Cycle Commuting: A Panacea for the Physical and Mental Health of Canadians?
Interest in cycle commuting is growing. According to the 2016 census, the number of cycle commuters in Canada increased by 61.6% between 1996 and 2016 (87.9% in census metropolitan areas, those with a population of 100,000 or more) (Statistics Canada, 2017a & 2017b). However, this represents only 1.4% of commuters, leaving ample room for improvement….
National Health and Fitness Day – June 2, 2018
The National Health and Fitness Day Act was passed in 2014, designating the first Saturday in June as National Health and Fitness Day (NHFD). NHFD is intended to draw attention to declining rates of physical activity and increasing rates of preventable illness, and ultimately encourage Canadians to reap the benefits of active living. This year,…
The Car Ride Home
Parents[1] play an undeniably important role in the lives of young athletes. Parents have been described as socializers of athletes’ sport experiences – providing opportunities for participation, serving as role models, and helping athletes make sense of their sport experiences. Previous research about parent involvement in sport has examined the types of feedback that parents…
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…
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…
Don’t Get Tied Up In Knots – Try Rope Training
Perfecting a good workout routine that balances aerobic, anaerobic and strength training is a great goal for all around fitness. However, sometimes your body settles into a rhythm and fewer gains are seen. Changing up your routine and incorporating different styles of workout are a great way to stimulate your systems. Unconventional workouts add a…
Rolling out the benefits of Foam Rollers
Foam rollers have become pretty mainstream over the last few years. Athletes swear by this piece of equipment to help keep muscles loose and limber, and to help in muscle recovery and increased performance. Every day fitness goers are also picking up this piece of equipment to help ease muscle soreness. So what is it…
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…
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…
The Implications of Screen Time for Young Children
In June, the Canadian Paediatric Society released new screen time guidelines for children under 5 years old. A child’s first experiences with screens can be habit-forming, with lasting implications. While there are potential benefits associated with mindful screen use among children, excessive screen time can present risks for development, psychosocial skills, and physical health. Parents…