August 5, 2015
Story by Kerri Robins: photo by Paul Rotzinger and courtesy Taylor Ferguson
Taylor Ferguson finds himself at peace these days thanks to a ‘heart-brain connection’ he made through the HeartMath program, with help from Alberta Health Services (AHS) Rural Addiction and Mental Health Services.
“The program is what I consider to be ‘eyes wide open’ meditation and positive affirmation,” says the 40-year-old Langdon man. “I started the program last spring and it helps me stay grounded and relieves stress and anxiety.”
HeartMath’s philosophy is that there is a direct link between emotions, brain function and heart rhythms which can be measured and displayed by electronic devices.
Stress or anxiety can cause negative emotions that cause the heart rate to change and increase. By learning to control the heart rate through breathing techniques and viewing the change on a sensor, clients learn to manage the stress in their lives.
Thanks to Airdrie Health Foundation, the program received $2,075 last April to purchase five sensors and five tablet computers — tools used as part of the HeartMath program.
The sensors monitor heart rate variability patterns – the variation in the time interval between heartbeats. Similar in look and size to a binder document clip, the sensor is attached to the earlobe on one end and connects on the other end to a tablet or smart phone that reads the heart rate variability through a free app that displays a graph pattern onscreen.
The goal in wearing the sensor is to see a regular or ordered graph pattern where the heart rate speeds up when breathing in and slows while breathing out.
Yvonne Harris, AHS Mental Health Outreach Worker, Addictions and Mental Health Services – Chestermere and a certified instructor of the program, says she’s passionate about HeartMath.
“We teach breathing techniques because they’re helpful as one way of facing stressful situations,” she says.
Introduced to AHS in 2008, 26 AHS staff have been trained as certified instructors of HeartMath.
“More than 4,000 people, including AHS staff, have participated in the program since it began,” says Harris. “It was one of the programs offered to communities and families affected by southern Alberta flooding in 2013.”
Michelle Bates, Chair of the Airdrie Health Foundation, says she’s happy to support this heart-healthy program.
“We’re excited to help Airdrie residents improve their well-being with funding to Airdrie Community Health Centre, and the tablets and sensors will support Airdrie and surrounding area residents.”
Ferguson is doing well and says he’s grateful to everyone who helped him create, “My positive heart ‘library’.
For more information, please visit airdriehealthfoundation.ca.
