Spotlight

July 9, 2014 In News, Spotlight, Yoga By Vancouver Health Coach

Which Yoga Practice fits You Best? Yoga for Different Needs

Although the positive effects of yoga on the human body can be significant, yoga should not be thought of as just another fitness program. Yoga is about uniting the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. It is not a competition, and yoga teachers are not like a typical fitness coach. Yoga teachers are also students, and they are always in the process of practicing and learning. Yoga is for people at any point on their journey to a healthier, happier, more productive lifestyle. Different styles of yoga are available for people with different needs. Within the various types of yoga,...

July 7, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight, Workouts By Vancouver Health Coach

6 Movements You Should Be able to Easily Do: Part 1

These are exercises that should be no problem at all if our body is functioning well. If you have difficulty with any one of them - you simply cannot do them or you have pain, there are body dysfunctions that should be addressed. Our bodies are meant to move, and when movement becomes a problem due to a lack of strength or flexibility, our lives can close down as we find ourselves no longer capable of doing the things we want. Stairs become a problem, getting in and out of cars or chairs difficult, or we have trouble carrying groceries home. Training...

July 6, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight, Uncategorized By Vancouver Health Coach

How To Be Gluten-Free Without Being Socially Awkward

No one wants to be socially awkward. However no one wants to eat something they know causes unpleasant symptoms, either. For the 1 in 133 people worldwide suffering with Celiac disease, or the 6-7% of people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, living gluten-free (GF) is not easy. There has been a tremendous increase in availability, variety and quality of gluten-free products in recent years. However, there are still many facets of gluten-free living that create a ton of awkward social moments. Let’s start with the dinner party. Being a guest in someone’s home, who you know put a ton of effort into...

July 5, 2014 In Editor's Picks: Must Haves for Staying Healthy, Fitness, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Heart Rate Monitors: Gadget or Fitness Tool?

You have seen athletes training for marathons, triathlons to the guy that has a garage full of every piece of fitness equipment ever sold on TV wearing heart rate monitors at one point or another.  But what exactly is their purpose?  How is it going to give me the body I want?  Should you include a heart rate monitor in your gym bag? No matter what your goals are, whether it is to lose weight, strengthen your heart, relieve stress, improve your health, or build muscle; wearing a heart rate monitor can help you achieve those goals by helping you find...

July 3, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Vegan & Gluten-Free Smoothie Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie vs Pumpkin Spice Latte

"I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion” Henry David Thoreau Have you been thinking about ordering a Tall Pumpkin Spice Latte but somehow you are resisting the 300-calorie drink that delivers 3 tablespoons of sugar! Try this gluten-free Phytonutrient Rich Pumpkin Spice Smoothie (and enjoy a small coffee on the side). For only 200 calories and without any refined sugar, this Superfood drink delivers phytonutrients like beta-carotene that have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers. The carminative spices, ginger and cinnamon, reduce gas in the stomach and help with the digestion of...

July 1, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight, Workouts By Vancouver Health Coach

Runner’s Knee: Beating the Injury

On Sunday, August 25 I went to Whistler, British Columbia to be a team Physiotherapist for a group of three athletes taking part in Ironman Canada. A 3.8KM swim, 180 KM bike, and 42KM run. The sheer determination and strength, both physical and mental, of the 2800 + contestants is absolutely amazing. Training and competing in such an intense race requires the proper “pre-hab” and re-hab. In the following weeks I will go through the 4 major injuries encountered by these athletes in the marathon portion of their race. Week 1: Runner’s Knee What is it? Runner’s Knee, clinically known as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome...

June 26, 2014 In Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight, Yoga By Vancouver Health Coach

Can’t sleep? Yoga poses to get a good night’s rest

Yoga has so many benefits mentally, physically, and emotionally. Feeling stressed and overtired can be the inability to sleep soundly. At the end of the day we expect our bodies to shut down instantly and fall asleep. After a full day of energy-charging our bodies, it can be tough to wind down automatically. Television and computers do not help either with slowing down the nervous system. Many researchers claim that not getting enough sleep has many negative health consequences, such as raising your risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and even obesity. In addition to those, it also has an effect...

June 23, 2014 In Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Gluten-Free: Just Another Fad Diet or the Solution to Your Health Problems?

The gluten-free industry is booming, estimated to reach $6.2 billion by 2018, according to research done by MarketsandMarkets. Gluten-free products can be expensive, and although widely more available now than even 5 years ago, it can still be a challenge to find them unless you’re in a health food store. So what is all the hype about anyway? Is gluten-free just the latest fad diet? Could going gluten-free be the solution to your health problems? Let’s start with the basics. Gluten is a protein found in foods processed from wheat, barley, and rye. It also commonly contaminates other grains that do not...

June 21, 2014 In Eliminating Toxins, Food and Recipes, Green & Healthy Living, News, Spotlight By Vancouver Health Coach

Detoxification: Do Cleanses Really Work?

Many of us have experimented with detox kits purchased from health-food stores and noticed huge changes. Some dropped weight, and others found their skin cleared up. Some had to spend the first couple of days in the bathroom until their bodies got used to the new regimen, after which they felt fantastic. Others felt ill during the entire cleanse and remained depleted afterwards. They probably would have been better off not doing the cleanse in the first place. Our primary organs of detoxification are the liver, gall bladder, kidneys and the skin, and all in all, they do a fantastic job considering...

June 10, 2014 In Fitness, News, Spotlight By Rich Ralph

Are You Wearing the Right Shoes for your Feet?

If your feet could talk, what do you think they would say to you? Would they be loud and angry at you all the time? Or maybe they would occasionally whisper a pleasant ‘Thank You’ in your ear? Although our feet can’t use words to communicate with us, they provide us with very real signals which they send to us via our bodies in hopes of letting us know what we’re doing right and wrong. I’ve always been a very athletic and fit person. But I have also always been very prone to ankle injuries. My soccer career was plagued by...