Woodford Files

There’s considerable interest these days in how to wring the most value from our household budgets. At the very least, we’re re-evaluating our priorities in terms of what is essential and what is not. Even for those of us with great jobs, it’s an interesting exercise in revisiting our values.

So a relevant question might be – what do I most need to nourish my wellbeing, stand strong, and turbocharge my energy in these challenging times? Everyone has different answers to this question. For me, the essentials include yoga, organic food, favourite supplements, acupuncture, and long walks in the fresh air. For others it might be bodywork, psychotherapy, self development courses, or anti-aging skin care.

On the flip side – what are the non-essentials that one might do without for awhile? I’ve given up convenience food (no more french fries on the run), cable TV (I get 6 great channels for free on my old TV with rabbit ears, including CBC and TVO), and the prospect of a new car.

Julie Daniluk, on the other hand, sold her car outright in order to free up cash to indulge her passion for organics. In this issue, she shows us how to stretch our food shopping dollars and “Dine Well on a Shoestring”. There are some great ideas in her feature, several of which require cooking at home, so practising your kitchen prowess may be one of your best recession-busting strategies.

Overall, there’s no question that investing time and money in a healthy lifestyle brings big payoffs – more energy to follow your dreams, more stamina to stick to your goals, and more joy to share with your loved ones. By taking care of yourself, you’re also taking care that everyone in your circle gets your best. And considering the turbulence of the times, this may be a period when friends, co-workers and family most need you to be at your best, with a strong and stable foundation that is unruffled by the winds of change.

Speaking of a strong foundation, Susannah Kent’s feature called “Strengthen Your Core” shares some terrific yoga routines for toning and strengthening key muscles that form the very core of your body. They’re easy to practice at home, and if you decide to take on a more challenging routine you can sign up with any of the yoga studios named at the end of the article. Kent reminds us that increased physical strength brings increased confidence, mobility, and fat-burning power.

And there’s lots more great material in this issue, from Dr. Rona’s provocative story on “Drugs You Don’t Need” to Dawn Aaron’s look at Chinese Medicine for Menopause.

By the way, if you find that all the media chatter about the economy starts to get you down, just take a deep breath and remember these words from a wise old Chinese sage: “Every day spent above ground is a good day.”

This issue is dedicated to Gerry Shepherd and Jim Murray, two remarkable people whose good days ended in February.     

Julia Woodford, Editor