How is NIS different from Acupuncture or Neurofeedback?
I often get asked “how is NIS different from Acupuncture and/or Neurofeedback therapy?” However, to answer this question let’s first look at how each modality works. Acupuncture can be explained as “a technique for balancing the flow of energy — known as qi or chi...
Following the Clues
Many clients come in for a massage and wonder why we ask so many questions, or give a brief assessment before we begin treatment. As health professionals, we are trained sleuths. Our first priority is to figure out what underlying health conditions may be present. We...
Can you induce labor with Massage?
Can you induce labor with massage? I get asked this question pretty frequently. My answer? If I could I would be a millionaire! I know you can google a lot of ways to naturally induce Labor, and I’ve tried lots! (None of them worked until baby was ready!) I have...
How to Make Your Own ‘Bucket List’
How to Make Your Own ‘Bucket List’ In the hit movie The Bucket List, two terminally ill patients decide to go out in style after discovering they have only six months to live. To make the most of their remaining time, each patient creates a “bucket list” of things he...
The Healthy Way to Wear a Backpack
We all know that there is no school shopping trip that is complete without a new 🎒 however many kids are using and wearing their backpacks incorrectly. Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to make sure their 🎒 are right: Encourage light packing: Decide with...
We have exciting news to announce!
Hi, it’s Lisa Fershau here at New Leaf Massage and Wellness here in Abbotsford. “For all those wonderful patients who have been coming to see us over the last eight years that we’ve been in business, you’ll notice that the last four months have...
Tips to help you stick to your health and fitness goals!
Its January 4th how are those new year goals coming along? Maybe this year you feel like a “new you” after your commitment to these last four days. Maybe you feel motivated regardless of any foreseen challenges. Annnnnnnnd maybe your failing miserably. Regardless of...
How Your Diet Effects The Environment
Your diet has a huge impact on not only your health, but also on the planet. Here is some information on the connection between diet and climate change from ewg.org. Over a year: If you eat one less burger a week, it’s like taking your car off the road for 320 miles...
Seasonal Depression- S.A.D
What is S.A.D? Seasonal Depression, otherwise known as S.A.D- is defined as “a mood disorder subset in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms at the same time each year, most commonly in the...
Posture! Posture! Posture!
By now, we should all know about the ill effects of long hours sitting at a desk, or looking down at our cell phones and other tech devices. Unfortunately, many of us have been doing this since kindergarten, and the effects of poor posture only worsen overtime. Max...
“Really?! You can massage there?”
“Really? you can massage there?!” Massage therapy isn’t limited to just your back, neck and shoulders. Areas such as hands, feet, glutes, face and even inside your mouth can all be treated.Don’t be afraid or uncomfortable to talk about any area that you...
So what is Neurological Integration System anyways? (NIS)
I often get asked to explain NIS, and after 5 years of working as a NIS Practitioner, I have come up with this analogy. Think of your hard drive (brain) that is connected to your computer (body) by millions of tiny circuits. Now, enter a “virus” in one or...
Why can’t I sleep?
Why Can’t I stay asleep? Almost 75% of the patients who walk through my door with sleep-maintenance insomnia wake up around 1-3am. The most common reason for this is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Once the individual starts to eat a small protein snack before...
Plant those feet!
As we age, our feet and ankles lose muscle strength and proprioception (the ability to sense where we are spatially), which in turn affects our sense of balance. This loss of foot and ankle strength and proprioception begins to noticeably decline as early as our...
Tips for hiking this summer from your therapist
Tips for hiking this summer from your therapist : Brock Anderson With summer season arriving a bit early, I’m sure many who hike have already made some opportunities to do so. As the snow line starts to dissipate we open ourselves to higher altitudes, and with that,...
Spring time with: Essential Oils
It’s the time of year that all those with allergies have come to dread. Time to wake up and take a look out the window and see your beautiful sunny day filled with a snow like layer of cotton. So instead of deciding which Netflix tv show to binge watch in avoidance of...Meet the therapist! Alicia Willems
Hi! I’m Alicia, one of the several registered massage therapists at New Leaf Wellness. To give you a quick snapshot of who I am… – I love traveling! I am currently planning a trip to Portugal this summer and am still reminiscent of the memories I made from...Mothers Day – Gardening Tips to avoid injuries
To Mom: It’s that time of year again, time to start all that spring cleaning on top of your day to day cleaning. Asking your husband to mow the lawn and your children to pull the weeds doesn’t always go so well. Since you are such an accomplished, amazing, task...Epsom Salts 101
The First thing you need to know about Epsom salt is that it is made up of the chemical compound magnesium-sulfate. Magnesium is already part of our body’s natural chemical makeup and is required by the body to regulate more than 325 enzymes (proteins that help...
NIS Masters 2015: Exciting News!
In early November 2015 I had the privilege of attending the NIS Masters in Hawaii. It has been a professional goal of mine for over 4 years and it was well worth the wait! The NIS Masters far exceeded my expectations. After three very exciting and informative...
Be More Preventative this Cold/Flu Season!
Top 10 considerations for Cold/Flu Season! – By: Dr. Nicole Cerf BSc, ND We all know the saying ‘An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure’. Here are the top 10 considerations to protect against colds and flus this season! Sleep A lack of sleep impairs...
The Benefits Of A Multidisciplinary Clinic
The Benefits Of A Multidisciplinary Clinic There is a great benefit to using different therapies and modalities to treat an array of illnesses and injuries. Each therapy has unique effects on the body and, combined, they can improve your overall quality of health to...Why Water should be part of any Therapy / Fitness Program!
“Water Healing” has been used for centuries as a Therapy/Rehab tool. There are reasons for its success; – Helps lower Pain levels, by decreasing compression forces on the joints. – The Bouyancy effect helps decrease “Muscle...
What is Fascia?
Fascia is the soft-tissue component of the connective tissue system that permeates the human body. Thus, forming a continuous, whole-body, three-dimensional matrix of structural support. It interpenetrates and surrounds all organs, muscles, bones, and nerve fibers,...
A Case Study – Supraspinatus Tendinitis
Throughout schooling to become a registered massage therapist, we had to conduct a case study. With this case study, we had to find a patient with a condition or injury that could potentially be treated with the use of massage therapy techniques. Over a period of...
Magnesium and Stress
One of the questions you will be asked when seeing a Naturopathic Doctor is about your stress levels. Why would your doctor ask you about your stress? One of the reasons is because stress has a massive impact on health and plays a direct role in how the body...
“Healthy” Ice Cream
Here at New leaf wellness we believe in maintaining over-all wellness in your life. This includes physical body condition, stress levels, and diet, all which can be maintained by living a healthy, balanced life. While a healthy diet is important, it is also essential...
Pregnancy Massage: What to Expect
At New Leaf Wellness Centre, we feel privileged to be a resource and a comforting, therapeutic presence for you and your family. Along with chiropractic, acupuncture and naturopathic care, or strength training with our rehabilitation team, pregnancy massage can be an...