10 Best Retreats for a Wellness-Infused Christmas and New Year
With the arrival of Autumn and the weather turning cooler, traveller's thoughts are turning on where to spend the Christmas and New Year period to improve their health and wellness whilst also boosting their immunity. Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists share 10 of the best Christmas and New Year wellness retreats to set wellness travellers up for a happier and healthier 2023. Whether it’s a luxury ski & spa break in the Italian Dolomites or a family wellness holiday in balmy Vietnam, there is a healthy retreat experience to suit everyone.
These carefully selected wellness holidays offer a respite from the hectic modern world, especially in light of the constant ups and downs of the past year and serve, to propel you into 2023 as a healthier and more relaxed person ready to tackle whatever this world can throw at you!
Recover from this past year and welcome the next exiting instalment of your life by giving your body what it needs this December and January with one of these 10 handpicked luxury wellness retreats:
Enjoy a unique combination of skiing fun and relaxing spa treatments set in the peaceful Dolomite Mountain range on this rejuvenating and physically energising ski and spa wellness retreat. Look down on the tranquil alpine forestry as you descend the mountain slopes aboard your skis as you make your way towards Lefay Dolomite’s state-of-the-art wellness temple, where you can recover after your daily skiing sessions with relaxing spa massages, body scrubs, and hydro-aromatherapy treatments. Ski into the Christmas season at this luxurious Italian retreat and return feeling wholly reinvigorated.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891,healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 6 nights at Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti from £1,950pp sharing or £2,965 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, optional return private transfers and a spa programme. Flights are available on request.
Work off those Figgie puddings and Mince pies on this luxury wellness and weight loss holiday in the stunning Algarve. Conrad Algarve takes you on a three-pronged weight loss journey, treating you to nutritional coaching, a personalised workout plan, and specific body treatments designed to improve metabolic output. Shift your focus towards your mind and rebalance your outlook on the mind and body with relaxing spa treatments and comprehensive sports facilities. Stroll confidently into the New Year with a maintainable weight thanks to Conrad Algarve.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7nights at Conrad Algarve from £4,245pp sharing or £5,330 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, optional return private transfers and a weight loss programme. Flights are available on request.
Don’t let that seasonal stress turn you into a grinch, leave those stresses in 2022 and become the best version of yourself on this relaxing and rebalancing festive stress management holiday. Let those pent-up feelings flow out of you through personalised massage sessions, wash away Christmas shopping trauma with an aquatic therapy session, and forget about the in-law drama with an energising cryotherapy treatment. Beat the stress of the Christmas period in the cool Mediterranean climate of Spain at SHA Wellness Clinic.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7nights at SHA Wellness Clinic from £4,960pp sharing or £5,655 for single occupancy. Price includes full board,optional return private transfers and a stress management programme. Flights are available on request.
Detoxify your mind, body, and (Christmas) spirit on this luxury detox yoga holiday on the coast of Oman. Experience a renewed level of energy and a peace of mind through a series of hatha yoga, pranayama, meditation, and spa therapies where the ever-present warmth of the Arabian Peninsula is a much a feature of the treatments as anything else. Beat the Winter sniffles, detoxify and strengthen your natural immune system with the nutritious detox menu, detox body scrubs, and included massage therapies.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Six Senses Zighy Bay from £5,420pp sharing or £8,690 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast (other board options available), optional return private transfers and a yoga detox programme. Flights are available on request.
A magical Winter wellness spa experience set on the beaches of Antigua, this luxury spa holiday at Carlisle Bay offers a relaxing and soothing spa experience surrounded by white sandy beaches and the luscious Caribbean flora. Renew your freedom of movement with private relaxing yoga or Pilates classes. Sit back and indulge yourself, enjoy a deep tissue massage on the beach, cure what ails you with soothing reflexology treatments, or centre yourself with Reiki sessions at Carlisle Bay’s Cara Organic Beauty Spa.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Carlisle Bay from £6,885pp sharing or £5,360 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast (other board options available), optional return private transfers and a spa programme. Flights are available on request.
Escape from the hecticness of the Christmas season and regain a sense of balance at this luxury spa and wellness retreat nestled in the Himalayas. Ananda individually tailors each of their wellness experience to your unique needs, kicking off your healthy holiday with a series of detailed questionnaires and consultations before the fun begins! You will be treated to multiple daily Ayurveda and cleansing therapies, as well as yoga, pranayama, and meditation sessions. Regain balance and become one with yourself mentally and physically with this rejuvenating and immunity boosting holiday.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Ananda in the Himalayas from £5,420pp sharing or £6,835 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, return private transfers and an immune-boosting programme. Flights are available on request.
Face the New Year head on with healthier fitness habits and work towards your personal fitness goals on a festive fitness-boosting luxury retreat, whether that’s to improve your heart health or build your strength. Get ready to sweat in the Thai December heat, as you are pushed to your limits though a series of private personal training sessions, revival exercises, and stretching sessions. Indulge in delicious nutritious food and relax with Kamalaya’s range of holistic spa treatments including Thai massage and Ayurveda therapies.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Kamalaya from £2,810pp sharing or £3,350 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, optional return private transfers and a fitness programme. Flights are available on request.
A holistic family wellness holiday to keep the whole family entertained, even the little elves in your life will be pampered with their very own ‘mini’ spa treatments. Treat the family to a variety of spa, meditations and Tai Chi sessions at the southeast Asian wellness paradise that is TIA Wellness Resort. Replenish your body with delectable healthy cuisine at one of several on-site eateries and venture out on local cultural excursions to expand your mind. Build long-lasting memories as you explore the local coastline through exciting water sports activities and snorkelling excursions to a nearby island. Return with a stronger family bond following this unique wellness family holiday experience.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at TIA Wellness Resort from £3,025 for 2 adults + 1 child or 2 adults + 2 children or £4,055 for 2 adults + 3 children. Price includes full board, optional return transfers and a family wellness programme. Flights are available on request.
Surround yourself with sunshine, sea and surf and give yourself a wellness break from those Winter woes at this luxury surfing retreat in Bali. Let your curiosity lead you as you explore the coastline of this Indonesian island through beginner level private surfing classes, after your body is done exploring let your mind wonder and relax with a COMO Shambala deep tissue massage. Let those Winter woes melt away from you in the idyllic Indonesian sun. Return still riding the wave of wellness, ready to face all that the New Year brings.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at COMO Uma Canggu from £1,635pp or £2,330 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, optional return private transfers and a surf programme. Flights are available on request.
‘Tis the season to treat yourself and get some much-needed bonding time with that special someone at this luxury couple’s spa retreat programme set in the Greek town of Mystras in the foothills of Mount Taygetos. Your wellness escape begins with the refreshing and de-stressing Byzantine Hammam ritual before you indulge yourselves in relaxing massages and an exfoliating salt room treatment. Grow stronger as a couple and marvel at the wonders of your history-steeped surroundings on this short but sweet couple’s healthy break that will leave you feeling healthier and happier.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 2 nights at Euphoria Retreat from £920pp sharing or £1,175 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, optional return private transfers and a couple’s wellness programme. Flights are available on request.
One year later: Painting marking National Day for Truth & Reconciliation commemorated for its impact
The Orange Shirt Society and the Indian Residential School Survivors Society celebrate project’s success
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- One year after Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel commissioned an original piece of art to mark Canada’s inaugural National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, two Indigenous organizations are celebrating the project’s resounding success. The painting, Indian Residential School, Leaving the Shallow Graves and Going Home by renowned Indigenous artist, Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun (Coast Salish name, Lets'lo:tseltun) was auctioned in June to benefit Residential School Survivors and netted a final price of $157,250.
All proceeds from the sale of the painting have been donated to two outstanding organizations, the Orange Shirt Society and the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. The two organizations describe the impact of the funds toward their missions below:
Shannon Henderson, President of the Board of The Orange Shirt Society. “The Orange Shirt Society would like to thank Dixon Mitchell for honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by commissioning and auctioning the beautiful work of art by Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun.
We are grateful for the funds that will help continue the work we do to support Survivors and descendants of Survivors as well as educate people on the impacts of intergenerational trauma caused by the Indian residential school system.
This donation will go towards providing schools with textbooks as part of our “Storyteller Project” and will also help continue the conversation towards Reconciliation. This act of kindness is an inspired way to demonstrate commitment to Reconciliation and provide meaningful support to our communities.”
Angela White, Executive Director of The Indian Residential School Survivor Society "When we first heard that Dixon Mitchell had commissioned Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun to produce a piece of art to commemorate the first annual National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, we thought it was a great idea – and when we found out that IRSSS had been selected as a beneficiary, we were even more excited!
Corporate support represents an important source of funds for our organization and the donation provided through this initiative will allow us to help more Residential School Survivors, their families, and other Indigenous people experiencing intergenerational trauma. We thank everyone who took part in this project and hope that it will inspire more companies to become involved in important Indigenous causes."
Dixon Mitchell, which manages institutional assets on behalf of several First Nations clients, has grown close to Indigenous communities and causes over the past decade. As DM’s connection to these groups has deepened, so have its efforts to support fundraisers and other initiatives, including the annual DM Indigenous Student Award, which has now given away more than $100,000 to Indigenous youth.
“As we get set for the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th, it’s rewarding to see this project come full circle,” said Don Stuart, Executive Vice President of Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel. “Throughout the past year, we were moved by Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun’s story, his vision, and his generosity. It has been a joy to see such broad support for this project both within the art community and across the country and we’re thrilled with how much has been raised for these tremendous organizations.”
Dixon Mitchell would like to thank everyone who helped drive this project forward and donated their services especially Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, Sarah Macaulay of Macaulay Fine Art, Heffel Fine Art Auction House, and our friends at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Video of Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, discussing "Indian Residential School, Leaving the Shallow Graves and Going Home."
About Dixon Mitchell Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel is a national asset management firm providing investment solutions for institutions, foundations, endowments, and affluent private clients. A steward of client wealth since 2000, the firm is rooted in the belief that superior long-term results are achieved through comprehensive internal research, accurate appraisal of fundamentals, and the conviction to act on this work. Dixon Mitchell is based in Vancouver. Please visit www.dixonmitchell.com for more information and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Lumiera enters MOU with Natural Health Industry Leader for Strategic Partnership and Licensing Agreement
MONTREAL, Sept. 28, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Lumiera Health Inc. (TSXV: NHP) (the "Company" or "Lumiera ") a company specializing in the development and commercialization of natural health products, is pleased to announce it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore a strategic partnership with one of Quebec's leaders in the Natural Health industry (Partner).
The purpose of the MoU is to set the guidelines to discuss an eventual agreement that would allow both Lumiera and its Partner to manufacturer and sell unbranded (white label) products from their respective portfolio to each other. The potential agreement would include a mutually exclusive supplier agreement, as well as minimum quantity requirements and exclusivity in certain sales channels.
The Partner company has been an established leader in Quebec's Natural Health industry for over 75 years and has a strong presence in the Pharmacy and Big Box retail channels.
"This potential partnership is an incredible opportunity for Lumiera. By leveraging our Partner's considerable Brand equity and distribution in high volume retail channels, we can accelerate our growth exponentially" said Carlos Ponce, CEO of Lumiera. "Furthermore, this would give Lumiera access to a broad range of products that have enormous potential in Natural Health retail stores."
Q3 financial statements will be released on or before October 28, 2022.
About Lumiera Health
Lumiera specializes in the development and commercialization of consumer products for the natural health industry. The Company sells herbal tonics and natural supplements through its Holizen Laboratories division, with a diverse portfolio including a line of innovative sleep aids. The Company is also commercializing a unique topical product line acting on the endocannabinoid system, without the use of cannabis, that provides an innovative solution for chronic pain and inflammation. A pioneer in the natural health innovation space, the Lumiera brand is rooted in the core values of science, nature and compassion. Our goal is to make people's lives better by developing natural health and wellness products that are effective, safe and trustworthy.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-looking information
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions indicate such "forward-looking information" as they relate to Lumiera. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect Lumiera' current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to Lumiera, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk factors included in Lumiera' annual management's discussion and analysis for the year ended November 30, 2021, which is available under the issuer's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. Should any factor affect Lumiera in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, Lumiera does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and Lumiera undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law.
SENSORIA HEALTH & DEFENDER ANNOUNCE AVAILABLITY OF FIRST SMART DIABETIC BOOT
WITH REMOTE PATIENT MONITORING
DESIGNED TO HELP HEAL DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS &
REDUCE RISK OF AMPUTATIONS
Foot Defender Powered by Sensoria Smart Boot Provides Behavioral Feedback to Patients and Remotely Monitors Them to Improve Outcomes -- Reduces Risk of Amputation Press Release: https://mailchi.mp/thomaspr/sensoria-health-defender-announce-first-smart-diabetic-boot-now-available September 28, 2022, Los Angeles, CA – Sensoria® Healthwww.sensoriahealth.com, the leading developer of Remote Patient Monitoring and Artificial Intelligence wearable solutions, and Defender, next-generation designer and manufacturer of innovative foot care solutions for people with complex foot care issues, announced today at the DFCON Conference the availability of the Foot Defender® powered bySensoria® Smart Boot, the world’s first smart diabetic footwear.Available now, the Foot Defender powered by Sensoria is designed to help heal diabetic foot ulcers and reduce the risk of amputations for extended quality of life. The solution combines the Foot Defender Smart Boot with Sensoria Core microelectronics and the Sensoria Patient Mobile App and Clinician Dashboard to monitor a patient’s diabetic foot ulcer healing and rehabilitation compliance to the clinician’s prescribed stabilization and mechanical offloading protocol.
The Foot Defender powered by Sensoria is designed to improve patient adherence to mechanical offloading, monitors patient usage, activity, improves outcomes, and reduces healthcare cost. Designed by Dr. Jason Hanft, a leading podiatrist, together with a former Nike industry-leading shoe designer, Michael DiTullio, to create a protective boot specifically built to better protect foot wounds in a form factor that patients will actually want to wear, Foot Defender powered by Sensoria is available now; visit https://sensoriahealth.com/diabetic-foot-ulcer-boot/ for more information.
Shoe-Like Design Alleviates Foot Contact Pressure by up to 50% as Compared to Other Protective Diabetic Boots
Foot Defender powered by Sensoria has an easy-to-use shoe-like design with a low-profile abrasion resistant compression-molded outsole that alleviates average contact pressure across the foot by up to 50% as compared to other protective boots on the market. Used for both stabilization and offloading, the boot is non-intrusive, cost-effective, and readily usable or embeddable and deployable for a broad spectrum of devices and patient types, whether they are bed-bound, chair-bound, or ambulatory. The Foot Defender powered by Sensoria solution is compliant to the IWGDF guidelines and is the most referenced product in the latest offloading clinical gold standard guidelines. It is also currently being validated by USC Keck School of Medicine and Baylor College of Medicine, which received a $2.5M R01 NIH grant to validate its clinical value.
Reduce the Risk of Diabetic Amputations
In the United States, 80 million people will be older than 65 years of age in the next few years, according to the CDC. In addition, every 20 seconds world-wide, a limb is amputated due to diabetes; and every 1.2 seconds, there is a new Diabetic Foot Ulcer (there is no amputation without an ulcer). After an amputation, there is a 50% chance that the same patient will have the other limb amputated within two years, with patient five-year life expectancy worse than most cancers. In addition, Diabetic Foot Ulcers are responsible for more hospitalizations than any other complication of diabetes, driving direct costs of at least $40 billion dollars annually worldwide and at least $17.5 billion in the U.S. alone.
“Usually subjects with diabetic foot ulcerations wear their offloading devices in just 28% of their daily steps. And there is strong evidence that uncomplicated plantar ulcers can be healed in 8 to 12 weeks. Yet current standard of care in U.S. clinical trials have a 76% treatment failure rate at 12 weeks,” said Dr. David G. Armstrong, Professor of Surgery at USC Keck School of Medicine. “Through the marriage of Sensoria Health’s sensors with the Foot Defender, AI/ML algorithms, custom microelectronics, and remote monitoring cloud software, the system extends the reach of clinicians and potentially contributes to deliver better outcomes for our patients. By injecting sensing technology into footwear and garments that are already a part of the patient workflow, we can likely improve adherence, accurately monitor patients, improve outcomes, and reduce healthcare cost around the world.”
“Combining Foot Defender with Sensoria’s smart technology offers the best of biomechanical engineering and modern footwear design with mobile, plus cloud patient monitoring to promote faster healing, improve overall compliance and ensure healthier outcomes,” commented Dr. Hanft. “It’s a game-changing solution that brings the science of off-loading and protecting diabetic feet into the 21st century.”
Sensoria Health is the leading developer of healthcare wearables, cloud-based Remote Patient Monitoring, and Artificial Intelligence solutions for garment and footwear that improve the aging consumer’s quality of life. Sensoria delivers the first AI-driven wearable human augmentation platform that tracks total-body patient movement and activity, remotely and in near real-time with proprietary sensor-infused smart garments, Sensoria Core microelectronics, and cloud system enabled smart footwear and clothing. Through textile and pressure sensors inserted in a sock or shoe, Sensoria powered IoMe (Internet of Me) wearables collect data on the physical activity of gait-impaired patients to improve their lives. For more info, see www.sensoriahealth.com and www.sensoria.io.
About Defender
Defender is a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative foot care solutions that are changing the game for people with complex foot care issues, from heel pain to diabetic foot ulcers. Founded by Dr. Jason Hanft, a highly respected foot surgeon and podiatrist, the company is best known as the maker of Foot Defender – a protective boot co-conceived by former Nike designer Michael DiTullo. Clinically proven to offload 50% more pressure from the foot than other protective boots, Foot Defender wins praise from health professionals for its patient compliance and stigma-reducing benefits. Defender is also the creator of Heel Defender orthotic inserts, which are made with Absorbium and reduce impact force by nearly 95%. To learn more or to buy, visit footdefender.com or follow us on LinkedIN, or on Facebook or Instagram.
Other Sensoria solutions include Sensoria Mat, Sensoria Smart Band, Smart Knee Brace, Sensoria Developer’s Kit, and in the future the Sensoria Baby line of products. For more information on Sensoria Health, see: www.sensoriahealth.com
HPV Prevention Week, Oct. 3–9: Canadian Partnership Against Cancer's experts available to speak about Action Plan to Eliminate Cervical Cancer
TORONTO, Sept. 28, 2022 /CNW/ - Each year more than 1,300 people in Canada are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 400 die. It doesn't have to be this way.
Cervical cancer is nearly always caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that is preventable through immunization and treatable if caught early enough through effective screening.
As Canada marks HPV Prevention Week this year from Oct. 3–9, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer's Vice President of Cancer Control, Erika Nicholson, is available to provide commentary on:
How jurisdictions across Canada are working to improve access to the HPV vaccine for everyone who needs it – particularly given gaps that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic when school-based immunization programs were paused.
How scrapping the Pap test and replacing it with HPV primary screening will modernize cervical cancer screening, benefitting individuals and the cancer care system. HPV screening is only required once every five years, opens the opportunity for self-collection at home, and is more cost-effective, preventing more cancers than the Pap test.
The World Health Organization has set a goal to eliminate cervical cancer worldwide this century, and Canada's Minister of Health committed the country to achieving this by 2040.
Additional experts are available across the country to discuss HPV and the elimination of cervical cancer from the perspective of specific populations and regions. Please reach out to the contact person below to be connected to these partners or to speak to Ms. Nicholson.
About the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer As the steward of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control (the Strategy), the Partnership works with Canada's cancer community to take action to ensure people in Canada have equitable access to quality cancer care, fewer people get cancer, more people survive cancer and those living with the disease have a better quality of life. This work is guided by the Strategy, which was refreshed for 2019 to 2029 and will help drive measurable change for all people in Canada affected by cancer. The Strategy includes eight priorities, which will tackle the most pressing challenges in cancer control as well as distinct First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples-specific priorities and actions reflecting Canada's commitment to reconciliation. The Partnership oversees the implementation of the priorities in collaboration with organizations and individuals on the front lines of cancer care – the provinces and territories, health-care professionals, people living with cancer and those who care for them, First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, governments and organizations, and its funder Health Canada.
Dr. Alex Mihailidis recognised as one of the Healthy Ageing 50 — 50 leaders working to transform the world to be a better place to grow older
TORONTO, Sept. 28, 2022 /CNW/ - Dr. Alex Mihailidis, an internationally renowned researcher who serves as AGE-WELL's Scientific Director and CEO, has been selected as one of the Healthy Ageing 50 – 50 leaders working to transform the world to be a better place to grow older.
"I am proud to be recognized as one of the Healthy Ageing 50 – 50 leaders working to transform the world to be a better place in which to grow older," said Dr. Mihailidis. "It is a great honour to be one of 50 leaders recognized for their efforts to improve the lives of current and future generations of older people."
Dr. Mihailidis has dedicated his career to enhancing the lives of older people and caregivers. A biomedical engineer at the University of Toronto and The KITE Research Institute-University Health Network, Dr. Mihailidis is a world leader in research on technology to support older adults to stay healthy, active and independent. His accomplishments span the creation of cutting-edge technologies – such as prompting systems and smart-home sensors that can flag health issues early on – to new policies related to regulation and service delivery of innovative solutions. His work, specifically in the use of artificial intelligence, sensors and robotics to support people living with dementia, has paved the way for new approaches in caring for our aging population.
Dr. Mihailidis is a visionary who founded the AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence, Canada's federally-funded technology and aging network. Under his leadership, AGE-WELL is a highly-regarded Canadian network with global reach that brings everyone together – industry, government, community organizations, academia, older adults, caregivers and future leaders – to advance Canada's AgeTech sector and accelerate the delivery of technology-based solutions for healthy aging.
Dr. Mihailidis is a Senior Scientist at The KITE Research Institute – University Health Network, and Associate Vice President – International Partnerships & Professor at the University of Toronto (U of T). He is the Barbara G. Stymiest Research Chair in Rehabilitation Technology at U of T and Toronto Rehab. Dr. Mihailidis is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, a Lifetime Honorary Member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, and a Fellow of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of America.
AGE-WELL extends sincere congratulations to Dr. Mihailidis and the other Healthy Ageing 50 leaders selected for their extraordinary achievements in the area of healthy aging.
About AGE-WELL:
AGE-WELL NCE Inc. is Canada's Technology and Aging Network. The pan-Canadian network brings together researchers, older adults, caregivers, partner organizations and future leaders to accelerate the delivery of technology-based solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians. AGE-WELL researchers are producing technologies, services, policies and practices that improve quality of life for older adults and caregivers, and generate social and economic benefits for Canada. AGE-WELL is funded through the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence program. https://agewell-nce.ca/
SOURCE AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE)
SAFE Method Promotes Peace, Empowerment After Trauma
Princeton, NJ, September 28, 2022 — Surviving sexual assault, attempted suicide and an arranged marriage is one thing. Processing all of that pain and living a full life proved to be something entirely different for speaker and author Poonam Bhuchar.
“In the shadows of emotional pain, survival can take priority over healing,” Bhuchar said. “Lasting reverberations of traumatic experiences can cripple decision-making skills, creep into relationships and leave scars on the people you love.”
Eventually, Bhuchar’s emotional trauma also took a physical toll. She suffered two strokes and temporary paralysis before beginning her long journey toward authentic healing.
Today, she shares her powerful story through speaking engagements and her book, SAFE From the Pain: Out of the Darkness Into a Life That’s Free, Happy, and Good.
Part memoir, part self-help revelation, SAFE From the Pain pairs Bhuchar’s inspiring story with the SAFE Method, which aims to help readers process emotional pain in healthy, productive ways so they can lead more fulfilling personal and professional lives.
In SAFE From the Pain, readers will learn:
- The four-step SAFE Method for working through emotions and regaining control.
- The impact that stress from emotional pain has on every aspect of life — including the workplace.
- How to overcome a victim mindset and accept responsibility — because ownership leads to action.
- Three types of forgiveness for freedom from society’s expectations, cultural beliefs and self-judgment.
- Why embracing one’s journey is essential to happiness, a bigger life purpose and alignment with one’s true self.
“Peace and empowerment after trauma are possible when you embrace your pain as part of your story,” Bhuchar said. “You can’t move forward if you live in the past.”
About the Author
Poonam Bhuchar runs a boutique law firm, is a life coach, author and a speaker on overcoming trauma and emotional pain. Born and raised in London, she immigrated to the United States at 21 and experienced a multitude of painful challenges such as sexual assault, abuse, and the aftermath and cultural humiliation of divorce. Throughout her journey, she developed the SAFE Method to help others acknowledge, discuss, and grow from their emotional pain without stigma or judgement. Her book, SAFE From the Pain: Out of the Darkness Into a Life That’s Free, Happy, and Good, has won multiple awards in the self-help category, including a five-star review from Literary Titan.
For more information, please visit www.emotionallysafe.com, or connect with the author on Facebook (emotionally safe) and Instagram (emotionally_safe).
SAFE From the Pain: Out of the Darkness Into a Life That’s Free, Happy, and Good Publisher: RI Publishing
Pharmacy Benefit Managers pilfer millions from health plans that should instead reduce costs for employers and employees
Katy Talento: ‘Despite the caterwauling from the Health Care Swamp, the only way to pay less for health care is to actually pay less for health care’
WASHINGTON D.C. — Middlemen known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) claim to get volume discounts from manufacturers for prescription drugs through manufacturer rebates. Almost every employer or health insurance carrier has a prescription drug program run by PBMs, who conspire with insurance carriers to pocket these rebates, despite the spin that manufacturer rebates are only used to benevolently drive down premiums.
Three corporate giants control 80% of the PBM market, which already diminishes competition to provide the best deal for company health plans. One of the little-known secrets in health care is how big the savings on prescription drugs can be when either an employer fires a “Big 3” PBM or when people use cash-based discount programs, such as with Health Care Sharing Ministries. One business saved 37% on health care in two years, while a Fortune 50 manufacturing company saves 25 percent annually for tens of millions of dollars. These stories are not outliers. These companies used a small, price-transparent PBM that does not pocket manufacturer kickbacks. But that’s not the only way — many patients have seen how they can pay less for medicines at the pharmacy counter by asking for the cash price rather than the pharmacist running the prescription through their insurance plan which can be corrupted by the influence of a PBM. Indeed, there is a guaranteed way to avoid the crooked PBM scheme.
“Health Care Sharing Ministries are the only sure-fire way to avoid the grift of PBMs,” said Katy Talento, executive director of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (The Alliance, ahcsm.org). “Members ofHealth Care Sharing Ministries pay a discounted cash price for prescription drugs, using ministry programs that provide access to steep discounts not typically available in the market. And we all know every penny makes a difference in this painful inflationary environment.”
The advantage of Health Care Sharing Ministries is simple. By paying a discounted cash price, the Health Care Sharing Ministry forces price transparency from the pharmacy and manufacturer. According to the analysis of one Senator, “cash prices for health care are, on average, 39 percent less than the secret reimbursement rates that insurers pay.”
PBMs may try to shroud their practices, but PBMs:
Pocket all or part of the savings instead of passing them on to employers or patients
Allow patients access only to drugs from manufacturers that pay the biggest kickback to the PBM, instead of cheaper and equally effective drugs
Have merged in unholy alliances with insurers administering employer plans, eliminating the downward pressure on provider price-gouging that most people think their insurance carrier is supposed to provide
Have sued the federal government to block a regulation that would have required them to disclose to employers the size of their kickbacks
“If that sounds like a sweetheart deal cooked up by the Washington health care establishment, now you know. But outside the Beltway, there’s an insurgency of fed-up employers, independent pharmacies, and savvy patients fighting back against the health care industry’s plunder of Main Street,” said Talento. “More Americans need to consider Health Care Sharing Ministries as a way to cut out the PBMs altogether and benefit from a more transparent system.
“Washington usually proposes whack-a-mole ‘solutions’ that merely shift costs to different parts of the system without ever actually lowering overall costs. Despite the caterwauling from the Health Care Swamp, the only way to pay less for health care is to actually pay less for health care. And one of the best options for paying less for health care is through the transparency and stewardship inherent in Christian Health Care Sharing Ministry communities.”
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries is a 501(c)(6) trade organization representing the common interests of Health Care Sharing Ministry organizations which are facilitating the sharing of health care needs (financial, emotional, and spiritual) by individuals and families, and their participants. The Alliance engages with federal and state regulators, members of the media, and the Christian community to provide accurate and timely information on medical cost sharing.
To learn more about the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, visit www.ahcsm.org or follow the ministry on Facebook or Twitter.
CheapOair.ca Reveals the Best Destinations Around the World to View the Changing Fall Colours
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Sept. 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Along with Thanksgiving, Halloween and all things pumpkin spice, one of the favourite ways to enjoy the Autumn season is by watching the leaves change to a rich tapestry of vibrant colours. Leading online travel agency CheapOair.ca is marking the season with a look at some of the top destinations to view breathtaking fall foliage.
“We know that viewing the fall colours is one of the top activities that travelers enjoy doing as the temperature gets cooler and there is nothing cooler than nature changing colours before our eyes,” said Daniel Hayter, Senior Product Manager for CheapOair.ca. “As we look forward to this new season, we are happy to share our recommendations on some of the best Fall foliage viewing locations to enjoy with family and friends and to create memories.”
As temperatures bring falling leaves bursting in all shades of warm colors, from yellow to orange to red, viewing fall scenery has been known to invoke feelings of comfort, rebirth and excitement. So, grab your pumpkin spice drink and enjoy CheapOair.ca’s list of some of the top destinations locally and worldwide for fall colour viewing you can’t miss:
Ontario, Canada: The province known as ‘A Place To Grow’ is definitely ripe for scenery. From the historic Niagara River Parkway, which Sir Winston Churchill described "the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world" to the 500-mile Bruce Peninsula, there is no shortage of local escapes for Ontarians. The 2,955 square-mile Algonquin Park is the oldest provincial park in Canada and one of the most popular parks in Ontario to enjoy.
Canadian Rockies, Alberta: With its sub-alpine larch and aspen trees, the Canadian Rockies in Alberta are one of Canada’s national treasures. In particular, the Banff Legacy Trail, a 14-mile stretch of paved pathways in Banff National Park, has 360-degree mountain views which make it one of the top Canadian destinations within our own backyard for fall colour seekers.
East Coast, Canada: Recognized as one of Canada’s most beautiful drives, the Cabot Trail through Cape Breton Island offer scenic landscape views as you travel through Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The scene is so iconic that the locals even celebrate with their own seasonal Celtic Colours International Festival held in mid-October each year.
New England, U.S.: While Northeast New England as a whole offers great viewing options, Vermont is known as one of the top destinations, with over 75 percent of the land covered in foliage. Known for having more maple trees than any other region, your scenic drive or walk will find the brightest of yellows, oranges, and reds on every road.
Yosemite National Park, California: From a variety of Wine Country sites to Lake Tahoe, California gives New England a run for its money when it comes to Fall foliage scenery. Yosemite National Park is a designated World Heritage site well-known for its iconic U-shaped valley filled with waterfalls, cliffs and Sequoia groves. With roughly 95 percent of the Park designated as wilderness, Yosemite is ripe for a Fall visit.
Colorado, U.S.: As the only state that lies entirely above 1,000 meters in elevation and the largest mountain system in North America, you can imagine that Colorado offers gorgeous views for any Fall enthusiast to get their fill. With over 12,000 feet of altitude, Rocky Mountain National Park continues to be the perfect trip for Autumn nature lovers.
Utrecht, Netherlands: Dating back to the 12th century, renowned canals throughout the city were created as an inner-city harbour for boats to unload into the local wharves and wharf cellars along with a walkway for tours. It is here that you will be able to view the lush Autumn foliage, whether on foot or by boat.
Bavaria, Germany: Fall in Germany offers much more than Oktoberfest. Considered one of the most picturesque in all of Germany, the Bavarian Alps offers beautiful views of the Fall colours in advance of its busy ski season.
Kyoto, Japan: While Kyoto is known as the cultural capital of Japan, it is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage Site Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and gardens. While known for its cherry blossoms in spring, the cultural capital of Japan also offers some of the most striking Fall foliage scenery.
The mission of CheapOair.ca is to educate and aid consumers and travel professionals in both planning their travel accommodations and staying current on the most popular destinations. Canadians can find up-to-date travel-related guidelines to destinations worldwide via the “Ready for your next trip” section on CheapOair.ca.
Note to media: Additional quotes and interviews can be arranged upon request.
CheapOair.ca is an online travel agency that specializes in providing cheap flights and great last-minute flight deals for travellers worldwide. Consumers can book online, on mobile apps for iOS and Android, by phone or by live chat. Part of Fareportal's family of travel brands, CheapOair.ca bridges the gap between an online travel agency and a traditional agency with travel agents available worldwide to help find great deals on flights to global destinations on over 500 airlines, a million lodgings, and hundreds of car rental companies. Follow CheapOair.ca on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for travel inspiration and helpful travel tips.
Blown Into Now Nudges Readers Toward Light After Loss
San Francisco, Calif., September 28, 2022― Mylo Schaaf had to find a path through the tears and horrors of grief after her son passed away at the age of 24. A trained journalist and editor, Schaaf suddenly felt compelled to string words together in a manner unencumbered by the rules of formal writing.
The result is Blown Into Now: Poems for a Journey, a collection oflyrical writings that offer glimpses into the stages Schaaf went through, techniques that she tried, and manifestations of her son’s presence.
“The path is not all sadness,” she said during a recent interview. “It goes sort of up and down as you suppose any path would, but it eventually heads toward joy and toward understanding.”
In Blown Into Now, Schaaf carries readers from deep sadness and loss to comfort and support, finally edging toward joy. Her melodic words become a guidebook, allowing those who grieve to witness a spectrum of responses, to understand what might give relief, and to know how to look for the signposts that will guide them down the path toward healing.
Each of Schaaf’s 45 remarkable poems is paired with a striking photograph taken by her mountaineer son, Alex Lowenstein, who passed on unexpectedly in his twenties. Schaaf’s personal journey through grief became this book.
To those who must endure such a shocking new reality, she aims to bring compassion, beauty and spiritual connection.
Her poems reveal a mother’s great heart and the love she shares with her son for granite peaks and untracked desert. Each photograph provides a pause from grief and allows us a glimpse of something we want and cannot name.
About the Author
Mylo Schaaf trained as a journalist, editor and physician, before taking a left turn into poetry. Before everything changed, she was a faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco, mentoring and teaching students in international, low-resource settings. Her commitment to global health grew out of her work and connection with India, the Americas, Liberia, Haiti and China. Then one day, a shocking phone call collapsed this pursuit of engagement and action. Her 24-year-old son, a mountaineer/peace-and-conflict scholar/veteran, had passed away. Poems demanded to be written. They brought relief and healing, as did warm, grassy hills, tree spirits and arms of sky. Years wandered past. Poems continue to emerge, as the tangles of days slip into light.
For more information, please visit https://www.myloschaaf.com, or follow the author on Instagram at writermyloschaaf.
Blown Into Now – Poems for a Journey
Publisher: Blue Light Press
ISBN: 979-8-9864093-0-6 (soft cover, available now)
