The Importance of Exercise At All Stages of Life!

August 7, 2024

Written By: Coach MJ


There are many factors in life that affect how we move and work with our body: age, wear and tear from work and activities, accidents that leave lasting side effects, weight loss or gains or medical conditions that change our abilities or cause limitations in our daily lives.

 

Arthritis and injuries can change the way we move over time and shift the balance in our body alignment. The changes can be so gradual that we don't notice them until someone points it out or chronic pain becomes a regular part of our daily lives. Then we get the difficult news that we need a joint replacement or surgery to repair damage. Now what?

 

One of the reasons members of our Wellness Coaching group have joined is to work on rebuilding strength to prepare for potential upcoming surgeries such as hip or knee replacements, recovering from replacements or other surgeries when cleared by medical professionals or to improve balance and mobility as they deal with changes in the way they move. 

 

Our Wellness Coaching group is a place for people of all ages, abilities and fitness levels that come to exercise where they are at, each with a story of why they started and why they keep going. We meet up 1 or 2 times a week to work on building strength, balance and mobility to keep members moving better in their everyday lives. Each person works at the level they are at, keeps a pace that they can safely maintain and encourages each other to do their best. You will hear lots of stories and laughter shared throughout the time together!

 

Here are a few reasons shared:


Pre and post op for hip replacement: we worked on building as much muscle strength in my surrounding muscles of my lower body to support my movement pre-surgery and to be able to be stronger in my recovery stages. Upper body strength was just as important to be able to move better and continue being as independent as possible.

 

 I feel more confident on my hiking adventures because of the time spent in class working on, not only building strength but balance and better awareness and confidence in how my body moves.

 

A common theme among members is standing straighter! Many people don’t realize how much we actually slouch and round our shoulders and back, and then wonder why our back hurts more often. This happens so gradually we don’t notice until it does hurt or cause a problem. The mobility and balance we work on can help us to stand taller and in turn move better.

 

Many have also mentioned better body awareness, not only at the gym but in daily activities. They are feeling more confident to go out to not only continue with all that they love to do but to try new things as well - hiking the amazing trails we have in the area, pickle ball, biking to name a few.

 

Our next Wellness Coaching 4 week session starts July 31, Aug 7, 14 ,21 $108+tax

 

Also Drop in Classes for Aug 28 and Sept 4 Cost is 27+ tax - these are the perfect opportunity to try a group class to see what we are all about!

 

To Register or to find out more information please contact Coach MJ at maryjane@dgreefitnessseaforth.com !

What It Means to Be Fit

June 4, 2025
Written By: Coach Sienna The media portrays fitness as looking a certain way and creating this picture of a “perfect person” who eats clean and works out everyday and does everything right and never messes up. When you're always being shown this version of fitness it’s easy to start to think, is this what being fit is? ..... And suddenly you find yourself comparing yourself to unrealistic standards. Fitness is much more than the shape of our body! It's about what your body can do for you and how it can support your daily life and how movement makes you feel strong, accomplished, proud, empowered! Here is how we can overcome the negative impact that some Media has on us, and fitness in general: Redefine Fitness Fitness is more than your body, it's strength, endurance, mobility, energy and how you feel. It's not supposed to be perfect or linear, your body will change and life will happen. What matters most is showing up for yourself and moving your body. Even a little bit can go a long way! Positive Self Talk You don't have to be perfect to love yourself. Be kind to your mind and speak to yourself with kindness. Remind yourself of what your body can do for you, remember you are WORTHY! :) Focusing On The Little Wins We often have such a heavy focus on how we look but what if it was never about how we looked but more about how we felt. Do you notice after you get in a workout or a session you always tend to have a lift in your mood and a shift in perspective. Movement has the power to make us feel strong and happy and more like ourselves! Do Movements You Enjoy Fitness should be fun and functional. You are more likely to stick to it if you enjoy it! Find movements that excite you. Like lifting, walking, running, dancing, gymnastics etc. When you focus on what your body can do and not what it looks like, you can start to see how strong and capable you really are! Set Goals Related To Movement-Mood-Function Movement - touching your toes or doing your first push-up Mood - Having more energy during the day and feeling less anxious Function - Carrying groceries, running around with your kids, etc. Remember - you are already enough! You don't need to look a certain way to be fit. You just need to move your body in a way you enjoy, take care of yourself and celebrate what your body does for you everyday! If you've been feeling stuck, or wanting to start working out with a Coach, or in an environment that is inclusive, inviting, safe, honours all body shapes and sizes, we can help! CLICK HERE to book a free meeting with one of our Coaches to learn how you can get started at Degree or, email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com .

10 Minute at Home Cardio Workout

May 25, 2025
Written By: Coach Sienna We know Cardio is good for your heart health but it is also good for our respiratory systems which help bring oxygen to fuel our muscles to do what they gotta do! By doing cardio we strengthen all of these components which help us live a happier healthy lifestyle! Your body is built to move and releases happy chemicals called endorphins from having an increased heart rate which can improve your mood. This can happen in just 10 minutes! We all know Cardio is an important part of our health but most of us just don’t have a lot of time due to kids, work, life etc. Just remember any movement is a good movement! No matter how long or short it may be. The little things add up (: Use this 10 minute at home cardio workout (no equipment needed!) to get your heart rate up and feeling your best even on the busiest days. 2 Rounds of 1 minute of Jumping Jacks 1 minute of High Knees 1 minute Air Squats or Jump Squat 1 minute of Burpees 1 minute of Mountain Climbers *Rest as needed but try to keep it 30s or less between movements! We understand life gets in the way and schedules can be tough - we are here to help! Let us know how it went! Email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com , or, visit www.degreefitnessseaforth.com/get-started to book your FREE No Sweat Intro to learn more!

What You Need to Know About Iron!

May 22, 2025
Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian You've probably heard of iron and know it's important. Maybe you've even had your levels checked through bloodwork! Iron is an important mineral in our diet. It is part of the blood cells that carry oxygen around our body, and plays roles in growth and the production of some hormones. The amount of iron you need varies. Men need less, while women need more due to blood loss during menstruation. This puts women at higher risk for low iron. The symptoms of low iron include feeling sluggish and fatigued, pale skin, and even hair loss! Women under 50 years old need 18mg of iron a day, while women over 50 and all men only need 8mg of iron daily. Many people can get enough iron through a varied and balanced diet. Iron is found in meat, poultry, fish, legumes, eggs, soy, and many grains and vegetables. Our bodies are better able to absorb iron from animal sources - this type of iron is referred to as "heme iron". Non-heme iron is found in plant sources and is harder for your body to absorb. If you rely on plant-based sources of iron, you may need to eat a lot more of it. Pairing iron sources with sources of vitamin C can also help increase absorption. If you suspect your iron levels are low, ask your doctor to check your levels through a blood test. If your iron level is low and you're already consuming enough through diet, you may need a supplement to increase your levels. Always check if you actually need an iron supplement before starting one! Iron plays some key roles in our bodies, and is important for overall health! Make sure you include a variety of sources daily to meet your body's needs! Looking for more personalized nutrition advice? Let's chat! Email mairead@degreefitnessseaforth.com for more information about our Nutrition Programs, or click HERE to book your FREE Bite-Sized Nutrition Chat!
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