I have been to the following very cool events a few times:
Astronomy Nights
Forest Bathing
Here is the link to RSVP and pay if there is a cost to the event.
https://theriverwoodconservancy.org/events/
In the event of inclement weather visit our X feed . A cancellation tweet will be posted by 3 p.m. that day.
| 2025 Date | Park |
|---|---|
Thurs. July 10 | Ireland Park |
| Thurs. July 17 | Kilbride Park |
| Thurs. July 24 | LaSalle Park |
| Thurs. July 31 | Central Bandshell |
| Thurs. August 7 | Nelson Park |
| Thurs. August 14 | Orchard Community Park |
| Thurs. August 21 | Spencer Smith Park |
| Thurs. August 28 | TBD |
This listing summarizes all food support programs in Oakville
Fare Share Food Bank
Kerr Street Mission
Salvation Army - Oakville
Anglican Church of the Incarnation
Churchill Neighbourhood Centre
Clearview Christian Reformed Church
DAR Foundation
Front Line Outreach
Hope Bible Church
Madina Mercy Food Bank
Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre
Oakville Public Library, Central Branch
Oakville Public Library, Clearview Branch
Oakville Public Library, Glen Abbey Branch
St. Luke’s Anglican Church Palermo
Society of St Vincent de Paul
Vaishno Devi Mandir Hindu Temple
Programs that prepare and regularly deliver meals to older adults, people with disabilities and others who have difficulties shopping and/or preparing food for themselves or traveling to a site where a meal is being served
Central Registry
Why Anxiety Feels Physical: Understanding the Mind-Body Connection | |
Your heart pounds, your palms sweat, your stomach churns, and your muscles tense. If you've ever experienced anxiety, you know it's not just "all in your head"—it's unmistakably felt throughout your entire body. Understanding why anxiety manifests physically can help normalize these experiences and provide insight into effective management strategies. | |
The Fight-or-Flight Response | |
When your brain perceives a threat—whether real or imagined—it triggers an ancient survival mechanism called the fight-or-flight response. This system evolved to help our ancestors escape predators, but today it activates for modern stressors like work presentations, social situations, or financial worries. | |
Within milliseconds, your brain's alarm center (the amygdala) sends distress signals throughout your body. The sympathetic nervous system floods your bloodstream with stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, preparing you to either fight the threat or flee from it. | |
Why Your Body Reacts the Way It Does | |
Each physical symptom of anxiety serves an evolutionary purpose: | |
Racing Heart: Your cardiovascular system pumps blood faster to deliver oxygen to your muscles, preparing them for action. This is why your heart pounds during anxious moments. | |
Rapid Breathing: Your respiratory rate increases to take in more oxygen. Sometimes this leads to hyperventilation, which can cause dizziness or tingling sensations. | |
Muscle Tension: Your muscles contract and tighten, ready to spring into action. This tension often concentrates in the neck, shoulders, and jaw, leading to headaches and soreness. | |
Digestive Issues: Blood flow redirects away from non-essential functions like digestion toward your muscles and brain. This explains why anxiety often causes nausea, stomach pain, or changes in appetite. | |
Sweating: Your body temperature regulation kicks in to cool you down during anticipated physical exertion, even when you're sitting still. | |
The Nervous System Connection | |
Your autonomic nervous system controls these involuntary responses through two main branches. The sympathetic nervous system activates during stress (the "gas pedal"), while the parasympathetic nervous system promotes calm and recovery (the "brake pedal"). During anxiety, the gas pedal gets stuck, keeping your body in a heightened state of alertness. | |
Breaking the Cycle | |
Understanding that anxiety's physical symptoms are normal biological responses can be reassuring. Your body isn't malfunctioning—it's doing exactly what it evolved to do, just at inappropriate times. | |
Effective anxiety management often involves techniques that activate the parasympathetic nervous system: | |
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When to Seek Support | |
While physical anxiety symptoms are normal, they shouldn't interfere with your daily life. If you're experiencing frequent or severe physical symptoms, consider speaking with a healthcare provider. They can rule out medical conditions and discuss treatment options, including therapy techniques that address the mind-body connection. | |
Remember, anxiety is treatable, and understanding how it affects your body is the first step toward managing it effectively. Your physical symptoms are real, valid, and—most importantly—manageable with the right tools and support. | |
The Language of Self-Worth: Transforming Your Internal Dialogue |
The conversations we have with ourselves shape our reality more profoundly than most of us realize. For many, this internal dialogue runs on autopilot, filled with harsh criticisms and negative assumptions that slowly erode our sense of self-worth. But what if we could rewrite this narrative? What if we could transform the language we use with ourselves to build confidence rather than tear it down? |
Our minds process thousands of thoughts daily, with studies suggesting that up to 70% of this internal chatter tends to be negative. These aren't just fleeting thoughts—they're the architects of our self-perception. When we consistently tell ourselves "I'm not good enough" or "I always mess things up," these statements eventually solidify into beliefs. |
Dr. Ethan Powell, cognitive psychologist at Stanford University, explains: "The brain doesn't distinguish between an objective truth and a repeated thought. Tell yourself something often enough, and your neural pathways will accept it as reality." |
Identifying Your Self-Deprecating Patterns |
The first step toward transformation is awareness. Most self-deprecating thoughts follow predictable patterns: |
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To identify your patterns, try this simple exercise: For three days, carry a small notebook and jot down negative thoughts as they arise. Look for recurring themes and triggering situations. What you'll likely discover is that your harshest criticisms follow consistent templates. |
Linguistic Tools for Compassionate Self-Talk |
Once you've identified your patterns, you can begin the work of transformation through these practical techniques: |
1. The Distance Technique |
When negative thoughts arise, create psychological distance by switching pronouns. Instead of "I'm so stupid for making that mistake," try "You're having a hard time with this, but you'll figure it out." Research from the University of Michigan shows this simple shift activates different brain regions associated with compassion rather than criticism. |
2. Question Your Absolutes |
Our self-deprecating thoughts often include absolute terms: always, never, completely, totally. Challenge these when they appear: |
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3. Speak to Yourself as You Would a Friend |
When facing a setback, ask yourself: "What would I say to a friend in this situation?" We rarely subject others to the harsh standards we impose on ourselves. This mental pivot can immediately soften your internal dialogue. |
4. Replace Judgments with Observations |
Instead of evaluating your actions with value judgments, practice stating objective observations: |
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5. Add "Yet" to Your Limitations |
The power of this three-letter word is remarkable. "I don't understand this concept" becomes "I don't understand this concept yet." This simple addition transforms a fixed limitation into a growth opportunity. |
The Ripple Effect of Changed Self-Talk |
As you implement these practices, you may notice subtle shifts in how you perceive yourself. What begins as a conscious effort gradually becomes your default mode of self-address. |
Sarah Chen, who implemented these techniques after years of harsh self-criticism, shares: "At first, it felt artificial—like I was just reciting positive phrases I didn't believe. But after about six weeks, I caught myself automatically responding to a mistake with patience instead of criticism. That's when I knew something fundamental had changed." |
The language of self-worth isn't about denying challenges or pretending difficulties don't exist. Rather, it's about addressing yourself with the same dignity and compassion you would naturally offer others. By transforming your internal dialogue, you build a foundation of self-worth that can weather life's inevitable storms. |
Your relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship in your life. Make it a conversation worth having. |
I have been to a few of Ray's sessions to date.
These sessions are absolutely magical and refreshing on the body.
I highly recommend checking this out if you are interested in breathwork, meditation and feeling much calmer in your day.
Come see what this is all about!!
Here is the link to sign up.
You will need to create an account with Sadhana Yoga.
https://www.sadhana-yoga.ca/workshops
Ray Lugo
