Archive for Health & Wellness

| March 28, 2012
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Fitness is Fashionable

Wearing workout wear as casual wear in the ‘80s and today.

by Lauren Sena

From the 1980s to today, it seems that no matter what the fashion trends are, women find a way to incorporate workout wear into their everyday outfits. With the aerobics craze of the ‘80s, leg warmers, off-the-shoulder shirts, and tracksuits were stylish whether or not they were worn for exercise. Today, with gym-goers choosing workout attire based on comfort and technical features, the yoga pant has become common for exercise, as well as daily activities. While the trends have significantly changed, the line between gym wear and street wear continues to be blurred.

Leg Warmers

In 1981, the world’s first aerobic exercise video debuted. Aerobicise  displayed beautiful women exercising in colourful leg warmers and high-cut body suits. Its television (and Canadian) counterpart: 20 Minute Workout did the same thing. While both productions may have been better known for their sexuality rather than the actual workouts (an excess amount of shots from behind leads me to believe this), they nevertheless influenced workout wear. Diva Dancewear explains that leg warmers were originally worn by dancers to prevent muscle cramps and injuries. Aerobicise and 20 Minute Workout, however, turned them into a fashion statement. Jane Fonda’s workout videos and Olivia Newton-John’s song “Physical” also propelled this trend forward. Aside from wearing leg warmers for exercise, women wore them in public with tights, jeans, and miniskirts.

photo by Elephant Journal

Off-the-Shoulder Shirts

Pop culture was infused by the exercise craze, and its influence on fashion was unavoidable. The movie “Flashdance” started the off-the-shoulder trend with shirts, as worn by the main character who was an aspiring dancer. This trend quickly became a part of workout wear, and then casual wear. These shirts were layered over tank tops and smaller shirts, and worn with leggings, tight jeans, or miniskirts, according to nostalgic website Like Totally 80s. This trend has re-emerged in today’s fashion and is popular again as a casual trend.

Tracksuits

Tracksuits, especially those made from nylon, transitioned from being athletic warm-up gear to leisurewear in the 1980s for both women and men. Their plain designs were updated during this decade to be more decorative and fashion-forward. This trend of designers creating tracksuits as casual wear rather than as workout wear remains today. These tracksuits are comfortable, like those worn for athletics, but do not have the qualities that make them suitable for workouts. Juicy Couture’s velour and jewel-embellished tracksuits come to mind; their brand being described as “best known for ascending the tracksuit to its status as a casual luxury icon.”

Yoga Pants

Yoga pants were once specific to the workout, but are now worn for exercising in general. Today, it has become common for women to wear them for multiple occasions. While some people think this is a big fashion “don’t”, the comfort and ease of wearing yoga pants while out-and-about can’t be denied. Pairing them with boots or a cute jacket can take them from being workout wear to casual attire. Brands such as TNA  intentionally design their pieces to be easily adaptable from running on the treadmill to running errands. Their TNAction line uses antibacterial and fast-drying fabric accented with street wear elements, which makes it easy to integrate these pieces into your everyday wardrobe. Similarly, sweaters and pants made by lululemon are frequently sported by Canadian women outside of the gym. Warm hoodies meant to be worn pre- and post-workout, and stretchy, breathable yoga pants have made the company’s technical athletic apparel a favourite among college and university students.

photo by Lauren Sena, Toronto 2012

As long as women enjoy being comfortable during their day-to-day activities, the trend of wearing workout wear as casual wear will remain. To purchase fitness clothing (whether or not you plan to wear these pieces for working out), visit:

Energia Athletics
164 Danforth Avenue
416.406.6664

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| March 26, 2012
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In Defense of the Romance Novel

Julia Freeman-Woolpert, USA

An enthusiast explains why reading romance can be healthy

by Justine Jane Taft

Julia Freeman-Woolpert, USA

The other day I was channel-surfing when I came across Spongebob. So of course I stopped to watch. Imagine my surprise when Squidward was shown reading a romance novel and lamenting the unrealistic expectations that it gave him. At first I was highly entertained by the scene, but the more I thought about it, the more I was saddened by their portrayal of romance novels.

As a romance novel enthusiast, and an intern in the romance novel industry, it’s hard to hear people’s misconceptions of the romance genre. When we say ‘romance novel’, people often think of covers with beautiful women looking alluring with beautiful men who look good enough to eat. ‘Romance’ gets categorized as a fantasy, and unrealistic. For some of us this is a happy indulgence, and for others it is a dirty little secret on your bookshelf.

However, romance novels come in a much broader range of styles, and can go beyond the mass-market paperbacks peaking out at us from the corner store, or airport kiosk. For example Jane Austen’s novels are beautifully written romances, which are widely respected as great literary works. Literary or not they are still romances and ones that many people love.

The reality is that there is a romance novel for everyone. Whether you like the erotic novels, or the classic literary works, sci-fi or mystery novels with romantic subplots, no matter what your preference you can find a romance.

Ryan Day, USA

But why should you read them? Do they truly provide any benefit? The answer is yes. Why? Here are my three reasons.

1. Romance novels feed our imaginations and give the promise of ‘happily-ever-after’.

This promise can give you a more positive outlook on life. If you can believe in a happily-ever-after, you can find the strength and courage to get through the everyday mundane things that pull you down, and find the motivation to push through life’s truly trying times.

2. Instant Upper

Romance novels can help you in the long-term by improving your overall outlook. But you can also get an instant happy feeling when reading a romance novel. You can start a romance novel in a bad mood, but by the end you cannot help but feel a better (the exception being that if you’re feeling particularly down about being single a romance novel may just cause you to lament your single status further).

3. Erotic romance novels can be a great way to awaken your sexuality.

An erotic romance novel can be a great stimulus for personal gratification. Romance novels can also help you explore parts of your sexuality you may be too cautious to try in real life. When reading a romance novel you can indulge in any fantasy: a one-night stand with a handsome business man or be rescued from outlaws by a rough cowboy and make love under the stars. You can fall in love and marry the small town sheriff or find marital bliss with the prince of a small-fictional country, and every marriage within your imagination comes with mind-blowing intimacy, both physical and emotional.

Whether you want an aloof-yet-loving Mr. Darcy, or a rough and ragged sweetheart of a cowboy, if you look you will find that romance novels can bring joy and happiness into your life.

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| March 26, 2012
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Danforth Community Centre Roundup

Matthew Bowden, UK

Exercise your mind and body in your own backyard

by Chelsea Phelan-Tran

Shannon Pifko, Canada

Are you looking for a new and exciting way to get active, like Pilates, yoga, or Tai Chi? Have you ever wanted to learn a new skill, like woodworking? What about learning how to play an instrument? Or are you looking for a new hobby, like pottery, painting or drawing? Whether you’re looking to stimulate your mind or body — you can find what you’re looking for in your own neighbourhood, and the Danforth has a lot of interesting and unique classes to enjoy.

Matthew Bowden, UK

For example, the Matty Eckler Community Centre on Gerrard teaches Qigong. What is it? Qigong (pronounced Chee Gung) is sometimes referred to as “moving meditation,” or Chinese yoga. You have to memorize the moves in order to participate. You can simply follow the instructor since it’s not a choreographed sequence of movements. It is usually performed either standing or sitting in one place. Breathing is coordinated with slow, gentle movements and allows the “chi” to flow through the body’s energy channels and can help you calm down after a busy day.

The city of Toronto has created a ton of great activities for everyone in the family to enjoy, no matter what age. If you’re looking for something for the kids to do after school, or are looking at changing up your personal routine, you don’t have to look much further. Below is a compilation of what your local community centres have to offer.

Preschool: ages 3–5
Child: ages 6–11
Youth: ages 12–18
Adult: 18+

Earl Beatty Community Centre – 455 Glebeholme Boulevard. – (416) 392-0572
Near: Danforth Avenue/East of Coxwell
TTC Information: Travel to Coxwell Station. Exit station and walk north on Coxwell and then east on Glebeholme Boulevard to number 455.

· Arts and Crafts (Child)
· Ballet (Preschool)
· Fitness/Cardio (Adult)
· Pilates (Adult)
· Yoga (Adult)
· Ball/Floor Hockey (Child)
· Gymnastics (Child)
· Martial Arts (Child)
· Soccer (Child)
· T-Ball (Preschool)
· Swimming (All ages)

East York Community Centre – 1081 ½ Pape Avenue – (416) 396-2880
Near: Greenwood and Cosburn
TTC Information: Travel to Pape Station. Board the 25 Don Mills and travel to the far side of Torrens. Arrive at 1081 1/2 Pape Avenue.

· Arts & Craft (Preschool)
· Belly Dancing (Adult)
· Ballet (Preschool)
· Private Piano Lessons (Child)
· Pilates (Adult)
· Yoga (Adult & Child)
· Tai Chi (Adult)
· Ball/Floor Hockey (Child)
· Basketball (Child & Youth)
· Girls Only Sports (Youth)
· Soccer (Child & Preschool)

Fairmount Park Community Centre – 88 Bowmore Road – (416) 392-7060
Near: Gerrard, East of Coxwell
TTC Information: Travel to Coxwell Station. Board the 22 Coxwell and travel to Fairford. Walk east to 1757 Gerrard Street East.

· Arts & Crafts (Child)
· Ballet (Child & Preschool)
· Guitar (Child, Youth and Preschool)
· Pilates (Adult)
· Tai Chi (Adult)
· Yoga (Adult)
· Ball/Floor Hockey (Youth)
· Martial Arts (Child)
· Soccer (Child & Preschool)
· Swimming (All ages)

Frankland Community Centre – 816 Logan Ave. – (416) 392-0749
Near: Danforth & Logan
TTC Information: Travel to Chester Station. Exit station and walk south to Danforth Avenue, east to Logan and south to 816 Logan Avenue.

· Arts & Crafts (Preschool)
· Fine Arts (Child)
· Piano Lessons (Child)
· Basketball (Child)
· Gymnastics (Preschool)
· Swimming (All ages)

Sarah Lewis, USA

Main Square Community Centre – 245 Main Street – (416) 392-1070
Near: Main & Danforth
TTC Information: Travel to Main Street Station. Exit the station and walk south to 245 Main Street.

· Arts & Crafts (Preschool)
· Ballet (Child & Preschool)
· Break Dancing (Child & Youth)
· Jazz (Child & Preschool)
· Hip Hop (Child & Youth)
· Drama (Child & Youth)
· Painting (Adult)
· Drawing (Child)
· Cake Decorating (Adult)
· Private Guitar Lessons (Child)
· Private Piano Lessons (all ages)
· Pilates (Adult)
· Tai Chi (Adult)
· Yoga (Adult, Child, Youth)
· Girls’ Club (Child)
· Martial Arts (Child)
· Sports (Preschool)
· Swimming (All ages)

Matty Eckler Community Centre – 953 Gerrard Street East – (416) 392-0750
Near: Pape & Gerrard
TTC Information: Travel to College Station. On the eastbound side of Carlton board the 506 Carlton and travel to Pape. Walk east to 953 Gerrard Street East

· Pottery (Adult & Child)
· Arts & Crafts (Preschool)
· Ballet (Child)
· Break Dancing (Child)
· Ballet (Preschool)
· Hip Hop (Child)
· Woodworking (Adult & Child)
· Magic (Child)
· Drawing (Child)
· Private Guitar Lessons (All ages)
· Private Drumming Lessons (Child)
· Private Piano Lessons (All ages)
· Pilates (Adult)
· Tai Chi (Adult)
· Qigong (Adult)
· Yoga (Adult & Child)
· Computers (Child)
· Ball/Floor Hockey (Child)
· Basketball (Child)
· Gymnastics (Child & Preschool)
· Martial Arts (Child)
· Soccer (Child & Preschool)
· Karate (Preschool)
· Swimming (All ages)

If you are interested in playing tennis close to home, there are two courts open to the public.

1. Riverside Park East – West of Broadview Avenue, South of Moncrest Boulevard
2. Withrow Park – South of McConnell Avenue, between Logan and Carlaw

Category: Health & Wellness | Tags: , , , , , ,
| March 22, 2012
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Profile: Shawn Adams

Archery

Archery instructor shares why this ancient art is gaining new momentum in 2012.

by Amanda Grinstead

If you’re looking to try something new and fun on the Danforth, archery classes with Shawn Adams are right on the mark! On the Danforth spoke with Adams to learn more about the growing popularity of this sport and how he got his start in the business.

On The Danforth: How did you become involved with archery?
Shawn Adams: I was working at a medieval fair in Michigan. I saw an exhibit for archery and wanted to learn more about it.

OTD: What motivated you to start teaching archery lessons?
SA: Well, being a student and teaching it went hand in hand. I was giving medieval talks at Casa Loma, and they asked me if I could do some archery classes. In 2007, I took a lot of courses and received coaching from a top coach in Ottawa and made archery my life that year. I immersed myself in it.

OTD: Do you think archery is a sport that everyone can enjoy and excel at? Why?
SA: Yes. It is something anyone can excel at. Just about anyone can reach a fairly high level as long as they apply themselves and are determined. There’s something strangely exhilarating about it, and there’s a romantic factor with archery. We all had an ancestor involved with archery at one point or another. We all had an ancestor who probably used a bow. You can’t say the same about a hockey stick or a tennis racket, because those sports weren’t part of our survival.

OTD: What skills do you teach in your classes?
SA: I teach students about body positioning. Just about every reflex we have with archery is wrong. Students walk in and usually focus on the target, and that’s what they care about. But their body positioning is the key factor.

OTD: Where do you host your classes and how many weeks do the programs run for?
SA: I teach classes out of Eastminster United Church (310 Danforth Avenue) and at Casa Loma. I teach weekly sessions on Wednesdays at Eastminster United from 6:30-9:30 pm and the programs are monthly.

OTD: What is the average cost of your classes and workshops?
SA: It is $80 if you have your own equipment and $100 with a bow rental.

OTD: Is there a growing number of people joining archery? Why do you think that is?
SA: Definitely! The media is really pushing archery this year. There are a lot of movies coming out this year with strong archery content; where the main character is an archer. There’s The Hunger Games, the Pixar movie Brave and The Avengers’ character Hawkeye also uses a bow. I’ve already had some people join my classes because of The Hunger Games. They read the novels and it inspired them. So I think movies will be a very powerful factor this year. Interest is also greater because of the Olympics this summer since archery is one of the sports in the Games. Archery is getting a lot of attention in the media.

OTD: What is the best way to contact you with questions and sign up for classes?
SA: I can be reached by email at shawnsarchery@yahoo.com or through the Facebook page: Shawn’s Archery Instruction Toronto.

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| March 21, 2012
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Healthy Winter Nutrition

Lettuce

Winter does not mean the end of the growing season in Ontario. Do your body some good in the winter by choosing from these available fresh options and avoiding foods that do nothing for you.

by Amy Postma

A good balanced diet is a big help in keeping our moods up during the long winter months. Just because the ground is frozen or covered with snow does not limit the fresh food options growing in Canada from which to choose for a healthy diet. Registered Holistic Nutritionist Kim Baumgartl-Purslow recommends root vegetables, including sweet potatoes, potatoes, and parsnips. They are all available as fresh options during the winter months. These hearty vegetables are excellent foundations for tasty soups, stews, and casseroles. Foodland Ontario’s availability guide  is a great resource for determining what fresh foods are growing in the winter and lists beets, carrots, and onions, among others, as available in the winter months. When fresh options seem sparse, there are always stored fruit and vegetable options lining the grocery store shelves as well.

photo by Barbara Saul, United Kingdom, 2006

Another important thing to remember is to avoid foods that do your body no good. Baumgartl-Purslow recommends avoiding refined foods like white bread as well as commercial cookies, cereals, and cakes. These foods can disrupt your blood-sugar levels and will “lead to insomnia, fatigue, and irritability,” she explains, adding little to your body nutritionally and instead using up your body’s stores of vitamins and minerals. She advises balancing your diet with essential fats, phospholipids, amino acids, and antioxidant rich vitamins and minerals as well as keeping your glucose (sugar) levels balanced to stabilize your mood. Todo this, you would have to include adding fish and green leafy vegetables to your diet or look for vitamin and mineral supplements.

In addition, combining exercise with proper nutrition “can allow for a more alert mind, better sleep, and a more balanced mood day to day,” Baumgartl-Purslow mentions, in effect giving you the energy to enjoy every part of your life. To really take proper care of your health during the winter months with proper nutrition, one must also avoid excessive caffeine, such as in coffee, tea, and chocolate, as they can “negatively affect your mood as they are stimulants that disrupt the proper functioning of the mind,” adds Baumgartl-Purslow.


Finally, one last way to maintain a balanced diet in the winter is to make sure you are getting good brain-functioning nutrients, including Vitamin B and C, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and zinc. Baumgartl-Purslow explains: “You can get many of these nutrients by making sure you are eating between 5 and 7 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, as well as including nuts, seeds, whole grains, and beans.” She suggests considering supplementation if fresh food options are hard to come by, as our food options today are lacking in vitamins and minerals compared to the available foods of decades before. A good quality multivitamin that includes all of the above listed vitamins and minerals are a beneficial addition to a diet that is otherwise lacking fresh food, especially in the winter.

If you consider all that Ontario has to offer in terms of nutrition, even in the winter months, and combine a fresh diet with these extra tips for boosting your wellness, anyone can enjoy a healthy, balanced diet all year long.

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| March 19, 2012
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Dog Parks in the Danforth

Anthony Burns, UK, http://www.sxc.hu/photo/706494

Where you and your furry friend can go to enjoy some healthy activities

by Chelsea Phelan-Tran

Anthony Burns, UK, http://www.sxc.hu/photo/706494

Now that spring is on its way, we can start removing all the layers, and start enjoying the outdoors with our best friends—our dogs. Spring is the perfect time to go for walks, and you know your furry friend is going to want to tag along.  Dog-walking is a great way to get exercise. The cardio is good for you, as well as your dog, and since dog parks offer large areas for your pets to run and play freely, they are great if you want to play fetch, throw a ball or a Frizbee around.

After a long winter, dog parks can also lift spirits. Dogs thrive on socializing with other dogs and dog parks are the perfect places to provide that important interaction. And while your dog is making new friends, you can too. Dog parks offer a great way to socialize with other owners and people in your community, and allows you the opportunity to learn interesting facts about different breeds, the best dog foods available, canine behavior, and where the best veterinarians are in the area.

Take advantage of these dog parks on a regular basis and you can enjoy a happier, healthier pet.

Here are some of the greatest dog parks in the Danforth area. Some are leash-free and some are not, so make sure that you read the signs before letting your dog roam free.

Red – Greenwood Park (150 Greenwood Avenue) CDW/FEN

Orange – Merrill Bridge Road Park (1 East Lynn Avenue)

Yellow – Norwood Park (16 Norwood Road) CDW/FEN

Green – Gerrard Carlaw Parkette (855 Gerrard St. E) CDW/FEN

Blue – Cassels Avenue Playground (69 Cassels Avenue) CDW

Purple – Oakcrest Park (30 Oakcrest Avenue)

Black – Wildwood Crescent Playground (110 Wildwood Crescent) FEN

CDW – Commercial Dog Walkers allowed

FEN – Fenced Park

Always remember to poop and scoop! We all know what it’s like to step in poop and it’s not fun, and it’s very important that we keep these parks looking great every time we visit.

You can get biodegradable poop bags with easy tie handles or compostable poop bags made from 100% corn-based renewable resources from PoopBag. You can purchase them online or at a pet store near you:

Whatta Pup! – W8 – 388 Carlaw Ave.

Paws & Claws Gerrard – 1000 Gerrard St. E.

Furballs Pet Stuff – 1618 Gerrard St. E.

Pet Valu – Toronto – 869 Danforth Ave.

and many more!

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| March 16, 2012
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Dietary Restrictions and St. Paddy’s Day

St. Paddy's Health

Vegan, non-alcoholic, and gluten-free options for your favourite Irish holiday

by Justine Jane Taft
 

It’s St. Patrick’s Day, which for most people means toasting to their heritage with a pint of beer. But what about people who can’t indulge in the usual fare? Here are a few alternatives for three common diet limitations.

Celiac/Gluten-free

Celiacs can’t have gluten, which unfortunately is present in barley and other kinds of wheat that go into making most beers. While you may not be able to have the common beer, you can try alternatives like Carolans Irish Cream, which contains no wheat or gluten (unlike its competitor Bailey’s) and has 17 % alcohol. This is great to add to coffee or tea, or to drink mixed with milk poured over ice.

Vegetarian or Vegan

Sometimes in the filtering process, beer and wine can come in contact with gelatine, egg whites, sea shells and other things. These work well to remove impurities, but are not friendly to a vegetarian or vegan diet. The best thing you can do is check a company’s FAQ site, or email them to ask. It may take some time, but eventually you’ll have a list of great drinks that are animal-friendly. You can also check out barnivore.com. They have a comprehensive list of what is or isn’t vegan- and vegetarian-friendly; two of their vegan-friendly listed beers include Nova Scotia’s Alexander Keith’s and Toronto’s own Steam Whistle.

Alcohol-Free

Whether it’s an allergy, pregnancy, or you just don’t like to indulge in alcohol, there are plenty of other festive drinks you can have. Try adding green food coloring to lemonade, or make any of your favourite drinks alcohol-free.

For an Irish-specific drink, you can also try a non-alcoholic shillelagh cocktail. A shillelagh is an Irish walking stick that doubles as a club.

Shillelagh

Ingredients: 1 tsp of lemon juice
1 tsp powdered sugar
4 oz of peach juice
2 raspberries
Directions: Pour lemon and peace juice into a shaker, add the powdered sugar and shake well. Strain into a glass over ice. Add raspberries to garnish.

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| March 14, 2012
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Lose weight without sacrificing your favourite foods

photo by Sanja Gjenero, Croatia, 2009.

MyFitnessPal, an online calorie-counter and daily exercise journal. We put this free weight-loss tool to the test.

by Cassandre Cadieux

Is it your goal to look and feel better? You’re not alone. According to the Heart and Stroke foundation, more than 36% of Canadians are overweight, and over 23% are obese. That means a majority of the population is in danger of developing heart-related or other illnesses, merely because of weight issues. There are hundreds of reasons why weight is the furthest thing from everyone’s minds, but what Canadians need to know are some simple tricks to weight loss that work: moderation and paying attention to what we are putting in our bodies.

photo by Sanja Gjenero, Croatia, 2009.

MyFitnessPal (MFP) is an online tool that allows its users to track what they are eating and what they are burning off everyday. The concept is simple: users input their fitness goals and the website automatically calculates how many calories, carbohydrates, and other nutrients they should be consuming on a daily basis to reach their goals. Exercise can also be logged into the system, and the calories burned are taken into account on daily food allowances. That means that if you input that you did 30 minutes of circuit training and burned 350 calories, the system updates your daily calorie intake to include those extra calories. It even has a free app available for download on any smartphone or tablet to help with easy food and exercise tracking on the go. This means that while you’re doing yoga or grabbing a quick lunch, you can input the information on the spot without having to remember it later in the day. MFP’s simplicity makes it easy to integrate into your daily routine while also teaching users that they can still eat the food they love even if that includes shortbread cookies, as long as it’s in moderation.

photo by Cienpies, Uruguay, 2009.

Like other calorie-counting websites, MFP includes a social media tool that allows users to meet other people from all over the world and share their weight loss journey with them. It is unique in the fact that it is much more like Facebook than a blog or forum, creating a sense of community. Users can interact with ease and about anything, discussing topics outside of weight loss, such as their obsession with karaoke. Unlike calorie-tracking websites, MFP isn’t complex and is suitable for users who are on the move and need something easy to navigate, with no complicated bells and whistles.

It takes some effort to achieve your goals, but MFP makes a calorie-counting lifestyle a pleasant experience as it is more than just dieting: it is a social affair. With MFP, your body will be beach-ready in no time.

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| March 12, 2012
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Swimming The Extra Mile

Woman in pool

Hitting the pool for a new kind of workout

by Sabrina Medora

When you think of swimming, you usually associate the activity with summertime, beach balls, tanning, and the occasional fear of chlorine-damaged hair. How many people consider it during the fall and winter as a great workout and a de-stressor? Here’s why you should:

Workout for the whole body

What other exercise improves stamina, tones muscles, increases cardiovascular endurance, strengthens abs, and helps with flexibility and posture?  Swimming does all of those with just a few daily, dedicated laps around a pool.

Stress-buster

If you’ve had a rough day at work, there’s nothing like propelling your arms through the water and free-style swimminging furiously. You can swim fast or slow, but either movement will help relax you. Swimming helps you clear the mind as focus remains on rhythmic movement, which is meditative. Water is a calming element and it keeps noise and distraction at bay.

Low-impact activity

When running, jumping rope, or even doing Pilates, the body is constantly jostling and pounding. While the muscles are exercising, the joints are hurting. Exercising in water provides buoyancy while being low-impact, allowing you to tone your muscles without damaging your joints. Fun fact: this is also why swimming is considered ideal for people suffering with osteoporosis!

Resistance Training

While swimming, the arms and legs must work against the water, pushing forward no matter how gently. This helps to tone muscles and build endurance simultaneously. This resistance also prevents sudden, jerky movements that often result in injury while exercising on land.

Breathe Right

Building up a good cardiovascular endurance is essential. It provides more energy, stronger lungs, and higher tolerance for physical activity. A strong heart helps to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and helps you feel healthier and younger. Swimming conditions the lungs and heart and improves their functioning in a safer manner than any other exercise.

Calorie Buster

Swimming may not burn as many calories in one exercise as running, but it is better for health and weight-loss in the long run. As endurance grows, the ability to swim faster and longer builds as well and more calories are burned. Combine this with the muscle power your arms, legs, and glutes gain from resistance training in the water and your body will look leaner and healthier. In addition, you can swim everyday with minimal risk of injury, while running or biking daily can do damage to the body.

Have fun!

Most exercises can become monotonous after awhile. Listening to music while exercising doesn’t necessarily distract the mind, but often lets it wander to other stressful thoughts about the day. Swimming has a calmer, healthier effect but it’s also fun! Everybody loves being a water-baby!

So the next time you consider shelling out the big bucks for a yoga pass or braving the inclement weather for a run, try a pool instead!

 

This article was contributed by the Wellness Section of On Top (www.ontopmag.wordpress.com)

Category: Health & Wellness | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
| March 7, 2012
2 comments

The Importance of Sleep

photo by Adrian, Canada, 2006.

Looking at the negative implications of sleep deprivation.

by Stacey Philipp

photo by Adrian, Canada, 2006.

As the hours, days, and weeks fly by, there is no doubting the realization that there are not enough hours in the day. We take care of our bodies in endless ways: eating right, exercising, taking vitamins, and avoiding smoking. Yet, despite these positive acts, many of us tend to overlook the most important act of all: getting a good night’s sleep.

In between all of our daily tasks, it can sometimes be challenging to allocate the required eight hours a day meant for sleep. Admittedly, we have all decided to forgo a few hours of rest in favour of partaking in social activities or trying to meet important deadlines. However, it is not an exaggeration to say that sleep is essential for the healthy functioning of our bodies.

Harvard Medical School advocates the importance of sleep by focusing on these negative implications that can arise due to lack of rest:

Metabolism and Weight: Despite best efforts to eat healthy and exercise, weight gain can occur when sleep deprivation is a common occurrence. When we do not get enough sleep, our bodies cannot properly process and store carbohydrates, which cause the weight gain.

Mood: You might be finding yourself getting annoyed with your family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers. A lack of sleep can cause irritability, impatience, and moodiness.

Disease: Depriving your body of sleep can alter the proper functioning of your immune system. You can become more susceptible to illnesses due to a lower amount of white blood cells. Surprisingly, sleeping can even help fight cancer!

Safety: A lack of sleep increases the risk of becoming tired throughout the day. If your body is heavily craving extra hours of shuteye, continuing to push through the daylight hours could result in falling asleep at inappropriate times, such as while cooking food on the stove or even driving.

A comfortable mattress and a proper pillow are fundamental elements in sleeping well at night. Here on the Danforth you can visit Sleep Country Canada at 745 Danforth Avenue to purchase these products!

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