Mindful Movement is the Most…

Satisfying

Beneficial

Calming

We think mindful movement is simply the best.

Do you ever feel as though you are sleepwalking through life? Driving on autopilot and going through the routine motions of your day – brushing your teeth, fixing a salad for lunch, zoning out watching television in the evenings?

Some of the greatest gifts in life don’t come in boxes and aren’t to be found under the Christmas tree. This December, as the year is rapidly coming to a close and the mad dash to the mall and online shopping descend, I want to give you permission to slow down and take care of yourself. Self-love is essential, and I encourage you to give yourself the gift of well-being as 2022 comes to a close.

According to the Autoimmune Association, 50 million Americans - or 1 in every 5 - have one or more of the 100+ autoimmune diseases in existence. These include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and so many others. Perhaps even more startling is that approximately 75 percent of those affected are women.

We’ve been talking a lot about the link between a healthy gut and balanced hormones. If you haven’t been reading along this month, the short version is that our digestive system – or gut – plays a critical role in hormonal health. Levels of serotonin, thyroid, cholesterol and so many other hormones we need to regulate our mental and physical health are dependent on a happy microbiome.

Our bodies are incredibly complex and our systems are interconnected. What happens in one part of the body can have a major impact on what goes on in other parts of the body or even, as we’ve discussed previously, our brain. Nowhere is that truer than in our gut. And its impact on our hormone balance – or imbalance – is undeniable.

Have you ever been so worried about something that you just couldn’t eat? Have you felt fluttery in your stomach when you were nervous about a test result or a performance review at work? These are two small examples of the connection between your brain and ‘second brain’, your gut.

What health problems can be traced back to our gut? It would be quicker to list the conditions that are NOT related to gut health. From digestive issues (which may seem obvious) to our mood and mental health, allergies, fatigue, and even autoimmune conditions, a healthy body and mind rely on a healthy gut. That’s why it’s good to take a step back once in a while for a literal ‘gut check.’ All of our biological systems are impacted by the 100 million neurons inside what some people refer to as our ‘second brain’.

It’s ok to feel your feelings, they are yours and they are real. As a society, we have not always done the best job of attending to our emotional intelligence. For some, it seems to come naturally that they are always in tune with what they feel. Others are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to understanding the emotions they experience or that their loved ones experience. It can create a real barrier between you and the people you love if you cannot authentically share your emotions.

When we’re pregnant we are constantly preparing for the baby, but the baby isn’t the only thing we should focus on. I have yet to meet a woman who stops to think about “what do I need?” and when we miss this step, we begin to tumble down a rabbit hole. Once we hit the postpartum stage, our entire focus is on this beautiful little human we carried in our womb for nine months and we just naturally allow ourselves to fade.

Your body speaks a different language than you do. Your body responds to a stressful situation through a flight or fight response, which is essentially a quick release of hormones. Your body completes the stress cycle by – literally – working it out. Run, bike, swim, or dance. Any kind of physical activity that makes you move and deepens your breathing will signal to your brain that the threat has passed. Try it for 20-60 minutes a day, every day if possible. After all, most humans experience stress on a daily basis.

When imbalances occur in your body, like chronic pain or disease, it can be the result of many factors. Genetics clearly play a role, as can lifestyle choices like inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking, or overindulging in alcohol. Yet, there is a third factor that is less obvious and potentially far more impactful: stress.

As many as one in ten women are affected by endometriosis. It causes pelvic pain – often severe – and discomfort and can impact sexual activity and fertility. Unfortunately, one of the biggest barriers to finding relief for endometriosis symptoms is that, all too often, it goes undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or mistreated.

Postpartum is a big time for a mama. She’s learning or relearning how to care for a brand new baby while experiencing crucial changes to her mental and physical self. Even though postpartum moms have just experienced one of the biggest changes a person can go through, they often neglect taking care of themselves. It’s extremely important for women to centre their postpartum recovery—it should be a time of healing, adaptation, and baby snuggles. Through her own postpartum experiences and continuing education becoming a postpartum Doula, Victoria knows the importance of making mamas feel heard and taken care of.

The more supported mom is physically, emotionally, and spiritually through pregnancy, the more direct benefits for her baby. Lindsey Tasker Cole is our Physiotherapist and Pelvic Health Therapist who helps a lot of mamas navigate this space. Supporting moms—especially first-time moms—can come in many forms, but let’s focus on the benefits of exercise and safe options for mamas to enjoy.

Potty training can be a handful, but the good news is, there are lots of ways to help your kids go through the developmental stages leading up to and during potty training! That's where Danielle Bararuk, our Physiotherapist and Pelvic Health Therapist, comes in. With a special interest in paediatric physiotherapy, she can tell you all about the many factors that can impact your child's ability to potty train and the many stages that get them there.

Self love is so important and something that we should always be working on.

One way to show ourselves self love is through movement.

Movement is about observing and listening to your body.

We can track our body temperature to help understand when we are ovulating in our cycle. It serves as one more "piece of the puzzle" to understanding your menstrual cycle as a whole. Click to read more and learn how to track your basal body temperature.

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.