfizer, “Wellness is the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes, so that instead of just surviving, you're thriving. To understand the significance of wellness, it's important to understand how it's linked to health.”

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!

The holidays can be fun, joyful, and exciting. Let’s be real though - they can also be super stressful!

Especially when you feel the pressure to get things just right: To cook the perfect meal, give the best gifts, keep all the traditions going, and make that sure everyone around you is happy.

Prepping for the holidays while keeping up with your usual responsibilities at home and work gets overwhelming. Especially for those struggling with perfectionism.

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.

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!

Post-partum anxiety is defined by frequent, distressing fears. Some mothers describe worrying constantly about worst-case scenarios, seeing potential risks all around them. Dr. Marnie Rogers-de Jong, PH.D., provides excellent information on the physical symptoms of post-partum anxiety, and the variety of ways to help a mom experiencing postpartum mood disorders.

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.

Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht, ND shares how her patients inspire her to be their health advocate, and to continue bringing awareness to women’s health. She is inspired to keep learning, keep supporting, and find the root cause. Being able to guide you on your health and healing journey has been the most rewarding experience.

Creating a morning stretching or movement routine helps to establish self-care in your day. Whether it be in the shower, when you get our of bed or as you blend your smoothie; getting in a few simple movement such as the sequence attached below can be way to practice proper movement pattern for the rest of your day. Dr. Madolyn Linka, DC provides an easy morning stretch routine that is truly achievable!

In Kim’s recent blog she is writing to all of the moms out there, to the moms who have had a baby during the covid-19 global pandemic and to those moms who are expecting a little one any day. ‘Moms I feel you so very hard and I desperately want you to know that you are most certainly not alone. The year 2020 has been very hard. I am leaning into the uncomfortable and sharing my story. Thank you for the safe place to do so.’

When we discuss mental health, mindset should also be apart of our conversation. Our thought pattern, the way we view ourselves, the kind of self talk we do, the outlook we have on life - all of these are apart of our mindset, and all of these affect our mood and behaviour. Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht, ND provides insight on The 5 Minute Journal and how important it is to create a positive mindset through setting daily intentions, positive reflection of the day, and practices of gratitude.

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

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