Lightwork Wellness

merry c h r i s t m a s e v e + happy holidays to you beauties I hope you are spending time with loved ones and indulging in all the foods and treats. if you’re getting a sweat in today I hope it’s because you want to feel g o o d and healthy, and not to burn off anything or feel bad. holidays are a difficult time of year for so many and if that’s you, I see you too. my mind is still set on getting our gyms and yoga studios open and that’s all I can think about righ...t now. here’s to not letting the government control our holidays and well-being

but why? do your shoulders or neck feel tight and sore after sitting at a desk all day? are overly tight hamstrings making it hard to bend down? are you dealing with an old injury, like an ankle sprain, that makes it hard to walk long distances without pain? stretching can help improve flexibility and range of motion of your joints. improved flexibility may ... enhance your performance in physical activities reduce your risk of injuries help your joints move through full range of motion allow your muscles to work effectively calm your nervous system and relax the body do you include stretching as a regular part of your routine or injury rehab? often the ones we don’t want to do are the ones we need most TIP set a timer just like you would for an interval workout. start by holding each stretch for 30s and move on to the next

g r a t i t u d e thanksgiving has come and gone but gratitude is truly something I love to practice each and every day. there’s no real right or wrong way to practice gratitude. but one thing I’ve found helpful over the years is to really f e e l gratitude. feel it flow through your entire body. really take the time to notice what’s around you, and where you are in the present moment. when you tune into your awareness, more opportunities arise for you to notice all the ...good that’s around you. all the things that bring you happiness. find gratitude for the little things the colours of the sunset, hot morning coffee, your cozy bed or the way someone smiles with an act of kindness. it’s amazing how much there is to be grateful for when you take a moment just to feel this year I am grateful for being here. my breath, my health. grateful for the opportunity to be in school and challenge myself. for the ability to adapt and workout when I can. for new friendships and letting go of ones that no longer align. grateful for the beautiful colours of the leaves as they change. my intuition, grounding, energy. coffee. sun on my skin. grateful for all of you on this platform + OF COURSE my boyfriend, my family, my puppy and my best friends tell me what are you grateful for? www.lightworkwellness.ca

remember that you are w a t e r . . . remember that you are f i r e . . .... remember that you are a i r . . . remember that you are e a r t h . . . remember that you are h u m a n . .

notice how good it feels to M O V E by now we all know there are SO many benefits to regular physical activity. exercising (including both cardio and strength training) can improve the cardiovascular system, control weight, strengthen bones and increase mental health and well being. exercise can also increase the immune system. long term, exercise provides the compounding benefit of improved circulation, which allows the cells of the immune system to move around the body ...to do their jobs. even an acute bout of exercise has been shown to create a 1 to 2 hour period post-exercise where lymphocytes (white blood cells, which help to fight illness and disease) are redistributed to peripheral tissues. this redistribution creates a heightened state of immune surveillance and immune regulation a healthier body! so again, notice how good it feels to M O V E your body. movement is medicine, no matter what that movement is to you. go move your body today besties www.lightworkwellness.ca references available for this post