Wellness Report Pensions committee

Wellness rePort

submitted by Barbara Mcdole

This is the first year the Wellness Committee has held a fall seminar, responding to the requests at the April, 2011, seminar evaluations. Participants were keen on having two programs a year and so our committee thought we'd give it a try. The October 26, 2011, Wellness Seminar was entitled,"Revisiting Past Pleasures." Marge Hutlut from Creative Retirement was available for the first part of the morning with the Fall, 2011 edition of "The Guide" which, as always, offers wonderful new courses, city tours, travel opportunities, health information and special interests sections.

Nadine Calver, a former elementary school principal, was the first speaker, addressing diet mentalities. She is a lecturer for Weight Watchers and has had her own personal journey with weight loss! She says that quite often, we associate the word "diet" with agony, deprivation, being hungry and having to eat boring foods. Diets should not mean that there are foods that you must not eat. Instead, the approach should be will power and moderation. We need to manage all foods and be in control. When you eat properly, you are not hungry. Be aware of your body's physical hunger signs and eat in accordance to a schedule that works for you. Don't starve yourself, as that in turn affects your muscles and therefore, your metabolism. Choose healthy foods from all the food groups, the more variety, the better. Don't eat something you don't like, instead, substitute it with something else. We tend to think of the duration of a diet as being something that is short lived; until we meet our goal. Healthy eating should be an ongoing process, coupled with activity. You have shown yourself to have will power in previous life situations, so you CAN and WILL,when it comes to eating. After a nutritious health break, we had three presentations from three amazing crafters. Connie Drybrough, a quilter,brought beautiful samples of her work, explaining the different methods of quilting. She also spoke to the many courses she has attended world-wide, displaying examples and books. Connie's end products are placemats, blankets, banners, quilts, table runners, purses and fabric bowls, to name a few. Many of Connie's crafts are donated to Meals on Wheels, Cancer Care facilities, earthquake victims, Grandmothers for Africa and many other organizations that help those in need.

Gerdine Strong has been knitting since she was four years old! Gerdine has published books, one being Angels, A Knitter's dozen. These angels were darling!. She has also had her patterns published in "Canadian Living" and "Knitter's Magazine." Because Winnie the Pooh is associated with Assiniboine Park, she has clothed stuffed bears in a multitude of outfits and these bears are available at the Pavillion. Gerdine's sense of humour was evident as she modeled her knitted hat and face cover which she has named "Bandit." She knits socks that have a place for the big toe and showed us the Danish design, Dancing Grannies--everyone's in step but my Granny!!

Gayleen Nixon, who is the Manitoba Chapter Coordinator for Project Linus, gave us the background on this very worthwhile organization. Project Linus was started in 1995 in Denver, Colorado, by Karen Baker. "Blanketeers" get together and make blankets/quilts, quite often accompanied by a stuffed bear, for children in difficult situations in our local communities--cancer patients, Children's Wish Foundation, Stepping Stones ages 7-17, Camp Bridges (grieving children), in police cars and ambulances, neo-natal wards (preemie blankets and beenies) and Wish (women's shelter). Their motto is: "Nothing in Life is Free." Also new was the caterer for our lunch, St. James Healthy Lunch. We will certainly be doing business with them again!! The afternoon session with Margaret Tobin, director for "Spirits Call Choir," was a very relaxing way to wind down our seminar. As Margaret had us share our individual connections with music, it was evident that music plays a part, no matter how small, in most people's lives. "Spirits Call Choir" offers the opportunity to people of varied backgrounds to participate, whenever possible, with this group, now celebrating their 10th Anniversary. By joining, you can not only find your own personal harmony, you are able to partake in benefit concerts, that in turn benefit others!