As we approach Mother’s Day – and every day – women and girls of all cultures, socio-economic and backgrounds are encouraged to make the time to stop and focus on your health and wellbeing. Find out how the advertisers in this special feature can help you.
Happy Fit Footwear: Put your best feet forward
Did you know, the average person will walk about 104,400 km in a lifetime? That’s the equivalent to travelling nearly three times around the world! Are you giving your feet the attention they deserve? Or are you, like so many of us, compromising your foot health in the name of style and fashion?
Wearing high heels or pointed toe footwear consistently, can cause deformities such as clawed toes, bunions, corns and ingrown toenails. And it’s not only our feet that suffer: our ankles, knees, hips, and backs can also be strained by gait and postural changes.
The effects of high heeled shoes are proportional to heel height. Wearing heels increases the pressure through the balls of the feet, causing pain and injury to the area. High heels also decrease the angle of your lumbar spine, causing a more unstable posture, increased compression of the lumbar vertebrae, and muscle strain. These effects are compounded by repeated use of high heels, and heel heights greater than 7cm.
At Happy Fit Footwear, we are making it easier for women to make healthy choices. Our range of stylish, podiatrist-approved footwear will challenge your expectations of what comfort looks like. Granny shoes are so last year! And even Granny likes a bit of style … and why shouldn’t she? We believe that to truly feel your most comfortable, you must also love the way you look.
If you do choose to wear high heels, try to limit yourself to 4cm. Take time to stretch your calves to avoid permanent adaptive shortening of these important muscles. Try to mix your footwear up throughout the week to allow your body time to recover. Plan your outfit around your shoes … if you expect to be on your feet a lot, or doing a lot of walking, opt for a brogue or loafer style. Or why not capitalise on the growing trend for army style boots or the white sneaker look. Remember, feet are for life, and you only get one pair!
COMING SOON: HAPPY FIT FOOTWEAR, MANUKA!
It is our mission at Happy Fit Footwear to make it easier for people to access quality, stylish, supportive footwear. Many of our styles are orthotic friendly, and we also carry a diverse range of sizes and width fittings for difficult-to-fit feet.
We are Canberra’s largest supplier of podiatrist-approved footwear, and in spring, we will be opening a second store location in Manuka. Although we do have our online store, we know how much you value the quality fitting service provided by our friendly and knowledgeable staff, and we hope our second store will make us more accessible to people living outside of the Tuggeranong Valley.
- Jane Earl, Podiatrist, ACT Podiatry and Director, Happy Fit Footwear
Empowering women through life-changing treatments
Femme Aesthetics by the R Clinic is on a mission to help women in the ACT with their concerns and to remove the stigma around women’s health.
The team from Femme Aesthetics is dedicated to breaking down the social barriers surrounding women’s health and assisting women with their intimate health matters.
In this Q&A, we look at the clinic’s philosophy and the importance of what EmpowerRF treatments can bring in improving overall women’s health.
Q: What is your philosophy on women’s health?
A: We believe strongly that addressing the health of women’s intimacy is an important part of improving overall women’s health. The issues with women’s intimacy and health have been long-neglected and often have negative impacts on women’s physical and mental health. There are technological advances to help women with these issues around the world. Femme Aesthetics by the R Clinic is the first to bring the latest technology, EmpowerRF, to women in the ACT and surrounds.
Q: What are EmpowerRF treatments?
A: EmpowerRF treatments are a comprehensive non-surgical women’s wellness platform that delivers life-changing treatments with new multi-functional, radiofrequency-based technology. They are completely customisable with layered procedures to address a broad range of feminine conditions. The treatments are performed in-office with no surgery.
Q: Why are EmpowerRF treatments important for women’s health?
A: EmpowerRF treatments can address different women’s health concerns, such as sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, pelvic floor weakness, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, vulvar atrophy, dryness, itching, reduced elasticity, and burning during menopause. By offering the latest technology with EmpowerRF treatments, we provide the latest treatment options to our clients, ultimately improving overall women’s health, self-esteem, and their sexual relationships.
Q: How does EmpowerRF fit into Femme Aesthetics’ approach to women’s health?
A: EmpowerRF is a carefully considered and selected technology by Femme Aesthetics to help our women clients achieve their women’s health goals. Femme Aesthetics wants to play a crucial role in improving overall women’s health, and EmpowerRF offers a number of advanced treatment options to address these important women’s issues.
Femme Aesthetics by The R Clinic
C01 / 4 Grazier Lane, Belconnen 2617
3 Natural Ways to Reduce Stress and Feel Good Again
Stress can be overwhelming, but there are natural ways to reduce it and improve your overall wellbeing.
Alternative Therapist Jessica Read understands the toll that on-going stress can have on your physical, mental and emotional health and is here to share three simple techniques that can help you take a step back from the chaos and find some inner peace:
1.)Breathe: Breathing practices counteract your body’s response to stress. Try this: place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Inhale through your nose for four counts, hold for two, and exhale out of your mouth for six counts. Repeat for two to three minutes.
2.)EFT Tapping: An evidence-based, self-applied, self-soothing technique that has been proven to send a calming signal to your brain with studies showing up to a 43 per cent reduction in cortisol (stress hormone) levels after just one hour of tapping. Suitable for all ages, tapping is a fantastic tool for emotional regulation and stress reduction. Learn how to tap for free on the Inspired Life Collectivewebsite.
3.)FLOWpresso® Bodysuit Therapy: The only one of its kind in the ACT, experience 40 minutes of intentional relaxation with this revolutionary 3-in-1 technology that combines compression, thermodynamic heat and deep pressure therapy in one treatment. While you lay in a peaceful state, the bodysuit helps your body and mind rest and recover, while calming your nervous system.
Inspired Life Collective specialises in alternative and holistic approaches to emotional wellbeing. If you are ready to stop living on autopilot and break free from the “normal” of stress, anxiety and overwhelm, then Jessica is here to help. Book a complimentary chat today.
W: inspiredlifecollective.com.au
MD Cosmedical Solutions: Advanced skin tightening & rejuvenation with Fotona 4D
Introducing the revolutionary new Fotona 4D Laser at MD Cosmedical Solutions – the advanced medical laser technology with amazing skin tightening and rejuvenation results that you can see and feel. The scientifically proven Fotona SP Dynamis Laser System, via the Fotona 4D treatment platform, delivers excellent non-invasive medical skin treatments.
Whether you have skin laxity, sun damage, ageing skin, wrinkles, acne scars, pigmentation, rosacea, scars or stretch marks, Fotona Laser treatments deliver remarkable results.
Fotona4D is a series of synergistic, non-invasive laser treatments of both the exterior facial and interior oral cavity, enabling full-thickness contraction of collagen for persistent tightening and volumisation without injectables. With two laser wavelengths (Er:YAG and Nd:YAG) and four treatment modes, anti-ageing is comprehensively approached from four different levels, working on deeper, medial and superficial connective structures of the skin, as well as targeting imperfections. The four “dimensions” of Fotona4D® refer to four distinct treatments with Fotona’s SP Dynamis or SP Spectro systems: SmoothLiftinTM, FRAC3®, PIANO® and SupErficialTM, all harnessed in concert to combat facial ageing, with little recovery and no anaesthesia, and that can be performed all year-round.
For this month only, MD Cosmedical Solutions are offering 20 per cent off all our Fotona 4D treatments. All patients must have a free consultation prior to treatment.
Suite 3C / 3 Sydney Ave, Barton ACT 2600
Ladies, here’s what you need to know about varicose veins
Women are up to three times more likely to get varicose veins.
Fluctuating progesterone levels during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause relax vein walls, making it harder for valves to close. As the valves stop your blood from flowing backwards, when they can’t close, blood pools, making vein walls bulge out and turn varicose.
Forty per cent of pregnant women get varicose veins.
Pregnancy causes your blood volume to double to supply the baby. As the baby grows, it strains your abdominal and pelvic veins. These factors, combined with fluctuating progesterone levels, create a ‘perfect storm’ for this condition.
There are 4 steps you can take to minimise your risk:
1. Go on daily 30-minute walks and take some yoga classes. These will boost circulation and tone your leg muscles without straining your veins.
2. Eat a more vein-friendly diet. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, and seeds contain the vitamins and nutrients your veins need to stay healthy. Cut down on salty, greasy, and sugary foods, as they can damage your veins over time.
3. Take movement breaks. Sitting or standing for long hours makes it hard for your veins to pull blood to your heart. Try to get up, stretch, wander around, or do some squats every 30 minutes.
4. Get compression stockings. They squeeze blood out of congested veins into deep veins that transport it to the heart. They’ll also activate your leg muscles to pump blood upward more efficiently.
If you think you have varicose veins, see a specialist.
Leaving varicose veins untreated may lead to ulceration, deep vein thrombosis, and sometimes irreversible skin damage.
So, if you see large, twisted, and bulging veins on your legs or get common symptoms like swelling, limb fatigue, and aches, book a consultation with a vein specialist.
Start your varicose vein treatment journey at The Vein Institute’s Canberra clinic.
The Vein Institute, Barton Street Specialist Centre, Level 2, 3 Sydney Avenue, Barton ACT
- T: 13 VEINS (13 83467)
- E: [email protected]
- W: theveininstitute.com.au
LET’S GET FIT FOR TRAVEL!
Do you have a holiday planned soon? Do you want to feel more confident in your fitness, mobility and increase your energy? Get out of the bus and be fit to see the sights and explore!
This six-week program is for ladies looking to boost their confidence to feel fitter and stronger.
No more making excuses, let’s get fit for travel!
It’s time to fire up your fitness journey and make a change. Do you want extra strength to carry your suitcase or maybe for all that extra shopping!
We have almost 15 years of experience amongst our Curves Fitness Coaches who will encourage and support you in your preparation for your holiday adventures.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. So, start yours today! Let’s work towards better health and your holiday destination!
Curves Jamison, cnr Redfern and Bowman St, Macquarie ACT
Sauna Float ACT: Your body needs infrared light and magnesium to thrive
Did you know that infrared saunas are excellent for detoxing and de-stressing? In fact, says Sauna Float ACT, infrared light is scientifically proven to penetrate deeply into your joints, muscles and tissues, increasing oxygen flow and circulation. This results in a whole-body hyperthermia to make you sweat and release toxins.
And if you are deficient in magnesium, this is exactly what our floatation tanks are designed for: to help assist in gently replenishing your magnesium levels in a relaxing and restful setting. If you often feel tired, then come for a magnesium salt float.
Sauna Float ACT
9/114 Emu Bank, Belconnen
- M: 0450 789 843
- E: [email protected]
- W: www.saunafloatact.com.au
- Instagram: @saunafloatact
Unleash your inner adventurer with Women Want Adventure
Discover your inner wild woman with Women Want Adventure! Join our small group meetups, day hikes, or multi-day trips, including an overnight canoe and camping adventure. Say goodbye to endless searches for a friend to do something with or waiting to arrange a weekend that works, and join us to explore stunning destinations and try new activities. Our supportive community of like-minded women will help you discover new places and form lasting friendships. Experience the thrill of hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, camping, and more with us, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a newbie, start your journey towards a more fulfilling life today by contacting us at [email protected] or visiting www.womenwantadventure.com.au.
