KARMA MASSAGE! Receive a Massage, Give to Charity!

Book a massage for $50 between September 7th and 11th with Susan Polano of Oceana Massage through Glow Acupuncture & Wellness Center and a portion will go to charity! We invite clients to choose from any one of the following charities listed below! Call today to book your appointment! 778.786.2517

Eat Fresh

The optimal combination is to be eating fresh local organic produce. Farmers markets are now in full swing around the city and provide us urbanites with the opportunity to eat from the farm. For locations around the city and beyond check out: http://www.eatlocal.org/index.html

You may even want to start growing your own food! Imagine…eating food that YOU GREW! Wake up your “inner farmer” and celebrate mother earth by creating your own patch of eden. Even if your space is limited you might surprise yourself at how much you can get out of a small space. Look for helpful tips online or pick up a copy of Garden Anywhere by Alys Fowler.

Another option is to apply with a CSA, community-shared agriculture program. These programs share the bounty and the risk of a harvest between farmer and consumer. Most CSAs put together a box of fresh local produce every week, depending on the harvest, and either have a pick up site or a delivery system. The cost of CSAs varies from farm to farm; a deposit or full payment is taken in the spring once the share is purchased.

Life Without Sugar

Excess sugar eventually affects every organ in the body. Initially, it is stored in the liver in the form of glucose (glycogen). Since the liver’s capacity is limited, a daily intake of refined sugar (above the required amount of natural sugar) soon makes the liver expand like a balloon. When the liver is filled to its maximum capacity, the excess glycogen is returned to the blood in the form of fatty acids. These are taken to every part of the body and stored in the most inactive areas: the belly, the buttocks, the breasts and the thighs.

As it is metabolized, sugar bypasses many parts of the digestive process, and is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, raising the blood sugar level. It also produces a sharp rise in insulin, which is used by cells to absorb the sugar. Raised blood insulin levels depress the immune system. If your immune system is depressed, then your ability to fight disease in weakened. Not only this, but sugar also causes the brain to release the chemical serotonin, boosting a person’s mood, and causing a mild feeling of happiness. This feeling is temporary, and soon after you’re left feeling tired and irritable.

Refined sugar contains no vitamins or minerals, so in order for sugar to be metabolized it must draw on the body’s reserve of vitamins and minerals.

In addition to throwing off the body’s homeostasis, sugar may result in a number of other significant consequences.

· Sugar causes tooth decay

· Sugar can upset the body’s mineral balance

· Sugar can suppress the immune system

· Sugar contributes to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties and crankiness

· Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol

· Sugar can cause hypoglycemia

· Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium

· Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair

· Sugar contributes to weight gain and obesity

· Sugar can contribute to diabetes

· Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis

· Sugar causes food allergies

· Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream

· Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon

· Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance

My thoughts on what makes a "Healthy Pregnancy"

What makes for a “healthy pregnancy”? In my mind it starts before baby is even conceived. If a baby is on the horizon why not start treating your body with extra TLC now? Preparing your body for pregnancy can be very beneficial for both you and baby. Keeping a good balance of a fresh wholesome diet, movement or exercise that you enjoy, and nourishing the spirit are all great ways to begin this remarkable journey.

Pregnancy has many surprises, physical and emotional so the more in touch you are with yourself the better. Being able to listen to your body is fundamental. The day to day changes that happen during pregnancy are momentous even when they are microscopic…you are growing a human being!

Growing a human can take its toll on your body so be gentle with yourself. If you are feeling tired during the day and are still working start to unwind earlier in the evening, maybe start your bedtime routine earlier and include some relaxing movements like light stretching or yoga to quiet both your mind and your body. The main thing is to listen to what your body is telling you before it has to “yell” to get your attention. Everything from changing the way you eat from three main meals a day to smaller snacks throughout the day to curb nausea to taking time out with your partner for a “date night” before baby comes will attribute to your well being as a Mama-to-be.

Nourish your spirit, enjoy your growing belly, and embrace your beautiful bountiful body! Find things that make you happy. For instance, I’ve found a prenatal yoga class that I look forward to all week, I’ve also rekindled my love for swimming, and the weightlessness is magical! Whether it’s brunch with girlfriends, or an evening moonlit walk with your partner, explore for yourself what makes you feel good. Prenatal massage can do wonders for a tired or stressed Mama-to-be. A happy Mama = a happy baby! Treating yourself with tenderheartedness will relate directly to what your baby feels, baby will be aware of the warmth and generosity you give yourself so let it be limitless!

Seeking the right support for you is essential. Having a support system in place for your pregnancy and birth that you can trust is imperative, after all, you’ll only be pregnant with this baby once, and you will only birth this baby once. If you live in B.C. you have many choices when it comes to finding the right caregiver whether that be a Midwife, a Doctor or an Obstetrician. And what about a Doula, a sister or a friend to help you and your partner through the pregnancy and birth? Spend some time researching your options, and just think of how much time you spent planning the details of your wedding or the amount of time you put into researching your new car or home. The same due diligence is heeded for your pregnancy and birth. Having people around you that you can trust and who respect you and your choices is a breeding ground for happiness! Trust in your ability to nurture your growing baby.

To all of the Mamas-to-be reading this…There are wise healthy women like yourself all over the world celebrating the miracles of life that are flourishing inside of them, I encourage you to join them!

Glowing Skin!

We’ve been experiencing a mild winter and have been seeing the sun a lot more often lately. Seeing the sun shining reminds me of many things but one of the first thoughts that pops into my head is “did I remember sunscreen today?” So, did you remember your sunscreen today? This brings me to the topic of glowing skin and what we can do to achieve it.
One thing that we all have complete control over is what we put into our bodies. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables along with whole grains, seeds, nuts and legumes will nourish your skin with the essential vitamins and minerals it needs. Avoid animal and saturated fats while leaning more toward cold-pressed vegetable oils, fried foods should be avoided as well. Making an effort to drink at least ten 8oz glasses of water a day will hydrate the skin and aid in flushing away toxins. A regular exercise routine increases circulation, this supplies oxygen and nutrients to the cells.
When it comes to your daily cleansing routine there are a few things to keep in mind, like always wearing sunscreen. We often remember this step in the summer or when we are on a tropical vacation but we should be applying sunscreen daily, even in the winter and on rainy days. Something to avoid is alcohol based toners. There are some great DYI recipes online for natural toners or you could pick up an herbal or flower water instead. Stay away from harsh soaps or solid cleansing creams, another thing to avoid is applying heavy oils around the eyes at night, this could be a contributing factor in puffy eyes in the morning. A gentle exfoliation several times a week removes dead and dry skin cells and helps to stimulate circulation. After cleaning your skin, apply a moisturizing lotion while the skin is still damp for better absorption.
Alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes all dehydrate the skin and so should be avoided.

Thinking of facial rejuvenation acupuncture? Here are some of the benefits;
• improves muscle tone and dermal contraction
• increases collagen production and has an effect on its dispersal
• helps to firm and reduce bags around the eye and neck as well as sagging tendencies
• helps to eliminate puffiness by improving metabolism and thus eliminating excess fluids
• helps to eliminate fine lines of the face and has a diminishing effect on larger wrinkles
• improves hormonal balance thus acne can be successfully treated
• moisturizes the skin by increased local circulation of blood and lymph to the face
• improves facial color by the increase of peripheral circulation
• reduces stress
• promotes overall health and well being
• nerve pathways in the head and the whole body are opened, allowing for and enhancing the free flow of vitality throughout the body
• crystallized emotions held in the face can be released allowing one to present a fresh relaxed radiant appearance
• bring out one’s innate beauty and radiance