Wellness

HOW CAN A DOULA ENHANCE YOUR BIRTH EXPERIENCE?

March 30th, 2016

By Catherine Falconnier

A study from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota has found a correlation between doula support and lower rates of interventions and C-sections.

What is a doula?

In a nutshell a doula is a woman who is trained in prenatal education, pain management techniques during labor, and postpartum well-being for the whole family.

“Previous studies have shown health benefits of doula support for mothers and their babies and obstetricians recommend that…

Five ways to Create a Successful New Year’s Resolution

December 28th, 2015

Five ways to Create a Successful New Year's Resolution

Instincts, emotion and habit get the better of the human being time and time again. Determination is the only way out.

By Eric McKenzie

According to the University of Scranton, 45% of Americans will make news resolutions and just 8% of people achieve their goals.

The Top 5 New Years resolutions for 2015 were:

1. Lose Weight

2. Getting Organized

3. Spend Less, Save More

4. Enjoy Life to the Fullest

5. Staying Fit and Healthy

What do you…

Dishwasher-adjacent

August 12th, 2015

By Lisa Nawrot

My friend Emily recently checked into a hotel for the night and was just about to crawl into bed when she peeled back the bedspread to reveal a half-eaten piece of pie. The scene was complete with linen napkin, plate and fork, as if the duvet, enjoying a private dinner, had been suddenly interrupted in the middle of the dessert course.

When I tell this story, invariably the first thing people ask is, “What kind of pie was it?” as if that would make any difference.…

Let breath be your guide

August 12th, 2015

By Marina Semerikov

Envision that you are in the grocery store, surrounded by people, loud conversation and the occasional temper tantrum. There is noise, there are bright lights and lines of people at check out. Now notice how you feel about this scenario. Does this imagery bring about feelings of serenity or joy? I didn't think so.

Next scenario, you are driving in traffic and waiting for the endless set of rail cars to pass through. In this visual alone, how does your face feel? Are…

No mountains, no problem

July 22nd, 2015

First-annual Wild Goose Chase Mountain Bike Race this Sunday in Gooseberry Park

Besides its natural beauty, there is something perfect and primal about the woods. Many of us spent hours there as kids on our bikes, growing up, risking (and sustaining) injuries. It was a private world that generations of kids blazed through and wore down.

“When I was a kid, it was just us on our BMX bikes,” said Patrick Crary, a board member of Fargo-Moorhead Trailbuilders and a key personality who made…

Fargo-Moorhead metro awarded bronze

June 3rd, 2015

Rolling forward to being more bicycle friendly

By Will Mackman

Bike lanes, StreetsAlive!, Great Rides Bike Share – it’s hard to believe none of these existed in Fargo-Moorhead 10 years ago.Bike lanes, StreetsAlive!, Great Rides Bike Share – it’s hard to believe none of these existed in Fargo-Moorhead 10 years ago. When looking back only a decade we can see we are pedaling in the right direction to become a more bicycle-friendly community.

These efforts have not gone unnoticed. In…

Manage your stress

June 3rd, 2015

In its most instinctual sense the stress response is a way to deal with immediate or pre-imminent danger.

Let’s say a building nearby were about to collapse. The nervous system would respond by dilating the pupils, increasing heart rate and respirations, and shunting blood to the muscles.

The activated hormone system also deals with this immediate stress, pumping cortisol, epinephrine and other hormones into the bloodstream.

How many times in a year do we see that type of imminent…

Feet Wanted: Fargo Streets Come Alive

June 3rd, 2015

How do we build a healthier, happier community? Finding an answer to that question is the “high-level” purpose behind Fargo-Moorhead’s annual StreetsAlive! events. The other, perhaps simpler purpose? Giving people a good reason to get outside and have fun.

StreetsAlive! will be held three days this summer – June 14, July 12 and August 30 – and its premise is pretty straightforward: close off a three-mile loop of city streets in Fargo-Moorhead from motorized traffic and…

Bike Commuting: Practice random acts of cycling

May 21st, 2015

With just a few days left in the merry month of May (aka National Bike Month), let’s delve into a few specifics of commuting by bicycle.

I’ve chatted with many folks that would love to commute by bike, but often they don’t know where to start. Starting something new means forming a new habit, and that can be tricky. Trial periods are dotted with success and unforeseen challenges. Sometimes harsh judgement from others (or even yourself) can keep you from having the behavior…

Pedal Power to the Children!

May 13th, 2015

Community sponsors bike overhauls for children in need

In the spirit of National Bike Month, Fargo-Moorhead Community Bicycle Workshop (FMCBW) has organized its first-ever Sponsor a Kid’s Bike event, a month-long donation program for funding the overhaul of used bikes and then giving them to kids in need.

The workshop has partnered with the YWCA Cass Clay for the event. The FMCBW will supervise the overhauls and safety checks for each bike, while the YWCA is working to match a perfectly…