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Gardening grows good health

Working with the earth proves to be beneficial for mind and body

By TESSA VIKANDER

eople don’t have to dig deep to

discover the health benefits of

gardening, according to urban

farmers and horticultural thera- pists.

Patients recovering from strokes have shown improvements in cognitive function and mobility thanks to horti- cultural therapy, said Ann Kent, in- structor of Langara College’s horticul- tural therapy program. Commonly a one-on-one process, the plant-based interactions are used as part of a medi- cal treatment plan for those in recov- ery or dealing with chronic illness.

An example she gave explained the benefits for patients diagnosed with Al- zheimer’s disease.

“Because they lose their capacity to speak coherently, I am trying to find different pathways that don’t involve language and working with your hands opens up a whole other way of commu- nicating.”

Kent said that most therapists in the field work in community horticulture settings because there are fewer posi- tions within the clinical practice due to cuts in public funding.

Fresh Roots, a South Vancouver- based non-profit organization that grows food in schoolyard farms at Da- vid Thompson Secondary and Vancou- ver Technical Secondary schools, can be categorized under community horti- culture.

Rosalind Sadowski, youth programs and volunteer coordinator at Fresh Roots, said creating community con- nections is part of how they have a positive impact on well-being.

“[We’re] cultivating a place where a variety of different people feel wel- come. They can come to the farm, learn something new, [and] connect with folks they might not otherwise connect with.”

Sadowski added that time spent weeding or harvesting “can spark con- versations, [and the garden] can be- come a space for people to share their experiences.”

Jessica Dennis, a farm hand for Fresh Roots, finds it to be a positive change from her former jobs in the ser- vice industry. “I personally find farm- ing conducive to being happy,” she said. “The farming community has been a wonderful community to live and work in.”

For those interested in the benefits of community horticulture, or consid- ering training in horticultural therapy, Kent suggests volunteering in a com- munity garden as a first step.

Fresh Roots is hosting ‘The Big Help: Fall Work Party and Celebration,’ on Oct. 22, 47 p.m. at David Thompson Secondary School.

TESSA VIKANDER photo

Jessica Dennis tends to the Fresh Roots community garden at David Thompson Secondary

How to practise mindfulness

1 Breath deeply and feel the breath go in and out

2 Notice if there is By KATHRYN WU

any tension or

tightness in your body

3 Re-focus yourself on your breathing if your mind wanders

4 Be kind and patient with yourself and others

5 Be present. Trust that things are unfolding the way they're supposed to

Source: Linda Turner, Langara mindfulness-based stress reduction instructor.

of Langara College’s mindfulness-

based stress reduction class. For students at Langara, mindfulness can be an important strategy for dealing with stress brought on by midterm season.

During the two-hour class taught by Linda Turner, participants are asked to become conscious to not only their thoughts and emotions, but also to sen- sations felt in their stomachs, jaws and every other body part.

The class is offered at Langara’s Ho- listic Health Centre, located on West Broadway.

Mindfulness is about being present in the moment and understanding the

Te strikes of a bell signify the start

status of the entire body.

Turner said studies show that being mindful can reduce anxiety, improve learning and improve students’ results.

“We are often the meanest to our- selves,” said Turner. “If you constantly say ‘I’m really ugly, ’'m really stupid, I’m really fat, I look awful today,’ then you have the chance to change it and do something different.”

Ma Socorro V. Recuenco is enrolled in Turner’s class. She said it only takes half an hour for her to feel energized after a mindfulness session.

“It helps me focus myself and be aware of things that are not impor- tant,” she said.

Chris Bernard is also enrolled in Langara’s mindfulness classes.

Mindful meditation for midterms

Hope for hectic lives can be found within as mindfulness becomes a popular solution

He said students can use mindful- ness as a healthy method to alleviate stress, adding that spending 20 min- utes each morning to embrace any thoughts and emo- tions can be helpful.

For him, practis- ing mindfulness throughout the day can be as simple as taking a minute or two after class.

“Go to a favourite spot on the cam- pus where it’s beautiful and peaceful... tend to your breath, observe your emo- tional state, and just let your whole be- ing be,” he said.

MA SOCORRO V. RECUENCO

Labels made to fit gender diversity

A trend to change signage that classifies products by gender is on the rise

By RUMANA DSOUZA

als and institutions are realizing

that when it comes to categoriz- ing gender, there should be more than two alternatives.

Public and private organizations are taking a step towards gender neutrali- ty by embracing the idea of providing gender-neutral options. They are iden- tifying areas where gender-based sig- nage can be phased out.

Target made headlines in August by phasing out gender-specific signage from some of their product categories. Disney followed suit by removing gen- der-based labels for kids’ costumes. The Girl Guides of Canada released new guidelines that officially welcome all children identifying as girls.

Patricia Moore, coordinator of women’s studies at Langara, relates this shift in per- ception to institu- tions being more open to women in the past.

“T think it’s ex- cellent, and it’s starting to reflect MADISON reality rather than COMPAGNA

A: increasing number of individu-

the socially con- pofounder of F structed gender bi- “794rG ‘ender ” : & Sexuality

nary,” she said. Collective

“Tt’s another shift that is going to al- low people to be who they really are.”

Phasing out gender-specific signage is a way institutions are recognizing people who may not be comfortable in their assigned gender roles. Many uni- versity campuses, such as SFU and UBC, now have gender-neutral hous- ing and bathrooms. Currently, Langara has three gender neutral washrooms: two in the Langara Students’ Union building and one in the college itself.

Madison Compagna and Kelsey Blair, co-founders of the Langara Gen- der & Sexuality Collective, said that when it comes to gender neutrality, Langara needs to step up its game.

Blair said people who don’t feel that they fit into the binary genders may feel excluded because they don’t fit into the categories provided.

“There is no reason for us to be alienating these people and making them feel like they’re unsafe,” said Compagna.

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Don't do this, @Target

Building Sets

| Girls’ Building Sets

A customer disagrees with Target’s signage that separates products by gender.