The Nugget Newspaper's Focus on Health 2024 // 2024-01-24

FOCUS on Health

Wednesday, January 24, 2024 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

We have something ng for ALL ages!

Fun Fitness AND

with Sisters Park & Recreation District!

Group Fitness Classes • Youth Athletics Winter Programs For a full listing of activities and programs, visit sistersrecreation.com

Daybreak Wellness

If you have resolved to be healthier in 2024, Daybreak Wellness is ready to help you kickstart a vibrant new year.

Diane Flowers is bringing nearly two decades of experience teaching nutrition to bear in a six-week class that will help you boost your metabolism and reduce chronic inflammation.

What we eat and how we eat is foundational to our well-being. Many people focus on weight loss at this time of year — but if you learn to eat in a healthy way, weight loss is just a natural by-product of overall vitality.

Diane will host an informational meeting at 6 p.m. on February 2 at Daybreak Wellness.

The six-week course includes coaching to help you stay on track — because having accountability is key to successful health changes. Participants will also learn and experience how sauna and cryotherapy — all available at Daybreak Wellness — support metabolism and reduce inflammation and improve cardiovascular and hormonal performance.

Focus on your sense of well-being and your vitality through healthy eating and living in 2024 — starting with support from Daybreak Wellness.

PRIMARY CARE URGENT • SAME DAY WEIGHT/LIFESTYLE ROBYN LOPEZ, DNP, FNP-BC

562-805-1672

541-549-2091 | 1750 W. MCKINNEY BUTTE ROAD, SISTERS

www.whychushealth.com

Sisters Park & Recreation District

Whychus Health Robyn Lopez, DNP, FNP-BC

Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) is expanding its fitness class offerings to become a community asset building health and wellness for folks in Sisters Country.

Power Hour on Mondays and Wednesdays offers body weight workouts, circuit training, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts. This high-energy class is open to all abilities and workouts can be modified based on individual fitness levels.

Zumba is a tremendously popular way to bring fun to fitness, and it’s offered on Mondays and Thursdays. Dance is also a focus in an adult ballet class and also the Barre Above class.

Seniors benefit from Better Bones & Balance, a research-based exercise class designed to improve bone health, muscular strength, and balance in a fun, social community environment.

In February, look for an informational session, Heart Health 101, with a nurse from St. Charles Health System.

Participants will learn about heart function and how to maintain (and improve) a healthy heart through diet.

SHE SOARS

PSYCHIATRY

Whychus Health offers people in Sisters access to direct primary care without administrative and insurance barriers — so the focus can be on your health and well-being.

Robyn Lopez, DNP, FNP-BC, a family nurse practitioner, treats patients holistically with a passion for developing lasting relationships in a judgment-free, partnership style of care.

“My goal with Whychus Health is to give my patients quality time,” she says. “I want them to get to know me, and I want to get to know them.”

A full range of primary care is available, including COVID swabs, and symptomatic care for the range of illnesses circulating in Sisters. Lopez can provide exams, order diagnostic studies, and provides safe, evidence-based clinical practice. An EKG machine is onsite, and soon Whychus Health will be offering in-house draws for lab tests.

All of this is done through a membership program with a level of personal attention and care that is not readily available in today’s health care system.

EXCITING NEWS! Now offering

RETAIL LOBBY HOURS

Tuesdays & Thursdays, Noon to 4 p.m., Wednesdays, 2 to 6 p.m.

Come shop and pick up your favorites!

Sisters • 541-241-0254 0254

everberadiant.com nt com

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Wednesday, January 24, 2024 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Commentary…

Community service gets personal

By Rennie Morrell PHOTO PROVIDED

A friend called me recently, distraught, tearful, and saying there was a letter in her mail when she returned from her holiday trip revoking her driver’s license for health reasons.

The hurt and dismay were palpable, and I felt helpless to my toes. None of us expect or want such news, but it happens. One minute my friend could drive to the gym and the next she could not. She could go see friends, then she was home alone except for her aging dog.

Before the letter, she could drive to Ray’s and BiMart for groceries and supplies but no more.

Her life changed forever.

As Sisters Transportation and Ride Share (STARS) Program Manager, I knew she could get to her medical appointments, but beyond that I racked my brain for advice on how she could remain active, socially engaged, and independent in Sisters. It is a question for many of us - how will we manage to age in place in our small rural community? The problem is particularly acute for those who live alone and have no family in the area, a situation not uncommon in Sisters.

STARS’ demand for medical rides grew 35 percent in 2023 and as our population growth continues, you may rest assured transportation is not a community service that can be neglected. Making sure residents can see their doctors helps keep a community healthy.

Sisters needs STARS. Caring STARS volunteers drove over 20,000 miles in 2023 taking people to medical appointments. And the increased demand for crucial medical rides is why STARS has not expanded to help in other ways. Of course, friends and neighbors step up to help each other, but passengers tell us that calling STARS gives them a sense of independence lost when they must ask

others for rides.

Cascade East Transit (CET) helps with DialA-Ride, Shoppers Shuttle, and buses if people do not have mobility, vision, memory, or other issues making it unsafe or unreasonable for riders to use public transit. They have an outstanding service for veterans and provide them free medical rides, but except for the veteran program, CET is not designed for the types of curbto-curb medical rides STARS does for Sisters’ residents. That is why the STARS Team exists.

We gratefully partner with CET and help fill a gap that public transport simply cannot address.

The STARS Team has taken on many initiatives to grow and refine the services and the most recent is applying for and being accepted as an OHSU-MBA Capstone Study participant. The study will be completed in late May 2024. Jessica Walter, Director, Division of Management School of Medicine, OHSU, notified STARS of the acceptance saying, “We were overwhelmed with project submissions!

And we are pleased to tell you that your project Bridging the Gap for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) in Sisters, Oregon has been accepted as a capstone project for our MBA students.” The STARS model is working well, but with OHSU’s support, we will complete a services gap analysis and will find ways to make STARS more sustainable for our community.

In 2019, a volunteer group founded STARS

STARS volunteer driver Ann Marland assisting Christopher West with a ride to a medical appointment. and has managed it for over four years. They are an intelligent, caring, and dedicated group who are currently transitioning the STARS AFSC Action Team to an independent 501c3 organization. They rely on the generosity of caring volunteer dispatchers and drivers to make the program work. They get funding from donors and grantors to pay for software, phones support, mileage reimbursement and administrative costs. They have created a culture of helpfulness, and they support each other and the community with professionalism and generosity. They have created and continue to grow an organization that uses technology to give volunteers a flexible and rewarding opportunity to contribute.

STARS operates efficiently and effectively, but volunteer turnover, additional skill needs, and continuous funding requirements make it necessary for the community to take notice and get involved. Perhaps you will never need to ride with STARS, but your support may be important to friends like mine who thought they would be helping others, not asking for help.

Go to the STARS website, https://starsride. org, to learn more, volunteer, or donate.

Call us at 541-904-5545 if you need a ride.

Interested in serving on a new board providing such a vital service? Send us an email at volunteer@starsride.org. Sisters, we need you, and you need us. Rennie Morrell, STARS program manager, rennie@starsride.org.

Call us at 541-904-5545 if you need a ride.

FOCUS on Health

Wednesday, January 24, 2024 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

S I S T E R S D E N TA L

Does your New Year’s Resolution Include Volunteering In Your Community?

Your local implant and Invisalign providers Trevor Frideres, D.M.D. Kellie Kawasaki, D.M.D.

541-549-2011 491 E. Main Ave. www.sistersdental.com Hours: Mon., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tues.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri., 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Simply Electric Life

Sarah Hauth knows that the ElectroEquiscope protocols she offers through Simply Electric Life are effective — because they changed her life: “I’m a walking billboard for the technology.”

Facing chronic medical struggles that doctors seemed unable to conquer, Sarah turned to Electro-Equiscope protocols — and saw a swift turnaround that restored her quality of life. Working through Daybreak Wellness, she is bringing this non-invasive protocol — complementary to other therapies — to people in Sisters.

Electro-Equiscope offers a form of “electro-detoxification” that helps the body heal.

“The Equiscope is basically like a Tesla charger for the human body,” Hauth says.

“It’s cumulative, just like going to the gym.”

It uses electronic technology in combination with the ability to deliver precise muscle, tendon, ligament, bone, and connective tissue stimulation. The goal is to influence reduction of pain, improve rehabilitation and tissue performance. ElectroEquiscope effects include global and local metabolic support, improved circulation, detoxification, pain reduction, relaxation, reduced emotional agitation, improved sleep, and improved organ function.

Ask about a consultation session.

Sisters Dental

Our teeth are critical to our overall health, well-being — and even our sense of who we are.

Dr. Trevor Frideres says that one of the biggest problems he and Dr. Kellie Kawasaki are asked to solve at Sisters Dental is tooth loss.

With their ability to provide orthodontics and implants, right here in the Sisters office, they can prevent tooth loss or repair it and keep problems from accelerating.

Orthodontics can have a big impact in preventing tooth loss, since malalignment stresses teeth and leads to loss. Implants can obviously replace missing teeth, but they also often serve as anchors for orthodontic work that can prevent further problems.

“I don’t want to stick an implant in a place where something already broke,” says Dr. Frideres. “It’s better to take a more comprehensive approach.”

Taking a comprehensive approach, with the work done in-house without requiring a drive to Bend, Sisters Dental offers patients a strong foundation of good dental and oral health. Good function is the top priority, but they recognize that aesthetics matter, too. As a bonus, you’ll also end up with a nice smile.

The Law Office of

JOHN H. MYERS RS — Downtown Sisters —

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION Get organized and your estate plan done for peace of mind!

WILLS & TRUSTS Make it easy for you and your loved ones.

Call for a free 30-minute phone consultation!

541-588-2414

204 W. Adams Ave., Ste 203 www.beaverstatelaw.com

BREATHE • MOVE • RECOVER SMALL GROUP & PERSONALIZED TRAINING • Blend of mobility, strength, Pilates • New routines every day • Fascial stretch therapy • Clinics for run, ski, stretch, pickleball & more 541-390-8334 • www.sweatpnw.com 392 W. Main Ave., Sisters

ReStore | 541-549-1621 254 W. Adams Ave., Sisters Mon-Sat 10-5; Closed Sun

Thrift Store | 541-549-1740 211 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters Mon-Sat 10-5; Closed Sun

Sisters Habitat for Humanity

One of the very best things you can do for your own well-being is to help others.

Volunteering for Sisters Habitat for Humanity feels good — and it’s fun and good for you. It’s a great way to beat the winter blues and to build your social network. Many volunteers create lasting friendships through their work with Sisters Habitat.

“Honestly, it’s the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done,” said manager Kris Powell.

“And the volunteers all feel like family.”

And everything you do helps families in the community through Sisters Habitat’s homebuilding program, which is funded through the Thrift Store and ReStore.

There’s a multitude of tasks, so you can find work that suits your interests, abilities, and schedule — from cashiering to donation intake, and pricing and merchandizing. Some volunteers take items home with them for testing and pricing.

It’s fun work, and only as demanding as you want it to be.

To learn more about volunteering at the Thrift Store or ReStore, contact Kristina at kristina@sistershabitat.org or call 541-549-1193.

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Wednesday, January 24, 2024 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

Fascial stretching eases aches & pains

By Ashlee Francis

When the human body feels stiff, sore or in pain, we tend to treat it with rest. If it gets bad enough, we may seek the expert opinion and help of a massage therapist, physical therapist or a physician. There is one part of our body that may be the root of most diseases, ailments, injuries, and pain: Our fascia.

Fascia is a three-tiered layer of tissue that encases all our muscles, arteries, joints, veins, nerves, and organs. Think of it as a spider web.

If you pull one end of the web, the entire structure is affected. Fascia gives our body structure and function. Just like the spider web, if we have a disruption in one part of our fascia, the entire fascia is impacted. This may lead to what is known as referred pain. Referred pain is where the point of discomfort in the body is sometimes not the source of the pain; the issue that is causing the pain may be in another area of the body. This explains why you might get low back pain when your feet are tight or why your left shoulder has been giving you trouble since you had hip replacement on the right.

Since fascia is what holds us together, stabilizes our bodies and helps nutrients and fluids flow throughout, it may also play a role in health conditions, such as chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, gastrointestinal distress, and even cancer.

Fascia can tighten and form adhesions to muscles and ligaments. When this happens, any movement of your body may squeeze nerves

and vessels, creating discomfort. Trauma, inflammation, post-surgical procedures, repetitive stress, injury, and poor posture can all create tension in muscles and connective tissue.

No one wants to be stuck in a state of pain. A stiff body can make it difficult for nutrients to get in and toxins to get out because blood flow is reduced and nerves can become compressed.

Knowing that a disturbance in our fascia may be the root of our issues, what is keeping us from seeking the expertise of a fascial stretch therapist? Fascial stretch therapy has reduced swelling in patients with lymphedema, improved balance in patients with chronic fatigue, and increased range of motion in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) is a form of assisted stretching that recognizes the impact of fascia on the entire body, and thereby works to treat the whole body, not just one body part.

Traditionally, stretching has been performed with the goal of deforming the tissue with enough force to produce a lengthening effect to make the body “more flexible”. Though this may initially feel impactful, the results

In Fascial Stretch Therapy, a certified practitioner takes the patient’s body through various lengthening and stabilizing positions. A few minutes of pain-free treatment can improve range of motion and the ability to move with ease.

PHOTO PROVIDED

are limited and may even lead to a new injury.

In contrast to traditional stretching, in Fascial Stretch Therapy the client’s needs are prioritized. During a stretch appointment, a certified practitioner takes the patient’s body through various lengthening and stabilizing positions.

With the use of constant and gentle circulatory, oscillating movements of traction and stabilization to decompress joints and expand space in the soft tissue and by listening to the body’s stretch reflex, the fascial stretch therapist can create length in areas that are stiff and balance in areas that need stabilization. It is pain-free and even ten minutes of this treatment can improve range of motion and the ability to move with ease.

Fascia is pliable and, with a regular stretching regimen, we can reduce scar tissue formation, improve the function of our lungs, increase blood flow, range of motion, circulation, proprioception, and an overall sense of wellbeing. Next time you feel like you need an expert opinion, reach out to your local fascial expert and see if stretching can ease your body aches and pains.

FOCUS on Health

Wednesday, January 24, 2024 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon

• Wellness Lounge With Saunas, Water Massage, Compression Boots, Red Light Therapy • Salt Water Lap Pool & Hot Tub • 34 Classes Per Week

HELPING PATIENTS GET MOVING!

Physical Therapy • Aquatic Therapy Post-Surgical • Sports-Specific Training Strengthening & Conditioning

541-549-3574

St. Charles Family Care in Sisters

In the midst of the winter season of illness, Sisters knows how important access to health care can be.

At St. Charles Family Care, patients come first. The highly trained professional team is dedicated to the Sisters community and providing local residents with compassionate, comprehensive care.

The clinic offers a wide range of services, including lab work and imaging.

Dr. Jeremy Kenison recently joined the practice after serving many for a decade in the United States Navy Medical Corps.

He is excited to join the community and serve patients of all ages, from infants to seniors, on their wellness journey.

Dr. Kenison joins Dr. Inger Lied, physician assistant Lindsey Pruyn, behavioral health consultant Samantha Goodrich and ambulatory care pharmacist Melissa Smith. Together, these caregivers provide comprehensive and preventive services to patients. They also enjoy serving in the tight-knit community of Sisters, where caring and compassion are a way of life.

Clinic providers are currently accepting new patients. Call to schedule an appointment today: 541-549-1318.

2022 Desperado Trail, Ste 201 at Sisters Athletic Club www.therapeuticassociates.com/Sisters

SISTERS ATHLETIC CLUB

Therapeutic Associates

Sisters Athletic Club

Therapeutic Associates is dedicated to keeping folks in Sisters healthy and active. The practice has added Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Steven Dobson to the team — which means there are three highly trained physical therapists on staff to help you recover from injury, enhance performance, and keep going with all the Sisters Country activities you love to do.

Steven is a powerlifter, and he is especially interested in powerlifting and bodybuilding. His experience and background helps him work with a large variety of patients, and he is most passionate about returning people to the activities that they love.

Wintertime brings lots of physical challenges in our recreation and in simply navigating the snow and ice. Injuries happen — and you don’t need a referral to get expert help from Therapeutic Associates.

Their unique step-down program with Sisters Athletic Club, and access to the SAC pool, makes working through your program easy and effective.

Therapeutic Associates is also committed to educating clients on how to stay active. Look for a foam-rolling workshop coming up in February.

Folks in Sisters like their independence.

Sisters Athletic Club offers wellness your way. Everything is individualized.

If time in the pool is your priority, there’s a swim-only membership that can accommodate that. Prefer to work the weights and don’t need the pool? There’s a membership for that too. Or you can opt for a full-access plan that includes full use of the Sisters Athletic Club facility during all operating hours and includes all group exercise and yoga classes, and pool and hot tub access at no extra charge.

Sisters Athletic Club offers a wide menu of services and programs. There are three highly qualified personal trainers on staff to help you determine and meet your fitness goals.

Yoga classes of different types are offered seven days a week, and some days have multiple classes. There’s spin every week day, and Body Sculpt and Cardio Dance classes are also offered.

You can also avail yourself of a wellness lounge with sauna, red light therapy, compression boots, hydromassage, and chromotherapy available.

SAC truly offers something for everyone — your way.

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