The Benefits of Literacy in our Communities
Literacy is a foundational life skill, but did you know it also offers other benefits beyond comprehension and engagement with written texts? Developing literacy skills enables us to function in society, achieve our goals, and develop our abilities. It has been shown that adult literacy levels benefit not only individuals but also society in general.
Tips On How To Get Your Family Healthier And More Connected
Rising rates of obesity and related chronic disease tell us that getting kids active should be a top priority for parents, schools, and all Canadians. Here are some tips on how you can help your family become more active, eat nutritiously, and build stronger bonds.
Boost Your Mood With At-Home Yoga and Meditation
We’ve all heard that practicing yoga can help you find balance — and we’re not just talking about standing on one foot. Yoga can help you restore your energy levels, find peace, and build overall emotional resilience during this tough, stressful time. And moving through life with more ease and less stress means more energy for the things you love! So we asked Emilie Wong, a yoga and meditation teacher, to share how yoga can help support your mental health.
A Simple Breathing Exercise to Help you Stay Calm and Optimistic
What can you do to stay calm and optimistic when life starts to take its toll? Well, yoga! Instructor Emilie is here with an easy exercise you can do right now, from the comfort and safety of your home, to help boost your emotional resilience and feel a little more positive.
Important Life Skills Your Children Learn from Being a Lifeguard
Becoming a lifeguard is more than a just a job and earning money, it provides life skills that are transferable for any career path one may take – such as building confidence, leadership and improving your ability to work as part of a team. Take a look at some of the ways that lifeguarding can help you or your children gain life-long skills both on poolside and outside a working environment.
Tips for Processing Challenging Emotions and Coping with Adversity
We’re all doing our best to adapt to this new normal, but it’s tough. We asked yoga instructor Emilie to share some techniques for building emotional resilience, or the strength we need to handle challenging situations (like the one we’re in right now!) calmly. Here’s her simple step-by-step guide to meditation that will leave you feeling a little more zen.
An Easy Activity to Help you Protect Your Mental Health and Find Your Inner Peace
Our YMCA Camps team has some experience that could help you protect your mental health. Try the super-simple, soothing activity they usually do during out-trips: soloing.
Going From Camper to Counsellor at YMCA Camp Elphinstone: Marika’s Story
Marika Heilker started out as a youth camper at YMCA Camp Elphinstone. Now, the 19-year-old is preparing to return to the Sunshine Coast facility as a counsellor for the second time in 2022.
When Marika Heilker thinks back on her early experiences at YMCA Camp Elphinstone, she’s mindful of how the young adults serving as camp counsellors made a lasting impression – one that she still feels to this day.
Resources for Children’s Mental Health
February is a great month to talk about mental health, as in some places across Canada and around the world, the second week of February is dedicated to honouring Children’s Mental Health. If you’d like to do similar honouring in your practice for that week, or ongoing with the children in your lives, mindfulness is a great place to start. Why? Mindfulness is key to helping children manage stress and anxiety, and it helps foster the growth of a child’s self-regulation, positive emotions, and self-compassion. If you need suggestions as to where to start with Mindfulness, BigLifeJournal’s 5 Fun Mindfulness Activities for Kids has got you covered.
Our Picks: Mental Wellness Books, Podcasts, Apps and more!
Everyone experiences anxiety, stress and low mood at some point. Throughout the pandemic, many have been reporting elevated stress levels and poorer mental health, so it’s never been more important to ensure we are adequately coping with life’s challenges.
Fortunately, there are a wide variety of tools and resources available that can help. Keeping your mental wellbeing top of mind and taking small steps toward self-care can go a long way in helping to relieve stress and persevering through periods of anxiety. Take a look at some of our recommendations below for mental wellness and mindfulness books, podcasts, apps and more!