Continuing Education - Cannabis Competency Certificate

As a fitness professional I never stop learning.  There's always new research, information and improvements that are being made to our existing knowledge base.  Every year I take the time to learn a new skill and/or update my knowledge of fitness related topics.  I want to be the best trainer that I can be, and that means staying relevant. 

Last year (2020), I completed my 200hr Yoga teacher training, which has been such a wonderful addition to my fitness practice.  This year (2021), I decided to complete my certification in cannabis competency. Since the legalization of cannabis in Canada, many of my clients have asked me about the effect of cannabis use on exercise. If THC or CBD based cannabis therapies were better for certain ailments? Was it better to smoke, vape, ingest or use topical treatments?  Honestly, I did not know the answers so I set to find out.  

I registered for the CanEdEm certification that is offered to to Healthcare Professionals (including nurses, chiropractors, PSWs) and found a great source of information that allowed me to fill in my knowledge gaps and now I feel much better prepared for conversations with my clients regarding the use of cannabis.  

The areas of discussion that I found most relevant for the fitness industry and my clients, was the use of CBD oil for reducing inflammation (e.g. reducing recovery time) and pain relief (minor injuries).  

Besides uses for the fitness industry, I also found the use of cannabis for the treatment of medical conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, PTSD, etc... fascinating. When used properly, cannabis can be quite a wonderful healthcare tool. 

In summary, if you have any questions about cannabis and fitness, or cannabis use in general, feel free to reach out to me.  I offer a judgement free space and promise to do my best to guide you through this often confusing field.     

Running on in 2021

To say that Covid-19 had put a damper on the 2020 and 2021 running seasons would be an understatement.  From full on lockdowns, gyms closures and race cancellations, it was difficult to keep up a running program this past year.   The last race I did was the Chilly half-marathon in early March 2020 - before the world changed.  Alas, with the widespread vaccination of the general population, life and training appears to be slowly returning to normal.   People are running and racing again, and it is such a wonderful feeling.   Although there are still some race restrictions and modifications (e.g. staggered starting times, reduced in person capacity, live/virtual events) elite athletes and average people are signing up for events and getting back to their training plans on a consistent basis.  

While I normally look forward to running the CRS Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon events in a live race format, I took part in the virtual half-marathon on Oct 18, 2021.  It felt really great to be sharpening my running legs again. The feeling of sticking to and completing a race plan is so good, both physically and mentally. I managed to drop those extra covid pounds I put on in lockdown, and I just felt generally happier throughout my day.  Hence the smile running gives me:

Moving forward, the Abbott World Major Marathons have all re-commenced this fall. The Chicago marathon was held this month and it looks like they will all go ahead again in 2022.   Now that the land border with the USA is open to Canadians, and with the formal recognition of the Astra Zeneca vaccination (which I received) by the US Center for Disease Control, I can finally re-apply for admission for the Chicago Marathon, which I qualified for back in 2019, and was supposed to run in 2020.... but, you know, covid happened. 

I'm so pleased to announce that I've been formally accepted for the 2022 Chicago marathon! 

Hopefully, the upcoming winter will be kind to us runners, and we will all have a long awaited training block ahead of us this year.  Here's to happy and healthy run training ahead of us. 

If you're looking for any running advice or need help laying out a training plan for the 2022 racing season, please reach out, I'd love to help any runners get back on track.   Remember, we are all in this together. 

Ride for Heart 2021

Sunday, June 6, 2021, I Rode for Heart. Normally cyclists would get to take over the Gardiner and DVP for a 25km-75km ride, but nothing has been normal this past year. So I decided to ride my mountain bike off road instead in beautiful and scenic Albion Hills Conservation Area in Caledon, Ontario.

I'm still accepting donations for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, it's not too late to donate (they are being accepted until June 11). Please help me reach my goal of $1000. Click on the link below:

https://secure-support.heartandstroke.ca/site/TR/F21DP2P/DP2P2021?px=1018608&pg=personal&fr_id=7633

Thanks to those who have donated so far. As you can see below, I've attached my Strava map of my ride. It was only 20km this year, but rolling hills, gravel & dirt trails are much tougher to ride than smooth pavement. However, this triathlete is learning some trail cycling skills to add to her resume. And it was soooo good to be outside riding again after a long lockdown.

Summer Fitness Plans

The weather has finally changed and it feels almost like summer in Ontario now.   I'm excited to be getting back outside with my clients.  However, my personal training sessions will still have to follow public health guidelines.  From what the provincial government has announced thus far, here is what we can expect:

In phase 1, (hoping to start on June 14) outdoor fitness of up to 10 people will be allowed.  Indoor gyms and fitness studios will remain closed.  Further re-opening dates TBD based on vaccination rates and hospitalization/infection rates.    

This means that I will be able to meet my clients in outdoor settings, including backyards, public parks and running tracks.  So if you're suffering zoom fatigue, we can move outside again for training. Hooray!  Please contact me directly in order to indicate your preference.  I will still be continuing on zoom for the foreseeable future if you prefer this option, including my Tuesday and Thursday classes.  

I know this disruption to our routines has been frustrating and unsettling, but we are almost at the end of the tunnel, and we can see the light in the darkness.  Stay strong and focussed, we'll be able to return to normal again soon. 

Spring Fitness Classes

Spring is just around the corner and I've updated my weekly class schedule to meet my clients requests. 

Besides my regular Pilates and Yoga classes, I'm adding a heart pumping Cardio Kickboxing class to my schedule.  How exciting! 

Also, I've added a 5:30pm time slot (in addition to the 8pm time slot) for those who would like to workout a little earlier in the evening.  

The spring schedule for March, April & May are as follows:

Tuesday 5:30pm - Cardio Kickboxing

Tuesday 8:00pm - Yin Yoga 

Thursday 5:30pm - Vinyasa Yoga 

Thursday 8:00pm - Pilates 

All classes are on Zoom, with a drop in fee of $15/class (payable via e-transfer). 

Please email me if you have any questions and would like to be added to the weekly class lists with the zoom passcodes.

All are welcome, please feel free to invite friends/family anywhere in Canada!!

It's going to be awhile until we get back into the gym, so why not try some fitness from the comfort and safety of home? 

Yoga Certification

It's now official.  I've successfully completed my 200 hour Yoga teacher training!   I am so happy to be able to share my knowledge of yoga with my clients and friends.  A little bit of good news today. 

Now that my teachers certificate has been issued, I'm happy to announce that I'll be holding regular yoga and pilates classes via zoom over the winter.  Since we're stuck in lock down, it is an ideal time to do some at home fitness classes.  I will be holding Yoga on Tuesday nights @ 8pm and Pilates on Thursday nights @ 8pm.  Send me an email if you're interested, all are welcome.  

Moving Forward Through the Chaos with Yoga

If the Covid-19 crisis has given us anything, it would definitely be time to think.  About past decisions, current life and how we plan to move forward into the future.  While many of our condo gyms and fitness studios are currently closed or restricted, this quiet time of autumn has given me the perfect opportunity for self-reflection and personal growth.  So I'm excited to announce that I have applied for and been accepted into an immersive 200hour Yoga Instructor training program this fall.  I've long wanted to expand on my Pilates training and Thai Yoga stretching workshops and I decided to make the move to become a fully certified Yoga Instructor. 

So I am looking forward to not only teaching yoga in the years to come, but also to be able to incorporate aspects of yoga into my personal training packages for a more holistic approach to fitness training.   It will take runners stretching and arthritis care to a wonderful place, believe me.  I'm looking forward to sharing this with you in 2021.  Stay tuned for updates!