Special Features - Healthy Family Living Spring 2018

Healthy Family

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2 Wednesday, March 14, 2018

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o i t n a s l u L t a r a d g i n e o s !

C GLADYS VALE

CASEY BOITSON

Gladys was recognized with the 2017 “Senior Master Practitioner Award” for the 11th consecutive year.

Casey was recognized with the 2017 “Senior Master Practitioner Award”

Well done Gladys!

Well done Casey!

Celebrating 18 years with Beltone

Celebrating 19 years with Beltone

Congratulations to you both!

- Kirk Pavlick & Staff

Better Hearing through Professional Care

The Hearing Centre 4928 53 Avenue, Red Deer 403.347.4703 www.beltonehearing.com 1.800.661.4703

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Roller Derby

is a sport in a league of its own

BY MICHELLE FALK michelle.falk@reddeerexpress.com

After watching a friend’s roller derby game, Jordana Thesen knew she had to give it a try.

“Roller derby has definitely had a huge impact on my

life; it is like no other sport,” she said.

Better known on the roller rink as ‘Gypsy Jo’, Thesen is one of the captains for the adult team ‘Boom’ and head of training for Red Deer’s Nuclear Free Roller Derby League.

She had played other contact sports, including rugby in high school and knew she would enjoy the intensity

JAMMER PULLS AHEAD - Jammer Tekoa Solowoniuk, 10-years-old, nicknamed Ruthless, is a level one Junior Nuker Wave Shovens, who skated ahead of the pack.

Photo supplied by Kris Godfrey, Fatal Fantasy Photography

BOOM - Jordana Thesen, better known as ‘Gypsy Jo’ the team captain with the Nuclear Free Roller Derby League, pushes past a blocker on the opposing team. photo supplied by Kris Godfrey, Fatal Fantasy Photography

of the game.

Her only apprehension was that she didn’t have many friendships with other women and wasn’t sure how she would find the team dynamic.

She could not have been more surprised by the community that developed.

“I’ve never played a sport with such camaraderie,” Thesen said. “It’s in a league of its own.”

The connections that exist even between opposing teams continues to impress her, five years later.

She says in the heat of the game everyone gives it their all and fights fiercely for victory, but when the jams are over the girls go for drinks with opposing players and always have each other’s backs.

Roller derby has many unique elements that help cultivate this close-knit community.

Skaters are encouraged to dress in funky outfits, wearing fishnet stockings under their knee pads, and pink tutus, face paint, skulls and punk designs on their shirts and helmets, and black grease strips under their eyes. The look associated with roller derby juxtaposes soft feminine stereotypes like tutus with the fierce physicality of the game.

Another connecting point among players is the use of nicknames.

Nicknames are used by announcers in competition as well as at practices. Players get to take on the persona, creating an identity within the sport.

“Everyone has their derby name which is kind of a fun part of the sport,” said Thesen.

“We like to encourage people to have fun with their nicknames. They pick their own nicknames or if you’re slow on it we nickname people pretty quickly,” she said.

The Nuclear Free Roller Derby League is self-regulating.

Thesen and other senior skaters run and participate in practices.

Levels are divided based on skill level and a skater’s build, not strictly by age.

As the levels progress the speed of the game progresses.

The Nuclear Free League has three teams.

The ‘Junior Nuker Wave Shovens’ are a level one team, which has no contact at all. (They do not currently have a level two team - level two allows contact but no accelerated contact, meaning that you can’t chase another skater down to push them.)

The level three team - the ‘Junior Biohazards of Red Deer County’- plays with full contact, adult rules and the all-women’s adult team is called ‘Boom’.

“There’s no shape or size or age that defines the sport—I have skated with a woman her late to mid 50s and some of these juniors that are only 16 but their skills allow them to compete against adults,” she said.

“Everyone has their space.”

Nuclear Free is a women’s league, but the junior teams are inclusive and have a few young guys.

So how do you play?

The basics of the game are that teams of five race around the track with one person from each team trying to pass the other team.

Teams are made up of four ‘blockers’ and one ‘jammer’ identified with a star on their helmet.

The jammers start out behind the blockers and they earn points for their teams for each opposing skaters that they pass.

The blockers try to protect their own jammer and prevent the other team’s jammer from getting out in front of them.

Thesen said roller derby is an excellent source of exercise. She said since getting involved she has become much more active.

“Since I started, I have upped my intensity and skill level and I’ve started cross training quite a bit,” Thesen said.

Thesen is quick to say that getting involved in roller derby was the best thing she ever did for herself.

“It’s something that I look forward to, even on my bad days if I go and skate with my friends it’s going to have a positive impact on my life,” she said.

4 Wednesday, March 14, 2018

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MONKEYING AROUND - Alonna Castle, 10-years-old, hangs upside down from silks while practising aerial aerobics at Dance Magic Studio. photo supplied

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turns family fitness

DOWN UPSIDE

March 19 - 23

BY MICHELLE FALK michelle.falk@reddeerexpress.com

You don’t have to run away to the circus to get to be an acrobat anymore.

Christine Slaymaker brought silks and swings to Red Deer for adults and children to give the unique style of dance a try.

“An aerial art is similar to what you would see in a Cirque du Soleil performance,” said Slaymaker, owner of Dance Magic Studio.

The studio has offered Aerial Aerobics for the last three years since they moved into their new building, and were able to build it to accommodate the swings.

They are the only place in Red Deer with classes for children as well as adults. The aerial arts or aerial aerobics include dancing in aerial silks or an aerial hoop.

“The program itself is really great for kids and adults, for people of any fitness level and of all ages and abilities,” Slaymaker said.

She has had children as young as fouryears-old all the way up to a 58-year-old grandma.

They host a parent participation week each year in February where they do fun partner tricks, too.

“We often have moms of kids come out to that,” said Slaymaker, but parent-child

classes are not a regular part of their programming.

Six is the youngest age for the full aerial acrobatics, which is a nine-week program.

Four- to five-year-olds do a novice variation in a distended swing in the silks, so it just gives them a chance to jump off the floor and build confidence. But they’re safe and close to the floor.

“It’s a really great way to build success, coordination and flexibility.”

More than 150 kids have gone through the aerial program in three years.

One of the great aspects about it for both young people and adults is that you don’t realize you’re excising.

“It’s all kind of a workout in disguise,” Slaymaker said, explaining that you are so focused on what you’re doing (and not falling) you don’t notice what a workout you’re getting.

Kids are also impressed with their own abilities to do tricks, she said.

“It’s neat to see kids realize their own strengths and how those develop through the program.”

At the end of the program kids also have an opportunity to showcase their new talents for their parents. The studio also has a year-end recital in May, where a select group of talented aerialists will perform.

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Wednesday, March 14, 2018 5

Lots happening each day at the

Senior Citizens Downtown House

BY MARK WEBER mark.weber@reddeerexpress.com

There is plenty of events and activities for local seniors to enjoy down at the Red Deer Senior Citizens Downtown House, located at 5414 43rd St. “If you like playing cards, we do have Monday night crib,” said the facility’s manager Debbie Stolte, adding that several projects have been going on to improve the facility as well. “Anybody can come to that - we have people from all over coming out to that for example.”

And that’s the point - Stolte emphasizes that the facility isn’t just for seniors. Organizers want the community at large to know they are welcome to drop in too. “You don’t have to be a member, but we do encourage it so that we can keep the doors open,” she said, pointing out that membership numbers have dropped over the past several years.

That said, the focus is on attracting new folks to drop by and see what it’s all about.

“We’re still doing our suppers once a month, so hopefully it will continue on.”

Plus there are delicious lunches served Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - all are welcome.

“We have a new board now, and we are all gung-ho to try and get things really going,” she said, adding that part of the issue is about bolstering awareness about what Senior Citizens Downtown House has to offer.

“Even though we’ve been here since 2000, people

(often) still don’t know where we are,” she said.

Looking back, the organization has been in existence since 1977, and was first located in a few locations downtown including the basement of the old Club Cafe.

Stolte has been with the Red Deer Senior Citizens Downtown House for 13 years now, and has always found it a fulfilling place to work and serve the City’s senior population.

“It’s fun - they are a great bunch, and they are always joking,” she explained with a laugh. “That’s what it is getting people down here to have some fun.”

It’s particularly important on a social level for those who don’t have a lot of connections at home, too.

As Stolte mentioned, funding is pretty much a consistent issue. There is no government funding to rely on, so support comes from the various activities that they charge small fees for and the various fundraisers through the year as well.

Meanwhile, as to some of those featured activities and events, the Senior Citizens Downtown House has a roast beef supper March 9th at 5:30 p.m. - cost is $18. A jam session runs March 10th at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $2.50. Cribbage is every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. - cost is $4. There is a tournament on Thursday March 8th at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $6.

There is also Whist every Friday at 1 p.m. - cost is $4.

The game of 500 runs every Monday and Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. - cost $4. There is a tournament March 26th and the cost to take part is $6.

Fun contract bridge is every Wednesday at 1 p.m. with the cost being $4.

Bingo is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. The cost is $3 - first card and 25 cents for additional cards.

For more information about the Senior Citizens Downtown House, call 403-346-4043 or email scitizen@shaw.ca.

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Live a healthier life in five easy steps

Eager to eat better? Focus on changing one habit at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Do you aspire to a healthier lifestyle but don’t know where to start? Follow these five super-simple steps to take control of your well-being.

1. EAT BETTER Does your diet leave room for improvement? Take a progressive approach to healthier eating habits so you don’t get discouraged. Focus on a single goal at a time — eating more vegetables, replacing salt by other spices or having only a single glass of wine with dinner instead of two, for instance. Try to eat slower and at regular times.

2. GET ENOUGH SLEEP Sleep is vital to your health and wellness, so make sure you get enough of it. While the ideal amount of shut-eye varies between individuals, most adults need around

Five facts about

naturopathy

Whether you’re feeling stres-sed, dealing with digestive issues or simply striving to live an overall healthier life, naturopathy could be the key to achieving your goals. Interested? Here are a few things to know about this versatile discipline.

1. NATUROPATHY IS, WELL, NATURAL This form of alternative medicine uses treatment methods that are completely natural, such as dietary changes, herbal remedies and aromatherapy.

2. ITS FOCUS IS SELF-HEALING Rather than treat symptoms directly, naturopathic care aims first and foremost to stimulate and reinforce the body’s natural healing abilities.

3. IT TREATS THE ROOT CAUSE Naturopathy takes a holistic approach to health care. This means that naturopathic treatments consider each patient as a whole instead of focusing on individual symptoms, which are believed to stem from deeper unbalances in the body.

4. IT CAN BE PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE Naturopathy can be used to maintain the body’s natural balance (thus preventing disturbances that could weaken the immune system) or to bring it back to a balanced state. It is not, however, a substitute for conventional medicine and shouldn’t be treated as such, but it can provide complementary benefits.

5. IT’S HANDS-ON To help patients achieve better health and wellness, naturopaths often recommend lifestyle changes. The effectiveness of the treatment therefore depends on the patient’s willingness to participate and to follow the practitioner’s recommendations.

Win the fight against

springtime allergies!

Pollen is notorious for clinging to fabrics. This spring, avoid the clothesline to reduce your risk of an allergic reaction.

For some people, just the thought of spring in the air is enough to cause fits of sneezing, watery eyes and a runny nose. If you’re among those who struggle with springtime allergies, antihistamine-based medication is your strongest ally! In fact, there are several things you can do to alleviate those irritating allergy symptoms.

The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid coming in contact with the allergen in question. However, when it comes to an entire pollen-filled season, that’s a lot easier said than done. Unless you plan on hibernating for the duration of the pollinating period, you’ll have to find other ways to reduce your exposure to seasonal irritants. For example, avoid going outdoors as much as possible on days when the pollen index is at its highest. In

addition, make sure to keep your car and house windows securely shut until the worst of the season is over. And if you’re usually in charge of lawn-mowing duties, it’s wise to delegate the task to someone without allergies until the end of spring.

Next, it’s important to note that pollen is notorious for clinging to fabrics, skin and hair. Upon returning from the outdoors, make sure to shower and change your clothes without delay. To avoid contaminating your bed, wash up before climbing in — and don’t forget to rinse your hair!

Furthermore, refrain from using the clothesline to dry out your laundry, and never leave the house without a pair of sunglasses in hand. You’ll want to protect your eyes from the pollen and ragweed particles in the air.

seven or eight hours a night.

3. LEARN TO RELAX Known to cause everything from insomnia to digestive problems, stress is terrible for your health. Try to find a way to relieve anxiety that works for you — some people swear by meditation, others by reading or physical activity — and set aside time for yourself every day.

4. MOVE MORE Getting active doesn’t have to mean going to the gym or participating in organized sports. Even if you’re short on time, little changes — like choosing the stairs over the elevator, stretching in front of the evening news or replacing your desk chair with an exercise ball — can go a long way.

5. BE SOCIAL Your overall health depends on physiological and psychological factors. Nurturing relationships is good for morale, and having a strong social circle benefits self-confidence in addition to providing support when you need it.

Seven sunny-day sports

to enjoy this spring

Spring has sprung! The days are getting longer, nature is waking up from its winter slumber, temperatures are on the rise and sunny days are finally becoming more frequent. Now is the perfect time to stock up on vitamin D and burn off some calories in the great outdoors. Here are some sporty suggestions.

1. WALKING You can do it virtually anywhere and anytime you please, and a nice stroll gives your circulatory system a boost. Plus, it’s the perfect pastime for taking in the sights and sounds of nature in bloom!

2. CYCLING Break out your bike and put your thighs, glutes and cardio to work as you pedal through the fresh air.

3. HIKING Hibernation season is over! Escape the daily grind and get back in touch with nature with this endurance-building activity.

4. RAFTING Make a splash and say goodbye to stress while you work on your coordination and endurance. Springtime water levels are a thrill-seeker’s best friend!

5. RUNNING Going for a jog boosts your energy levels, reduces anxiety and helps you get a better night’s sleep. Plus, the season’s weather is just right: not too hot, and not too cold.

6. HORSEBACK RIDING Saddle up and enjoy a strength-building frolic through nature. Being in contact with horses is also known to have positive psychological effects.

7. ROCK CLIMBING There’s no better whole-body workout than rock climbing. Ready to reach new heights and discover breathtaking landscapes?

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Wednesday, March 14, 2018 7

Spin classes are the

new revolution in exercise

BY TODD COLIN VAUGHAN todd.vaughan@reddeerexpress.com

Spin classes have rolled there way into the exercise regimes of people across the country and could be your next favourite way to build up a sweat.

According to My Revolution Spin + Yoga Owner Audra MacIntyre, the spin movement grew from humble beginnings.

“They were trying to re-create the outdoor ride,” she said. “They really appealed to a certain type of client, the person who likes to ride a road bike outside.”

The move away from traditional biking came in New York at Soul Cycle, which brought many features that most people are familiar with today including music, lights and energetic instructors.

“They revolutionized the way an indoor ride can be,” MacIntyre said. “It is about having fun and it appeals to a wide range of people.”

Since then, spinning has grown into its own sub-culture with studios across the continent building groups of committed people.

“One of the things that was really important to me when opening the studio was to build a community,” MacIntyre said. “A place where people feel a part of something, where they can come and see

familiar faces, a place where they can leave their worries behind for 50 minutes and a place where they truly feel supported.”

She added, “People stick with it because they enjoy the ride.”

A crucial element for MacIntyre is ensuring that her studio is inclusive and body-positive for anyone coming through the doors.

“So much of what we are inundated with in media and by various companies, gyms, et cetera is about looking good,” she said.

“I not only disagree with that approach, I believe it impacts our minds and our spiritual well-being.

“All bodies are unique and beautiful just as they are. We need to focus on feeling good, not looking a certain way.”

MacIntyre ensures people are feeling good by having well-trained and welcoming instructors.

“Our instructors are all well-trained and friendly. We encourage people to come early so our instructors can get them comfortable on the bike and give them an idea of what to expect on the ride,” she said.

What they can expect is a ride that focuses on the way people feel, rather than the way it may make you look.

“The most important thing is that we encourage people to take it at their own pace. It is definitely an intense ride if you

SPIN CLASS - My Revolution Spin + Yoga is one of the studios that offers spin classes in Red Deer. photo submitted want it to be but everyone is truly in their own zone and people can take it to whatever level they are at.”

This leads to classes with first-timers to people training for marathons.

“Every instructor sets up their class a little bit differently and everyone moves at their pace a bit differently, meaning it is always fresh. I hope it always stays that way,” she said.

Diets come down to

balance and willpower Carlie Connolly

The word diet often has people feeling dreadful.

It’s that one word that so many people hate to say. Let me tell you, I’ve done my fair share of diets, from going on calorie-restricted diets to eating no carbohydrates to exercising every day.

The list goes on.

Something I’ve learned is that diets really are

all the same. They may be different but they all have the same outcome of helping people lose weight or getting that bikini body ready for the summer.

The many diets I’ve been on have worked in the short term.

I’ve been excited to reach that goal, looking at the decreased number on the scale, but in the long-term, that weight can easily creep up again.

But why?

There are so many factors that go into a diet that many people just don’t consider. It’s a mind game.

It really comes down to how you feel on the inside and what you’ve got to give.

You need to prepare yourself mentally for a diet. For me, if someone comes in with some cake

because it’s somebody’s birthday and I’m on a diet, I’ll still have a little piece but then it’s very hard to get back on the wagon.

I’ve often thought, well I’ve already broken the diet with the cake, so I’m just going to enjoy having whatever I want for dinner. The common phrase I’ve said to myself is, I’ll start tomorrow, and then tomorrow turns into next week, which turns into next month.

I’m happy to say I’ve lost weight and inches since moving to Red Deer last year, but that’s due to balance and quite a bit of hard work. I buy healthy groceries, but I make sure to have a little treat for those days I just need that boost of sugar.

I work out about four times a week doing a high intensity workout, but I don’t pressure myself and restrict myself a ton like I used to. It’s okay to have that little piece of cake when you’re on a diet, and it’s okay to have a bit of butter on your bread. It’s just all about moderation.

I’m lucky to have such a

wonderful support system at home that helps me to reach my goals. I’ve still got 10 lbs to lose, but I’m pacing myself. I set realistic goals, but really, the end shouldn’t be in sight.

I did a very intense bootcamp back in the fall, and I’ve got to say it whipped me right into shape.

I lost several pounds and inches and I looked and felt great, but after I didn’t do

Family

what I usually do, which is treat myself for the next week with whatever I wanted to eat.

Instead, I ate less of what I liked, but still had it included on my menu. I have and always will be a pasta girl, but instead of having a big bowl of spaghetti, I’ll just have a little bit of it.

Portions are everything.

I noticed that after that bootcamp, and even after

a few small cheat days here and there, I was able to keep off the weight.

Diets really can be a yo-yo type pattern, but it’s important to remember that every day should be a healthy day and that treats and sugar really aren’t good for the body, but they are okay in moderation.

Keep positive and you will get to where you want to be in no time!

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