Inside The Polished Apple

Thank you to Margaret Kennedy, Acupuncturist with Elan Family Wellness Centre, for these words on Mindfulness for our May newsletter.  The whole world, as we have known it, our individual world has been rushing around for ages with little or NO MINDFULNESS. We have been so busy rushing around, cut off from ourselves. one another, our environment  and NATURE,  that it has affected our whole lives, our world  - negatively.    Now, a virus, something we cannot even see, has forced us  to slow down,  to isolate from “our NORM”. All our negativeness arise now, we become stressed, angry, anxious, worried,  agitated, depressed, fearful  - How to change this?    This is our time to BE MINDFUL of ourselves, our lives and our world. To CHANGE ourselves, our world. Mindfulness is being aware moment by moment of our thoughts,  emotions, where we hold our feelings in our bodies and our environment – locally and in the world. To...

Thank you to Dr Robert Clarke, Chiropractor at Elan Family Wellness Centre, for these words on Mindfulness.  We are always sending and receiving information, this is how we interact with the world. The obvious example is our interactions with other people. Not just the words, it’s gestures, posture and eye to eye connection. Expand that to the environment around us and what we see and what we don’t see. There is a constant flow of energy and information between us and the world around us. Take a few minutes to reflect on the lens or filter that you use when engaging with your environment. Is it optimistic, fearful, combative or loving? Of course, this is a dynamic process and changes as we move through the day.  Observe yourself and see if there is a filter or lens that you default to most often, then ask if there is a better energy that you can defer to. Become a skilled observer of your own energy. As you learn to shift your own perspectives, you will then be able to enhance...

Thanks to Lisa Chepil, Registered Massage  Therapist  with Elan Family Wellness Centre, in Bowness, Calgary, for these  words  of update and  information  on her  upcoming  training.  While away from the clinic, Lisa has been enjoying time with her daughter, gardening, biking and continuing to master her craft by learning new massage and manual therapy skills. She is following up her first course in RAPID Lower Body with an upper body seminar online this in May with an in-person section to follow later in the summer.   What is Rapid NeuroFascial Reset? RAPID NFR, is a neurologically based, active, manual therapy technique that addresses the central nervous systems role in alleviating tension and restrictions within the body.   What are some conditions does RAPID help alleviate? headaches /migraines back pain  carpal tunnel syndrome  shin splints  shoulder pain...

Thank you to the information shared from Modern Loss (via Instagram) and @goodgriefnj With reports of stress levels rising as we continue to self-isolate, we at Elan Family Wellness Centre, thought it would be timely to focus on Mindfulness for the month of May and to provide you with resources for your mental well-being. Please let us know if we can provide more specific help to support you. For Access Mental Health in Alberta, visit  here. 7 Tips for Reducing Feelings of Isolation:  Name Your Emotion- It's an effective way to reduce and regulate difficult emotions. It may help you to feel more control and that you can manage them more effectively.  Seek Out Regular Social Interaction (phone, video, letter)-We may need to be more proactive in setting up those online "dates" and connections. Regular interactions can lessen the likelihood of feeling lonely or isolated.  Get Physical-include some measurable goals to be active and increase your heart r...

TeleHealth is available for both *New Chiropractic Patients* (new offering!) and patients under current chiropractic care. Many insurance providers are covering these appointments, so please check your insurance information. Sessions cost $45 per 15 minutes (plus $15 per 5 min increment over initial 15 minute session.) Please call or email the office and we can book your time: 403 217 5577 elanctr@telus.net Through TeleHealth we can converse about what is happening to understand your condition or concern, look at postural and movement imbalances, and recommend exercises, techniques or lifestyle recommendations that may help you. With all of your increased demands and stress, your physical health should be the one that allows you to respond with flexibility and adaptability.

A frequent question that I get asked by my chiropractic patients is, What can I do to make sure my diet supports my bone health and bone density? Here's some basic information to make sure you are getting the minimal levels required.   Is eating for “bone health” a concern for you? According to New York's Center for osteoporosis, 1 in 2 women over 50 will break a bone due to low bone mass or osteoporosis. While many of us have grown up on the idea that drinking milk is essential to have strong bones when we get older, and necessary so we don't develop osteopenia or osteoporosis. (“Brittle bones”), let's explore other areas of our diet where we may be able to get calcium and other factors contributing to bone health. Dairy does contain calcium and can be part of a healthy diet, but there may also be concerns with digestion or absorption for some people. The current Canadian Food Guide (2019) advises us to fill half of our plate with fruits and vegetables, a quar...

Thank you to Dr Robert Clarke, Network Spinal Chiropractor at Elan Family Wellness Centre in Bowness, Calgary, for this breath exercise to connect with our inner wisdom.  As the days get longer and the warmth of sun grows stronger, we can reflect on how this year/decade has started. Have you developed a trajectory to guide you forward? It’s less about goals, it’s more about direction. How would you like things to be unfolding for you as you move though the next year/decade? With a direction in mind its good to check in with your heart and see if you are on track. Sit with your hands over your heart,  breathe in your nose, out your mouth, bringing the breath to your heart space. While connecting with your heart reflect on your path forward does your path have a positive effect on how your heart feels?  If so great!  If not, how can your course correct to change your trajectory to have your direction be more congruent with your heart? Do this exercise ...

A friend once said to me, ”What are you going to do about it?”   This is a great question to ask.   Recently, our beloved grocery store The Bownesian was in the news because they need a bit more support from the community. We brainstormed at one of our Wednesday meetings here at Elan and we came up with the following:   During the month of February, make a purchase of $20 or more at the Bownesian and bring the receipt to us at Elan, you will be entered to win a 90 min massage. You will need to leave your name/number/email. There is no maximum times you can do this... it just betters your chances of winning the massage and shows warmth and love for an amazing local store. Happy shopping and good luck!  (yes, its a 90 minute massage! We upped the prize for you at the last minute). 

It's February & we're excited to Share the Warmth with you this month! It's heart awareness month and we hope some of our activities will help to warm your heart. We practiced FIKA last year with you in February~it's the art of the coffee break, and taking your time to connect and visit with your friends/ family/ or in our case community! Once a week, we will have coffee, tea and treats set up so you can enjoy FIKA with us, or a fellow practice member. Part of our Share the Warmth is to bring some more awareness to our local retail neighbors. We have an excellent grocery store, The Bownesian Grocer, just around the corner from us, offering non-perishables, produce, deli, and yummy chef-prepared meals. You may have seen in the media that their future is in jeopardy & they need more business, especially as we have more Big Box stores moving into the neighbourhood in the near future. To help support them, and to thank you for your business, we'll be...

Thank you to these words on novelty from Scott Hutchison, Registered Massage Therapist and Energy Rich Life Coach with Elan Family Wellness Centre, in Bowness, Calgary.  Often we arrive in January all full of hope for the new year.  The previous year gets described as tough or challenging or even a “dumpster fire”.  We look back and get hints of the good stuff… but mostly the rough stuff surfaces and that is where our attention and language to others is communicated.  And then we use hope as a strategy for our coming year.  Hope is lovely… and giving hope to others is fantastic… but it can be a lousy strategy without action and persistence towards something.  Not running away from those things that caused you the pain last year… but towards those hopes and dreams with efficient actions, razor sharp purpose and the ability to use energy to crystallize the thoughts in your head that will lead you down the path closer to your result… every day.  B...

Thank you to Dr Robert Clarke for these words on embracing life. Dr Rob offers Network Spinal Chiropractic at Elan Family Wellness Centre in Bowness.  On December 24 th   my sister transitioned. It was an honor to be with her as she completed her earth walk. For those of us she left behind, it was too soon, she was only 56. After a number of years with health challenges, she was ready. She found gifts in her illness. There was a great peace about her at the end. The lessons that I take into this new year, is to live each day to its fullest. To find the gifts in my challenges.   Over the past couple of years, I have been able to spend many evenings at my kitchen table discussing life love and the cosmic web of life that we all participate in.  My sister Daphne definitely had some coyote medicine in her. Lots of laughter. The Coyote is a trickster, teaching us to balance the elder within and the child within. To bring playfulness into all aspects of our lives. ...

 A new year and a new decade-it's both terrifying and exciting! Do you have hundreds of ideas of things you want to accomplish this year, or is the uncertainty of what's ahead too daunting? I have a mixed relationship with the end of the year and January 1 st , although I do love the opportunity the quietness of the holiday (after Christmas, that is) brings to reflect on our year past and our year ahead. I also love Pinterest and gathering ideas. I sifted through several end of year lists of questions and picked and chose my favourites. There is something very complete about journalling through a review and starting fresh with what is ahead. Grab a piece of paper and journal along! I chose a simple review with the first modified from http://www.designlovefest.com/2018/12/year-end-with-paypal/ Looking back on 2019 Celebrate!  What are 2 (or more) highlights from 2019: What was my most inspiring project this year? Learn!  What are 2 (or more) lowlights for 20...

Thank you to Margaret Kennedy, our Acupuncturist at Elan Family Wellness Centre, in Bowness, Calgary, for this article on SuperBrain Yoga. She will be leading classes in this in November and December.  In this day and age with so many problems we need to be grateful not only for what we have but what we are given. Our perception may have to be expanded when shown things that are “different”. Worldwide, people are grateful  to the Founder of Superbrain Yoga,  Mst. Choa Kok Sui.   With the rise worldwide  of both children and adults with various disabilities, professionals began research into Superbrain Yoga .   Parents whose children were challenged with Autism, ADD, ADHD, Depression, speech delay, compulsive disorders and behaviour problems started to use Superbrain Yoga with positive results.   The Research studies supervised by Medical Doctors showed both positive results and significant improvement in adults and children with a varie...

Thank you to Dr Robert Clarke, Network Spinal Chiropractor with Elan Family Wellness Centre in Bowness, for this article on the Sacred Season of  Transform. During the season of Transform, we begin to create changes in our lives, fuelled by the knowledge of discover. Often these changes are subtle, and sometimes they are very dramatic. The important thing to recognize is that we now have some control in how our lives move forward. At times, changes are needed, yet sometimes the change that is needed most is a change in perspective to have a significant effect on our lives. We also claim ownership of our gifts and our challenges, knowing that this is essential for us to maintain balance, and helping us to move forward. Transform needs energy to shift the patterns in our lives, so knowing yourself and what energizes you is important in these times. In transform, we find acceptance; Acceptance of where we have been, and how we have lived until now. This acceptance, or let...

Thanks to Scott Hutchison for this update on what's happening with Massage Therapy at the office! And it’s November! Which means an upswing in folks finishing up massage insurance packages for the year. Most packages have around $500 to use up for massage and Lisa and I always seem to see people scramble in December to use it all up. Why not start in November? We have an amazing program. It’s called the Massage Triple Pack. Some practice members have been using it all year, but I want to make sure you know about it too! 3 massages for $220 plus gst. That works out to saving you $50!!! Just do the program twice and you have maximized your benefits, received the amazing care your body craves and set yourself up for success during the busiest time of the year. Simple...call us and we can get you booked in and started ASAP. ~Scott

Help us welcome a new face in the office!  Heidi is an Art Therapist returning home to Calgary after 4 years in Medicine Hat, AB. Heidi has worked with domestic violence survivors, incarcerated men, adults in a mental health/ addictions facility ,  adolescents, the elderly, children , and developmental disabilities. Her passion is working from a trauma informed, mindful, and insight oriented approach. Heidi loves answering questions about Art Therapy, and runs workshops for organizations who want their team to have an embodied art experience. She's ecstatic to be part of Elan Family Wellness and is looking forward to getting to know the community.  Heidi Pedersen BA Psyc, DKATI, CCPA, CATA

It’s an enjoyable month when we can shift into gratitude for life, practice and our practice members. November is when we typically wrap up our Practice Member of the Week program-hopefully you've had a chance to help celebrate the successes we see in the office. If you'd like to be considered in the future-please nominate yourself to us or Christine & Megan when you're in the office. We love to celebrate your health improvements and wellness choices!   Some of the successes we've heard this season: Resolution of initial sleep concerns for a little girl, long term solution for stability of chiropractic adjustments & their spine, help for physical pain, and benefits mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well, and how what they learn here, they are able to take and use in everyday life to benefit themselves ... with practice members from 5 months to 19 years in care!     While I've personally had a year with a lot of difficult challenges and ...

Thanks to Dr Robert Clarke, Chiropractor at Elan,  for this article on Awaken-the third Sacred Season in the Seasons of Wellbeing.  When we have effectively connected to ourselves through discovering and transforming, the next sacred season is Awaken.  Having let go of our attachment to our stories from the past we naturally flow into the space of all possibilities. In this place of soulfulness, we connect with our authentic selves. The authentic self always looks to grow and expand. In an awakened state we experience our connection with everything around us. We see the gifts in our challenges.  Understanding this we are compelled to share our gifts and receive gifts from others, allowing for a true connection with community. From this place we can effectively see the big picture and begin to create a richer fuller life. As much as the insights from this state often have us pause and absorb the energy of this beautiful space, awaken is an active state. The ins...

You're invited!  In honour of World Spine Day & National Spine month in October, please join us for our Fall Health Screening Day. You will definitely want to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity if you would like to experience such advantages in your life and health as: A spine and neck that feel fantastic & Improved Posture! These benefits can In have a common source, which is a spine and nervous system that function in a well adjusted , healthy and vital way. Lets discover together how you can have more of what your really want in your body, your health and your life! Spaces are limited, so act right away! All proceeds going to The Little Free Pantry

Thank you to everyone who brought in socks or donated money! We were able to collect or buy over 200 pairs of new socks this September! We collect them as part of the Toasty Toes Sock Drive with the Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors.  From our ACAC, "Despite our cold Alberta winters and consistent requests by charitable organizations, socks remain one of the least donated items. That’s why the ACAC, in partnership with Wood’s Homes and several chapters of the United Way, run the Toasty Toes Sock Drive every September. For the entire month, chiropractors and their clinics across the province work to collect donations of new socks, which are then distributed by our nonprofit partners to vulnerable Albertans." Thank you for all of your support!