Exercise and Fitness Trends – Adding Something a Little Different to your Workouts

Sometimes a new year inspires us to shake things up a bit and try new things. And often, changing things up on the workout scene brings changes to your body and your fitness by forcing you to adapt to new movements and new cardiovascular challenges. If you are looking to add a little inspiration to your workout, why not try one of the following workout trends. Parkour This training style is an...Read more

Sport and Physical Activity to De-Stress the Holidays

From our team to yours, wishing you all the best of the holidays and a Happy New Year! We look forward to empowering sport through knowledge in 2018! The holiday season is a wonderful time of year when family and friends get together to celebrate the joys life brings. For some, however the holidays can be a stressful time planning and/or attending social events, finishing up the year’s work,...Read more

Exercise Offers Protection against Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability among older people. Previously thought to have been the result of joints wearing out, this chronic degenerative joint disease is the outcome of a combination of different factors. Pain, inflammation, stiffness, muscle weakness, and joint instability are all symptoms of the disease and can impact daily quality of life. As both the population age...Read more

The Truth about “Sitting Kills”

Between productivity losses and direct healthcare costs, the worldwide economic burden of physical inactivity was $67.5 billion in 2013. People aren’t moving enough and are sitting too much, contributing to what many call a global pandemic of physical inactivity. Results from studies in Western countries show that in general, people spend the majority of their waking time sedentary, and few meet...Read more

Why Those Who Exercise Have a Good Head on Their Shoulders

Exercise doesn’t just improve physical health: it also benefits brain health through increased brain function and resistance to neurodegenerative diseases. One of the key players in this relationship is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). What is Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)? Neuroplasticity involves modifying the functions of neurons and the different connections within the...Read more

How Can You Adapt Your Exercise Plans to Your Travel?

Be it for business or for pleasure, travelling often shakes up your normal schedule. Meals, sleep, and fitness routines change to accommodate meetings or activities. Travel doesn’t need to set you back from your fitness goals, though. There are several strategies you can use while on the road to help you stay in shape without your usual equipment or regimen. Depending on your current physical...Read more

HIITing the Gym: The Science of High Intensity Interval Training

Key Points: For sedentary populations, HIIT is the most time efficient – not necessarily the best – training type to increase aerobic and anaerobic capacity Elite athletes can include HIIT training to improve their lactate response and improve performance even after hitting a VO 2 max plateau There remain many questions about how HIIT works, best practices, and its real-world applicability High-...Read more

Mom and Me: Active Lifestyles Begin at Home!

A physically active lifestyle begins to develop early in childhood. Almost 31% of Canadian children and youth 5-19 years of age are overweight or obese and if the current trends continue, by 2040, 70% of 40-year-olds will be overweight or obese . The importance of physical activity at an early age does, however, give us an idea of possible strategies to target the widespread physical activity...Read more

Beating the Winter Blues

With the cold weather and shorter daylight hours, many people struggle with their mood and behaviour. Less sunlight, reduced access to physical activity and a general feeling of lethargy seem to build on each other to affect behaviours. The cold, dark days of winter may cause shifts in sleep, eating and energy. It may be just a case of the ‘winter blues’ or it may be full on Seasonal Affective...Read more

Why not FALL for a new fitness routine!!

Looking to start a new fitness program? Why wait until the new year? Fall is a great time to either start a new fitness routine or shake up your current routine in preparation for the festive times in the coming months. Autumn weather offers a number of indoor and outdoor opportunities that active individuals can take advantage of to make changes from summer routines. And why not take the...Read more