MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Winter 2021

62 words :: Molly Hurford Some good news: It’s easier than ever to get healthy from the comfort of your own home while supporting local businesses. So even if you’re not about to head into a restaurant or yoga studio anytime soon, there are plenty of options. Here we explore what you can do to boost your immunity while crushing your sporting goals. SIX FOCUSED BREATHS: MEDITATION “You know that feeling you get when you’re driving into Collingwood for a weekend and your shoulders soften and you’re just breathing a little easier? That’s what meditation can do for you all the time,” says Amie Young, owner of the Sanctuari in Collingwood. Her studio offers everything from meditation classes online and in real life to reiki, sound baths, yoga nidra and chakra work, but she says meditation can be quick and simple. “You don’t have to have a certain experience or knowledge to be a super-spiritual being or to get a benefit from meditation,” she adds. “If you can just sit and take six focused breaths, you can shift your whole day. Notice what happens as you’re sitting or standing or lying there. Feel the breath come into the body, and maybe put a hand where that breath feels like it’s landing. Breathe into the space between your hands. It really helps boost awareness and helps you breathe more deeply.” OIL CHANGE & TUNEUP: MASSAGE THERAPY Massage can help you locate tight or sore spots that you may have missed otherwise, explains registered massage therapist Gavin Buehler, co-owner of Fox Integrated Therapy in Collingwood. It can also increase circulation and relax the central nervous system, which is more important than ever right now. He recommends massage therapy monthly—“It’s like an oil change and tuneup for your body.” Or more often if you’re working through an injury. If you prefer the do-it-yourself route, keep it light. “Many people try to fix tight spots or injuries by hitting the foam roller really hard, and then doing it again a few hours later,” he explains. “But that doesn’t give your body time to heal—it’s so easy to overdo.” He likes using lacrosse balls as self-massage tools to (gently) get into smaller areas and target specific muscles. “You can also gently do a light full-body foam roll session to increase circulation, which is fantastic,” he adds. EAT THE RAINBOW: VEGGIE-PACKED MEALS Research has shown that a diet rich in leafy greens and a full rainbow of colours can boost immunity and energy, thanks to all of the micronutrients and prebiotic-rich fibre that feeds good gut bacteria. That’s a big reason Karla Findlay created the Market Made Lunch Club, which offers four plant-based lunch options and delivers the chosen two to your door in Collingwood every other Tuesday. She’s also a fan of making a big pot of vegetable-packed soup for easy lunches all week. “Salads can be boring, and they can be really unsatisfying,” she adds. “I like to always have a bean, lentil or grain like quinoa to fill you up. I don’t stick to the usual lettuce; I add different greens. And I also really love roasting vegetables and putting those in my salad.” WELLNESS CRUSHING BUGS AND SLOPES THIS WINTER Staying fit, healthy and close to home