Author:Vancouver Health Coach

Practicing Non-Attachment in Yoga

You’ve finally made a commitment to your yoga practice. You found a studio in which you feel comfortable, an instructor who really speaks to you and a mat with the perfect stickiness. You have structured your entire weekday schedule to accommodate your three favourite classes. Congratulations, now let it all go. The Buddhist aspiration of non-attachment is woven into yogic philosophy but can seem to be at odds with adhering to a regular, structured practice. The idea of practicing non-attachment is getting comfortable with uncertainty and continuous momentum since to live is to continuously exist in a state of change. But attachment...

An Injury Treatment Tip: When to Heat, When to Ice

When should you use ice and when should you use heat? This is a common question that we get asked at Treloar Physio and fortunately, the answer is not all that complex! Ice is often used for inflammatory injuries. Inflammation is the body’s initial response to injury. It is a normal response designed to protect the injured area and start the healing process. Signs of inflammation include: redness, swelling, palpable heat, and pain when touched. Ice works to constrict or close the capillaries which will contain or reduce blood and fluid flow to an area. Other benefits of icing include: decreasing...

Why Cycling In The City Is A Great Idea

You love the city. You love the energy that the city gives you – the people, the sites, the smells, the sounds – there truly is nothing like being in the action of an urban area. And when you’re on your bicycle, there is nothing more exhilarating than exploring the streets of it. You’re not confined to a car – you’re out in the open air, feeling the roads and sidewalks beat with life. So whatever cycling gear you have – BMX, mountain bike, a street bike, road racing bikes, or hybrid bike – traveling a city by bike gives you the chance to...

Is Candida Affecting Your Health?

Candida albicans is a yeast that is normally found colonizing the digestive tract and other mucous membranes of the body.  After antibiotic use or periods of immune suppression, this yeast can proliferate, causing a yeast infection in the digestive tract, on the tongue (“thrush”), in the nasal sinuses, vagina, urinary tract and in the folds of the skin.  In addition to causing symptoms ranging from nagging to severe, chronic Candida infection can derange your immune system leading to allergies, frequent infections, and autoimmune conditions. Symptoms of Candida Infection: Bloating, gas, difficulty digesting many foods, heartburn, chronic indigestion, irregular bowel movements Sugar cravings, alcohol...

Letting Go of Control for Emotional Wellness

Summer is a perfect time to practice chilling out. The world collectively shares this mindset as we see people all around us slowing down, putting their feet up and taking plenty of rest. Even social constructs tend to be more lax, such as the amount of clothing appropriate to wear in public. But by practicing 'chilling out' I'm not referring to sipping a cold one by the pool and turning off the phone...

Metabolic Syndrome: Are You at Risk?

Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X is a condition that was first reported in 1978 by Dr. Gerald B. Phillips. This syndrome is considered to be a powerful independent risk factor for mortality and morbidity associated with cardiovascular disease. A very frightening statistic puts 1 in every 4 persons in North America at risk for developing Metabolic Syndrome. The syndrome involves a cluster of symptoms that are often associated with diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. The cluster may include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, increased waist to hip ratio and/or obesity, as well as a reduced sensitivity of our cells to insulin with...

How to build muscle without supplements: Part Two

Previously I talked about the science and concepts behind building muscle without the aid of supplements. It is a process that can be done but keep in mind that it will take some time. Before a few sample testosterone inducing workouts are broken down, here is a recap of what was previously talked about. 1). Testosterone will have many effects on the body, both directly and indirectly.  It will all have some effect on the growth of a muscle in some shape or form. 2). When it comes to program design, you want to follow the following guidelines: - Multi-joint exercises...

A Closer Look at Tabata Interval Training

Across the board, interval training has plenty of benefits. From fat loss, maintaining muscle, helping to strengthen aerobic and anaerobic metabolism personal trainers have prescribed this kind of training to their clients as well as the average gym goer. In summary, intervals usually consist of a high intensity bout of exercise followed by a low intensity bout (or a complete rest) and will repeat this for several rounds. For example, a person may run on the treadmill at a very fast speed for 30 seconds followed by a light jog or walk for 30 seconds and repeat that for 15-20...

What Is Inflammation?

What is Inflammation? Inflammation is the body’s response to injury. Injury to soft tissues can arise from a number of sources. Physical traumas such as a strain, sprain or contusion are most common, whereas injuries can also occur from bacterial or viral infections, heat, or chemical injury. Trauma causes direct damage to cells in the immediate area of injury, causing bleeding. The bleeding initiates a cascade of events in the inflammatory process that promote healing of the injured tissue. Progression from acute to chronic inflammation can result from persistent injury or individual factors (eg. diabetes, corticosteroid use, blood disorders). How...