Congratulations to Emily Robinson

Emily, who has been working as a shiatsu therapist at The Pacific Wellness Institute for over five years, has successfully passed her board exams and is now a Registered Massage Therapist. She is part of a very select group of qualified practitioners in Ontario who have full credentials in both Swedish massage (RMT) and shiatsu (CST). Furthermore, she also has qualifications in reflexology (CR). Emily is available for Swedish massage, shiatsu, reflexology or integrated body work on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

What is Shiatsu?

Visit http://www.pacificwellness.ca/shiatsu.html for more information about Shiatsu Therapy.

A Holiday Gift with a Hint of Care

Everyone has their own unique and effective way of dealing with stress but once in a while it is nice to give some help or encouragement to those we care about.  One of the best gifts you can give your loved ones for the holiday is the opportunity to relax and de-stress.  Here at The Pacific Wellness Institute we offer a wide range of gift certificates for various treatments such as Swedish massage, shiatsu, and reflexology.  For every referred new patient we send out a $10 gift certificate to you and another $10 gift certificate to your guest.  If you are shopping for a “massage addict” you can take advantage of our holiday special offer:  buy 6 gift certificates and get one free or buy 11 gift certificates and get 3 free of equal value.  For details please contact our front desk at 416-929-6958.

With the arrival of winter, most of us will likely spend more time indoors. For those of us who will be spending more time on the computer, we will have to be careful to avoid repetitive motion injuries. I would like to bring everyone’s “mousing” arm to their attention. Yes, that one attached to your shoulder.

“Do as I say, not as I do!” is a famous line and I’ll let you know why. About half a year ago, I had some free time. A friend introduced me to a Hold’em poker gaming site, and I became enthralled with the game…………. Errrr I mean I was doing extensive research on the internet for this article. A few days of “searches” later, there was a general ache in my shoulder and there was not any particular position that was comfortable to rest my arm. Worse yet, initializing arm lifting was painful. I had to figure out what was happening because the pain would keep me awake at night, and I need my beauty sleep. As I sat in front of the computer the next day, I finally realized my error. My posture was terrible and I was constantly using one arm for “mousing”. How did this happen? I mean here I am advising clients to take breaks and avoid overuse. Well, at least now I know how it feels and have experienced the rehabilitation process.

What did I do? Self massage from, ummm, myself. I also received acupuncture treatments at the clinic. It took about a week to start feeling better, and about 3 weeks for the pain to subside.

What I’ve learned is this:  Lean back on your chair and let it help support your weight. Rest your elbow and/or forearm on the armrest or table. Try intermittent “mousing” with your other hand. Lastly, do not spend your free time doing extensive research for this article!!

Working together we can guide you through your recovery process. This goes double for anyone that spends most of their day hacking away on a computer, or similar situations.

If you still have some insurance coverage available for this year and would like to maximize your benefits, consider the following tips:

1. Call your insurance company to check the amount of unused coverage.
2. If you are planning to have therapeutic sessions longer than one hour, find out from your insurance company if there is a daily limit on the duration and total cost of the visit.
3. Keep in mind that insurance companies will not reimburse you for visits that are scheduled for the next year.  Unused coverage may not be transferred to the next year.
4. There will only be three weeks in December for appointments as our clinic will be closed from December 24th to January 2nd for the holidays.

In the upcoming hectic season, staying healthy may seem impossible.  The following are the top 5 health concerns of the season with easy and simple tips that can help you combat them:

1. Getting sick
Wash your hands and don’t touch your face
Dress appropriately for the weather
Eat a healthy diet that includes vegetables and fruit

2. Gaining weight
Don’t keep goodies in the house
Keep up with regular exercise and activity
Eat your meals on smaller plates

3. Spending money
Make a budget and stick to it
Simplify your gift giving list after agreeing with friends and family that elaborate gifts are not necessary this year
Look for free activities in and around the city to enjoy with friends and family

4. Stressing out
Know your limits: Learn to say “no”
Make sure you get enough sleep and rest
Devote time to yourself each day

5. Feeling down
Get regular exercise, fresh air and sun exposure (or use full spectrum light bulbs)
Spend time with those who love and support you
Try a new activity or hobby

The one tip that will help deal with all 5 health concerns?

Minimize overindulging on sugar and alcohol
Sugar depresses the immune system and feeds bacteria
Sugar and alcohol provide lots of calories but very little nutrients leading to easy fat storage
Alcohol in general is expensive – especially when out a restaurant or entertaining at home
These things disrupt blood sugar levels and proper liver function which can increase your stress response
Alcohol is a depressant that worsens low moods and interferes with proper sleep

Ever wonder why a nice hot bowl of chicken soup seems to pick us up whenever we are feeling under the weather?  Well, other than its scrumptious taste, chicken soup has been a traditional remedy for colds and viral symptoms.  Myths about its medicinal benefits have been proven to be true as it has been shown to sooth respiratory passages and decrease inflammation.  Symptoms of congestion, sore throat, and cough seem to decrease with every spoonful of goodness.  Chicken soup is also a great source of nutritional support, helps alleviate dehydration, and best of all, it’s easy to make!  I’m sure every kitchen has their own ‘medicine’ but here is my mom’s recipe that always made us feel better.  Nothing else beats a bowl of chicken soup made with love.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

8 Cups of water
4 Chicken legs
3 Carrots (diced)
1 Egg (beaten)
2 tsp Cornstarch
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp soy sauce
Parsley for garnish
Optional: 1 sheet of bean curd softened and chopped into small pieces

Directions:

• Boil chicken in water and let simmer for 20 minutes.  Remove chicken then let cool.
• Chop the chicken into small pieces then re-add to the broth along with the carrots and bean curd.
• Add seasoning (salt, sugar, and soy) and continue simmering for 10 minutes.
• Using a strainer, add the egg to the pot while continuously mixing the soup (Another set of hands will make this step easier!).
  
• Mix the cornstarch in 3 tbsp. of water and add this mixture to the soup to thicken.  You can omit this step or add more cornstarch to the water depending on your preference of thickness.
  
• Scoop, garnish, then serve (makes about 6 servings).