Most pet owners are quick to tell you of the joy and love that comes with their furry friends. Here at VWS we are no exception, so, in addition to meeting the pets of VWS staff, we wanted to share with you some of the health benefits pets have to offer.

Pride month is celebrated each June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots that took place in New York. However, since Stonewall, Pride has become a global event. It takes place across every continent, and the ongoing efforts toward equality and justice for all LGBTQ people have continued to increase. It is time of learning, reflection, growth, and celebration. As a community, Pride marks a time to remember all the progress toward social change that has been made and all that still needs to be done. In the years since Stonewall, what often gets lost is the history of this event. As such, I wanted to take some time to share with you that history and why it is so important to remember the origins of Pride.

The definition of an ally is “ a person who supports and/or accepts equal civil rights, gender equality, and LGBTQ+ social movements, challenging what they perceive as homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia.” We can all take some steps to continue to create an inclusive community in our workplace. Here are just a few:

Gender pronouns are the terms people assign to their gender identity. Some of these are he/him, she/her, she/they, they/them, or ze/hir. Using and knowing a person's gender pronoun creates inclusion and affirms their gender identity.

During the past 2 years of the pandemic, we have collectively experienced an unprecedented amount of uncertainty and stress and are only beginning to understand the impact it has had on our lives. There has been an enormous amount of loss and grief and, for many, it has been a struggle to manage the daily stresses of everyday life combined with the challenges of living in a pandemic.

Like many, I find myself wanting to schedule a massage when my body feels out of whack, but it’s not always my go to when it comes time to take care of my emotional well being. With May being Mental Health awareness month I wanted to share 3 ways massage improves mental health.

Making the choice to come to therapy is often a vulnerable decision, so it is important to find a match that feels right for you. For example, in my own experience seeking therapy, I can’t think of a time when I didn’t shown up to out first session because I felt anxious. However, I now tell my clients the first meeting is just an opportunity for us to assess the match together. As such, here are some things to consider as you look for the right therapist. I hope they can provide you some direction and relief.

How do you cope when you experience an emotion of high intensity that rattles you up inside? Do you find that you become highly critical of yourself? Apathetic? Restless? Maybe even avoidant? If this is you, you are not alone! Know that it is not your fault and that it will be okay. You might be wondering, where do I begin? The answer is in building trust with your inner child.

Chances are high that someone in your life has been impacted by domestic violence (DV) or sexual assault (SA). We want what is best for our loved ones, so I wanted to offer some different ways to engage and support survivors so our loved ones can feel seen and supported. Here are five tips to keep in mind:

I have always been in love with the new year. A time of fresh beginnings, where everyone takes a collective sigh and thinks about what has happened and what they want out of life moving forward. There’s something lovely about taking a minute to breathe, reflect and set intentions for the coming 12 months. Checking in with ourselves and setting goals for positive development is so important for holistic well-being. It is only with self-awareness that we can break negative cycles; Creating a life worth living.

Chinese New Year 2022 is February 1st and you don’t have to be Chinese to enjoy this long-standing custom steeped in rich cultural traditions and celebrations. Every Chinese New Year is accompanied by its paired zodiac animal, and this year of 2022 is the year of the Water Tiger!

Article feature published by The Columbian. Vancouver Wellness Studio and Non-Profit organization Dig Deep Mental Health are partnering to support the mental health of our business community amid the continuing pandemic.

I want to thank our team and this amazing community for trusting and growing with us over the past 5 years. Owning a business takes a very similar trajectory as child development, so if you’ve ever been around a 5-year old, you know that they can sometimes make their own sandwiches which is a day you wait for as a parent. So we’re getting there as a business, and we plan to be around for a long, long time serving this community.