Between Each Step

A recent foot injury made me realize just a couple things about life... for one how important feet are: The foot is actually the shape of a tripod of a couple key bones, bound tightly together with ligaments and muscles. All the weight is distributed evenly over the three spots; the heel the first big toe joint and the baby toe joint. This allows the body to maintain balance as well as protect itself from injury (you can imagine how painful it would be to balance on just one point). With one foot out of commission, balance is out of the question. The opposite hip and knee bear double the weight they are use to, therefore collapsing to one side. For those anatomy junkies, the hips create a triangle shape where we hold out center of gravity. They help distribute the weight evenly over the two legs. However without one leg, the weight is lopsided, creating imbalance, and loss of movement. I am consistently amazed at how the body is designed and functions, everything is perfect balance!!! But I digress...

Second; how help is there when you need it, or "ask and you shall receive", "the universe always provides". Loved ones, family, friends, even strangers all step up to the plate, when you ask. In these last couple days I have been amazed at just how much love I have around me. My parents running out to get me bandages, my coworkers making work life easy, patients gently accommodating my schedule changes, close friends texting me for updates on my progress and giving me words of encouragement.

I have always shown my vulnerability.. wait we must clarify something here. What is the difference between vulnerability and being a victim (as I also was in my past...)?? Vulnerability is empowering. It is about being strong, showing a beautiful side of yourself, and not letting that side consume you. Being vulnerable is releasing emotions in a healthy way. A victim is defined by their weakness, looks for someone to "fix" their problems. As dictionary.com says... (and i love this).. "a person who is deceived or cheated, as by his or her own emotions or ignorance."

Dictionay.com defines vulnerability as: vulnerability: 1.capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt, as by a weapon: a vulnerable part of the body.2.open to moral attack, criticism, temptation ...It implyies that you are open, and in turn weak, to something negative. Lets shift this definition... how about being OPEN to both negative and positive events and situation? The key word here is openness .

I have noticed for some people vulnerability is foreign, uncomfortable and taboo. If this is you I challenge you to try it out. The act of acknowledging you need help, and showing "weak" emotions can change the way you see the world. Being vulnerable gives others the space to open up and show all their emotions, in a free non judgmental space. I feel vulnerability is so beautiful... it reminds us that we are all human, with both light and dark.

A bit about Yoga

As most of you know I adore yoga... actually funny enough I first began yoga here in Fort McMurray. I had taken the random class here and there, but it was classes with Judy Funk that really made me fall in love with the practice. She taught a fusion of ashtanga, dance and hatha... Really helped me open up, and get to know my body. From there on I would explore all forms of yoga from Mokska, Bikram, Iyengar and Ashtanga.. my baby :) It all began while I was studying for my first set of Naturopathic board exams, NPLEX I. To get away from the hustle and bustle of Toronto, I moved to Edmonton for the summer, and there I became a diligent Ashtanga student. The regiment of studying for exams was incorporated with daily yoga. It helped me calm my mind, open my body and focus my thoughts. I was hooked, and have been ever since. I love the way my body feels after... like I have been massaged and stretched... the feeling of having just stepped out of the ocean!

Ashtanga means 8 limbs... it is a system of yoga founded by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009). This method of yoga involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures, always in the same order—a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind. Many people in yoga are very "cliquey" when it comes to which yoga is superior... especially in larger cities! My personal belief is do the one that makes you feel the best.

The fast pace makes me feel like its a work out... I love that adrenaline rush. It also aligns your body, strengthens muscles and sculpts your body (in three sessions I swear!). There is also a huge focus on the breath, as with many forms of yoga, but specifically the ujjayi breath, a form of breathing that is loud and elongates the inhalation and exhalation. I like this definition: The sound of Ujjayi is created by gently constricting the opening of the throat to create some resistance to the passage of air. Gently pulling the breath in on inhalation and gently pushing the breath out on exhalation against this resistance creates a well-modulated and soothing sound—something like the sound of ocean waves rolling in and out. For myself this breathing is the key, as I tend to be in my head alot... it forces me to come back into my body and stay grounded.

Over the years I have practiced ashtanga at home and taken classes at least 4 times a week, however I have to admit over the last couple months I have faltered. So throwing myself back into the yoga scene I searched for an Asthanga studio in Fort McMurray with no avail. Trying to be open minded I decided that any yoga was better than none... hence I signed up for Yoga that is offered in our clinic.

Today I took a class by Marie, our Holistic Nutritionalist. She is from Vancouver, and her yoga class was amazing! She teaches Hatha yoga (slower paced stretching class with some simple breathing exercises and perhaps seated meditation). I sometimes dread the slow pace, because my mind wanders too much, however I found her class challenging and enjoyable. Her energy and instruction allowed me to not just focus on my pose, but also focus my mind. Some of you may think Im promoting her because she is in my clinic, however any of you who know me know that I can be really picky when it comes to yoga. The environment, feel, energy and instruction all have to be "right"...for me :)

I always promote yoga in my practice, as it's a good way to center energy as well as strengthen the body. I used to have a really bad hip (from years of running and swimming), and I thought I would have issues for life. After a year of yoga all the pain went away... now I run with no pain at all! The unique thing about yoga is that it has the ability to strengthen and lengthen. Most people dont give credit to ligaments... the elastic fibers on either side of your muscle that is attached to bone. When you stretch for a short time you are probably stretching your muscle... however long stretches allow your ligaments to elongate... allowing you to appear slimmer, align your body (no body builder physique), and prevent injury (the more you stretch an elastic band the less likely it will break).

Other benefits of yoga
1. Reduces cortisol and releases stress.(preventing the muffin top, and psychotic mood swings!)
2. Increases immune system and white blood cells
3. Increases flexibility and range of motion (I was the most inflexible person... it took me a year to be able to touch my toes... now i can almost touch my nose to my thighs!)
4. Increased strength
5. Weight management
6. Cardiovascular conditioning: lower your resting heart rate therefore reducing high blood pressure and overall endurance.
7. Focus on the present: greater memory, concentration and reaction times.
8. Inner peace: also balances blocks in energy meridians which can lead to disease.

I encourage you to try different classes, see what suits you, and of course brings inner happiness :) Enjoy the journey!

New Beginnings....

Hello everyone... if it seems like I fell off the face of the earth, its because I am in Fort McMurray... lol! Ok, this joke may be lame... as I am known to do that once in a while. I am practicing in the northern part of Alberta... surrounded be evergreens, populars and bears :) Its an interesting city, full of people coming and going, a warm community with lots to offer. My new clinic is called Higher Health Massage and Acupuncture.

We are a wholistic clinic consisting of massage therapists, an acupuncturist, a holistic nutritionalist and myself, an ND. I am blessed to work with such amazing practitioners, in the most warm and caring environment, and to be serving the city of Fort McMurray. Thank you so much for following me, as I will be sure to share my journey here!