OptiMYz Magazine

SPONSORED ARTICLE The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that close off the base of the pelvis. They play a role in managing our continence, supporting our internal organs, contributing to core control and also our sexual response. Several muscles make up the pelvic floor and they are just like the muscles elsewhere in our body. The pelvic floor muscles need a balance between strength, endurance and suppleness.

Hello Spring! Bringing longer, warmer, brighter days… and hay fever. While budding trees and blooming flowers are beautiful, they can also trigger seasonal symptoms, including runny nose, itching, coughing, and sneezing (oh – the sneezing!), which affect between 20-25% of Canadians. Sure, there are over-the-counter antihistamines and allergy sprays, but they can come with side effects like drowsiness, dry mouth, and fatigue – and the symptoms still come back in full force.

By Jodi Barrett Training my full body is always my go-to at the age of 47. It allows me to train all my pillars of human movement while having fun! Let’s be honest, if you are not enjoying yourself you will likely have a hard time sticking to the training. Not everyday will be fun but it will definitely help with keeping yourself motivated and disciplined.

By Marylene Vestergom Eating a completely plant-based diet, once rare, is becoming more common, especially among younger people. Once people start eating more fruits and vegetables, they reduce consumption of meat and dairy. The next step is to eliminate dairy and become a vegetarian. Finally, all animal products are eliminated, including honey from bees. Then they’re considered vegan.

By David Holt In difficult fields like music, math, and sports, prodigies appear as if from nowhere. If they are keen, and nurtured properly, and the stars align, they have a chance to shine. But starting early can be as much an obstacle as a blessing. For one thing, it takes prodigious amounts of focus and effort. Childhood flies by. You need passion and self-discipline. Ask Mozart, or Tiger Woods. Competitive swimming is one of those fields.

By Dr. Rachael Bailey While medication plays an essential role in living with autoimmune disease, many individuals seek alternative ways to relieve their chronic and often debilitating symptoms. Lifestyle changes and dietary interventions can drastically control disease activity for those with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s Disease. But why are some people turning to an unproven, and even harmful, all-meat or carnivore diet?

The average person walks between 6,000 and 8,000 steps a day with each step absorbing two-to-three times their body weight — depending on your activity. Let’s face it — being sure-footed at any age can be a challenge, but you can take control by incorporating exercises to improve your balance and build strength in the intrinsic foot muscles. Dr. Benno M.

The reality of forced pregnancy and forced birth is only too real for many women. Even in countries like Canada where abortion is legal, accessibility to pregnancy termination is another issue. The United States reached a milestone on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023 when the Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of mifepristone, one of the pills required for a medical abortion, at pharmacies in the United States.

biceps curl, chest fly, chest press, chinup, crunch, intermediate workout, low row, lunge, mountain climbers, overhead squat, suspended single leg deadlift, tricep press, TRX, walking plank It is generally accepted that performing resistance training on a regular basis can help maintain and improve health, fitness, and quality of life. However, people often encounter obstacles to resistance training, such as time, space, equipment, and cost.

For over 20 years, Calgary’s Tracey Delfs, owner of BalanceQuest has been expanding and sharing her expertise as a sought-after speaker, mental wellness coach, mindfulness teacher, and yoga instructor. Her passion has allowed her to travel the world to learn from Thich Nhat Hanh, the “Father of Mindfulness” at his retreat centres in France and Germany. Tracey has helped people learn to live a calmer, more focused and happier life.