Category Archives: kids

The Busy Mom’s Guide to Getting Fit and Strong

Posted by Jan 7, 2019 Doula, fitness, health, kids, motherhood, new year's resolutions, Oakville, parenthood, parenting, passion, Prenatal Yoga, sports, workout, yoga , Leave a Comment
The Busy Mom’s Guide to Getting Fit and Strong

A new year is upon us and many see this as an opportunity to make or improve on some healthy habits. I know I do! I am a mom of two busy kids; an eleven year old daughter and a nine year old son. Before they were born I was very active playing rugby at an amateur level and hitting the gym 5-7 days a week. I remember saying to my husband that once the kids were born I wasn’t going to make excuses not to maintain this pace….Wow, was I in for a surprise! The truth is that once you become a parent all of your priorities change and it becomes challenging to find time for yourself when your little humans need a lot of your time and attention. I hope this guide gives you some ideas and motivation for yourself but I am also available if you want to brainstorm for your personal situation.

First of all, let’s just take a moment to acknowledge your body the way it is today in all of its wonder and glory. You made a baby (or babies) and for that you should be proud! We can still love our bodies and be grateful for all that they have done yet want to become stronger and fitter. Be weary of quick fixes or too-good-to-be-true solutions. This stuff is hard work and takes dedication to make every day changes, but so worth it for your health and the health and happiness of your family. From a very young age I remember engaging in active pursuits with my parents and watching them play sports. This has stayed with me over the years and I already see it impacting my children. Never feel guilty for wanting to spend time working on yourself Momma!

Over the last ten years my exercise regime has changed and evolved based on many factors, but primarily the needs of my children. So I’ve broken this guide down by years to help you.

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING BIRTH

Every woman and every birth (even by the same woman!) is so different. Immediately after birth the only thing you should be concerned about is healing and bonding with your baby. Slow things down and enjoy this time. There will be plenty of time later to think about workouts. The best workout or “workin” you can do at this stage is deep belly breathing, it helps to reduce stress, aids in milk production, and tones your abdominals. The other “exercise” that is helpful at this stage is Kegels. Once you have been given the green light by your midwife or doctor then you can consider incorporating more. I would also recommend getting seen by a physiotherapist that specializes in postnatal core rehab to rule out diastasis recti (abdominal separation), prolapse, or pelvic floor issues.

FIRST YEAR AFTER BIRTH

Maternity leave is a great time to start some healthy habits because you have taken on the most important role of your life; Mom! First and foremost, nutrition is key in all stages of life. Start or maintain healthy eating habits now to feel your best. There are so many fitness options these days for new moms in most communities and at home. There are a lot of gyms that have childminding if you feel comfortable leaving your baby. However, if you do not there is a plethora of Mom and Baby classes that are mother-centered but allow baby to be in a carrier or close by so that you can stop if needed to attend to your baby. While at home programs might be convenient, they may leave you feeling isolated, lonely and unmotivated. Perhaps a combination of classes and at home workouts is the best option for you. Classes are great because you get to meet other moms and they are tailored to the postpartum body. If the weather is nice grab a friend and take baby out for a stroll. Mom and baby yoga, mom and baby fitness, dance classes, barre, aqua-fit….the choices are endless. I enjoyed mom and baby yoga, salsa babies and walks outside (even in very cold temps) with my first baby. When I was tired from frequent waking at night or not eating properly, I let myself rest. This is very important so give yourself time to get back at it gradually. Try different classes to find the right combination for you. A trainer that you connect with, class times and location that work best, and costs are all factors to consider. See below for my classes west of the GTA.

BACK TO WORK: THE TODDLER YEARS

This was by far the most difficult time for me and I can honestly say that after my first I struggled for a while to find the right balance. Long working hours and commutes make it very difficult to prioritize yourself. Time with your toddler seems so precious that you can’t bear to leave them.

Here are some ideas:

6am workouts! I know that sounds painful but I can guarantee if you do this consistently you will be astounded at how good you feel for the rest of the day. It’s out of the way and it frees up time in the evening to be with your children.

Noon workouts! Take time on your lunch hour to workout, find a gym close to your place of employment and I guarantee this will become a regular part of your day.

Good news is toddlers need a lot of sleep and usually go to bed quite early. If you have enough energy an 8pm class might be the ticket for you. Then on your days home take your children out for a walk or to play at the park, get active with them when you can so that they see how important it is. Pushing a child on a swing or chasing them around a park IS a workout!

THE SCHOOL AGE YEARS

Once when my kids were in the baby/toddler stage another mom warned me that life would only get busier once my kids were slightly older and involved in extra-curricular activities. I didn’t believe her but now that they are I totally get it. Evenings and weekends are spent taxiing and carpooling all over the city for their sports and activities. I love that they are active and involved but it consumes a lot of time. So now how do you fit in a workout?

When my kids could play a little more independently at the park I would do a workout near them. I would plan out my exercises and reps and do my burpees, squats etc at the playground. Once in a while I would be needed to push a swing then I would get back to it.

Running with little ones in a stroller or chariot, this is a tough one but everyone wins!

6am’s are a good option. I do yoga in my home in the early mornings and it’s not always peaceful. My son is an early riser so some times he cuddles on my blankets and bolsters while I finish my practice but it’s ok, at least I got some in (I figure this is just part of the Mom life and I get savasana with a little-man cuddle).

Noon workouts again are great because it frees up your evenings to spend with the kids doing homework or taking them to their activities. If you can manage it why not strap on your runners for a jog or head to the gym while they are doing their sports. I see so many parents scrolling through their phones or playing Candy Crush when they could use that time more wisely. My daughter’s dance lessons become a run around the neighbourhood for me during warm weather or a weight session at my gym closeby. Sure I’m sweaty when I pick her up but the endorphins feel amazing. Plan activities you can do as a family like skiing, skating or biking. Head to the park and chase a ball. Getting active as a family is wonderful on so many levels!

AFTER PRIMARY SCHOOL WHEN YOUR KIDS DON’T WANT TO BE AROUND YOU MUCH (LOL)

Ok so I don’t have any experience with this stage yet. I do envy the other Moms at my gym who are at this stage and get more workouts in during the week than I do, but I figure these years are so precious and my time will come. I know it seems daunting at times when there is so much to accomplish during the day. Lifestyle changes take time and perseverance but feeling strong physically is so important as a Mom to keep you balanced emotionally. Go to bed early, eat well, drink lots of water and plan those workouts in advance. Not only will you see major changes in yourself but those kiddos of yours will thank you one day! Best of luck Mommas and if you need support and motivation please reach out, we are here to support one another! -Namaste

 

The Perfect Partnership: Yoga – Doula

Posted by Apr 16, 2018 Birth, Burlington, Doula, Happiness, health, kids, motherhood, Oakville, parenthood, parenting, passion, Pregnancy, yoga , Leave a Comment
The Perfect Partnership: Yoga – Doula

What is a Doula?

A Doula is a non-medical birth coach that provides guidance and support to expecting individuals and couples prior to, during and after birth. Imagine a nurturing companion by your side comforting you during one of the most transformative experiences of your life. Birth can be unknown and even feared if not approached in a positive way. A doula can guide both the birthing mother and her partner towards an enlightening experience and help navigate the postpartum weeks. Services and support are tailored to each client’s needs. In my early days of teaching prenatal yoga my students would some times ask me to attend their births. I did support one couple and it was such an amazing experience. One that I still reflect on five years later. At that time in my life I had two young children and didn’t have the family support to make an on-call situation work for us. After that I had to give referrals to my students despite wishing I could be there for them and offer continuous care. Fast forward to today…my children are a bit older and my husband has more flexibility with his job so I’ve taken the leap. I have begun my Doula training and have already started meeting with clients to support as part of my certification.

Here’s my take on why my yoga teaching is the perfect complement to doula support;

  • I regularly guide my students towards peacefulness and relaxation. I have studied the nervous system and how our breathing affects us physically and emotionally. This can translate very easily to labour.
  • Becoming a yoga teacher requires a strong background in anatomy and this knowledge will be very helpful during pregnancy, birth and in the postpartum period.
  • Practicing grounding ourselves in a yoga class is helpful when labour gets challenging and we start to doubt our bodies and abilities.
  • Most prenatal yoga poses are meant to prepare the body for labour and birth. Students who attend my classes become familiar with these poses and their bodies are very receptive to them even at 40+ weeks gestation. Practicing these positions and movements together before birth makes it very organic to use them during birth.
  • We share. Students share their experiences during class and we develop a trusting relationship.
  • Teaching yoga has helped me develop my intuition and ability to read energies. Maintaining a positive energy in a birth environment is key to supporting couples in whichever birth location they choose.
  • I often have to “read” bodies in class to see how I can support them with comfort measures or modifications. Birthing women won’t always communicate through words that they need guidance to become more comfortable.
  • Yoga is identified with the mind/body connection and this is something I understand and can teach to my students and client

There are so many other ways that yoga and birth are a perfect fit. If you would like to discuss further let’s grab a tea, a bolster and have a chat!

Namaste, Angela

What I want All Hockey Parents to know

Posted by Dec 2, 2016 fitness, health, Hockey training, kids, parenthood, parenting, sports, workout, yoga, yoga for athletes, yoga for hockey players , , , , , Leave a Comment
What I want All Hockey Parents to know

First off, I am not a surgeon, physiotherapist or medical doctor of any kind. I am a yoga teacher and a student of bodies. I have worked with countless individuals through yoga with varying degrees of athleticism but can say that I have seen hundreds if not thousands of young (13-25 years old) hockey players move on their mats. When I teach yoga to these athletes I am observing and learning by watching their movements. Over the last seven years I have seen noticeable trends that I want to share with you in the hopes that you may find this information helpful and possibly prevent a serious, even career-ending injury. You can choose to disregard my recommendations and opt to hear this from a medical doctor but by the time your son/daughter is in front of one the condition might be so severe that surgery is needed.

I am assuming you are still reading because you are a concerned (and even proactive) parent who wants their son or daughter to be in the best physical health and secondarily have a enjoyable hockey career. As a former athlete and now parent myself we want to see our children thrive in athletics into adulthood. The trends in youth sports now is early specialization. And as it pertains to hockey, year round, versus seasonal participation. This fact makes the following information even more valuable.

Here are the trends I am seeing over and over;

VERY TIGHT ANKLES AND FEET

Hockey skates are designed to be very restrictive and supportive and do not allow for much flexion and extension in the ankle. This is very helpful for skating biomechanics but what happens over time, especially with frequent on-ice training, is the ankle loses it’s required mobility. Without any sort of counter exercises to balance this the athletes develop very limited range of motion in the ankle joint. Why does this matter? Well over time as we age this mobility decreases anyways which makes activities like running or walking more challenging and in our senior years will lead to instability and falls. And if your child participates in any sports or activities other than hockey, or even running/speed tests on dry land for hockey camps and testing, there will be some running involved. A foot that is tight and unable to perform the range of motion needed for speed and acceleration means that the surrounding muscles and joints will bear the burden and this will lead to imbalances in the body and injuries. Want to test this out for yourself? Ask your son or daughter to kneel on the floor and sit back on their heels, now watch their face and body language. If they complain of pain or severe discomfort then they already have limited range of motion. I see this develop around age 12-14 and often quite severe in athletes aged 18 and up when not addressed.

SORE AND TIGHT HIPS

Hockey players of any age will likely identify their hips as a problem area because of the skating stride. When skating the hips are called upon to stabilize the athlete, abduct, adduct and flex the hip and so the muscles that are needed to perform these different movements get very stiff and sore. The amount of time spent on the ice and off the ice strengthening the quadriceps, gluteals and hip flexors is not usually off-balanced with lengthening and recovery time needed for these muscles. In young athletes especially this is even worse due to the amount of time spent sitting during the day. As a result imbalances occur, scar tissue develops and injury to the back and groin.

TIGHT BACK AND SHOULDERS

Posture in most teenagers and even adults for that matter is poor. Add into the equation the rounded, athletic stance of a hockey player on the ice and you get slumped shoulders to say the least. I have done posture assessments on NHL level players and let’s just say it’s a good thing they aren’t getting paid to stand properly. But poor posture overtime again contributes to imbalances and injury. Most off-ice training programs focus on exercises that strengthen the larger muscle groups of the back and chest and aren’t refined enough to target the muscles needed to properly support a healthy posture. The end results is very limited mobility throughout the back, chest and shoulders.

So what does all this mean? My answer to off-set hockey training on and off the ice is to incorporate a recovery program. This should comprise of yoga, massage (either self-massage using therapy balls and/or by a trained professional) and rest days. Now if you think the 2 minutes of stretching you do after a training session is enough, think again! Yoga is not just stretching. The body needs to also recover through proper breathing and relaxing the mind. A trained yoga professional can guide you through all the benefits and coach you along the way. Some might say “there is not time for recovery, we need more training and practices to get better at hockey”. Well I would challenge that! Finding a balance of rest, recovery and activity will go a long way to improving any athlete’s overall health and performance. If you start practicing yoga and don’t see results right away remember to have patience. It took years to create these imbalances and it takes time to undo them.

Invest in Rest!!

My three reasons why girls should play rugby

Posted by Jul 30, 2016 fitness, health, kids, motherhood, parenthood, parenting, passion, Rugby, sports, Women's rugby, workout Leave a Comment
My three reasons why girls should play rugby

Growing up in Canada I had never heard of rugby. Canadian kids grew up playing sports like hockey, soccer and baseball. I was one of them until I hit high school. My high school had several boys’ teams and I was drawn to the sport as a spectator wanting to learn the complex “laws” of the game and experience the rich culture that came along with it. I vividly remember visiting the boys’ coach to ask if we could start a girls team. I wrangled some of my friends and promised a fun time even though I wasn’t too sure what I was getting us into. This was 1993 in Brantford, Ontario. At this time no high school female teams existed in Brant County and my school, Brantford Collegiate Institute, became the first. Canada did have a women’s rugby national team at that time but there weren’t opportunities at the high school level and limited club teams for young women. By 1998 there was 110 high school girls’ rugby teams in Ontario, 30 women’s club teams and 8 university league teams. Not very big numbers when you consider that rugby was first played by men in Canada in 1860!

You only need to spend a few minutes with a current or ex-player to understand how passionately we love the sport of rugby. The bruises, blood and broken bones pale in comparison to all that is gained through a female’s involvement in rugby. I literally get teary-eyed just thinking of how much I love the sport, the experiences I had through rugby and of course the people I have met through rugby (including my husband!).

So here are my 3 reasons why I think girls should play rugby:

  1. Team environment: A rugby team is 15 players on the field with several subs and many clubs and schools have enough players to field multiple teams. No rugby team can win without everyone’s involvement on the field and the team bond transcends off the field as well. You become sisters, you are there for each other because you need to in order to win. The culture of rugby is very different from other sports. The team celebrates after the game together with the opposition. There is a level of respect so high that many non-rugby athletes cannot comprehend it. When a rugby team is engaged in social activities EVERY player is invited and expected to attend. What this means for young girls is that there are no exclusions, everyone is part of the team and we are all there for each other. I have never experienced this in any other activity I’ve been involved in and this is probably why I still keep in touch with my ex-teammates over ten years after I retired.
  2. There is a position on the field for every body type and athletic ability: I came from a dance background to rugby and I was used to the expectation that you had to have a particular physique to dance. I think the same can be true for other sports such as gymnastics, swimming and soccer. This can have negative effects on young girls as their bodies mature and change. As such their interest in a particular sport may suffer as a result. In rugby there are somewhat specialized positions on the field that might suit one body type over an other allowing for a broader scope and acceptance. Girls who once found it challenging to fit the mold of another sport might just find a great fit with rugby and with their teammates.
  3. An intense physical sport: Rugby is a contact sport which requires great physical and emotional strength. There aren’t many female sports which involve the same amount of contact as the male version (both sexes play by the same rules/Laws). I never knew what I was capable physically until I endured rugby practices and games. Girls grow with confidence on and off the field and this has broad effects in their lives especially during the teen years. I never even considered myself an athlete until I started playing rugby. And now I know that I can run, tackle and outlast anyone (even a man) if I decide to because of the mental toughness I have learned through rugby.

Most community rugby clubs now have programs for girls starting at age 6 which are non-contact and emphasize ball handling skills and of course the culture of rugby. The future of women’s rugby worldwide and especially in Canada is very bright! And if that wasn’t enough to get you to encourage a young woman to try rugby our Canadian National women’s team is currently ranked 2nd in the world (while the men are ranked 18th) and our Seven’s team is heading to Rio to compete in the summer olympics and are favored to win a medal. This is a great time to be a lady rugger!

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A girls-only game often is played at the beginning of tournaments in Ontario. Here are the girls right before their game having some fun together.

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You can’t imagine my pride now that my own daughter has started playing. Here she is in the U10 co-ed category running fiercely with the ball. She was reluctant to make the change from soccer to rugby this year but is now hooked and loving the sport.

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U10 co-ed players celebrate with the opposing teams after a game.