This morning I was preparing to remove leaves from the eaves-trough of my home.  I stepped outside with leaf bag in hand to the shock that the temperature were well below zero. Any excuse to procrastinate! I will leave this task until Sunday when there is forecast of a temporary increase to a balmy 10 degrees.  The reality is that winter is on the way and, along with it, increase in weather related illnesses.

Now that 2012 is almost at an end, I wonder what are the lessons for the future?  I notice that increasingly people are feeling stressed in all aspects of their lives.  We have little time to get things done and are being pressured in all directions.   We are often at a snapping point with friends, colleagues and loved ones and perhaps are feeling out of control.  In such an environment, it is becoming difficult to slow down to smell the proverbial roses.

Dr. Robert Salter was a Stratford-born Canadian world renowned orthopedic surgeon whose medical research at the University of Toronto helped change the traditionally accepted treatment of injured joints.  For many years the accepted treatment was immobilisation.  In 1970, Salter realised that joint cartilage was not stimulated to either heal or regenerate.  He discovered the benefits to the joints of continuous passive motion (CPM).

This week I am teaching a class in stress management at Centennial College here in Toronto.  I always love the opportunity to talk to students and give them some perspective on a very important subject.  At the same time, as much as I would like to admit to the contrary, I often experience feeling stressed.  So I always find the preparation of my lecture a useful reminder of things on which I should focus my own attention.

November 1st marks the 10th anniversary of the clinic at this address.  I offer a big thankyou for the therapists here at the clinic who have worked hard with their professional development and supported my efforts to make this truly a holistic centre for health and wellbeing.  You have been a pleasure to work with:  Katherine, Paul, Norman and, the latest addition to our team, personal trainer Heather. Thank you also for laughing at my hilarious jokes.  All aspiring comedians need an audience! 

We are holding the first Tai Chi class here tonight. Geoff Busbridge is the instructor. Give us a call for information about this and other activities at Healing on the Danforth.

Over the past month Heather Speer has been organising the downstairs area to provide an attractive space for personal training sessions.  We are offering either one on one fitness sessions or small classes.  Pesonal attention to your needs is assured.

This is all part of an ongoing service to provide you with the best program in alternative health care.

We are planning to offer Tai Chi in the next little while at Healing on the Danforth.

We have probably all heard about the importance of strengthening the “core” muscles as part of a practice in getting fit. Similarly, Tai Chi places emphasis on strengthening that area of the lower abdomen located just below the belly button and known as the “Dan Tian.”

I am welcoming Heather Speer as a colleague at Healing on the Danforth.  Heather is a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and specializes in fitness with older adults.