GET HEALTHY, GET FIT AND HAVE FUN WITH OUR UPCOMING
BOOT CAMP AND CORE WORKSHOPS!!
NEW PROGRAMS FROM PURA VIDA FITNESS

Fall sessions October 14 - December 5

Outdoor Bootcamps | Indoor Studio Classes | Personal Training

‘PURE MADNESS’ mon/wed/fri 5:30 - 6:30 am
Kick start your day and supercharge your metabolism with a combination of cardio drills, core training and full body conditioning. *all sessions outdoors

‘BEACH BLAST’ tues/thurs 9:30 - 10:30 am
Break free from the gym and take your workout outside to some of Victoria’s most scenic locations. *all sessions outdoors

‘HAPPY HOUR’ mon/wed/fri 5:15 - 6:15 pm
Kick the stress from your day to the kick with this high energy full body workout inside at our downtown studio. Circuits jam packed with cardio intervals, core exercises, strength training, plyometrics and agility drills. *all sessions indoors

PERSONAL TRAINING
Whether you’re beginning a fitness program for the first time, or you’re a fitness enthusiast already, Pura Vida Fitness can help you achieve your goals. Our BCRPA certified trainers will design a program tailor-made for you: based on your goals and your schedule. Sessions can be conducted at our private downtown studio, your home, or park location of your choice.

Spaces are limited so please register early!

* we welcome all fitness levels

For information/ registration contact:
Amy Coelsch
Pura Vida Fitness 250.869.0294
puravidafitness@gmail.com
www.puravidafitness.ca

CORE STABILITY & MOBILITY WORKSHOP

When? Saturday, October 4
9-11

What? A 2-hour interactive, hands-on workshop focusing on how to activate and effectively train your core muscles. The workshop is run by Cook St. Village’s Athletic Therapist, Cara Obee.

New! BALL BASICS

When? Saturday, October 25
9-11

What? A brand new workshop designed for people who have minimal experience using the exercise ball. A great way to increase your confidence on the ball and how to use it for total body core conditioning.

Both workshops are taking place at Cook St. Village Health Centre. Please register early as space is limited to 8 participants. Bring water and a yoga mat (if you have one) and wear loose clothing.

Any questions please see Cara or call 477 LIFE.

NEWSLETTER

Awareness 101:
by Ian Abbott, Massage Therapist

The human body is an amazing creation of nature which all of us have the good fortune to inhabit for our lifetime. Unfortunately, unlike a car, we cannot simply trade it in when it starts to give us trouble or wear out.

The best way to take care of ourselves is to learn as much as we can about diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors, like sleep and stress, that have a big impact on our health. While there as an abundance of information available to us via the internet, it does not take the place of sound professional assessment. By seeing one of our team here at Cook Street Village Health Centre, we can identify areas where a greater level awareness would be beneficial.

Seeing the chiropractor, massage therapist, or naturopath is important, but less so for the treatment itself. The knowledge of how to best take care of yourself is the real gem. The service we provide is important, but so are the self care tips you take home. Small changes in posture, diet, or lifestyle, make big changes that can have long term benefits. By seeing one of our team you are investing in your health for the long term.

Locally: thoughts, tips and inspiration
by Dr. Alexis Blanks, Naturopathic Doctor

Summer is here, and with our local farms in the middle of producing this year’s crop, I think it’s a great time to be thinking about where our food comes from. As a society, we are learning more and more about the importance of eating locally grown foods. This is hugely important for our environment as it cuts down on the staggering impact of shipping food from far away. Another great benefit that I see is that it also gives us as a community an added connection to the land (our land) from which the food came and the amazing process in which living food comes from the soil. Earlier this summer, I kept looking at the HUGE radishes that I pulled out of my garden and felt amazed that a little seed could turn into such a large beautiful vegetable! And, if I feel this amazed by my radishes, just think of how exciting it must be for our children?! Teaching our children to eat the food that is produced where we live is not only a great opportunity to educate but also can be lots of fun and can lead to some great activities for those long summer months. So, with that said, here are some ideas for eating locally this summer:

• Attend local markets and buy from directly from our local farmers and food producers. For example: Moss Street Market – Every Saturday from 10am – 2pm at Sir James Douglas School, 401 Moss Street
• Get out to the farms and pick your own food (bring the kids if you have them – don’t forget a hat and sunscreen!). There are lots of farms in our area that allow you to pick your own, this usually also means saving some money too! For example: Mt. Newton Blueberries has organic U-pick blueberries (should start around July 15th) phone: 652-9035.
• Visit http://islandfarmfresh.com/ for information on where to get the food you are looking for. This website has a list of everything from fruit and veggies to chicken, honey, eggs and much more!
• Grow your own food! It doesn’t need to be big or fancy or that much work (but it could be if you wanted!). Even if you only have a small amount of space, you could plant some mixed lettuce or kale (so easy to grow!); this will make getting those important leafy greens that much easier!
• Rediscover your freezer! Last year I picked lots of berries and stored them in my freezer. Since learning of a farm that supplies local organic chicken I also have a supply of chicken that should last me for quite some time. For busy people it’s a great feeling to know that your freezer is stocked ahead of time with the ingredients you need for a quick healthy meal.

Dr. Alexis Blanks is always happy to welcome new patients to her practice. For a more personalized approach to your health and nutrition call 477-5433 to book an initial appointment.

Dr. Alexis Blanks, ND is now pleased to offer our patients female physical exams and smears.
Interested? Here’s what you need to know:

• To have your Pap done with Dr. Blanks you are not required to be a patient of hers but you will be required to fill out a small intake and consent form. A copy of your results will be sent to your regular primary care provider.
• The exam will include a breast exam, Pap smear and pelvic exam, Dr. Blanks will also allow for time to answer any general questions that you might have in regards to female health.
• If you would like to receive naturopathic treatment from Dr. Blanks, you will be required to have a full initial visit with her and fill out the appropriate forms.
• The fee for the exam will start at $30 (check with your extended health plan to see about your coverage for naturopathic medicine).

Skin Care
by Kristina Hewlett

At Cook St Village Laser, we believe that common skin conditions can be aggravated or caused by a large percentage of the skin care products available on the market. In many cases the skin care products sold to heal a skin condition are in fact full of the chemical ingredients that may be causing the condition in the first place.

CSV Laser is very happy to have found Keys, Chemical-Free Skin Therapy, one of the purest, safest lines on the market. There are also many other wonderful, natural skin care lines available on the market, you just need to understand the ingredients and read the label. To read more about the “Dirty Dozen” chemicals in everyday products, written by the Marin County Cancer Project click here.

Beautiful, healthy skin can be achieved with simple, pure ingredients that do not include potentially harmful, toxic chemicals. To find out more about the safety rating your skin care or sun care products. Visit www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

Safety Tips
Based on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database

With any luck, we will have another two months of this wonderful, summer sunshine, and sunscreen is just one part of a sun-healthy lifestyle. It's important to spend time outdoors, but by incorporating some common-sense protective measures, we can play outside while still minimizing our exposure to UV radiation.

1. USE SUNSCREEN that's effective and safe. We recommend physical sun block or mineral based products with Zinc Oxide and Titaniam Oxide to avoid excessive chemical ingredients, that don’t always provide the protection they say. Make sure the SPF is 15 or higher. Buy new sunscreen every year.
2. AVOID SUN DURING MIDDAY and when the sun is at its peak. Sun is more intense at high altitudes and in the tropics, and UV radiation reflects off sand, water, snow, and concrete — take special care in these situations.
3. SEEK SHADE whenever you can. But remember that invisible rays can reflect up toward you from the ground, so you may still need protection.
4. COVER UP with a shirt, hat, and UV-protective sunglasses. In general, fabric is more protective if it is dry and more tightly woven (not sheer).
5. SLOP ON SUNSCREEN AND REAPPLY OFTEN and use enough for good coverage, reapplying often; sunscreens wash off in water and break down in sunlight. Radiation exposure adds up, even when you aren't in the sun all day. The American Cancer Society recommends using sunscreen daily on parts that are uncovered by clothing.
6. KEEP KIDS SAFE since they're more sensitive to sun damage. Use sunscreen, play in the shade, and keep infants out of direct sun as much as possible. Check our special sun safety tips for kids.
7. CHECK THE UV INDEX when planning outdoor activities.
8. SKIP SUNLAMPS and tanning beds.
9. CHECK YOUR SKIN for spots and changes, and remember that natural tone (not just tan) is beautiful. You know your skin best, so examine it for changes, lesions, and spots regularly. Be extra careful if you have freckles, moles, take certain medications (such as some antibiotics), or have a family history of skin cancer. Early detection is best; so consult Cook St Village Laser and Dr. Gordon for more information.