Victoria is all about welcoming cyclists to our bike friendly city.

The Victoria International Cycling Festival is on – are you going to go out and getting fit? Better yet, are you going to invite your cyclist friends from all over the world to come to Victoria and experience our slice of cycling heaven?

From June 1-24, cyclists are gathering in Victoria BC “Canada’s fittest city” (and one of the most bike-friendly communities in North America) to enjoy dozens of different cycling event and activities as part of the Victoria International Cycling Festival.

The grand finale of the festival on June 23 and 24 will include the Ryder Hesjedal Tour de Victoria, a world class, fully supported mass participation road cycling event. This unique Victoria bike tour offers all levels of cyclist the same cycling experience that Tour de France heroes like Ryder Hesjedal get to experience.

Over 2,000 cyclists who will participate in the Tour de Victoria along the amazing cycling roads of Greater Victoria, and offers three distances: 50km, 100km and 140km rides.

The Family Bike Festival will conclude with a bike rodeo, a Classic Bike Rally, and Theatre SKAM’s annual summer project Bike Ride; an outdoor live performance festival event that is suitable for the family, featuring a series of short shows presented along a 4km stretch of the Galloping Goose Trail. Audiences ride bikes from show to show. The Bike Ride will take place on June 16,17, 23, 24th.

But why Victoria?

Victoria is an urban oasis surrounded by ocean waters and mountainous wilderness, while the mildest weather in Canada allows riders to enjoy the trails year round – no wonder Victoria boasts more cyclists per capita than any other city.

Are you ready to improve your wellness, and explore the many cycling trails from your hotel in Victoria?

Try cycling the Seaside Touring Route – a popular 40 kilometer loop that starts from Victoria’s tiny rail station, and heads along the city’s inner harbour waterfront. The route hugs the coastline of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, continuing past one beautiful sight after another. The route connects with the Lochside Trail at kilometre 29, and heads back towards downtown Victoria, where riders can stop for a post-ride refreshment before returning to their hotels in Victoria.

How about the famous Galloping Goose Trail, one of the most picturesque trail systems in Canada? Named after the gawky and noisy gas rail-car which carried passengers between Victoria and Sooke in the 1920s, this is one of the most stunning of all the Victoria bike tours, with amazing scenery and an option for a swim at Matheson Lake.

Thinking of your fellow cycling aficionados to Victoria? We’re so health conscious here we even have a bike friendly hotel in Victoria – Accent Inns.

How many hotels have you stayed at that invite you to store your bike(s) in your room? Now that’s a bike friendly hotel. Every Accent Inns location offers “Bike Love” – a bicycle wash and tuning station, rags available for cleaning and drying your bike, an advanced mechanic tool kit available for your use, and on-site laundry rooms available when our guests come home after that muddy ride.

The Accent Inns Hotel in Victoria is all about welcoming cyclists to our bike friendly city. Hopefully they’ll take some of our cycling culture back with them to wherever they’re from, to help make the world a greener and healthier place.

– John Espley, an avid cyclist, and Business Development Manager for Accent Inns

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Seasonal Allergies and Acupuncture | acupuncture victoria bc

allergiesSeasonal Allergies and Acupuncture | acupuncture victoria bc   –  written by Victoria Spaurel R.Ac.

Acupuncture is an effective option for allergy symptom control. Although it does not, in my experience, stop symptoms from returning the following year, it does reduce the body’s reactivity, leaving you less dependent on medications, and able to enjoy your spring and summer more.

My treatments allow patients who normally live on anti-histamines all season long the ability to go off them if acupuncture is administered regularly during the season when they are affected. Typically treatments begin with the onset of symptoms and are repeated once per week for 3 weeks, then once every two weeks for the remainder of the season.

Once symptoms are under control patients report improved energy and less reactivity to pollens. In part it is because they no longer require energy sapping anti-histamines to function, but also because their immune system is no longer using up so much energy to react.

An additional benefit to acupuncture for hay fever is that it helps prevent all the secondary infections allergy sufferers are prone to – such as colds, conjunctivitis, or chronic sinusitis.

With the allergy season getting started, consider acupuncture. It is a safe, natural and drug-free method of effectively addressing seasonal allergy symptoms.

– Victoria Spaurel is a registered Acupuncturist having graduated from the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Victoria BC in 2005.  At Diversified Health, Victoria has had tremendous success assisting patients to reach their health goals. She uses a narrative approach to patient interviews, which helps build trust and enriches her understanding of the concerns at hand. Treatments are always designed and paced to suit her patients.

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More golf play, means more swings, and more injuries!

Are you ready for some spring golf?  Time to dust off your golf clubs, clean out your golf bag, and tee it up!  As most golf injuries are due to overuse, proper warmup is essential for peak performance.

Here are some of the most common golfing injuries:

Low Back Pain

The rotational stresses of the back swing can place a tremendous amount of pressure or strain on the spine, discs and muscles of the lower back.  Because the swing is one direction, overtime  this can lead to more serious problems of sciatica (pain down the leg) , disc  injuries, and degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis.

Regular chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression,and  myofascial release  are all treatments that work well to stabilize the lower back and maintain a healthy spine and allow pain free range of motion.

Golfer’s Elbow

This injury also known as medial epicondylitis  occurs when there is inflammation of the tendons on the inside of your elbow.  Repetitive motion leads to pain and point  tenderness at the elbow, and pain when striking the ball.  Strengthening and stretching the forearm muscles, and slowing down your swing can help take some of the strain away.  Try squeezing a tennis ball, or doing simple wrist curls and reverse wrist curls with a small hand weight.  Shockwave and myofascial release are treatments that are fast and effective in helping heal up the tissues in that area.

Bursitis

Bursitis is a common injury in the elbow as well as the shoulder.  The bursa is a fluid filled sac that acts as a cushion between the bone and skin.  With overuse, it can become inflamed and swell, making range of motion very painful. RICE, rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation is a common the treatment for bursitis, as well as lase r and ultrasound to decrease the inflammation.  Many people get bursitis and tendonitis mixed up and are unsure of the diagnosis.  Dr. Crowle can evaluate the area and effective come up with a treatment plan for you.

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

The shoulder is often affected in golf.  People often experience pain when the arm is lifted away and overhead.  Overtime  tendonitis at the shoulder can make regular golfing very difficult.  Some people with chronic shoulder issues develop Frozen Shoulder, where their range of motion is very painful and they are not able to lift their arm in the full range of motion above their head.  Frozen shoulder is a long process and can take up to a year to regain full range of motion. Chiropractic adjustments, Shockwave and moyofascial release are all affective  in relieving pain, and helping you to continue golfing as you are healing .

Other Repetitive Injuries

Many golfers experience knee  pain due to the twisting of the swing, and the sideways force at the knee.  Meniscus injuries, as well as osteoarthritis over time can cause problems  in the knees.

Carpal Tunnel  is inflammation of the nerves and soft tissue of the wrist and  Dequervain’s tendonitis of the base of the the thumb are also prominent injuries in golf.

Tips on how to prevent these types of injuries:

Get to the course early. You need enough time to take care of your business in the golf shop, use the restroom, change your shoes, etc.  Remember, your warmup routine sets the tempo for the day, so move slowly and relax.

Begin warming up on the putting green. Putting is 40-percent of golf and the putting stroke is the slowest and smoothest of all strokes in golf, and then spend the next 10 minutes hitting chips around the green with a tee as a target.

Begin your full swing warmup with stretching. Stretching can improve your range of motion and light calisthenics such as jogging or jumping jacks will help get the body prepared.  Use your club to stretch your arms, shoulders and spine side to side and twisting.

Keep hydrated (water) on the course, and don’t ignore the early warning signs of pain and tenderness in these areas of your body.  Overtime they can get worse and become chronic issues, and lead to arthritis and degeneration.  Remember if you fail to warm up properly you are setting yourself up to fail when you play.

Having regular chiropractic adjustments and assessing the spine and extremities for weakness and imbalances can keep golfers injury free and back in the game.

Guest Article

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Have you ever sat in a medical clinic, and felt nervous, sleepy, or depressed?

Have you ever sat in a medical clinic, and felt nervous, sleepy, or just plain depressed? Drab colours, no plants, and stagnant air that can make a setting feel dead.

Diversified Health Clinic

Recently I had the opportunity to step into the inviting space at Diversified Health Clinic. What caught my eye? Well, I had seen their website about a week prior to my visit, and was curious about the unique curved wooden “ceiling-wall” structure which graces the reception area. I was given a tour of the office, and was impressed with the fact that the entire clinic is built with eco-friendly materials. There’s even a wall portion comprised entirely of plants!

As a mental health therapist, I am acutely aware of the mind-body connection. In my own office I have added cheery colours, living plants, shells, and soft lighting. Comfortable seating and nurturing art complete the picture. It’s hard to imagine a client being able to relax and share their feelings in a sterile, cold environment. Similarly, a person needs to be able to feel comfortable when receiving any kind of physical treatment – whether it’s massage, chiropractic treatments, physiotherapy, or acupuncture.

Besides creating a welcoming environment – what else can a practitioner do to reduce a client’s anxiety or trepidation about seeking help? I encourage my clients to do some simple meditation exercises. These can be as short as 10 minutes, and often involve a focus on the breath. Brain science is just beginning to catch up with what Tibetan monks have known for eleven centuries. The latest scans of the brain indicate that meditation helps aid communication between the amygdala (which alerts us to perceived danger) and the prefrontal cortex (which thinks it over and decides what to do). When that communication is enhanced, we are able to calm ourselves, and are much better able to handle stress of any kind. In addition, the ability to self-soothe is considered by many marriage counsellors to be one of the best indicators of a successful relationship.

Today I listened to Sharon Begley, Wall Street Journal science writer, describe how we are coming to a new understanding of our capability for change – real and lasting change to “deep-seated emotional, cognitive and behavioral problems.” There is also hope for people affected by stroke, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and age-related changes. We are living in exciting times indeed!

Caron Smith is a counsellor in Victoria, B.C. She provides services to individuals and couples.  She can be reached through her website Smith Counselling or by phone at 250-885-1610.

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