Power in the Puzzle

How Brain Teasers Help Sharpen the Mind

Mtn Living Mag January 2012

Power-in-the-Puzzle-1.12After reading all of the news in the paper, one should consider pouring another cup of coffee and turning to the crossword puzzle. Following that, one might test their wits with some math wizardry in Sudoku. These kinds of brain teasers are a simple, leisure activity, but when practiced as part of a routine, the novelty of thinking creatively and logically can spur your brain to engage quicker. Continue reading “Power in the Puzzle”

Wellness Today

Northern Arizona Healthcare produced colorful, informative newsletters for various facilities in the region to educate the community.

Gail contracted consistently to Flagstaff Medical Center’s Public Relations, writing the bulk of stories for Health at Heart and Wellness Today, as well as press releases, Flagstaff Business News articles and Arizona Daily Sun features.

Blue Days

Identifying childhood anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and more

mag bar Winter 2011

Kids-Emotional-HealthIt’s a startling statistic: One in five people will suffer from a serious mental disorder at some point in their life. Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit disorder are prevalent conditions. Children probably aren’t the first age group you think of as dealing with these issues, but 4 million children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from a serious mental disorder that causes a significant impact on their quality of life. Continue reading “Blue Days”

Biggest Hearts

Heart transplantation gives Cy-Fair residents a second chance at life

mag bar Winter 2011

heart transplantLike any teenager, Jordan Merecka did what he loved most in his free time: hunt during the season and fish all through the summer. Cy-Fair mom Brandy Parker was happily caring for her family and working s a bank teller. Both were born with heart defects, but managed to lead normal lives, until heart failure turned their worlds upside down. Merecka had to trade his Wranglers for a hospital gown, and Parked traded her role taking care of others for taking care of herself. Both also received life-changed operations that saved their lives and have allowed them to continue to thrive in our community. Continue reading “Biggest Hearts”

Outside the Box

The “Ammo Box” Art and Other Works of Simone Stephenson

Mtn Living Mag November 2011

Story & Photography by Gail G. Collins

Siimone-close-upTwenty-two years ago, Simone Stephenson didn’t expect to move to a remote parcel of land at the bottom of the Kaibab Plateau. After she did, the painter planned to practice her art during the off season from river work. So recently, when Stephenson’s husband, Tim, went to the Post Office, perhaps he should’ve expected to come home to a vivid, tri-colored door.

Shocked by the red, teal and gold panels, Tim said, “Do you think just because you’re an artist, you can paint anything you want?” Equally shocked by the question, Stephenson said, “Yes! Don’t you like it?” He did. Stephenson chuckled, retelling the anecdote and wondered aloud, “So, what’s the problem?” Continue reading “Outside the Box”

Getting to the Core

Power in Principle Pilates

Mtn Living Mag November 2011

Nov-2011-PilatesRoll forward with the head heavy. Let the vertebrae connect with the mat like a string of pearls, one at a time. Lengthen the leg as if to write on the ceiling. Scoop your belly.

The verbal cues Bonnie Berger offered during a range of Pilates exercises created pictures that translated into bodily responses. The guided imagery helps a client perform the motions neatly, accurately and effectively. The certified instructor and manager at Full Circle Pilates, Berger helps people regain awareness of specific muscle groups while getting a full-body workout. Continue reading “Getting to the Core”

Animal Chiropractic Care

Urban Paws Oct 2011 pet chiro page_14_Urban Paws

Animal Chiropractics:  A Holistic Approach

Story & Photography by Gail G. Collins

Walter Hickman’s 14-year-old border collie, Jake, had been slow to rise for a couple of years. The dog’s hip became shaky, and he began to suffer bouts of bowel incontinence. Was it old age or something more? The vet confirmed Jake had some arthritis, but chalked up the problems to aging.

A friend led Hickman to animal chiropractic care. Also known as veterinary chiropractic, this drug-free approach to health is based on the same principals as human chiropractic, meaning a disruption of nerve flow to a body area affects its wellbeing. As a chiropractor and owner of Cy-Fair Neck and Back Clinic in Cypress, Hickman knew the benefits of correcting minor subluxations – misaligned vertebrae – better than most. “That’s what I do for people,” Hickman said. Continue reading “Animal Chiropractic Care”

In Search of the Profound

Artist Williamson Tapia is a Plein Air Purist

Mtn Living Mag September 2011

TapiaStory & Photography by Gail G. Collins

Meeting Williamson Tapia, the bit of gray in his hair came as a surprise. The plein air painter’s enthusiastic, happy spirit had made him sound young. Chalk it up to a child’s energy walking around in a middle-aged man. “I want to work outside instead of a studio – to get out of the classroom. I get bored, and like a little boy, want to go out and play,” Tapia said, pointing through his window at the Red Rock scenery of Sedona. Continue reading “In Search of the Profound”

Ground Zero Heroes Remember 9/11

Cy-Fair’s search and rescue volunteers recall the devastation and heroism they witnessed at Ground Zero 10 years ago

mag bar Fall 2011

911When Cy-Fair resident Denise Corliss began training a golden retriever named Bretagne for search and rescue, she had no idea his first deployment would be Ground Zero in New York City. Shortly after the second tower fell, Corliss received word that she and Bretagne would be searching for survivors. “When I received the call, I was honored, but nervous, because I didn’t know if there was more to come,” says Corliss. “But our training is in place, so as we respond we’re thinking and planning. There are strategies of what to do.” Corliss is a canine search specialist and member of Texas Task Force 1 (TX-TFI), a group of search and rescue volunteer who were deployed to New York City following the terrorist attacks. Continue reading “Ground Zero Heroes Remember 9/11”

Cy-FairSkydiver STACEY CARL

Teaching thrill seekers that the sky’s the limit

mag bar Fall 2011

skydivingGrandmothers do it. Doctors do it. Lawyers, pilots, and oil rig mechanics do it. Servicemen do it. Gymnasts do it. Wedding couples, graduates, and birthday girls do it. Over a weekend of bright, still days, 200 or so people will jump out of perfectly good airplanes at Skydive Houston. From over 10,000 feet in the heavens, they leap and smile as they ride the wind at 120 miles per hour to catch up with the ground far below them. It is the rush of a lifetime. Continue reading “Cy-FairSkydiver STACEY CARL”