Self-Care and Mental Health Practices for Better Well-Being

Self-Care for Mental Health in Today’s SocietyThe phrase “self-care” was one of 2017’s mental health buzz terms and for good reasons. As a society, we are working more hours, hooked into our technical devices longer, creating endless piles of to-do lists. This lifestyle impacts self-care and mental health, leading to burnout and emotional exhaustion. The pressure to meet societal expectations through social media further compounds stress as people compare themselves in the race for acceptance and validation.To combat these challenges, engaging in a meaningful self-care routine has become an important strategy. Self-care for mental health involves intentional practices that support well-being by helping individuals recharge, reduce stress, and develop healthier habits. Taking time for self-care activities—whether it's regular exercise, journaling, or relaxation—helps restore emotional balance and maintain better health and well-being.Strategies to Improve Mental Well-Being NaturallyBetween friends or colleagues, casual discussions of wine and Netflix binges are the beginner’s version of self-help. Perhaps the goal for 2018 is to take the concept of self-care to a new level.Let’s be clear, there is no right or wrong way to engage in self-care. But what if the new challenge is to engage in self-care that isn’t just for immediate release but a step towards meeting a larger need? For example, instead of always choosing a Netflix binge, pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read. Instead of always choosing a glass of wine or a pour of bourbon, go to bed early so you can wake up in time for a morning run.Emotional Wellness Strategies for Lasting ImpactThe idea is that self-care is to move beyond quick fixes and embrace practices that create sustainable mental wellness. Emotional self-care encourages us to engage in behaviours that offer [...]

By |2024-11-22T07:09:19-05:00April 24th, 2018|Mental Clarity, Mind Body Medicine, Self Care|Comments Off on Self-Care and Mental Health Practices for Better Well-Being

Using Your Third Eye to Tap into Your Intuition

By Geraldine LoMonaco, Energy Healer & Intuitive Practitioner  Have you ever had a moment when you felt something was just not right? Maybe you had a sense of unease while walking through a parking lot or meeting someone for the first time. How did you respond? Did you shrug it off or dismiss it as illogical nonsense? […]

By |2024-06-26T07:13:27-04:00March 6th, 2018|Innate Wisdom Practitioner Q&A, Medical Intuition, Mental Clarity, Mind Body Medicine|Comments Off on Using Your Third Eye to Tap into Your Intuition

The Natural Anxiety Solution for Kids: Exercise!

By Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND Back-to-school can create a lot of stress and anxiety for kids. Most parents are looking for natural ways to reduce their child’s stress. Exercise has long been linked to improved mood, reduced anxiety and increased self-confidence. Children need at least an hour of physical activity to achieve these benefits. Feel less stressed Feel better about themselves Feel more ready to learn in school Keep a healthy weight Build and keep healthy bones, muscles and joints Sleep better at night The challenge is fitting exercise into the family schedule OR convincing your child to go! Here are some Toronto-specific suggestions to help you use fitness as a natural family remedy.  […]

By |2024-06-25T03:56:19-04:00August 8th, 2017|Mental Clarity, Mind Body Medicine, ND Editorial, Pediatric Health|Comments Off on The Natural Anxiety Solution for Kids: Exercise!

The Myths of Social Work and Psychotherapy

By Lindsey Danisch, RSW and provider of psychotherapy Myth: Only crazy people or people with severe issues receive psychotherapy. Everyday, people seek therapy for a range of reasons. Some pursue psychotherapy for treatment of anxiety or depression. But others want help coping with life stressors or transitions like martial strain or separation, parenting challenges, the loss of a job, stress management or conflict at work. Others may need help managing and balancing work and family responsibilities, coping with an aging parent, or improving relationship skills. By learning problem solving skills and coping strategies, anyone (young and old) can benefit from psychotherapy. I work with both adults, teens and children. […]

By |2024-06-21T03:15:58-04:00April 20th, 2017|Mental Clarity, Mind Body Medicine, Self Care|Comments Off on The Myths of Social Work and Psychotherapy

Mindful Travel Tips for Families

By Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND The March Break is almost upon us. It is family travel time! Traveling with family members big and small can be challenging. I remember an old teacher once saying “If you think you are enlightened – spend a week travelling with your family!” Certainly, these times can test our patience but they are also the best of times for creating memories, strengthening bonds and reconnecting to the the important people in our life. If you are worried about how you will make it through, try these suggestions for mindful travel with family.  […]

By |2024-06-25T04:29:47-04:00March 7th, 2017|Mind Body Medicine, Travel|Comments Off on Mindful Travel Tips for Families

Holiday Survival Tea Recipe

Tea is a subtle way of receiving nature’s best medicine. Herbal infusions extract medicinal ingredients through the heat of water. Just the warmth of botanically inspired water helps to melt stress, while sitting to enjoy a cup of tea promotes mindfulness. This holiday season, consider taking some time once or twice per day to enjoy this mood & digestion balancing blend. Ingredients You can find most of these ingredients through your local herbal shop. If you live in Toronto, Herbies Herbs is one of the best locations for bulk herbal medicines. 2 Parts Lemon Balm (1 Cup) 2 Parts Chamomile (1 Cup) 1 Part Oat Tops (1/2 Cup) 1 Part Rose Petals (1/2 Cup) 1 Part Lavender (1/2 Cup) Optional: Cinnamon Sticks […]

By |2024-04-18T10:04:25-04:00November 29th, 2016|Mental Clarity, Mind Body Medicine, Recipes|Comments Off on Holiday Survival Tea Recipe

The Immune System Checklist

By Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND   Immunity is about harmony between the person and their environment that involves a complex web of interactions including those with other people, culture, food, work, weather…. Everything! One might say that the immune system is about relationships or how the cells of the body relate to the outside world. A person dealing with an immune issue whether it is frequent illness or autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus MUST consider the relationship between their inner world and the outside environment. The Mind-Body-Immune System Connection An increasing body of research supports the idea that the mind and nervous system are capable of modulating immune response. The term ‘psychoneuroimmunology’ comes from the growing understanding that our thoughts, moods and emotions affect our neurological and endocrine systems that affect our immune function. The immune system communicates with our neurological and hormonal systems to activate or inhibit immune function. Physical illness and immune system issues can also affect our mental and emotional well being. This relationship goes both ways.  […]

By |2024-06-26T05:55:43-04:00October 18th, 2016|Allergies, Cold and Flu Season, Detoxification/Cleanse, Mind Body Medicine, ND Editorial|Comments Off on The Immune System Checklist

Innate Q&A: Meet Lindsey Danisch!

For those of you who don’t know, Lindsey Danisch is the newest edition to the Innate Wellness Team. We are very excited to have her! Counselling services are an essential part of holistic health care. As a Registered Social Worker and provider of Psychotherapy, Lindsey offers counselling services for individuals, families and children. She has a tonne of experience and couldn’t be more approachable but we think you should get to know her yourself! Read more about Lindsey in our monthly Innate Q&A… Q1: This is the first time Innate Wellness has had a Social Worker and Provider of Psychotherapy on their team. We are very excited! How do you see your services fitting into this integrative and holistic team? I’m so excited to be a part of the Innate team! With the pace of today’s society and the increase of expectations/demands on everyone, paying attention to one’s mental health becomes progressively important. I recognize that while it can take a village to raise a child, it can take a team to tackle the physical and emotional complexities of our clients. Psychotherapy is a great compliment to the services already being provided at Innate Wellness. I am able to dig a little deeper with clients to address and support any underlying concerns that may be creating a barrier to improving our overall health and wellness. […]

By |2024-04-18T10:03:47-04:00August 30th, 2016|Innate Wisdom Practitioner Q&A, Mental Clarity, Mind Body Medicine|Comments Off on Innate Q&A: Meet Lindsey Danisch!

Let Your Qi Flow with Shiatsu

with Giuliana Di Paola, RMT & Certified Shiatsu Therapist Shiatsu is a form of Japanese body work based on the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM looks for the true root cause of an illness by understanding the patient physically, emotionally,psychologically and spiritually. This requires a scope of knowledge that goes beyond anatomy and physiology and delves into the concept of energetic flow, or Qi, throughout the body. Shiatsu is a holistic approach to healing that also takes the energy concept of Qi into account. Qi is our life force that flows through us via channels in our body know as meridians. When Qi is blocked problems both mental and physical arise. Shiatsu massage works to remove the blockages by realigning the acupressure points along the meridians to help restore the smooth flow of Qi. Shiatsu is a non invasive form of therapy that uses deep penetrating pressure with the use of thumbs,fingers,palms and elbows to open up these channels of energy and promote blood circulation to nourish internal organs, glands, muscles and nerves. Shiatsu promotes the bodies own ability to heal by providing a gentle, relaxing and restorative form of massage. Shiatsu is just as effective as acupuncture but adds another element, a healing touch. By merging both western and eastern views, Shiatsu can treat a variety of conditions such as insomnia, anxiety and depression, headaches, digestive disturbances, menstrual dysfunction, low resistance to infection as well as muscular tension. If the flow of Qi through the body is smooth, balance is restored and the individual is on the path of healing.    

By |2024-06-19T03:19:48-04:00May 2nd, 2015|Massage Therapy, Mind Body Medicine|Comments Off on Let Your Qi Flow with Shiatsu

The Secret to Heart Medicine from Ancient Tradition

with Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND   Heart disease is one of the western world’s most prevalent diseases. The Heart and Stroke Foundation rates it as the number one cause of death in Canada. If you look on the Heart and Stroke Website you will see listed the following preventative strategies for heart disease: Maintain a healthy weight Consult a dietician for help with creating a balanced diet, monitoring fat intake, increasing complex carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables, reducing alcohol consumption Quit smoking or maintain a smoke-free environment Remain Physically Active Decrease stress All great suggestions that we give out as naturopathic doctors every day…  lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle! But, our patients protest,  ‘it is so hard to change!’ WHY? One of the BIG reason we have difficulty maintaining lifestyle is stress. Our bad habits make us feel really, really good – for a really short period of time. Yet, many of our global authorities on heart health have a hard time directly connecting emotions with heart health – or at least they have a hard time talking about it. Yet in ancient times, this connection was well understood.  According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) one of the biggest blocks to mental and spiritual wholeness is that between the heart (feeling) and the mind (thought). Somewhere along the way, our western minds came  to believe that feelings and thoughts are separate. While in eastern medicine, the relationship is so important that a block or separation between heart and mind is considered a precursor to disease. In TCM the ‘Heart-Mind’ is the residence of memory, thinking, consciousness, mental activity, emotions, sleep and is said to be the home of the spirit or, ‘the [...]

By |2024-06-12T02:30:41-04:00February 6th, 2015|Cardiovascular Health, Mental Clarity, Mind Body Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture|Comments Off on The Secret to Heart Medicine from Ancient Tradition
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