lifestyle | Silver Magazine

Longevity

The art of daily affirmations

To achieve positive results in our overall health, we need to take consistent action throughout all aspects of our wellness. For example, if we follow a regular workout routine then it would be beneficial to eat nutritious foods while also practicing activities that strengthen our minds. It may seem overwhelming if you are just starting to build a wellness routine but trust that every action you take is a step in a positive direction. As a movement coach and wellness expert, not only am I passionate about encouraging you to live a happier and healthier lifestyle but I also enjoy providing strategies that bring joy and simplicity to your life. With that being said I would like to share with you a practice that I use to support my mental and spiritual health on a daily basis. Have you ever tried using affirmations before? It is the action or process

Shakera Martin October 4, 2021

Longevity

Boomers and the dating game

Connection is key to health and well-being. With one-third of boomers currently single, it might be time to get back on the proverbial horse. Margaret Sampson hasn’t been on an actual date in almost 35 years – not since she was 21. She wants to find a partner, but has no idea where to start. “My marriage ended and although it wasn’t perfect, it was comfortable,” she says. “The idea of dating again feels daunting. Do I even know how to do it still?” Her situation is not unique. Let’s face it – sometimes life doesn’t pan out. People grow apart, illness happens. Or maybe life has passed you by and that special someone hasn’t surfaced yet. There are many reasons people find themselves single at an unexpected age. Whatever the circumstances, more and more people are finding themselves single after 50, so if you are lonely, you are certainly not alone.

Julie Lawrence September 7, 2021

Mind

How pets help with loneliness

Having a furry companion in dark times can make the world of a difference. I spend a lot of time alone. Even before this whole social distancing thing. My husband works away and I work from home. I work out at home. Home is my haven and my biggest comfort comes from my two adorable cats — I often call them “my coworkers.” If loneliness is starting to have a negative effect on you, it may be time to get a pet. For one thing, I promise you, it’s not weird to recreate the regular day-to-day coffee chat with a pet that can’t talk back. It’s more fun because you can design the whole conversation – both the question and the reply! Wait — does that make me sound crazy? I’ll chat about it with my co-workers on our next coffee break. To give you some background, I rescued my

Jessica Clerke February 8, 2021

Health

The power of omega oils!

Your guide to the various types of omegas and how they can contribute to overall health. We’re sure you’ve heard about the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, but most are unaware of the other omega fats that play various roles in improving overall health. Dieticians know there are several omegas found in foods and supplements, but it’s important to know exactly what they are, what role they play in the body, how they contribute to health, and what foods contain them. ABOUT OMEGA-3 Omega-3 fatty acids make up a vital part of the human cell membrane. They have also been linked to everything from improved heart health, mental health, and bone health to decreasing liver fat, and inflammation in the body. They’ve even been touted in the slow-down of dementia. Omega-3 is referred to as an “essential” compound, meaning the human body cannot create it on its own and

Tom Mason January 16, 2021

Silhouettes of two people on a beach drinking cocktails and watching the sunsetting

Longevity

Creating order in the disorder of life

Harnessing the drive and discipline needed to achieve our goals. In continuing our journey through the social and personal code of ethics from Yoga philosophy known as the Yamas and Niyamas, we arrive at Tapas. The literal translation of Tapas is heat. Our understanding of it as a practice is the drive or fire that takes us through. Commonly compared to discipline, it is the push we need to complete the tasks that maybe we don’t want to do. We use Tapas to build out routines and habits in order to achieve our goals or dreams. The idea around Tapas is that it keeps us focused on our path or journey. We set our goal and then this is the driving force to get us there. Remember the translation to heat, so it is more than just setting up a routine, it is also the desire; the inner fire and

Lisa Greenbaum January 11, 2021

Health

Whole person integrative eating

An interview with author Deborah Kesten, M.P.H. about her new book and the science behind this approach to eating better. Q1. What is Whole Person Integrative Eating? So many people struggle with their weight. My book, Whole Person Integrative Eating, is a science-backed program that gives you the exact skills you need to nourish “all of you”—body, mind, and soul—each time you eat, so you can lose weight and keep it off. Anyone struggling with weight needs this book to halt—even reverse—overeating and being overweight. Q2. You describe Whole Person Integrative Eating as a “dietary lifestyle.” What is that? The Whole Person Integrative Eating program is a dietary lifestyle that is the opposite of traditional dieting; something you go on, then off. Rather, Integrative Eating is a dietary lifestyle because it is based on the original meaning of the word “diet,” which, during the time of Hippocrates—about 2500 years ago—meant “way of life.” Over the centuries, the word diet traveled throughout Europe, until it came to mean a

David Holt January 5, 2021

Longevity

The art of being slow

The positive in the pandemic is that it has forced us to re-evaluate our lives. This is the message of Dr. Greg Wells, a performance physiologist and senior associate scientist at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. Wells’ latest book, Rest, Refocus and Recharge: A Guide for Optimizing Your Life, comes at a time when we could all use some help for living our best lives. INSTEAD OF MULTITASKING, THINK SINGLE TASKING. Take a step back from the manufactured and imposed busyness of our past experiences and embrace this opportunity to slow down, calm our brains and rejuvenate our bodies. “So, this idea of constantly pushing and having to be busy has been upended recently,” says Wells. “We now have an opportunity to reimagine the future and slow down.” How? By taming those electrical waves in our brain and shifting gears. There are four main categories of brainwaves. All four are active at

Marylene Vestergom October 28, 2020

Fitness

Best stretches for travellers

These stretches will relieve tightness and improve your overall wellbeing during long periods of sitting and standing. This includes travel — and a lot of modern life in general. We can all relate to the pain that comes with traveling. Not just the kind that you get when dealing with airports, delays or mishaps with plans. I’m talking about the aches and discomfort that come with sitting for what feels like days on end, lifting and moving heavy luggage, not sleeping — you get the gist. I know these pains first-hand! I travel for work weekly and it definitely takes a toll on my body. Stretching has been my saving grace that’s helped me cope with the physical aggravation and reduce my muscle and joint tension after long or constant travel. Travelling is a very sedentary process requiring us to sit for long periods. Stretching during and after travel

Jaclyn Phillips August 25, 2020

Health

Considerations for going vegan

CAN YOU GET ALL ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS FROM DIET ALONE? The answer is generally not, but it depends on the individual. Consult your healthcare provider for help. A vegetarian lifestyle can be healthy, no question. But like all dietary trends, it is up to the individual to make sure they attain a balanced diet. This is especially true for vegans, who consume no dairy or seafood. The key is to monitor your own levels of key nutrients, especially those you may be lacking. Work with your health care provider to make sure your diet is balanced and to source additional healthy food or supplements if needed. Experts agree that it is important that all vegans get enough vitamin B12, which can also be a problem for those who eat meat. Fortified foods or a vitamin B12 supplement can help. Levels of vitamin B6 may also be low. It is difficult for

Alex Hurst August 10, 2020