News

Staying Fit Beyond the Summer

By Cheryl Shaw, Grace Cottage Hospital Health Coach

Summer is a natural time for outdoor sports, exercise, and activities. Now, as autumn arrives, you may find yourself challenged to keep up the workout routine you established during warmer, “longer-day” months.

For most healthy adults, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of both. Of course, in order to determine the best level for you, have a consultation with your provider first.

Once you know what type of activity is best for you, how will you keep your routine going when days are shorter, the weather is darker and cooler, and the pull toward seasonal comfort foods kicks in?

The best solution is to prepare and think ahead.  Here are some tips. Maybe one or more of these will work for you:

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Health Benefits of Yoga

By Crystal Mansfield, Director of Grace Cottage Rehabilitation Services, Wellness Programs, and Certified Yoga Instructor

September is National Yoga Month. What are the benefits of practicing yoga on a regular basis? If you answered relaxation and stress relief, you are correct. But yoga is so much more than that.

I started practicing yoga more than 30 years ago. The benefits were so varied and profound that in 2001, I decided to become certified to teach yoga so I could share these benefits with others.

Most people already know that yoga is a great way to relax and reduce stress. Did you know that yoga originated thousands of years ago as a preparation for meditation practice? The ancient yogis realized that, in order to meditate for great lengths of time, they first had to learn to be still.

Whether you practice yoga for its spiritual or its physical benefits, anyone who practices regularly will experience a difference both on and off the mat.

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Locals Bring Home Healthy Food with Assistance from Grace Cottage

Vermonters are hardworking people, but the high costs of housing, food, fuel and other necessities can make it tough to meet basic needs. Thanks to 3SquaresVT (formerly food stamps) more Vermonters are able to buy healthy food for themselves and their families. Resource Advocate Jane Wheeler is available to help residents within the Grace Cottage […]

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Yoga Classes Resume at Grace Cottage

After a short summer break, starting September 4, Grace Cottage will offer two yoga classes: Viniyoga-style classes on Tuesdays and Fridays and a ‘Chair Yoga for Beginners’ series on Wednesdays. Class fees are subsidized by the healthcare center so that more people in the community can afford to attend. The ‘Chair Yoga’ class runs as […]

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Grace Cottage Wins Three ‘Readers Choice’ Awards

“Best Place to Work,” “Best Physical Therapy,” and “Best Doctor” were the three categories for which Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital took home top honors in the 2018 Brattleboro Reformer Readers Choice Awards. All winners were recognized in the July 21st edition of the Windham County publication. This is the second consecutive year that […]

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New ‘Tai Chi for Fall Prevention’ Series Begins August 22

Starting August 22, Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital will host a new, free beginner level Tai Chi class in its Community Wellness Center. The series runs for six weeks, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9:00 – 10:00 am. The soft, flowing movements of this ancient Chinese practice are widely acclaimed as one of the most […]

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Don’t Miss Grace Cottage Hospital Fair Day, Saturday August 4th

The 68th Annual Grace Cottage Hospital Fair Day will be held on the Townshend Common on Saturday, August 4. This free all-day, family-friendly event runs from 9 am – 5 pm. Rain or shine. Voted a Top 10 Summer Event last year by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Grace Cottage’s Hospital Fair Day has also […]

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Mental Health Family Support Group Offered at Grace Cottage

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont (NAMI Vermont) is pleased to announce a new family support group that will be offered in Townshend from 6:30-8:00 p.m on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. The next meeting is August 14th. Grace Cottage has partnered with NAMI Vermont to offer the meeting at their Community […]

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Advance Care Planning: Why it’s Good to be Prepared

By Dr. Anne Brewer, Grace Cottage Hospital

I was a Girl Scout when I was young, and well I remember the Scout motto: Be Prepared. It’s applicable to many areas in life, including medicine.

One of the most important ways that a patient can be prepared is by completing an Advance Care Planning document.   

Advance Care Planning, also known as advance directives, offers all adults the opportunity to be prepared for a time when they cannot express their wishes about what type of care they want to receive. It allows them to give guidance to their family and medical care team in the event that they cannot speak directly for themselves because of terminal illness, serious injury, coma, dementia, or another situation.

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What Do You Know About E-Cigarettes?

By Dr. Elizabeth Linder, Grace Cottage Family Health Pediatrician

The use of e-cigarettes is a rising trend these days, for adults, but also particularly for teens. In just over a decade, this fad has grown into huge industry, with hundreds of thousands of users.

Use among teens has seen the fastest growth. The National Youth Tobacco Survey for 2011-15 shows that the rate among teens was 2% in 2011 and had risen to 16% just four years later. In 2015, more teens reported use of e-cigarettes than conventional cigarettes (15% vs. 11%). Nearly one in four Vermont middle- and high-school students have tried an e-cigarette.

If you are a parent, or any adult who takes care of, and cares for children, what do you need to know about e-cigarettes? Are they really a safe alternative to regular cigarettes? How do you talk to your kids about e-cigarettes?

First, you have to know the vocabulary.

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