Healthy in Homer April Newsletter

Wellness Wednesday – February Schedule

FEBRUARY 

Yoga Instructor: Taylor Kendal Chandler

Bio: Taylor Chandler is a holistic wellness guide and movement instructor who draws on her unique background in environmental public health and communications. As a 500-hour certified yoga teacher and female core + pelvic floor specialist, she creates classes that blend yoga-based movement, strength conditioning, and restorative practices in a mindful flow format.

Drawing from her expertise in whole-body wellness and women’s pelvic health, Taylor guides both experienced yogis and newcomers with compassionate presence and deep anatomical knowledge. Her classes cultivate physical vitality and inner balance while meeting each student’s unique needs and goals.

Contact: hello@seedsandspells.com

 

February 05 

Heather Forbes CDM, CPM, BSM, Mountain Sea Midwifery and Wellness

Circadian Wellness

Join us for an informative talk from local midwife Heather Forbes to gain a foundational understanding of how light/dark impacts our health. 

 

February 12 

Jay Bechtol, CEO, SPBHS 

Talking with Your Children About Mental Health

Come enjoy a presentation designed to help anyone navigate sensitive conversations about emotional well-being with kids, parents, or primary care-givers. Experts from South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services will cover strategies for creating an open, supportive environment where children feel safe expressing their feelings. The presentation will also provide guidance on recognizing signs of mental health challenges, addressing stigma, and fostering resilience. Aimed at empowering families, this talk will equip parents with tools to communicate effectively, normalize mental health discussions, and offer the necessary support to children from 0 to 99

 

February 19 

Taylor Kendal Chandler 

The Language of Living Well

Drawing from a unique blend of environmental public health, yoga-based movement and communications expertise to explore how we can rewrite our understanding of wellness beyond conventional metrics. Through insights from longevity studies, lived experience and nature’s own rhythms, participants will be guided toward an authentic, sustainable definition of wellbeing that honors both individual needs and our interconnected world.

 

February 26 

Morgan Laffert, Hospice of Homer

Walking Each Other Home: a conversation on death

A conversation on death with Hospice of Homer staff and volunteers. Learn about the process of death, how our community supports the in-home end-of-life transition, and hear from our volunteers and their client’s loved ones about their experiences.

 

Wellness Wednesday at KPC

Wellness Wednesday: “Every Emotion Matters – How Both Positive and Negative Emotions Shape a Life” with Michelle Fellows, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Psychology, UAA/KPC

Emotions have often gotten a bad rap for being “irrational”. However, research now points to their functional and necessary role in our thinking and wellness. One important function of our emotions is to provide us with information about our needs and motivations. This is true for the entire spectrum of emotions, not just the positive, or pleasant, feelings. While we don’t usually wake up each morning hoping for a day full of unpleasant feelings, our negative emotions are just as normal and valuable as our positive emotions. In this talk, Michelle will use a psychological lens to explore how we can leverage ALL of our emotions to be more whole human beings.

Learn More: https://www.sphosp.org/community-education/wellness-wednesday/

Wellness Wednesday January Schedule

SPARC Open Walks

Attention walkers! SPH is hosting free open walks for all, every Monday at SPARC from 11:45-12:45pm starting in January! Join us on Monday January 13th  at 11:45am for  a kick-off event with PTA Emilie Otis! Learn about how to establish  a safe and healthy walking structure, tips on injury prevention, and proper stretching techniques!

Chaos Compass – South Peninsula Hospital

MINDFULNESS COURSE

Chaos Compass-Start date delayed to January 16th!

Ready to navigate life’s chaos with confidence?

Introducing “Chaos Compass,” a free four-week course designed for teens aged 14-18, led by Homer Medical Center’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Devry Garity. Explore a brain-based understanding of yourself and others as we journey through techniques to strengthen our minds, sharpen focus, manage emotions, make wise decisions, and cultivate deeper connections. Let’s chart our course together!

Date: Thursdays: January 16th – February 6th

Time: 4:15-5:30pm

Cost: Free

Location: KPC Campus

Audience: Teens ages 14-18

Email wellness@sphosp.org to register

Open Enrollment for Health Care Coverage

Don’t miss your chance to get affordable health insurance!

Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act is November  1 through December 15, 2024.

Visit www.healthcare.gov to sign up, or call our Financial Navigator at 907 235-0994 to make an appointment.

We’re here for you!

Wellness Wednesday: Micro Yoga – a Therapeutic Practice with Jacquelyn Forster, OTR/L, CLT

Wednesday, November 20. Micro Yoga is a practice based on the Cantienica Method developed in Germany.  It is a technique that focuses on body awareness, deep inner core, breath, and visualizations to hold your body’s joints in proper placement to perform poses and exercises.  This technique encourages proper alignment and will extend the life of your joints increasing your health and mobility now and for years to come. 

Wellness Wednesday: Stress Management and the Art of Being at Peace with Dr. Rob Downey

Big thanks to Doc Downey for sharing his expertise with the community time and time again! He recently gave a great presentation at a Wellness Wednesday event titled “Stress Management and the Art of Being at Peace”. This presentation was recorded, you can check it out below, and learn more about his upcoming retreat being held in Costa Rica this February!

SPH is grateful to have Seaworthy Functional Medicine on our team!

https://healthacceleratorfx.com/yoga-and-functional-medicine-in-costa-rica/

View the power point slides here: https://bit.ly/Doc-downey-peace

Wellness Wednesday: Thyroid Health with Dr. Hennigan

Join SPH Specialty Clinic Provider and Endocrinologist Dr. Michael Hennigan as he shares with us the basics of thyroid health! The thyroid is an important endocrine gland that makes and releases certain hormones. The thyroid’s main job is to control metabolism (i.e- how the body uses energy!). Come learn more at Wellness Wednesday!