Holiday Giving

Christmas treeThe Holidays are quickly approaching! The Christmas music has already started on the radio, parties are being planned and decorations have lit up the city everywhere. Suddenly, gifts come to mind. It can be an exciting part or an arduous task. I believe we would all like to spend the time buying gifts that will matter to our family and friends.

In a world where we have so much available to us, I wonder whether there are things people still need. It may not be material goods, but it might be time with family or it might be good health. If a loved one is in need of changing their lifestyle in order to improve their health, consider giving them personal training on land or in the pool. It will give them a chance to feel better and be encouraged in making necessary changes for a good-quality life.

To Wellness is proud to provide gift certificates for this holiday season!

Contact Ioana for more details!

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Rehabilitating joints with Aquatherapy

Rehabilitating aquatherapy

If you have had a joint replacement, aquatherapy is an amazing way to rehabilitate your joints and strengthen the muscles surrounding them. The water medium will help you improve the range of motion of the joint and therefore walk with a better gait. It will also help you strengthen the major muscles groups in your hip, upper and lower leg, such as quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, gluteus and gastrocnemius muscles.

In my aquatherapy sessions, I have mostly encountered hip and knee replacements, due to the stress that is placed on these joints over a long period of time. The wear and tear can occur from a few factors, including high-impact activities and disease. Doing a variety of physical activities ensures that you remain active but at the same time gives your lower body a chance to rest and recover. Even if you already have a joint replacement, consider alternating high-impact activities with cycling, swimming and aquafitness in order to protect your body from overuse or injury.

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Fitness is rewarding

Fitness is very rewarding! This month, think about the many benefits that fitness can give you. It will help you reach the goals you have in mind, which are your definitions of fit and healthy: playing with your grandchildren without flare-ups afterwards or being able to see nature up close and personal. Fitness prepares you for life and play, so that you can enjoy it fully and without pain!

Here is a personal example: hiking in Washington state, close to Seattle, at Rattlesnake Lake. My sister is a very fit runner, so I am glad I keep active in order to be able to keep up with her. The view at the top of the mountain was a beautiful reward. Keep in mind the pictures posted here when the workout gets hard because being fit gives you the chance to climb and enjoy the view!

Enjoying the viewHiking at Rattlesnake Lake

 

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Ultimate Toronto Business Directory

Ultimate Toronto - To Wellness

To Wellness can now be found in the Ultimate Toronto Business Directory at http://www.ultimatetoronto.com/premium/to-wellness/toronto.html! We have signed up under Health and Fitness&Sports sections. We hope that it will be easier for people who are looking for aquafitness, aquatherapy or personal training to find To Wellness and be on their way to better health.

 

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Global acknowledgement of water exercise benefits

The positive effects of water exercise are being acknowledged globally!Japanese flag

Thanks to a friend of mine, I had a chance to read some very positive results of a study published in Japan Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine in 2010. The authors looked specifically at the effects of aquatic exercise on the trunk muscles function and if the activities of the daily living improved. They had two groups of women: a group of 19 women with abdominal obesity and 15 women without abdominal obesity. Both groups trained in the water for 60min daily, 3 times a week, for 8 weeks. Although both groups showed positive results in some parameters, the obese group showed bigger improvements in lower body strength and activities of the daily living. This group also showed a significant improvement in core muscles endurance and abdominal circumference from when they first started.

The study suggests that when we have strong lower body and core muscles, we can do daily activities more easily, such as climbing, descending stairs and carrying groceries. Consider water exercise as a way to build your lower body and core muscles, so that daily living activities will be easier.

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Optimyz Live Health Expo

Optimyz Health Expo TorontoOn May 5th, Optimyz Live Health Expo opened its doors for a second show day in Toronto. It was an exhibition on health, fitness and active lifestyle, with a focus on runners and the upcoming marathon the following day. After browsing a few hours with my husband, we picked up a few flyers to take home with us and share the information with those interested in the products we noticed at the show. There were quite a few interesting inventions, such as cooling towels that do not need to be refrigerated; they cool down when you whirl them in the air.

We also found P28 bread and bagels, a new protein product, which we tried a couple of days later. They are baked with 28g of protein and make a good alternative to meat. I have found it sweet and chewy, so I would only have it with jam for breakfast or after a workout. The best product I bought were a set of Run Girl Run tops that are made right here in our province by Regatta Sports. They will come in handy while teaching or working out.

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Aquatherapy and aquafitness article makes it to the OKA

The Ontario Kinesiology Association found my article appropriate for their professional newsletter! This is so exciting! I am hoping that the kinesiologists who are part of the Association and receive this newsletter will consider water exercise for their clients, in fitness or rehabilitation. Here is the link to the Kinnection Magazine, where the article can be found on page 6. Enjoy!

http://www.oka.on.ca/uploads/Kinnection/Kinnection_Fall%20small%202011.pdf

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Making water exercise more visible in the community

Lansing Residence Fall Fair

The Uptown Sidewalk and Fall Fest community event at Lansing Residence were such wonderful opportunities to talk to members of two Torontonian communities about water exercise. For some it was the first time they had heard about it; for others it was encouraging to hear that they can have one-on-one sessions or classes in their building or close to their home! Gail Alexis from Lansing invited me to be part of their event and make the weekly class available to the residents.

 

 

Uptown Yonge Fall Fest

At the Uptown Sidewalk, Margaret Cheung from Anne Johnson Health Station graciously gave us some of their space in order to display articles, video and equipment. We had beautiful, sunny autumn days, where more people discovered aquafitness!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Welcome to The Path!

I believe wellness, in mind, body and spirit, is a journey. It can be a very different journey for each person. On my To Wellness journey, I strive to take care of myself while teaching others how to be well with a variety of programs. My goal is to protect my body, mind and spirit from disease, stress and negative emotions, while helping others find a way to incorporate exercise in their daily lives and keep fit in a fun way. Exercise should never feel boring, out of date or discouraging. Feel free to join me on this journey where each one of us finds a way to lead a healthier life, full of energy and excitement!

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