Let’s Talk Wellness and Collaborative Empowerment

Out of the fire, there is always rain. That little reprieve, the light at the end of the tunnel. If this last week (which has actually felt like a full month), has taught us anything, it’s that we don’t need to wait until the end to see the light, because if you open your eyes wide enough, there are little glimmers all along. In this case? It’s how our communities have come together to support each other, and especially, support small businesses. At one point, we were a small business. We know the pains, the rocky roads, but we can’t imagine the hardships today’s small business owners are experiencing through COVID-19. That’s why we wanted to share some of our team’s go-to small businesses, to inspire you to check them out and support where you can (order take out, donate for online classes, order your skin-care products - anything counts!) FOOD: If you’re thinking of getting takeout one night, try to support your favourite local spot! We’ve got a few of ours here, along with places for grocery pickup/delivery: Kokomo serves up plant-based bowls that you can order for delivery. We had a chance to chat with Katie Ruddell, founder of Kokomo in Vancouver, on the Enhanced Life a few months ago! Tractor offers pickup or delivery service available in Vancouver & Toronto. Get your fix of healthy foods, including anything from customizable bowls, salads and sandwiches. Greenhouse Juice is located in Toronto & Vancouver. We chatted with co-founder, Hanna James all about sustainability & their mission on The Enhanced Life. Fresh Prep provides meal delivery service in Vancouver. CSA Boxes provide boxes of local, seasonal produce picked by your farmer and delivered to a drop off location on a weekly basis. Unboxed Market supplies zero-waste options in Toronto. The Big Carrot is applying senior shopping hours for healthy, natural goods. Nada Grocery or Soap Dispensary provide no waste groceries and goods in Vancouver. SPUD.ca delivers organic groceries in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto TruLocal delivers free-range, organic and local meat delivery in B.C., Alberta and Ontario Blush Lane is a prime option for organic groceries in Calgary EDUCATION: Keep your children (and even yourself) busy with free educational resources online. While many of these are not “small businesses” these services are provided free-of-charge to give you support at home. Great Schools has resources to keep your kids learning (and give you some extra alone-time). Audible is providing free online resources for stories and books for children while schools are closed. Vancouver Aquarium let’s explore underwater life with their Live Cams. Coursera is providing free university-level courses; you can also receive a diploma or certificate, depending on the course! Scholastic Books has created online learning for kids from kindergarten to grade 12. FITNESS: The fitness community has really been showing up online. This is also the perfect time to explore some fitness routines and instructors you may have been eyeing. If you have the means, consider shooting your favourite studio a message to see if you can donate to an instructor or the studio: Ride Cycle Club has created off-the bike training, and is renting out their bikes! Lagree West is providing free IG live and IG TV workouts, for free or by-donation. Tight Club is providing free IG workouts. Turf is doing virtual fitness classes 3 days per week. You can purchase the equipment in-studio. Yyoga is hosting a 30-day at-home yoga challenge, as well as a discounted 5-class pass with proceeds going to their team! Spin Society/Hustle is hosting daily IG live workouts. You can also purchase gift cards with 100% of the proceeds going to instructors. Yoga Nova is a Calgary studio hosting online yoga classes daily. Solis Movement is a Toronto-based pilates and yoga studio offering classes through Instagram! Pure Yoga in Ottawa is offering virtual classes for those wanting to keep up their practice. EVERYTHING ELSE: Fig Face is delivering its high-quality, natural skincare right to your door! Spirit distilleries (like Spirit of York) in Toronto is now producing hand sanitizer to support the increased demand. North Medical in Toronto is offering delivery for all of your skincare needs. Queen’s Books in Toronto provides books online! Finally, thank you to everyone who has been practicing safe social distancing and self-isolation over the last few weeks, and to those who are unable to due to work or other circumstances - we see you too! When everyone does their part, we all thrive!

Why does going to the grocery store have to feel like you just blew through your life savings after leaving the checkout? Okay, I may have exaggerated a bit, but the cost of food is on the rise and has not slowed down for some time now. The struggle is real some days, especially when you see organic kale at $5.00 a bunch, versus a cheesy pasta meal from a box for 79 cents. Why does the cost of healthy, clean food continue to be outside the reach of our budgets? There are many answers to that question and without getting too political, I am instead going to give you a different perspective on the topic. Hopefully, it will help some of the concerns you face when choosing quality food for yourself and family. Learn where your food comes from Shopping can be fun instead of viewed as a chore. One of my favourite Sunday activities is visiting the local markets in the city and talking to vendors. This gets me outside, walking around and meeting new people. It is a cost-effective activity that is good for both your physical and mental health. Talking to food vendors at markets gives you a great opportunity to learn things such as where your food comes from, the story behind the farm, and the measures they take in growing and preparing the food. For example, not all farmers pay for the ‘organic’ label that you see on food packaging. If they are choosing not to pay for the label, they still may grow crops and animals with very little, if not zero, harmful fertilizers, antibiotics or sprays. Cost-wise, many farmer’s market finds are below supermarket prices because the cost of the middleman distributor is not part of the equation, and they have not paid a ton for an organic label. Help your wallet - and the planet! Before you head out to shop, have a grocery list ready and meal plans in mind. The National Post published last July that the average Canadian household throws away 140kg of food waste annually; that is $1,100 in food cost! OUCH! Not only is it hurting our wallets, but this action also hurts our environment. Food gets thrown out along with packaging. We also cannot forget the cost and effort it takes to get the food to the stores. Other than a grocery list, there are a few other things you can do to help avoid this waste. Save it for later If fruits and vegetables start to turn, instead of throwing them out consider putting them in the freezer for a future meal. Spinach, avocado and bananas are great frozen foods to throw in a smoothie at a later date. Kale, potatoes and carrots are something you can add to a stew in the future. So often, life gets busy and the thought of eating out or ordering in might seem like a good break from more work. If we are concerned about the cost of food, then eating out often is where this will really add up fast. This is a tough one, but there are ways around it. Make a plan to eat in and stick to it When preparing food or meals, double or even triple the recipe if it can be eaten as leftovers, or frozen in portions for the future. This can be used as next day lunches or in stews and soups at a later date. Another idea to help with this is to have food prepped and ready to go in the fridge. By this, I mean having fruits and vegetables washed and chopped. Having hard-boiled eggs prepared for work as a snack or a meal and are great to have on hand. Food prepping will be a chore you will have to do after a grocery shop, but it will save time in the future, especially if you tend to often be rushed and busy. Making a meal plan and sticking to it will take some work and dedication, but in the end, our health and wallets will be happy. Eat well, laugh a lot and take care. Amy Wilson

Immunity: noun 1 : having a high degree of resistance to an illness or disease. 2 : of, relating to, or involving the body's immune system and immune response. 3 : not influenced or affected by something. As human beings - especially Indigenous people - we have a history of survival within us. Our bodies are literally always fighting for our survival, no matter what food we eat, what we drink or what we do the night before. Our bodies will continue to fight for our survival. Indigenous people have been fighting off diseases for centuries. We have an inherent thread of resilience, adaptability and wisdom - and after going through this pandemic, so do each and every one of us. That is what makes 2020 such a catalyst of a year. It has now become apparent more than ever that we need one another for our survival AND for our thriving. Our actions have a direct effect on one another. We are advised to wear a mask to keep each other, especially our elders safe, and to stand six feet apart. We are all connected - and yet the virus has us thinking we are not. We may be apart physically - however, it is vital that we stay connected emotionally, mentally and spiritually. What Ancient Knowledge Can Teach Us In times like this, I return to teachings that remind me how to walk this earth in balance and in harmony. There is an Indigenous teaching of the Medicine Wheel - each nation/tribe has their own version of it and the teachings may slightly differ, but the foundation stays the same. The Medicine Wheel is a circle that represents the interconnectedness of everyone and everything. It is divided into four sections - four to represent the four races, the four seasons, the four directions and the four aspects to our wellbeing. In order to be balanced within life - you need to be balanced within your Medicine Wheel. When I studied yoga, I realized that yoga cultivates the same thing through balance and harmony of the mind, body and spirit connection. The Way Forward It is a reclamation and a revival of ancient wisdom and teachings that will lead us forward. We must become immune to the virus within humanity, and that is separation. Separation from each other, but also within ourselves. We must come into balance and harmony through a set of rituals, and ask for continued guidance from forces we may not be able to see, but are guiding us every day. How can you seek to understand our past, the wisdom that pours through the present and the knowledge that has the ability to shape and transform our future? Intentions are one thing - however, it is the impact and action that we take individually that will mold a sustainable future for all. Finding Balance Through Rituals A set of rituals that I have been using throughout this pandemic are... Meditation and Sound Therapy Offerings to the Creator/Nature Talking to and asking my ancestors for guidance through my dreams and visions Finding gratitude for my health - emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being Amplifying the use of herbs and supplements. Some of my go-to's are: Sweetgrass Oregano oil Immune support mushrooms Organika Bee Propolis, Vitamin C and Collagen on the go when travelling! What are some of the rituals you have begun to introduce in your life or would like to?