Poplar’s Blog

Your source for breathing, exercise and healthy living tips.

Subscribe to the Poplar Pulse Newsletter
Community Spotlight: Meet Mary
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Community Spotlight: Meet Mary

Mary is an active member of our Pulmonary Rehabilitation Fitness Club. She brings humour and a Caribbean vibe to each and every class! Enjoy this article and get to know Mary a little better as she shares her experiences and breathing strategies that have worked for her.

Read More
Finding Calm This Holiday Season: Stress Management for People Living With Chronic Lung Conditions and Their Caregivers
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Finding Calm This Holiday Season: Stress Management for People Living With Chronic Lung Conditions and Their Caregivers

For people living with chronic lung conditions, the holiday time of year can feel especially overwhelming.

This year, consider giving yourself permission to focus on what matters most: your health, your energy, and your peace of mind. Here are gentle, practical ways to support your well-being and navigate the season with more calm and confidence.

Read More
Prioritizing Your Indoor Air Quality
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Prioritizing Your Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality can quietly shape how we feel day to day — influencing our sleep, energy, and lung comfort.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, getting curious about what’s in your air is a great place to start.

Read More
Occupational Therapy & Lung Health: Making Daily Life Easier
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Occupational Therapy & Lung Health: Making Daily Life Easier

Living with a lung condition can be challenging, but you don’t have to face it alone.

Occupational therapists are experts at helping you make daily life easier, safer, and

more enjoyable. By combining OT strategies with respiratory therapy, you can save

your energy, protect your lungs, and keep doing the things you love.

Read More
Community Spotlight, Meet Kate!
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Community Spotlight, Meet Kate!

Let us introduce you to Kate. A Registered Respiratory Therapist with acute and primary care experience. She is a reader, a runner, and a fitness instructor at Poplar Pulmonary Wellness. Kate is an inspiration and sets a fabulous example of living a fit and full lifestyle. Let’s get to know her a little bit better.

Read More
Navigating Healthcare: Tips from the Inside
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Navigating Healthcare: Tips from the Inside

At Poplar, we’ve seen firsthand how challenging it can be to get the right care, especially when you’re managing a lung condition like COPD, Pulmonary Fibrosis, or Asthma. But we’ve also seen how a little preparation can make a huge difference.

We share our insider tips to help make your medical appointments go more smoothly.

Read More
Prioritizing Your Own Needs: Why Self-Care Deserves a Spot on Your Care Plan
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Prioritizing Your Own Needs: Why Self-Care Deserves a Spot on Your Care Plan

Managing your lung health comes with plenty of “must-dos”—medications, exercise, doctor’s visits, and inhaler checks. But here’s the thing: you aren’t just your lungs. You’re a whole person, and self-care should be an integral part of your plan.

Whether you're living with COPD, Asthma, Pulmonary Fibrosis or other chronic lung condition, looking after yourself is an important part of looking after your breathing.

Read More
Community Spotlight: Meet Kathy!
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Community Spotlight: Meet Kathy!

This June, we’ve decided to shine our Community Spotlight on Kathy! Kathy brings a wonderful sense of humour and upbeat energy to our exercise classes and to the Poplar community. Kathy has strong family support and a zest for life that keeps her active and outgoing, despite living with COPD. Kathy has faced some hurdles but as you’ll see, she finds ways to push forward and offers some valuable advice for others living with a chronic lung condition. Here is Kathy’s story.

Read More
Coping with Cough: The Emotional Weight of a Constant Companion
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Coping with Cough: The Emotional Weight of a Constant Companion

Whether due to bronchiectasis, COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, or another chronic respiratory condition, a persistent cough is more than just a physical symptom. It can feel like a constant interruption, an embarrassment, and at times, an invisible weight on your mental health.

Read More
Breathe Easy, Age Strong: How Fitness Fuels Healthy Aging with Chronic Lung Disease
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Breathe Easy, Age Strong: How Fitness Fuels Healthy Aging with Chronic Lung Disease

Movement is one of the most powerful tools we have to age well and to live well with chronic lung disease. Growing older brings its own challenges—but it also brings wisdom, resilience, and the opportunity to thrive in new ways. If you're living with a chronic lung condition like COPD, asthma, or pulmonary fibrosis, you might feel like your body is working against you. Exercise and moving more just might be the answer you’re looking for!

Read More
Community Spotlight: Meet Heather
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Community Spotlight: Meet Heather

We are pleased to introduce you to Heather, a member of Poplar’s team. Heather is our amazing marketing specialist. She is also the mother of a child with asthma. Learn more about Heather in this months’ community spotlight!

Read More
Community Spotlight: Meet Carol!
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Community Spotlight: Meet Carol!

Carol is a valued Fitness Club member living with COPD. Group support and exercise have helped her manage her breathing and mental health. Learn about Carol’s health journey and the tips she has for others living with chronic lung conditions.

Read More
Breathing Through the Difficult Conversations: End-of-Life Care Planning for Chronic Lung Conditions
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Breathing Through the Difficult Conversations: End-of-Life Care Planning for Chronic Lung Conditions

End-of-life planning isn’t about giving up—it’s about having a say. In this month’s blog, we explore how thoughtful planning can bring clarity, comfort, and dignity to those living with chronic lung conditions. We’ll guide you through the “why,” the “how,” and the support available in BC to help you make choices that reflect what matters most to you.

Read More
Celebrating World Breathing Day: A Breath of Relief for Those with Chronic Lung Conditions
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Celebrating World Breathing Day: A Breath of Relief for Those with Chronic Lung Conditions

On April 11th, World Breathing Day, we have a beautiful opportunity to honor the simple yet profound act of breathing, something we often take for granted until it becomes a challenge.

This day isn’t just a reminder of how vital our breath is, but also a chance to celebrate how we can learn to take control of it—whether we're managing asthma, COPD, Pulmonary Fibrosis or other lung condition. Today, let's explore how you can make the most of your breath and use it as a tool for better health and well-being.

Read More
Community Spotlight: Meet Dave!
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Community Spotlight: Meet Dave!

Meet Dave! While living with severe COPD can be challenging, Dave has found ways to continue living a productive and healthy lifestyle. Learn what keeps him going and read his advice for others living with a chronic lung condition.

Read More
Better Sleep for Better Breathing
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Better Sleep for Better Breathing

Sleep is essential for overall health, but for those living with chronic lung conditions such as COPD, asthma, or pulmonary fibrosis, getting a good night’s rest can be challenging. Poor sleep can exacerbate symptoms, weaken the immune system, and contribute to other health complications. Understanding how sleep affects lung health—and vice versa—can help individuals take proactive steps to improve their rest and well-being.

Read More
Community Spotlight: Meet Susan!
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

Community Spotlight: Meet Susan!

Susan is living with chronic lung disease but she doesn’t let that slow her down! She lives an active and healthy lifestyle. Read more about Susan and how joining a fitness group has helped her to live her best lung life!

Read More
The Gut Lung Connection
Tina Hsu Tina Hsu

The Gut Lung Connection

Did you know that there is a connection between your gut and your lungs? This is called the gut-lung axis. What you eat and the health of your gut can impact your lungs. Let’s find out what we can do to improve our gut health and our lung health. Living with COPD, Asthma, Pulmonary Fibrosis and other chronic lung conditions means taking care of your lungs. One breath, and one meal at a time.

Read More