Shambhala Training level 1
Meditation Program directed by Shastri Henry Chapin
Saturday January 17th, 7pm, AND Sunday January 18th, 8:30am to 6pm.
$100 per person
Shambhala Vision is rooted in the principle that every human being has a fundamental nature of basic goodness. This nature can be developed in daily life so that it radiates out to family, friends, community and society.
To register, please contact Linda Colucci: 613.354.4797, or lcolucci@kos.net.
Facilitated by Jocelyne Leyton , DOMP
4 Tuesdays, February 3rd to 24th, 7pm to 8:45pm
$80 for the 4 week course ~ Maximum 10 participants.
Dr. Christina Vlahopoulos, BscH, ND, MPH cand.
When the calendar rolls over to the New Year, many think about creating healthy habits or trading old habits for new ones. It might include getting more sleep, eating healthier foods and getting more exercise. However, for some it is to quit smoking and if this is you, I applaud you. It is a difficult habit to break and I would like to share an insight I had with a patient who wanted to quit smoking and possibly provide you with a piece of the puzzle to help you succeed.
A few years ago a patient of mine wanted to quit smoking and we discussed many avenues to help. By using acupuncture and herbs they embarked on a journey to kick the habit once and for all. Interestingly, in our many discussions, I realized why smoking is a habit that is so difficult to quit and what makes it a desirable outlet for someone who is stressed.
Joel Ackerman, RMT
I’m sure you can probably guess the most common complaints I hear from clients: sore low backs, tight shoulders and necks, headaches, cranky knees, and so on. In addition to all of these more predictable aches, one complaint I hear more often than you might expect is jaw pain. Often it is mentioned in passing, and almost as a joke; “But I don’t suppose there’s anything you can do for that…” My clients are always surprised when my response is, “Yes, we can absolutely do some massage there!”
I have seen Massage Therapy be very effective in relieving all sorts of jaw pain, or as we call it, TMJ pain (named after the Temporomandibular Joint). In fact, there are a number of clients who have made intra-oral massage a part of their regular treatment plan, as they recognize the preventative benefits, even if they aren’t in pain! Other times, one or two treatments are all it takes to make a significant difference in how much pain someone is experiencing. In other situations, when people aren’t complaining of jaw pain, a little bit of release to the jaw makes a vast improvement in the overall tension they are feeling in their head and neck.
So how does Massage Therapy work exactly when it comes to the jaw? Treatment options for jaw pain include fascial work around the jaw joint at the ear, massage done directly to the muscles in and around the jaw. This includes some intra-oral massage. Using latex-free disposable gloves, and after establishing a clear communication system with the client, I begin by working on one muscle at a time (there are 4 on each side of the jaw). This can be a bit uncomfortable, as these muscles almost never get touched, but then the relief felt afterwards is almost instant! And because these muscles don’t get touched very much, a minute or two of massage goes a long way. Then we finish with more fascial work and massage to the muscles in the neck. The jaw and neck are very closely related, and dysfunction in one of these areas often leads to dysfunction in the other.
Rachel Young, RMT
Hot stone massage therapy uses heat therapy, both as a static application and while performing effleurage, to ease muscle tension and stiffness, and increase circulation and metabolism. Hot stone massage therapy promotes deeper muscle relaxation by placing smooth, water-heated volcanic basalt stones, which have the ability to retain heat for an extended amount of time, at key points on the body. Heat therapy applied to these areas helps to keep the parasympathetic nervous system, that is, the nervous system that promotes the release of hormones which relax the body, stimulated. During effleurage, the direct heat of the stones relaxes muscles more quickly than if the heat was not applied, which allows the massage therapist to gain access to the deeper muscle layers more efficiently. The steady heat from the hot stones expands blood vessels, which encourages blood flow throughout the body. This sedative effect can relieve chronic pain, reduce stress and promote deep relaxation. Heat therapy is especially helpful at this time of year, when the body is subjected to the cold that keeps muscles contracted, restricting circulation, causing the nervous system to be in a sympathetic state, meaning the promotion of stress-related hormones to be released, even more than what normal-life stresses and disease already cause in the body. Combining hot stone protocols with a full body massage provides a very healing experience.
By Holly WhiteKnight, ND
It’s that time of year again. Parking lots are packed, stores are blaring holiday music and your schedule may be packed with gatherings and endless holiday engagements. Even for those who love and fully embrace the season, it can be a stress filled time of year. The holidays can also be a sensitive time for many, especially those who have lost a loved one or those who suffer from depression. Here are some ways to set yourself up for the most relaxed and present holiday season yet:
– Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place. It is often difficult to stop and backtrack when at the peak of holiday stress. Know yourself and reflect on past holiday stressors or depression triggers, jot them down and come up with ways to avoid them this year or tackle them from a different angle. Be thoughtful and deliberate, choosing to spend your time in meaningful ways and to eliminate irrelevant tasks. Get your holiday armour ready, whatever it may be: a polite excuse to get you out of a dreaded commitment, a long walk after a congested family meal to have some alone time (maybe Fido really needed to have some extra sniffs!). If you suffer from depression,
Cold and flu season is already here – where did the summer go?! Take a look at our immune-ready brochure to review some easy tips for protecting your immune system this winter. (Our October newsletter will also contain some important tips.)
As a designated Preferred Provider for your Student VIP health insurance plan, KIHC is pleased to offer you Naturopathic Medicine and Registered Massage Therapy services eligible for 100% coverage. This exceeds the standard $40 reimbursement for services offered by non-preferred providers.Please see our website for details.
Please join me for my lecture at Queen’s Institute for Lifelong Learning, Sunday October 5th at 2pm. We’ll explore the concept of personalized medicine and integrating a variety of healthcare modalities to make this a reality.
Integrative medicine recognizes the weaknesses inherent in many medical systems and brings together their strengths. We will discuss symptom based approaches vs. addressing the underlying cause of illness, and treating disease vs. supporting the health of the whole person, and prevention.
Please join us for KingstonFest!
KingstonFest is a free indoor and outdoor family festival that will showcase Kingston’s remarkable organizations, and encourage community involvement. The event will act as an “appetizer” or “taste test” for residents to learn about what’s happening in the community, and to be inspired to get involved. It will include both educational and interactive components that inspire citizens to live by the four pillars of sustainability: Environmental Responsibility, Social Equity, Cultural Vitality, and Economic Health.
Date: Saturday, October 4th, 2014
Time: 10am – 3pm
Location: St. Lawrence College, 100 Portsmouth Avenue
Cost: FREE!
We’ve have an important role to play in preserving our publicly-funded healthcare system. Please see what we’ve written, here.
