With the holidays upon us it’s easy for us to get caught up in the rush of it all. While we may be cooking, shopping, enjoying holiday events there are others, many of whom are in our very own circles, having a tougher time. Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, reveals who are most likely to have the holiday blues and how we can help them make it through.
- The newly divorced or widowed.
Loss is a sad, life-changing event at any time of the year. However, it tends to be harder when everyone around you is joyful celebrating the holiday’s and you feel it’s an effort to get out of bed. If someone in your circles is going through a major loss and life transition be supportive and understanding. “They are grieving and mourning and are especially sensitive around the holidays. It’s important that they feel included but don’t be offended if they choose to opt out of certain events,” advises Dr. Hafeez. She suggests checking in and offering them the option to participate in whatever they want, when they want. Love them through it.
- The busy entrepreneur.
The holidays could be stressful for small business owners because so much rides on the end of year. They may be fretting over their profits (or lack thereof), the goals they didn’t reach, and the many things still to do. They feel overwhelmed and when they are expected to shop, entertain and be present for their families, they may be short tempered and anxious. “The best way to help the busy entrepreneur is to make their life easier in any way possible. If they can’t make it to a family dinner, tell them your door is open for dessert. Oftentimes they feel guilty and obligated which only adds to their frustration,” explains Dr. Hafeez. Also consider that these worker-bees are conflicted. When they are working they miss their families and when they are with family they are thinking of work.
- The caretaker of an elder parent or relative.
Adults who are now caretakers to their elderly parents are incredibly overwhelmed and often overlooked. As a caretaker, they always have to consider the well-being of their parent. They can’t just get up and go,” explains Dr. Hafeez. Caretakers may feel resentful, isolated and stuck during the holidays which leads to conflicted feelings of resentment and guilt. They also believe they have to be hands on managing everything. It’s important to lighten the caretakers load by offering support even if it means asking them how they are doing. Be patient and ask the caretaker what they need. It could be something as simple as having food delivered to their home to free up time for other tasks, Dr. Hafeez recommends.
- The recovering substance abuser.
Recovering from addiction is hard. Period. But it’s harder when holiday festivities are filled with friends and family drinking everything from eggnog to champagne. “Understand that those in recovery from substance abuse are hyper-sensitive about being judged. They feel as if all eyes are on them and that pressure may trigger the desire to use drugs or alcohol to soothe their anxiety. When they aren’t fully recovered, they may anticipate possible “landmines” and avoid them. They may choose to stay to themselves and observe more and participate less. They might opt out of larger family gatherings that are too overwhelming,” cautions Dr. Hafeez. Offer an open invitation and remind them they are welcomed when they are ready. A balance of love, support and acceptance is what they are in most need of, suggests Dr. Hafeez.
- The children of divorce.
Divorce means two separate holidays at two different places and kids feel overwhelmed having to double up. It’s incredibly important for parents to agree on where the kids are going during the holidays and all logistical details. “Kids want to feel safe and secure. They don’t want to feel as if they are the expected to be rushed here and there because their parents chose to divorce,” says Dr. Hafeez. It could be unsettling to younger kids and teens may isolate and rebel against any family events as they are sorting out their own emotions as they get used to a new normal. You really want to establish a game plan for the holidays and if possible, stick to it every year, advises Dr. Hafeez.
About the Doctor:
Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD, a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens.
She can certainly provide answers to specific questions regarding the connection between grief and anxiety. Feel free to send them to me.
Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz.
Connect with her via twitter @comprehendMind or www.comprehendthemind.com
Excess Acidity Finally Meets Its Match!
Mineral-Rich Multiforce Powdered Supplement Treats Lactic Acid Build-Up Associated With Muscle Fatigue & Strenuous Exercise; Helps Prevent, Minimize Acid-Related Gout, Osteoarthritis & Uric Acid
Proprietary Blend of 100% Natural, Gluten-Free Ingredients Offers Safe & Proven Complete Body Solution for Athletes & Active Consumers Seeking Healthier Balance Between Acid & Alkaline
SARASOTA, FL., November 17, 2017 – Representing one of the greatest ironies in personal wellness today, millions of athletes and fitness devotees who watch every bite they eat are being challenged by the very same culprit affecting those who regularly consume processed foods, salty snacks and sugary desserts. Their shared enemy? Excess acidity.
Consider this: if you’re a serious athlete, “weekend warrior,” or an active consumer who values the life-affirming benefits of strenuous regular exercise, it’s likely you’ve experienced the muscle discomfort and fatigue often associated with lactic acid build-up. Conversely, if you follow the typical “Western diet” that’s low in fruits and vegetables and find it difficult to resist foods you know aren’t good for you, it’s likely you’ve experienced such excess acid-induced health issues as gout, uric acid, heartburn, joint pain, chronic fatigue, osteoarthritis and many more.
Fortunately, however, whether you’re a fitness junkie, a junk food junkie or some combination of the two, help is here at last!
Introducing Multiforce (www.multiforcehealth.com), a globally-popular multi-mineral powdered supplement newly available in America that’s already helped millions around the world not only to treat but in many cases to prevent the development of excess acidity resulting from extreme workouts or poor diet. Featuring a breakthrough blend of 100% natural, gluten-free, vegetarian and clinically-proven essential natural minerals such as Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Calcium, Multiforce helps your body re-calibrate its pH balance between acid and alkaline so you can feel your best in the fastest and most comprehensive manner possible.
The Growing Need To Cut Excess Acidity Down To Size
With more Americans than ever before embracing extreme sports and demanding workouts, and with the majority of us still favoring processed foods over nutritious fruits and vegetables, we’ve achieved perfect storm-level conditions for making excess acidity one of today’s most problematic health concerns. And when it comes to diet, it’s not just the obvious foods we need to be wary of: even seemingly healthier food staples as dairy products, animal protein and even low-sugar cereals are responsible for generating acid-forming chemicals in our body that over time can lead to muscle fatigue, slow down muscle recovery and cause many of the troubling health issues mentioned above.
Multiforce To The Rescue!
Specifically formulated to treat the causes of various health issues associated with excess acidity and not just their symptoms, Multiforce makes use of the citrate form of minerals which are able to neutralize three acid molecules and are much more easily absorbed by the body. This is what makes Multiforce so effective. In addition, unlike traditional treatments for excess acidity on the market, Multiforce works systemically from head to toe as opposed to just zoning in on one select part of the body. What’s more, Multiforce doesn’t rely on digestion to be absorbed – thus ensuring consumers won’t face the stomach discomfort or nausea often associated with mineral supplements.
A natural alkaline powder that’s safe, proven and incredibly easy to use (just mix a teaspoon of powder with water), Multiforce is ideal for virtually anyone anxious to tackle the acid-based causes of muscle fatigue, gout, uric acid, joint pain, chronic fatigue and osteoarthritis (please find a clinical study showcasing Multiforce’s effectiveness in dealing with this condition at www.multiforcehealth.com/new-hope-for-osteoarthritis-sufferers).
Multiforce is offered in three flavors: Natural Lemon Flavor; Natural Mango Flavor; and Naturally Unflavored. All three are sold on thewww.multiforcehealth.com site for $29.99 (a free two-week supply is also available at www.multiforcehealth.com/free-sample.html), other online sites and in a growing range of retail stores in Florida (with other states to follow soon).
The Science Behind Multiforce
Body acids are neutralized through various buffering systems in the body, but for these systems to properly maintain the perfect pH balance, sufficient alkaline mineral compounds are required – the very same minerals (including Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium) typically found in fruits and vegetables.
In order to maintain this ideal balance, nutritionists suggest we eat seven to ten servings of fruits and vegetables as well as drink two liters of water daily. Since that represents a tall order for almost all of us, the solution is simple: let Multiforce’s alkalizing blend of multi-minerals supplement your body’s nutrients, replenish these life-balancing minerals and, over time, reduce the symptoms caused by over-acidity completely.
Check out these alarming facts to see just how prevalent exceed acidity really is:
• Coffee – far more acidic than tap water
• Sodas – contain corrosive acid
• Animal Protein – can form uric acid
• Sugary Desserts & Salty Snacks – linked with increased obesity
A Commitment to Balanced Health
Commenting on Multiforce’s longstanding mandate to help offset the conditions associated with excess acidity, Garth Woolley - CEO of Multiforce parent company SANP International LLC - said, “Anyone coping with muscle issues or with the numerous concerns stemming from excess acidity can rest assured we’ve gone to great lengths over many years to create the most potent and effective all-natural solution offered directly to consumers today. We’re heartened by the highly enthusiastic response Multiforce has already received from consumers and retailers in the U.S. and look forward to helping countless more people eliminate the corrosive effects of acid in their lives over the years ahead.”
For more information about Multiforce, visit www.multiforcehealth.com; to read a clinical study about the brand’s efficacy, visitwww.multiforcehealth.com/new-hope-for-osteoarthritis-sufferers.
New tool that helps patients manage better after leaving hospital spreads across province
TORONTO, Nov. 27, 2017 /CNW/ - An innovative and proven tool that helps patients manage their care after leaving hospital is being adopted by 27 hospitals across Ontario. The latest initiative under a provincial program that puts evidence-based care into practice faster, the adoption of this tool has the potential to benefit approximately 50,000 patients in the first year alone.
Patient Oriented Discharge Summary (PODS) is a standardized yet adaptable tool that provides patients with a set of clear and easy-to-understand instructions to follow after they are discharged from hospital. PODS aims to improve transitions from hospital, which research has shown may lead to fewer readmissions for patients, better medication adherence, improved health outcomes, and greater confidence among patients in their ability to care for themselves.
PODS was co-developed by patients, caregivers and health care providers at the University Health Network's OpenLab – a design and innovation group dedicated to finding creative health care solutions. PODS creates a discharge summary that uses plain language, large fonts, pictures and images to make the information the summary contains as easy to comprehend as possible. It's available in 15 languages and includes space for patients to take notes.
Proven in eight Toronto-area hospitals, use of PODS is now being expanded across the province with support from ARTIC (Adopting Research to Improve Care), a joint program of the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario and Health Quality Ontario. ARTIC is dedicated to accelerating the spread of evidence-based advances in health care throughout the province.
Being discharged from hospital can be a stressful experience for patients and their families. Patients may still be recovering from their illness or injury, and they and their families are often anxious about their condition and how they will manage at home. The stress can make it difficult for them to grasp instructions from hospital staff on taking medications, watching for certain symptoms or knowing when to go to medical appointments for follow-up care.
A report by the province's Avoidable Hospitalization Expert Panel found communication of discharge instructions by hospitals was often poor because patients did not understand medical terms, were not fluent in English, were not able to memorize instructions or were too stressed at the time of discharge to absorb information.
"The transition from hospital to home can pose significant risks to patients if they have not been provided with information and instructions about the management of their care in a way they can easily understand and use," says Dr. Joshua Tepper, president and CEO of Health Quality Ontario. "By helping hospitals, patients, and their family doctors communicate effectively with each other about post-discharge care, PODS can play an important role in improving patients' health outcomes."
Hospital discharge plans are usually written for doctors and other clinicians, and not with the patient in mind. In fact, patients might not receive any written discharge summary at all when they leave hospital. But PODS has been co-designed with patients for patients. It is also completed with the patient and their family, and the patient is asked to recall and restate the instructions in their own words, to ensure they understand. A traditional, more complex discharge summary is still sent to the patient's family doctor.
"PODS provides patients with knowledge that empowers them to play a more active role in their own care," says Tai Huynh, creative director at OpenLab and project lead for PODS. "Not only does this enhance the patient experience, it may also lead to improved adherence to the care plan and better outcomes for the patient."
At the eight hospitals that tested PODS, patients' understanding improved by 9.3 per cent to
19.4 per cent in the key areas covered by the PODS template - medication, danger signals, resumption of activities, who to call with questions, and follow-up appointments. Overall, the hospitals found significant improvements in patient and provider experience.
"The positive results that have been achieved with PODS show how beneficial it can be for both patients and health care providers when patients are given a role in the development of solutions to some of the challenges they face," says Michelle Noble, Executive Director of the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario.
Beginning in early 2018, participating hospitals will be encouraged to expand PODS use internally through more departments, and to encourage other hospitals in their regions to use the tool. More and more patients will benefit from PODS as it becomes the model of care for the future.
About ARTIC
Co-led by the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario and Health Quality Ontario, ARTIC is a proven model that brings evidence-based care faster and more consistently to more people in Ontario. Supported by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, ARTIC provides project teams with funding and active support over approximately two years to ensure successful implementation and sustainability of health care interventions across more Ontario health care providers.
To learn more about ARTIC and its programs and how it's improving quality of care across Ontario, please visit the websites of the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario or Health Quality Ontario.
SOURCE Health Quality Ontario
A Fresh New Look for Green Relief
PUSLINCH, ON, Nov. 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Green Relief, a licensed producer under Health Canada's Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR), has officially unveiled their company-wide rebrand, which also includes social media platforms as well as their website.
Green Relief was founded in 2013 by Warren Bravo, Lyn Bravo, and Steve LeBlanc on the principles of sustainability, social responsibility, and research, something that is reflected heavily in Green Relief's new brand image.
"Rebranding our company was a very personal decision," said Green Relief CEO Warren Bravo. "With legalization looming, it was imperative that our image better reflected our unwavering commitment to cannabis as medicine while simultaneously highlighting our passion for sustainability."
Green Relief wants to ensure that people are not only aware of the quality, consistency and safety of their medical cannabis but also the importance of giving back to the community and taking care of our planet.
The new concept visually combines the seven veins of the cannabis leaf, enclosed in a geometric interpretation of a water drop. The bright green is an ode to growth, vibrancy and health, while the darker blue-green grounds the identity system and is symbolic of the relationship between water and plant growth. The stylized water drop to represent Green Relief's unique aquaponic growing method. The fusion of the two visual symbols pays homage to Green Relief as the only grower of its kind.
Green Relief is the only medical cannabis provider in the world that's producing by way of aquaponics, where fish and plants grow in a natural ecosystem environment that uses 90% less water than conventional agriculture. It is considered to be the most innovative and sustainable form of agriculture. Green Relief raises tilapia in their aquaponics system and they are fed organic high quality feed resulting in an excellent source of lean, healthy animal protein for consumption. Under their current setup, Green Relief donates anywhere from 300-340 fish every four weeks to local shelters, once the fish reach market weight.
Green Relief works tirelessly to carry out one important mission: helping their patients improve their quality of life. They are also striving to further the science of medical cannabis through research and using cannabis to advance sustainable agriculture around the world.
To check out Green Relief's brand new website, visit www.greenrelief.ca. You can also visit them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @GreenReliefLP.
SOURCE Green Relief Inc.
Alicia Bell - Road To The Arnold Amateurs - 14 Weeks Out
Hey Guys! Its been a while since I actually posted a personal blog on my blog. And I was doing a little bit of thinking this week. Actually a lot of thinking since I started this prep. My blog way back when I was going by a different business name and not train it right started as my thoughts, recipes, workouts and thoughts about the fitness industry. So I wanted to bring back a little bit more of a personal touch to my blog.
Therefore weekly during this prep I want to sit down and write out my thoughts on my week, how training went, my mind set, anything exciting that happened and overall just the experience of being a figure competitor.
I feel that with social media today we are all just posting our highlights and no one is personable. Thats kind of why almost a year ago I started my youtube vlog: www.youtube.com/trainitright But I also want to talk to my readers and share with you all my journey to the stage for Arnold Amateurs.
Soooo here it goes:
15 weeks out until Today
I feel great to be honest. Im focused, loving my training plan and my nutrition is going good. I don't have many cravings and the ones that I do I have been able to fight them off with teas, coffees and being creative with my food.
Sometimes I feel like Im the crazy person in the room because Im always thinking about my goals, workouts or when I can exit a convo and go to the gym. Im so forever thankful that Sean is my boyfriend and my coach because he understands my drive, goals and dreams.
Im writing this at 6:07pm on Sunday and I still have some abs and another 45 minutes of cardio to get to and Im not dreading it at all. Im excited. I want this and I want to do well. And Im going at this prep with tenacity, determination and a mind set that is far superior then any other prep that I have done to date.
This is my time. I know I have what it takes and Im not going to waste any second of it.
Anyway thats just kind of where my head is at. I am definitely going to commit to 1x a week of blogs like this but there may be more because Im going to write when I feel like writing and even give you guys details on my cardio, training and nutrition.
Thanks for reading! Thanks for the support and keep an eye out for something cool so that you guys can join in with me at 12 weeks out!
Innovative Medicines Canada and Astellas Announce Grant to the University Health Network's Transplant Innovation Fund
MONTREAL, Nov. 23, 2017 /CNW/ - A $100,000 grant to support the University Health Network's (UHN) Transplant Program, in honour of outgoing Innovative Medicines Canada Chair Michael Tremblay, was announced today. Innovative Medicines Canada made an initial pledge of $25,000 and Astellas Pharma made a matching pledge of $25,000. In addition, UHN announced another matching pledge of $50,000, making the total amount of the Michael Tremblay Grant to UHN's Transplant Innovation Fund $100,000.
"I am extremely proud to support the incredible work done through the UHN Transplant Program, which has saved countless lives and improved care for transplant patients in Canada and around the world. Furthermore, I am committed to its mission of being a world leader in providing excellence in donor transplantation and innovative, cutting-edge research and discoveries. The goal of this grant is to continue the advancement of research in this very important field," said Michael Tremblay, outgoing Innovative Medicines Canada Chair.
The grant will support the UHN Transplant Innovation Fund, a fund that the Transplant Program has established through investments from philanthropic donors and partners. The goal of this Fund is to continue to foster high-level, interdisciplinary innovation throughout UHN's Transplant Program. The Michael Tremblay Grant will assist this Fund in fostering high-level, interdisciplinary innovation throughout UHN's Transplant Program.
Each year, Innovative Medicines Canada contributes $25,000 toward an Outgoing Chair's Scholarship or Grant announced at the Association's Annual General Meeting. The outgoing Chair is given the choice of allocating Innovative Medicines Canada's scholarship/grant funds to an institution of their choice.
"This thoughtful grant, provided in recognition of Michael Tremblay, will help the UHN's Transplant Program to continue to effectively turn new research from the laboratory to the clinic, develop unparalleled advances to provide the best medical and surgical care for our patients from all over the world," said Pamela Fralick, President of Innovative Medicines Canada.
ABOUT INNOVATIVE MEDICINES CANADA
Innovative Medicines Canada is the national voice of Canada's innovative pharmaceutical industry. We advocate for policies that enable the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines and vaccines that improve the lives of all Canadians. We support our members' commitment to being valued partners in the Canadian healthcare system.
SOURCE Innovative Medicines Canada
Twenty-nine Ontario hospitals compare themselves to international peers on surgical quality
TORONTO, Nov. 23, 2017 /CNW/ - A new report by Health Quality Ontario focuses on 29 Ontario hospitals who are participating in an international quality improvement program for surgery. Hospitals in Ontario performed just as well or better than their international peers on key metrics before, during and after surgery. Nearly 700 other hospitals around the world participate in this program.
The report, Quality Surgery: Improving Surgical Care in Ontario also shows areas for improvement.
This international program collects and compares surgical data on 14 indicators. More than data, it also provides hospitals with best practices and programs to reduce the risks of post-treatment complications, and to make every stage of surgery as safe as possible.
"Ontario hospitals are stepping up to deliver on patient safety, showing a clear commitment to reduce complications after surgery and improve care," says Dr. Timothy Jackson, Provincial Surgical Lead at Health Quality Ontario. "They are using high quality data to benchmark performance and identify areas for quality improvement."
All 29 participating Ontario hospitals are performing at expected levels or better than expected on:
- C. difficile: a common hospital-acquired infection that affects the colon
- Extended ventilation: patients needing ventilation longer than 48 hours after surgery (which can increase the risk of pneumonia)
- Unplanned intubations: patients unexpectedly needing a breathing tube during or after surgery
Areas where the majority of the 29 hospitals highlighted in this report are performing as expected or better than expected are:
- Mortality: a measure of the overall rate of death during or in the 30 days following surgery (96% of the 29 hospitals were as expected or better than expected)
- Return to the operating room: patients needing another surgery to address a complication (96% of the 29 hospitals were as expected or better than expected)
- Pneumonia: breathing devices like ventilators can increase the risk of lung infections (96% of the 29 hospitals were as expected or better than expected)
- Blood clots (venous thromboembolism or VTE): patients generating blood clots because they aren't as active during recovery and their blood flows more slowly (96% of the 29 hospitals were as expected or better than expected)
- Heart complications: heart attacks or cardiac arrest because of stress on the heart due to surgery (92% of the 29 hospitals were as expected or better than expected)
- Hospital readmissions: patients readmitted to hospital due to complications like infections or blood clots (96% of the 29 hospitals were as expected or better than expected)
- Kidney failure: kidney injury during surgery which can affect the kidney's function or even lead to kidney failure (92% of the 29 hospitals were as expected or better than expected)
- Sepsis: a life-threatening illness caused by the body's response to infection (85% of the 29 hospitals were as expected or better than expected)
Areas where most of the 29 participating hospitals have the most room for improvement are:
- Surgical site infections: different levels of infection setting into the incision or body part involved in the surgery (50% of the 29 hospitals needed improvement)
- Morbidity: the overall rate at which patients experience common complications (38% of the 29 hospitals needed improvement)
- Urinary tract infections: infections in the bladder and urinary tract that have an increased risk due to catheters (35% of the 29 hospitals needed improvement)
"During their time in the operating room and in the days of recovery that follow, surgical patients are vulnerable and their safety is of prime importance," says Dr. Joshua Tepper, President and CEO of Health Quality Ontario. "Hospitals are to be commended for embracing a proven program of data gathering, program enhancements and culture change to improve the quality of care they provide to surgery patients."
The program is already helping to improve care at hospitals like Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital where they have reduced surgical site infections by 50% using the program's data and best practices. For example, a new change implemented by the hospital is that patients must use antiseptic body wash the day before and day of their surgery.
"If you want to make things better, you have to measure them," says general surgeon Dr. Duncan Rozario at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. "Sometimes you need a protocol and program to make real change."
For a closer look at how quality improvement efforts have been implemented at Ontario hospitals, see the full Quality Surgery: Improving Surgical Care in Ontario report for patient stories and surgeon insights at www.hqontario.ca/surgicalquality.
Additional Facts:
- Surgeons performed over 600,000 adult surgeries in Ontario in 2016-2017.
- 46.4% of Ontario's adult surgeries now take place in a hospital that is part of this surgical quality improvement program.
- 29 Ontario adult hospital facilities were included in the Health Quality Ontario comparison after voluntarily participating. 31 Ontario hospitals are now participating in the program
- This is the largest quality improvement network of its kind in Ontario.
- Worldwide, nearly 700 hospitals are taking part in the program.
- Hospitals in the following provinces are also taking part: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Newfoundland.
About Health Quality Ontario
Health Quality Ontario is the provincial advisor on the quality of health care. With the goal of excellent care for all Ontarians, Health Quality Ontario reports to the public on how the system is performing, develops standards for what quality care looks like, evaluates the effectiveness of new health care technologies and services, and promotes quality improvement aimed at sustainable positive change. Visit www.hqontario.ca for more information.
SOURCE Health Quality Ontario
Blitz Facial Bar announces launch of online shop
Toronto’s leading facial bar debuts e-commerce in time for the Holidays
TORONTO – Blitz Facial Bar, Toronto’s leading facial bar, is proud to announce the launch of its e-commerce website. Beginning November 22, the full Blitz Skin Care line will be available for purchase via www.blitzfacialbar.com/cdn-shop-face/, with shipping across Canada and the U.S.
Already sold in-store at their four Toronto locations and Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY outpost, high customer demand for the Blitz Skin Care line sparked the need to expand into the online market. The solution arrives just in time for the holidays, bringing a wide range of skin care products formulated with pure essential oils to Blitz Facial fans across Canada and the US. The web store will also feature a skin type search option, taking the guessing out of shopping and directing customers to their perfect skin care regimen.
“We are thrilled to launch our e-commerce website,” says Laura Polley, founder of Blitz Facial Bar and Body Blitz Spa. “With clients who visit us from all over the country, we want to provide a platform for our clients to easily purchase our cleansers, exfoliants, masks, serums, moisturizers and advanced skin care products, no matter where they are.”
To mark the arrival of the e-commerce website, Blitz Facial Bar will also introduce two new products: Blitz Facial Bar’s advanced Phytoplankton High Potency Serum ($80) – with concentrated phytoplankton, this advanced serum was created to deliver extreme results for all skin types; also being introduced is their much anticipated Blitz Facial Bar Sheet Masks ($14). The sheet masks will be on special for a limited time, three for $35, allowing holiday shoppers to give the gift of glowing skin.
Throughout the year, the online store will highlight different products and offer reduced prices on the skincare line. The site will also continue to be a source of skin care advice provided by Tina Griffin, Director of Blitz Facial Bars and resident skincare expert. This December, Griffin will pick her top five Body Blitz products for ageless and glowing skin throughout the festive season.
Blitz Facial Bars have become the city’s leading beauty destination. Revolutionizing the skincare rituals of Canadians since 2015, Blitz Facial Bar aims to make facial treatments accessible to everyone and anyone, offering a menu of high-quality yet quick and convenient facials at affordable prices. Their in-house product line, Body Blitz Skin Care, combines natural elements from the earth, sea and various botanicals to help cleanse, nourish and hydrate the skin, allowing consumers to maintain their glowing skin at home.
About Blitz Facial Bar:
Founded in 2015 by sister-entrepreneurs, Laura and Rena Polley, Blitz Facial Bar is an extension of Body Blitz Spa. Continuing the practice of beauty through health, Blitz Facial Bar is committed to servicing convenient and affordable facials, with a mission for everyday people to incorporate skin treatments into their regular beauty routine. To ensure the highest-quality skin care, registered estheticians will use exclusive skincare products and Blitz Facial Bar’s in-house product line. Blitz Facial Bar has four locations in Toronto (Leslieville, Trinity-Bellwoods, Roncesvalles and The Path) as well as one in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY.
Website: www.blitzfacialbar.com
Twitter: @blitzfacialbar
Facebook: /blitzfacialbar
Instagram: @blitzfacialbar
How to Live a Healthy Life Without Spending Too Much Money
Life seems to move along, and so does our health. When money is tight, it’s difficult to eat as healthy as you should. Yes, eating organic food is healthier but can become costly if you’re not careful. There are ways to get the high cost of food and gym memberships down. Here are some ideas to help.
Eating Affordable Organic Food
You can grow organic fruits and vegetables in your very own garden. If this is not feasible, purchase them from other farmers that grow organic foods. You will want to look for a farmer that grows their food organically but are not organic certified. They cost about 50 percent less than buying your fruits and vegetables elsewhere. Most grocery stores raise the price to pay for their employees and supplier.
Organic is not necessary with fruits and vegetables that have protective layers such as melons and bananas. Some places can verify that the supplier didn’t use heavy pesticides on the fruits and vegetables they’re selling. Take time to check! Eating healthy on a budget is possible when you look carefully at the meat and produce sales. If you find meat or product sales, buy them first, and you will save money.
Don’t Eat Out
Eating out cost extra, don’t get me wrong this statement doesn’t mean you should never go out to eat. It merely means in moderation. Cooking a meal at home that serves a family of six will cost around $4 a person to prepare, compared to eating out at a restaurant for approximately $15 a person. Naturally, the prices vary depending on what you feel like cooking or where you go out to eat. If you watch what you buy when getting groceries, you will lower your food cost while eating healthier.
Cost Effective Ways to Exercise
Set up a gym at home. Look for gym equipment that people are tired of being in their homes. You can do this by looking at yard sales, checking on Craig’s list, or at the gym. For those individuals who can afford to update their gym equipment, they sometimes will give their old stuff away. Others will sell them cheaper than you would get them new. In fact, some still look just as new depending on how often they were used, by the owner.
For aerobics, you could get an affordable exercise DVD or go for a fast pace walk, jog, or run. Nothing says more about exercise than climbing a mountainside. These exercise activities also will build endurance and strength as well. If a home gym isn’t for you, shop around for the cheapest gym membership. For that matter, you should see if your employer offers a gym membership discount.
Go to Social Events
Social events help you stay connected with others and have a healthy inner core. Some social events provide food, games, and other activities that will help you to stay healthy and keep the cost down. Keeping yourself healthy is not just about eating correctly, but also has to do with emotional and spiritual connections. Being out in a social atmosphere can also prevent you from becoming depressed, emotionally drained, or disconnected. You can find these types of events at churches, social dances, family gatherings, or just a simple get together with friends.
These ideas will help you efficiently stay healthy while keeping the family budget intact. When leading a healthier lifestyle, it can be rewarding to you and the people around you. Why wait until New Years to begin a more robust lifestyle change, when you can start today. It will become a reality when you are utilizing these helpful information methods.
Esteemed Mindfulness Teacher Shinzen Young Launches Brightmind
New mindfulness application leverages advanced data analytics and cues that will evolve with users’ practice
For nearly 40 years, esteemed mindfulness teacher and neuroscience researcher Shinzen Young has been doing R&D on meditation techniques and this is now available to the public in an app called Brightmind. Google's former Chief Happiness Officer, Chade Meng Tan, has described Shinzen as 'one of the very best meditation teachers I have ever worked with' and 'a unique visionary who embodies the essence of science'." Shinzen's research has been conducted at Harvard Medical School, University of Vermont, and Carnegie Mellon University, along with years of teaching meditation and retreats. “When I leave retreats it is always bittersweet,” says Shinzen. “As group and individuals, the participants each grow a great deal during our time together, but I know that if I could split myself into pieces and help each of them on a daily basis, their practices would grow with great rapidity and be incredibly transformative.” While the Brightmind application does not offer quite the same experience as 1 on 1 or group sessions, the application helps users to establish an effective meditation practice through tailored instruction, a personal relationship, and a systematic approach. With the addition of advanced data analytics and planned incorporation of artificial intelligence, the cues in the application will evolve with the user and expand the boundaries of human potential through tailored meditation instruction and human support. With this functionality, there may be additional prompts that get cycled out so that no meditation is ever the same twice and the application will be able to adjust which sessions users receive based on the previous techniques that have been selected.
Shinzen began his journey by attending a Japanese ethnic school when he was 14 years old in his hometown of Los Angeles. He went on to study Asian languages at UCLA and then began a PhD program in Buddhist Studies at the University of Wisconsin. As a part of his thesis research, he lived as a Shingon (Japanese Vajrayana) monk for three years at Mount Koya, Japan, where he received the name Shinzen. When Shinzen returned to Los Angeles to teach meditation, he replaced the religious explanations with conceptually clear explanations inspired by modern math and science. Shinzen then carefully tracked which explanations helped his students and which didn’t, and used this information to iterate and improve his teaching approach. Shinzen trained eventual Brightmind CEO Christian Stiller in Vermont. Stiller was introduced to meditation originally through his father, who had always extolled the virtues of meditation to his son, then brought in Shinzen for their company meditation session. After continuing for years of practice with Shinzen, meditation completely changed Stiller’s life, from troubled and unfocused youth to being a leader in corporate marketing. When Christian read an article in the New Yorker about the growth of meditation apps, he realized that meditation instruction - something that had profoundly changed his life - could scale. Developing technology to make his research and methods available to people around the world had been something Shinzen had considered for many years and he introduced Stiller to Toby Sola to collaborate on the project. The two worked together to develop Brightmind, along with Shinzen and CEO-coach/meditation teacher, Julianna Raye. Brightmind is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA.
About Brightmind
Brightmind is like having a master meditation teacher in your pocket. The meditation application provides users with an advanced tool to practice Unified Mindfulness from esteemed mindfulness teacher Shinzen Young. Brightmind is unlike most other meditation applications in that it leverages advanced technologies to evolve cues to each user’s practice and it offers a truly disciplined, systematic approach with the potential to be profoundly transformative. To learn more, go to www.brightmind.com.
