health and the holidays

Stress - Perception or science

Life is about balance. We provide you with strategies for a lifelong commitment to strength and well-being in all areas of your life. 

Lifestyle

Everyone knows the holidays can be stressful. But it’s not just the effort to stay on budget or the dinnertime antics of your oddball uncle that make this time of year challenging. Healthy eating can take a nosedive at this time of year, too. End your year on a high with proactive measures to avoid getting caught in the food trap.

Natural is the way. We bring you credible approaches to preventative health, holistic treatments, and supportive supplements.

Health

Can the waves of sound therapy help “rock” you to better sleep? Research and centuries of experience tell us the answer is a resounding yes. Here, discover the science of sound therapy and learn how you can get started.

Sound therapy for sleep management

So much more than exercise and diet, wellness in the Indigenous worldview is a celebration of spirit, mind, and body, and a way to stay connected to the earth and to each other. Learn more about how we all might live in harmony with the environment, with each other, and with ourselves.

Indigenous wellness rituals

Smartphone production and infrastructure, along with our tendency to upgrade our devices every couple of years, are threatening the planet. Read on to learn more about the problem and what you can do to help minimize it.

Environmental toll of cell phones

Protect our planet better. Sustainability is the foundation of natural health. We teach you how to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle, one step at a time, because a healthier planet means a healthier you.

Sustainability

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Gardener,With,Organic,Fresh,Agricultural,Product

Tattooed,Hands,Holding,Vegetables,Cooking,In,The,Kitchen

Charcoal,Black,Bun,Burger,Served,For,Dinner

Vegan,Tortilla,Wrap,,Roll,With,Grilled,Vegetabes,And,Lentil,And

Homemade,Vegan,Pulled,Jackfruit,Bbq,Sandwich,With,Coleslaw,And,Chips

Relaxed,Outdoor,Garden,Party.,Buffet,Table,With,Organic,Tapas.,Fresh

Woman,Chooses,Fruits,And,Vegetables,At,Farmers,Market.,Zero,Waste,

Freezer,Food,Prepare,In,Process,Vegan,Winter,Salad,By,Chef

A,Young,Woman,Drinks,Green,Smoothies,And,Eats,A,Burger

Beautiful,Woman,Buying,Kale,At,A,Farmers,Market

Woman,Doing,Handstands,And,Looking,Over,The,Black,Canyon,Of

Back,Of,Girl,Doing,Yoga,Pose,On,Edge,Of,Cliff

Group,Of,Diverse,Young,Sporty,People,Practicing,Yoga,Lesson,Doing

Young,Woman,Doing,Yoga,At,Sunset

Blonde,Young,Woman,Doing,Yoga,On,The,Beach.,Girl,In

Group,Of,People,Standing,And,Doing,Yoga,Exercises,Barefoot,In

Young,Woman,Practicing,Yoga,On,A,Rocky,Island,During,A

Yong,Women,In,Olive,Field,Meditating,Toward,The,Sea,On

Tropical,Open,Yoga,Studio,Place,With,People,And,A,View

Young,Woman,Sitting,And,Meditating,On,Sledge,Looking,At,Sunrise

Young,Fitness,Woman,Meditating,On,Sunrise,Mountain,Peak

Many people grow up without life skills that are not only practical but also important for sustainable living. If we know how to repair a hole in a sweater, we won’t toss it in the landfill. If we know how to preserve some bruised fruit, we won’t trash it. Relearn forgotten life skills; everyone will benefit.

Building ancestral skills

COVID has served as a wake&#x2d;up call for Canadians about the conditions older adults have been facing. But they don’t have to face their battles alone. There are myriad ways we can show up for our seniors, whether through volunteering or by supporting those in our community.

kind is beautiful

Take time in your mornings with a routine designed especially for you that will help support your mental health and make every day a little better. Try these seven steps that will help you make the most out of every morning.

Turkey Enchilada Stuffed Poblano Peppers

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Crispy Breaded Sauerkraut Balls with Tempeh, Chia, and Mushrooms

Crab Cap Salad

Freekeh Medley Stuffed Eggplant

Midlife no crisis

Dunkel Beer-Marinated Rotisserie-Style Chicken

Sausage-Rice Stuffed Chard with Walnut Sauce

Curried Lentil Stuffed Squash

Gluten-Free Pretzels

Tofu Schnitzel with Noodles

Bean Stuffed Zucchini with Cheesy Sauce

Vegan Bratwurst-Style Sausages with White Beans and Walnuts_BOW6102-2

nectar yoga

Kartoffelkno╠êdel Potato Dumplings Stuffed with Toasted Bread and Spinach

Glucosamine

Design your life

Bones, muscles, and joints

Active Aging

stuffed veggies_lead

Finding time to unwind is important to achieving balance. Short getaways, somewhere local, can be a great way to find some downtime when you don’t have a lot of time. We chose a short retreat to BC’s Nectar Yoga for some inner connection and outer exploration. Find out why vacationing close to home could be just what you need.

Is midlife malaise dragging you down? You’re not alone. Read on for ways of navigating midlife slumps with a positive attitude toward your past and future and enthusiastic engagement in the present.

Calendar_12 Months of Wellness_October

october 12mw

Getting your garden ready for winter is an important step that many dismiss. By preparing for colder weather, you’ll keep your garden thriving into next year.

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A,Gardener,Picks,Up,Weeds,From,The,Garden,With,A

Expert,Hand,Of,Farmer,Checking,Soil,Health,Before,Growth,A

Close,Up,Of,Man's,Hands,Collecting,A,Pile,Of,Yellow

Using,A,Pitchfork,To,Add,Wood,Chips,And,Shredded,Brush

Garden,Equipment,Hanging,On,The,Wall

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Garden,In,Winter

Getting old doesn’t have to mean growing slow or falling ill. Active aging invites us to rethink each decade and experience the many aging&#x2d;related benefits that come with physical exercise.

Bioplastics are touted as a solution to the deadly problems associated with conventional plastics. But most of these apparently “eco&#x2d;friendly” alternatives come with complications of their own. Read about different types of bioplastics and the ways some experts are navigating our plastics problem.

Bioplastics - Burt

Caramelized Fennel and Yogurt Dip

cold and flu - Duvauchelle

Colours of health recipes - Moneta

Maple Butternut Apple Salad with Granola Croutons

Next level sustainability - Curman

Seed sovereignty - Skrypnek

Stress Hormones & Skin - Irwin

Tempeh and Mango Curry

Omelette Stuffed Peppers

Balance when trying for a baby - Payne

Alive & Carbon Neutral - Peternell

Breakfast for dinner - Kadey

Purple Cabbage and Apple Soup

Scrambled Nachos

Turkey Pancakes with Berry Sauce

Seasonal living - Payne

Oat Sweet Potato Chili

Orange Carrot Cake

Herb and Greens Frittata

Halibut Poached in Tomato Red Pepper Sauce

For people struggling with the heartbreaking challenge of infertility, IVF can offer hope for a healthy pregnancy and baby. However, undergoing IVF is also a stressful and demanding time: physically, mentally, and emotionally. During this time, many people look to holistic health practices as a complement to IVF.

If we want a food system that’s clean, fair, and sustainable, then we can’t leave seeds out of it. Learn the surprising, often&#x2d;forgotten importance of these little carriers of life, along with ways you can exercise seed sovereignty yourself.

Depression can happen to anyone, at any age or stage of life. If you’re battling depression, these 10 everyday strategies could help.

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Young,Couple,Receiving,Head,Massage,At,Beauty,Spa

Close,Up,Vitamin,D,And,Omega,3,Fish,Oil,Capsules

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Serene,Calm,African,American,Woman,Sleeping,In,Comfortable,Bed,Lying

While the exact causes of hypertension are unknown, there are things you can do to help lower your blood pressure if it’s high. Check out these 10 factors that contribute to high blood pressure.

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Young,Tired,Single,Mother,Suffers,From,Headache,Closed,Eyes,Touch

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Our indoor environments mean that we can accidentally forget about what’s happening in nature. The less we interact with the natural world, the more disconnected we can feel. Seasonal living offers a way to rekindle our relationships with nature. In the process, we can uncover the joy and beauty in the natural world hidden in plain sight all around us.

12mw september

Like adults, Canadian children and youth have reckoned with the effects of the pandemic. Despite these challenges, many have shown incredible resilience. Here, we showcase youth who’ve adapted to the pandemic while creating opportunities for themselves, and others, in the entrepreneurial and volunteer worlds.

unstoppable youth (Lane)

Shifting into a low&#x2d;waste lifestyle with kids is easier than you think! With one step at a time, you can simplify your life, make less trash, and connect more with each other in a way that is sustainable for both your family and the planet.

Family life and sustainability (Robertson-barnes)

Lifestyle

Ways to Conquer and Rise Above Stress During the Holidays

Avoid Seasonal Stress-Based Eating

A Sound Way to Get Your Zzz’s

How Indigenous Wellness Rituals Challenge Western Views of Health

No App for This

The Most Vegan and Vegetarian-Friendly Cities in the U.S.

The Best Places to Practice Yoga in the US and Beyond

Skill Building for Sustainability and Resilience

Kind Is Beautiful

Take Back Your Mornings

Finding “Home” Close to Home

What Crisis?

alive's October 2021 Challenge: Make Time for Self-Care

7 Ways to Get Your Garden Ready for Winter

Active Aging for a Stronger Future

Is Bioplastic Better? Pros and Cons of These “Eco-Friendly” Alternatives

Balancing Out

Exercising Your Seed Sovereignty for a Better Food System

Everyday Strategies to Help Treat Depression

10 Causes of Hypertension

How to Reconnect with Nature Through Seasonal Living

alive's September 2021 Challenge: Shop Local

Unstoppable Youth

Slow, Simple, and Sustainable