Pilates, organic food delivery, symphony tickets, nutrition counseling, feng shui consultations—all aspects of physical, emotional and spiritual health are covered with this unique health pass.

Sometimes the hardest part about making a change is taking the first step. To help you get you out there and try new, healthier things, Winnipeg dancer and life coach Samantha Manchulenko has developed The Lifestyle Pass. A partnership of 27 local businesses, the pass is actually a passport, filled with special deals and coupons from a wide variety of local businesses. The goal, says Manchulenko, is to give people the incentive to challenge themselves to try a lot of new things, filling the passport with stamps along the way. “I find that if people have a limited amount of time to accomplish something, they will be more motivated,” says Manchulenko. This explains why the $40 pass is valid only until April 30, giving those who buy the pass in December five months to take advantage of as many of the offers as possible.

Ready for you to try are the hamam at Ten Spa, group cycling at Moksha Yoga, a smoothie at Fresh Café, a massage at Bodhi Therapeutic Bodywork, tea at Cornelia Bean, the courts at Taylor Tennis and a life coaching session from Manchulenko at The Lifestyle Studio. While the pass gives you $700 worth of value, it also gives back to the community, with a portion of the proceeds going to CancerCare Manitoba.
A great gift, The Lifestyle Pass can be purchased at Moksha Yoga on Donald St., Bodhi Therapeutic Bodywork on Sherbrook Ave., Orange Poppy on River Ave., and at Pilates Manitoba on Academy Rd.

Oh Butter Boy!

This is the kind of product you never knew you needed. But you do! It’s not only useful, but so super cute. To use, just fill the bottom with butter, pop off the top and roll on for the perfect piece of buttered corn on the cob. Put the lid on and store in the fridge. Dishwasher safe. $22.

Small Indulgence, 105-1700 Corydon Ave., 487-2040.

Your life, unlimited!
‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE CRAZY, I MEAN JOLLY!

Does the stress of the season ever bring you down, overwhelm you or leave you with a feeling of dread? Maybe you love the excitement, the preparations, the decorations, the shopping. Maybe visions of burnt gingerbread men dance through your head as the countdown to the “holidays” begins?

A number of years ago we decided Christmas just wasn’t turning out the way we wanted it to be. Excessive buying and preparations lead to discontentment and resentment. We decided things needed to change and we have never looked back!
Would you like to have the best Christmas ever? If so, the first step is to figure out exactly what that means to you. Create a vision for your perfect holiday season, think it out and write it down; it may look something like this:

“I will enjoy not only Christmas Day, but the entire Christmas season. I will spend money wisely; I will keep company with those who fill my spirit up. I will enjoy the tastes of the season and prepare what is special and reasonable to me. I will not succumb to pressures that are not congruent with my values. Each day of the season I will take time to appreciate the beauty that this time of year brings and I will give more than I take. I will take care of myself, so that I can be my best for those I love.”
Hey, that sounds pretty good to me, I think I will keep that as my vision!

Once you know what you want out of the season, work backwards to create it.  
Here’s how…
 
1) First, stop telling the whole world, and yourself, how busy you are. This statement does not bring a peaceful feeling to you, does it? More than likely it brings anxiety, stress, and feelings of not doing enough, having enough, or being enough. Start telling yourself you have more than enough time to do whatever needs to be done. Ahhh, that feels better, doesn’t it? Know and believe that everything that needs to be done will be done and if it didn’t get done, it didn’t need to!

2) Less is more. Simplify. Look at your to-do list—what can you do without? Do the things you love and consider letting go of some of the things you feel like you “should” do. Have everyone in the family pick one tradition that is most important to them and make those your priorities. When we did this, I learned that the traditional dainties I had been making for years didn’t mean a thing to anyone else, but the
decorating of our individual graham cracker houses was something no one wanted to give up.

3) Delegate, delegate, delegate! Did you know you actually don’t have to do everything yourself? Really, it’s true! Others can help, and though they might not do it just like you, they are truly capable and it will do wonders for their self-esteem and confidence to make their own way.

4) Lighten up! Most of the pressure we feel is put on us from ourselves, isn’t it?  Do things with a happy heart or don’t do them at all. If you decide they are worth doing, and you choose to do them, don’t complain about it.

5) Be honest, tell the truth and live your values. If it’s time to stop exchanging gifts with someone, be honest and say so.  Don’t make up excuses; just tell it like it is. We have said to friends, “We are cutting back…we are donating to charity in lieu of gifts…we would rather spend time with you than exchange gifts.” We hoped they would understand and do you know what? They all did (and were likely relieved) and now we cherish memories we create together instead of unwrapping gifts with them.

6) Grumble less, appreciate more. Before you say something negative, force a positive to come out of your mouth. Exchange phrases like, “it’s too bad…” for words like, “I’m thankful that…”. Find something wonderful about every day, even Mondays!
In the end enjoying the holiday season is a choice that only you can make. You get to be 100 per cent responsible and that is great news! Set an example for all by creating your ideal holiday, by being the persona of cool, calm and collected…because after all it is the season to be jolly, not crazy!

More Lifesavers!
Coping with the Holidays
Dinner Music
Bright Light, Little City