Archive for the 'Stress' Category

Meditation for Moms – or anyone who doesn’t want to lose their mind.

And you know exactly what I am referring to.

If you’re a new mom, there comes a point when you give up trying to “keep up” and give in to reality. Your life has changed, permanently. And it’s not going to get any easier either. This is true. There must be a way to cope.

If you are more of a veteran like myself, you have come to this conclusion probably years ago, but just accepted that craziness is the new norm and everyone yells at their kids trying to get them out the door for school, don’t they?

Well not anymore and at least not this mom. Read the rest of this entry »

Creating balance in your pregnancy and postpartum. By team member – Carla Parchment

“Everything is energy that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way.  This is not philosophy. This is physics.”  – Albert Einstein

There is a shift taking place when it comes to pregnancy and birth in our modern culture. The truth about birth is returning to the light and is being embraced by more and more women and their families.

Many mothers-to-be are reclaiming their natural rite of passage. “Our children deserve to be brought into the world with trust, gentleness and love. ” Read the rest of this entry »

Training your body as a “whole” – By team member: Alycia Spadafora

I personally believe in training our bodies as a whole. What do I mean by that? To train whole means to incorporate not only our physical body but also our mental and emotional bodies into our workouts. How our physical body reacts to our chosen lifestyle (good or bad) is a direct reflection of how our minds feel. Lets take a look at each element in more detail.

Physical: the things we can see, feel and touch

We are very familiar with our physical body, especially after we have a baby. The postpartum body can be difficult for some when the media does an extensive job on examining what is accepted as “beautiful” or “normal”. We often compare ourselves to others and expect our bodies to transform instantly. Working out is not just a quick fix it’s a lifestyle change. It takes time and hard work to succeed. So when you’re looking through magazines and watching what seems like perfection, don’t sit there and compare.  How can you compare your beginning to someone else’s ending?  Read the rest of this entry »

A moms dream!! Increase your energy and mood in 60 seconds flat! – By team member: Donna Foster-Larocque

As we head into the third month of the winter season, you might find your energy level is low and that you feel tired or simply exhausted all the time! If you’re like me, you’re also looking forward to waking up to warmer weather and to more sunshine!

But there are ways that you can kick start your body to increase your energy level and improve your mood in just 60 seconds! Yes, you read correctly, in just 60 seconds you can improve your overall mental and physical health.

First, let’s focus on some tips to help improve you mentally. Read the rest of this entry »

Pregnant? Exhausted? Don’t give up!! by team member: Lisa Mawas

I have a client who I see once a week at her home but is also a member at the same gym I go to where she does classes three times a week. I love when we do the same class at the gym because we both motivate each other. She is 5 years younger than me and is extremely strong and fit. We both like to kick it up a notch and will start adding in high intensity alternatives when we want an extra challenge during the class. She is not a fitness professional but certainly looks like one! Sometimes she’ll follow my lead and other times I will follow hers. We both have young kids who use up a lot of our physical and emotional energy, so when we see each other at the gym,  we are usually looking for an exercise class that will set us straight and wake us up for the day. Read the rest of this entry »

Recovery….from injury or birth. Patience is key – by team member Angela Paton.

When I started this blog I was feeling good, back to a regular workout schedule and able to run a 5k minimum … then it all went downhill.

Let me explain.  A year ago I was in a car/bike accident and unfortunately I was the one on the bike.  This left me with multiple injuries that even with intensive physiotherapy are still lingering. Now when I run a 5km it is enough to set my hip/glute off and cause me enough pain that it impacts my performance.  With a 5km run coming up in a week [and PAID for!], this is quite possibly the worst time for this injury to rear its ugly head again.  Frustration at this slow recovery and annoyance at myself for running are my immediate feelings.  Of course, running is not the issue, the effects from the accident are lingering.  I’ve had to go through a process of getting back to therapy and taking workouts down to a simple walking/stretching program.  I felt like I had to take ANOTHER step back and this is so frustrating!!! Read the rest of this entry »

The challenge of baby #2! – by team member: Lisa Mawas.

I have a few clients who just gave birth to their second child. They are finding it much more difficult than the first time around. They are super exhausted because their newborn is feeding every 2 hours, and sleep isn’t an option after that early morning 5 am feeding since they have to get up with the other child soon after. These women are also finding no time for themselves in their 24-hour day. Taking a shower and eating a proper meal seem like a luxury, let alone finding an hour in the day to exercise.

Luckily that is where I come in! Not only do I arrive at their house with a smile on my face and fun and new workouts to get them back in shape, I am also a good sounding board. As a mother of 2 boys born 22 months apart, I can emphasize with them and I understand what they are going through. Ninety days is what I always say. Get through the first 90 days of the new baby’s life and things start to get easier. The baby is (hopefully) now on somewhat of a routine, feeding and taking naps and going to bed at a regular time.  You have time to check your emails and maybe even colour your hair! WOW.  Read the rest of this entry »

Playing with your kids isn’t all “fun and games” – By team member: Lisa Mawas

Being a Mother and a Personal Trainer that specializes in Pre and Post Natal women, I understand the importance of exercise. Not only does it keep me sane and help relieve stress, it is also a huge energy booster.  As an avid exerciser, I work out at least 5 times a week, whether it is core conditioning, strength training or cardio. I find that I have a more positive outlook on the day once my workout is complete.

Weekends, on the other hand, are considered family time and I don’t usually work out.  Nonetheless, the weekends are exhausting! As a mother to 2 young and rambunctious boys (Zachary is almost 6 and Matthew is 4), going outdoors and playing with them is necessary.  They have so much energy so we always have to be doing something active. This weekend was no different. We decided to have a “sports day” and headed across the street to the park. The boys rode their bikes and my husband and I took bags and bags with all their hockey gear, soccer ball and basketball. Read the rest of this entry »